And the Machine Shop says.....$2300

http://www.centralcoastmustang.com/engcat.htm#3

302 ALUMINUM HEAD
LONGBLOCKS
ESSB-AH302LB

NEW 302 H.O. STANDARD BORE BLOCK
FEDERAL MOGUL HYPEREUTECTIC PISTONS
PREMIUM CLEVITE PISTON RINGS
ALL CLEVITE BEARINGS
POLISHED & CHAMFERED STEEL 302 FORD CRANK
GENUINE FORD 302 RODS
MOTORSPORT CAM (X-303)
MOTORSPORT ROLLER LIFTERS
DOUBLE ROLLER TIMING CHAIN
FORD RACING X-305 HEADS
OMEGA 1.6 ADJUSTABLE ROLLER ROCKERS
HI-VOLUME OIL PUMP
HARDENED PUSHRODS
FORD GRAPHITE FELPRO HEAD GASKETS
ENGINE BALANCED TO FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS

$2995.00

If that's too rich for your blood try this one:

302 GT 40P
LONGBLOCKS
ESSB-ST302LB40P

NEW 302 H.O. STANDARD BORE BLOCK
FEDERAL MOGUL HYPEREUTECTIC PISTONS
PREMIUM CLEVITE PISTON RINGS
ALL CLEVITE BEARINGS
POLISHED&CHAMFERED STEEL 302 FORD CRANK
GENUINE FORD 302 RODS
MOTQRSPORT CAM X-303 OR B-303)
MOTORSPORT ROLLER LIFTERS
DOUBLE ROLLER TIMING CHAIN
GT4OP IRON HEADS
FORD STOCK STEEL STAMPED ROCKERS
HI-VOLUME OIL PUMP
HARDENED PUSHRQDS
FORD GRAPHITE FELPRO HEAD GASKETS
ENGINE BALANCED TO FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS

$1995.00

Oh yeah.......what a rip off!!!!!

It doesn't cost anything to get engine components matched....
Ask your parts representative...like comp cams, holley, etc.......

machining a block (bore, align hone etc shouldn't run you more than $450

heck to bore and hone a v8 block after magging and hot tanking runs $225

i'm glad you told us........

Go and get your stuff from that crook!!!!

Rather than speaking in broad generalities, how about sharing your goals and budget for this project, specifically.

Although it's easy to say the quote was out of line, I'd have to know the details regarding the specifics of the prospective combination before I would pass judgement. Also, there is the reputation of the shop to consider. The shop which has done the machine work on my racing engines over the last decade charges a price commensurate with their expertise...often suggestions and conduits to parts I wouldn't normally have available to me are well worth the price of admission.

My rule of thumb for carb-to-pan, ready to run performance engines is roughly 10.00/HP....or 4K for a 400HP engine. It can be done cheaper but I'm just sharing the average of my expenditures over the years, with no adjustment for inflation. This is from the top of the air cleaner to the tip of the header collector and everything in between, including any specialized accessories (water pumps, fans etc).

Crate engines can be a good value but I'd likely take it apart anyway to blueprint and massage it myself so some of that value would be lost upon me.

If the shop owner was thorough in the discussion about exactly what parts and performance goals he was envisioning for your engine, and has committed that to writing, I'd suggest sharing your concerns and getting a reaction. If he just said "I'll fix you up, don't worry", then calmly collect your parts and run, don't walk, to the next machine shop...
Ask some racers or car club members (doesn't have to be Ford) who they use...pretty soon a short list of names will appear, trust me..

Good luck!

I agree with Pat (no big surprise there *LOL*). I paid $2100 for my engine. But it was built by one of the best engine builders in Sacramento. Of course it included a $200 core charge, all new TRW pistons, polished crank, all new cam/rod/main bearings, a Lunati cam, new lifters, boring, double roller timing chain, 8 valves, hardened valve seats, all new double dampened valve springs, yada, yada, yada ... and all blue-printed and balanced (and with 2 different flex plates even ... one for a C4 and one for an AOD).

The only assembly I had to do was install the oil pump, put the oil pan and timing cover on, and bolt on the heads and intake and such.

I know this engine is far better than any crate engine because of the machine shop I used ... they simply don't cut any corners.

It really all depends on exactly what you're getting for the $2300 dollars.