[Pampered-Z]

No easy answer to the question. Really depends on what condition the block is in and how much work is needed.

How many miles on the engine and the opti + water pump? You never really know how good a good running engine is until you open it up and start really checking things out. If the cylinders need to be bored, not just honed etc. the price will go up ( and the parts in the kit may not be right then?)

First thing you want to do is find a shop that will do the work, and what their price for parts are. Allot of shops don't like dealing with installing customer supplied parts, or even the budget kits.

Only other advice, check those rebuild kits closely. Even though they say for an LT1 doesn't mean all the gaskets are going to be in there, or the right timing chain etc.

in the long rrun it might be cheaper for you to have the shop supply the parts when they do the work.

It happens where a $1,000 rebuild becomes a much more exspensive project.