Yesterday I finally picked up a written estimate for my new replacement engine. Some of you may remember that I blew my 454 last September. So, to take out the old engine, dispose of the old engine saving what ever can be salvaged (blower, headers, etc.), build a new 502 with the right stuff, Dyno it, and install it into the boat, we are talking $15,000. That is almost what the entire boat cost me in October 2002 (I think I paid $18,000 for the boat). Now on the estimate he states he will be using JE pistons, Dart heads and has to have the intake reworked to go with a 1050 carb instead of the 850 I had. And I understand this is an upgrade from the old engine (which I had just dumped $6,000 into last June). But $15,000 sounded steep to me. Am I way off base? You know if the estimate is $15,000, the final bill will be $16,000+. I need to start robbing banks here.
What should I do?