Engine builders...this machining cost sound excessive?

15 years ago. (can't believe it's been that long) I paid $1200 for cleaning, core plugs, .030 overbore and hone with torque plate, .010/.010 turn and polish the crank, recondition rods with new bolts, balance and cam bearings All the surfaces were checked and milled if necessary. The line bore was good. That was no head work.

It takes a lot of hours to do quality work and you wouldn't want somebody that charges just $20 per hour. I haven't checked but around $75/hr is probably normal.

The ugly sister to that is all the Online options out there.. Crate motors, cyl heads, cheap cyl heads, cheap CNC'd cyl heads.
Scat rods cheaper than you can get a good old set reconed for..

The Lil guy really can't run with this type of environment.