LOL! I live in California. We aren't allowed to say out loud, on this forum, the reasons why prices are what they are.
I've done quite a few of those 50's Chevy's and Fords. All the parts you needed, except the floor shift conversion were available at most wrecking yards. Transmissions were literally laying around in the dirt at my local yard. Take the shifting tower or inspection plate off to check the gears for wear. If you were lucky you could even find one with overdrive.
My father in law used to say: Never hire a man that smokes a pipe. They're always lighting it or putting tobacco in it.
Le Jamais Contente - the first purpose-built land speed record car, it was electric. It achieved 105.878 km/h (65.79 mph) in April 1899 .