[joyridin']

The tick could be normal. Figuring the engine was around a 2002 model, with 49k miles, it would have probably sat a long time. It may take a few days of driving for the tick to go away assuming it is a lifter or something similar.

I doubt he will give you any info on where he got the engine. There is a 3.0l with 49k miles on car-parts in North Carolina for $2000. They charged you $1000 roughly to install the engine etc. That sounds about right although I don't have a book to look at "book" time. You basically bought the engine "as is". Unless it is trashed, they generally do not fix stuff without charging you. Stuff that is broken should have come off your old engine.

Where I used to work, if you bought used, it was a pass through on price. We only charged labor. Unless it didn't work when we initially installed it, you bought the engine from the recycler as is. If it blew up 4 months later and the recycler warranty ran out, you were stuck.