avoiding hot tank fees

Hot tanking is a crucial step in the rebuild process. Not only does it remove metal chips, degrease the block so paint will stick and generally clean things up on the outside, it also burns the lime and scale out of your cooling passages so that fresh rebuild won't be pressure cooking at stop lights. If you want to economize, pick something else.
It will cost you twice as much when you have to rebuild your engine for the second time.
Do it right. If you don't have the hot tank fees, either wait and save up or borrow it.