I would shy away from "in-town" companies as well.. got a slant six
about 12 years ago from a "reputable" rebuilder in town..  Got 20,000
miles out of it before it threw #4 rod out the driver's side.

I rebuilt my celica's motor myself and it's still running very well
after 48,000 miles.

I have a friend who uses Jasper engines in his work trucks, and is very
happy with them. He used another one, can't remember the name, and they
were very hot and cold, some went forever, and some went about 50-100K
and died. Usually, he gets about 150-200K on the factory motor, and then
about the same on the Jasper rebuild. By that time, the trucks are a
basket case and it's time for them to go. Half the time, he just gives
it to an employee or one of their kids as a "beater", and if it lasts a
while, great, if not, whoopie.

One guy got one, drove it for 4 years, put a interior out of a wrecked
truck in it, and another Jasper motor and a rebuilt tranny, drove it
another 5 years and at the end, it was so rotted out, that a minor
fender bender tore most of the cab off the mounts. The motor and
trans was pulled, and went into his kid's truck, another beater from the
boss. It's still running, but it's got plywood cab floors at this point.

These are all GM trucks. He gave up on Fords a long time ago. He can't
get over the memories of his late 70s and early 80's Dodge disasters,
but I think he might try a Cummins if the gas stays high when it's time
to replace the two really big trucks he has.

BDK

Yes they are. I missed them in my comment. The point I was trying to make is
that most all of the major names are pretty good quality and price could be
the major issue with the good names.

Ed