420A Newbie, am I getting screwed on engine rebuild?

[djaux]

Okay so I have a mechanic who's going to help me out with rebuilding my engine on 95 Mitsubishi eclipse GS.
He has his own shop, and asked him about a engine rebuilding kit. He told me that he would order the parts separately, because I don't know what I'm getting with the engine rebuild kit.
Yes he has accounts with parts stores., but I've never rebuilt a engine before. He told me I'll be looking to spend around 1500 which I do not have. I've seen kits on eBay for around 400-500. So I guess my question is he trying to screw me or not.?
Any advice would be helpful for anybody who's rebuilt an engine with the kits.

Also, I'm not looking to do any aftermarket parts, just OEM specs...

 

[74runner]

Wow, that's quite a bit., N yeah u scared me now. In my mechanics defense, he's had extensive training/education(I have watched him do at least a dozen engines, and custom jobs). It's not that I don't trust his work, but I told him about the kits, n he told me if I wanted it done right, he was gonna order the parts I need and do it his way. It just seems sketchy., considering he's ordering from napa, autozone, etc. make sense? If not, correct me, cause I don't have this experience...

If he is saying don't buy an ebay kit I'd listen to him on that.Basic rule is "buy cheep buy twice" get brand name quality parts.Ask him for the full list of parts he plans on buying and then post it for us all to see.

 

[djaux]

Will do., I'm gonna take it over some time this week, get everything he'll be charging me for, and post on here.
I have mentioned a swap, does anyone think that would be better/easier even. Everything I've seen some online seems like it could be the most direct route, idk.
Again, thanks to this forum I haven't made any bad decisions , yet. Also, everyone who has replied, like it or not; Thank You.

 

[Burst]

I would cheek craigslist for used motors if you want cheap its a NA 420a car $1500 is ridicules. now for 4g63 that is cheap i would not pay more that $1500 total with labor. mean if you went to buschur racing you will pay $10k for a rebuild but you know dam well you got a good motor. cheaper is not always better i would buy the parts yourself then just get charged labor at a a shop with good rep not the idiots their shed you might find someone on here to do it i have seen it before but then again idiots their shed. watch out warrnty unless you are going to void it anyways like me warranty are pointless I have seen rebuild ones on crigslist for $500-800

 

[Burst]

look what i found looks like a deal its in Florida $400 bucks can not go wrong always cheek the CL
http://ocala.craigslist.org/pts/4464119318.html
http://gyazo.com/521bcc553691822567fbf40e6fc73b59

 

[djaux]

I put an ad on the post w/ picture. It's 450, I haven't had any feedback yet. Maybe someone can read it, look at the picture., give their opinion on it. I'm just worried, just cause there are always people selling junk., especially if u don't know what to look for.
I'm always looking on Craigslist though., but I am gonna shop around this week for a few quotes, see what I get.

 

[mitsubishikid]

sometimes wrecking yards have good motors.
I'd sure hate the idea of blowing $1500 on a non turbo daily driver motor... for some reason it feels silly, I can get almost any motor right now from a self serve wrecking yard for $300-$500 depending.

So realistically your friend is buying all gaskets/parts to rebuild it for like $550.00... and then he's charging you $1000 after the fact, some friend.
Now I could see how he might try to get 50% markup on the parts but 100%!!! dang $1500 is a few hundred shy of a newly built race motor.

Also that motor on cl ...hmm I'd say if you can't see it/ hear it working consider it a paper weight, make sure the seller can prove all the work was done to it , have him pull the valve cover and see if it looks clean in there, a golden color is okay, but it means the motor has been run...

if it looks black it means burned on oil, walk away.

 

[dfootedsm]

sometimes wrecking yards have good motors.
I'd sure hate the idea of blowing $1500 on a non turbo daily driver motor... for some reason it feels silly, I can get almost any motor right now from a self serve wrecking yard for $300-$500 depending.

So realistically your friend is buying all gaskets/parts to rebuild it for like $550.00... and then he's charging you $1000 after the fact, some friend.
Now I could see how he might try to get 50% markup on the parts but 100%!!! dang $1500 is a few hundred shy of a newly built race motor.

Also that motor on cl ...hmm I'd say if you can't see it/ hear it working consider it a paper weight, make sure the seller can prove all the work was done to it , have him pull the valve cover and see if it looks clean in there, a golden color is okay, but it means the motor has been run...

if it looks black it means burned on oil, walk away.

Also bring a 1/2 inch drive see if you can freely rotate the crank , there will be some resistance at the bottom of the stroke but it should rotate freely so you know the bearings rods and cranks are not totally hosed

 

[djaux]

sometimes wrecking yards have good motors.
I'd sure hate the idea of blowing $1500 on a non turbo daily driver motor... for some reason it feels silly, I can get almost any motor right now from a self serve wrecking yard for $300-$500 depending.

So realistically your friend is buying all gaskets/parts to rebuild it for like $550.00... and then he's charging you $1000 after the fact, some friend.
Now I could see how he might try to get 50% markup on the parts but 100%!!! dang $1500 is a few hundred shy of a newly built race motor.

Also that motor on cl ...hmm I'd say if you can't see it/ hear it working consider it a paper weight, make sure the seller can prove all the work was done to it , have him pull the valve cover and see if it looks clean in there, a golden color is okay, but it means the motor has been run...

if it looks black it means burned on oil, walk away.

You said exactly what my gut has been telling me. I even talked to my mechanic/associate(definitely not friend)., asked him about a motor swap. He knows what he's doing, he just believes, that I don't know anything about cars., in a sense he's right., but I thougt instead of going through taking everything apart, new parts, etc.. Why not find a good motor, swap it out. His answer, wasn't really an answer, more bs(trying to get me to rebuild it), n as busy as he stays it would initially taking longer. Don't get me wrong I'm not trying to rush it, n make a decision, I will ultimately regret. I was asking him for his input., while also testing him to see what he would say. I'm not sure what I'm gonna do, but I'm not letting him have any influence on this car, n my patience.
I do have one more ?. Does the motor have to be from a 95? I understand some parts 96-99 won't fit...

Appreciate all your help w/this discussion., n the things I've learned over the weekend. I will be making future posts/discussions(I am a newbie to this, but I'm enjoying it all the same).
Thanks DSM., n all proven/probationary members.