A known good lump is a far more efficient solution...
Both financially and temporally... But that was ruled out on day 1
What's efficient for one, may not be efficient for another. Factors to consider are
Rae has another car, so isn't under time pressure to get this one running.
He is not having to pay any labour whatsoever for this repair, because I'm not charging him anything. I also have various gaskets and seals in stock, which are no good to me, which I will donate to him, further reducing his parts cost.
In contrast, Rae was quoted £600 to have another engine fitted by a different member.
Assuming we need new heads, a proven second hand pair (If I don't already have any in the garage) will cost £50 to £75. On top of this, we only need head gaskets and bolts and maybe the odd O ring (I think I have most of it). His cam cover seals are GM and supple as new, and can be re used.
On this basis, parts cost is likely to be sub £150.
The cost of consumables like oil and coolant, are irrelevant as you'd need to replace these additionally, in either scenario.
Of course I will check the bottom end and take it apart for a clean, but, on the balance of probabilities, I doubt there's any lower end issues.
In a nutshell, labour isn't a factor, or a cost, because it's something I enjoy and don't charge for.
I'm optimistic of a lasting, decent repair on this engine, so if this can be achieved for sub £200 in parts, how is this more cost effective than paying £600 to have a second hand one fitted?
In my mind, given that he can live without the car and doesn't have to pay me, he's saving £400.
The fact the car is 15 years and 200,000 miles old is also another factor in the "might as well have a bash" repair option. There's literally nothing to lose.
There are also other factors to consider, in that, what is efficient for one, isn't for another. For example, whilst I can change the heads, it's a job that is right on the upper level of what my injury allows me to do, from a physical point of view. I don't have facilities for lifting engines, and, if I did, I still wouldn't be able to cope with the really heavy stuff such as mating the new engine to the gearbox bellhousing, and so forth. I also don't see having to then take the replacement engine to the dump and all of that malarkey as efficient either.
Can we not go back to the good old OOF days? I can remember when one member helped another, for nothing more than the love of being an enthusiast, and it was discussed on here, the threads were full of nothing but support, banter, and encouragement for those concerned. That doesn't seem to be quite the case, anymore