Russ, I didn't quote the job myself so I'm not sure it was an itemised quote or an over the phone "anywhere from $6500 to $9000 verbal thing having not even seen the car.

Certaily $9000 is not out of the question if the car needs a full timing gear kit, radiator, new oil pump, new engine mounts, clutch, ARP heastuds, injector clean, full cylinder head service with stem seals, valve guides, tappet setting etc. plus all the other stuff like hoses and belts.

Sometimes a car is impeccably maintained and just needs the short motor, lighly face the heads, headstuds, gasket kit and all the parts washed clean, inspected and re-used. There's still a shitload of work to assemble and dress the engine for fitting.

If you are after a bargain basement job there will be shops that will fit the heads without facing or even washing them, goop everything else with RTV, re-use the head bolts etc for probably $4 grand, but not me.