I've seen tons of old BBC aluminum heads that have actually busted a big chunk out of the head surounding the stud boss too....When I had a set of the old 074's on mine I wouldn't even turn it over without the girdle on it after the valves were set the first time.
I've also heard that by the time you buy studs,girdles, rockers, pushrods, and guideplates, you could almost buy a good shaft set-up. I don't know but that's what i been told.
IF you were starting with nothing, as in no girdle,rocker arms, guide plates, studs etc then you will have almost as much in the whole mess as a you would a set of sportsman series Jesels or T&D shaft rockers.. but if you already have good rockers and guide plates etc then that's different story.