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If you want a built motor I would suggest a Jasper Engine.
They will sell you the motor with what ever upgrades you want
with a 3 yr 75,000 warranty. or you can go with a short block
and add what you want. usually cheaper.

 

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A used engine is probably going to take some machine work to bring it back to usable condition. Boring it out, bringing the decks back to true and never ever forget to have the rods resized on the big end and brought back to true round (that is, if you expect it to live long). And that's not even counting the cost of redoing the heads with fresh guides and seats (if needed), bringing the heads back to true flat and replacing/upgrading the springs, depending on what cam you intend to use. In short, unless you're going to buy it and drop it in, untouched, there can be a LOT of hidden costs- again, if you don't want to take chances.

Have I built $500 junkyard motors just replacing bearings, rings, putting in fresh valve springs and turning the key. All have lived a reasonably long life and made reasonable power BUT.... I double-checked EVERY measurement to be sure it was within factory spec and I ALWAYS started with a block that had NO ridge at the top of the bore from high mileage. Even then I was biting my nails the first time I wound it out.

In short, I have used my best experience to make it live and even then I had to depend on a little luck. You might do just fine, you might have a pile of junk 2 hours after turning the key. How important is saving a few hundred bucks vs. KNOWING that it's done right?

You can buy a NEW short block from GM for $900. A new long block for only $1200. Aftermarket fully remaufactured stuff can be had for even less.

 

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