Death is a Knockin

[Killer Bee]

^ same reason some of us will spend $2-300 for a factory alternator vs o'Reilly's $39 lifetime warranty chicom special.. lack of longterm reliability, wasted time and expense towing breakdowns home, and repeated rework just flat gets old..

I get 100-200k miles on oe factory components and rightfully should expect similar from those oe replacements.. brakes, water pumps, etc..

component systems like engines and transmissions removed from unknown salvaged vehicles comes with risks..

my point to the op is in reference to a $35k+ build.. I recommend against the starving college student approach..

I went through it too when I was younger, but then I had a lot more time than money, and not much more responsibilities than getting myself to work.. nowadays most adults have little time for tinkering everytime they leave the driveway..

I'm not knocking the budget minded, especially where it has hard limits.. but I didn't perceive this project falling into that category..

some get lucky but I have been called on many times to bail out a lot of victims of bad decisions, some even after my own advice..

and typically the ones seeking advice are the ones that will later need help.. not knocking the OP whatsoever, just trying to share a little sound advice or at least food for thought