Engine builders...this machining cost sound excessive?

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.
True that. It depends whether you want to modify or save what you have. I wanted to save. Original block,crank, rods, heads, intake, distributor, valve covers, air cleaner etc.