It begins again - 512 Stroker
Last time I had a set of iron heads built for an engine they cost more than $2000. Hard seats, new valves, new springs and seals, new guides, valve job, surfacing, etc. This was before any porting. Cast iron heads are a waste of money for the average guy.
It’s usually closer to $1500 here to refurbish a set of factory BB heads as you described........ all new parts, hardened ex seats, SS valves, performance springs, etc....... if starting out with a pair of castings that don’t have too many surprises from previous rebuilds.
That gets you to the point where you’re ready to start porting.
And the price could easily be more for a high effort set of heads that’s going to need premium parts like roller springs, severe duty valves, titanium retainers, etc...... the type of heads that would get fairly heavy porting for use in a FAST type of application.
Refurbished, as described above, bowls blended, port openings squared up, pinch area tweaked........ you’ll still have more into them than a set of Stealths....... even after the Stealths have been prepped.
The only way the stock stuff makes sense is for guys like the OP who wanna do some tinkering.
Or if you find a nice set of clean low milage cores that can get away without seats, guides, valves, etc.
