289/302 engine builder recommendations? Go crate?!?

[Dangerous Doug]

Just got my quote back from a local builder on my 289, and the quote looks extremely high to me ($7600 for a roller cam long block assembly, using my 289 core with a stock stroke). Target hp was 400. $3500 of the quote was for 35 hrs for labor (magnaflux, line bore, bore & hone, head work...)

I'm looking through the web and I'm finding complete engines for $7500 (though they are in the high 300's and not quite 400 hp, but they are complete flywheel to carb/ignition...), in some cases 347 strokers. I can get a 345 hp Ford crate for less than $4k.

In any event, I had thought that having a rebuildable core would save me some cash, and in the interest of domestic tranquility I'm trying to keep my Cobra build from spending out of control (pun intended).

So, recommendations from the rest of you? Go with a Ford crate engine? Find another builder? Any comments on Proformance, Gessford, Keith Craft, et cetera?

The floor is now open. Love to hear from you.