To the OP. You are getting good advice, you'd be well advised to follow it. I just rebuilt a slant for my truck, I'm into it north of $4K and I'm not done yet (but very close Thank God). I previously rebuilt the block and head for a slant car - machining, parts, etc were $2800 and this was four years ago. The car engine took two months to get back, the truck engine was three months.
I tend to lurk more than participate on this forum as well as slantsix.org. I read a lot and chime in a little. The used slant on .org belongs to member "Reed". I have never met him nor talked to him, but other slant folks I know pretty well do know him, and all reports are this is a solid guy. You could rent or borrow a pickup, drive up and back in two somewhat long days, and for a grand or whatever you negotiate plus gas money/hotel money you have your engine. Take a cooler for drinks and portable food and you won't have to do fast food on the way. You would be getting a known good engine for dirt cheap, no big money to rebuild and no time delay either. It's a no-brainer. Is it possible your new engine will take a crap? Of course! Anything mechanical can break or fail. However, your odds for a good outcome are excellent. As a personal endorsement, I gave serious thought to getting this engine just as a spare "in case" or for another future slant vehicle.
