Advice on buying junkyard engines?

Outsder said

If you want a trouble free reliable motor and don't want to build one, why not be done with it and just buy something like a Summit has for $2090, or something better like Blueprint offers on this site?

Click to expand...

VGE Remanufactured Long Lock Crate Engines DD06 - $2012.99 - "Not Available At This Time. This product cannot be ordered at this time. Future availability is unknown. We apologize for the inconvenience." Any of the affordable engines are not available. And they also have a $370 to $620 core charge, and I have no core. There's also a freight charge.

There is the DD72 which is available at $2099, but still the core and freight charge. And, honestly, I'm trying to not to put a ton of money into this project. I've already more than I'd like tied up in it and the '67 Barracuda. I know, I know, if I wanted cheap I should have gone with a Chevy.