i like mike at engine line but to say don't take your car to a shop is like saying "don't get that surgeon to stitch you up for $$ come to my house and me and bubba will amputate for $20 "

let's say you save a couple hundred on a motor, and get a shadetree mechanic to do it for you for a couple hundred cheaper.......will he give you a warranty? if the USED motor he puts in has problems will he pull it out, fight with the place you got the engine from, then put in another engine for free?

you seem like an intelligent guy, you're good at something, and what you're good at you'll do. i like working on cars and i manage my shop but if i get a cavity i don't go on the snap on truck and buy really small dremel tools and a mirror....stick to what you know and some things are worth paying a professional for their services