Do I really need to trumpet the Glories of a low milage used 2002 AXIOM engine and the MUCH LOWER cost of a R&R with one of these?? You can do this for way less than $5000 (closer to $3k)... Granted.. a reman might be a better engine and if you read all my posts on the Axiom swap and the difference in the pistons and the part number "replaced" by a different/fixed part but keeping the same part number... But is it really worth about $2000 more? Mine is running great, like a bandit and speed demon, and I've had absolutely no problems with the engine... I still check the oil at LEAST once a week but it doesn't burn a drop of oil between oil changes at all. Minor problems with the wiring harness (original), but has nothing to do with the engine swap with the Axiom engine. The harness probs are all but gone... I get little hiccups now and then when it's extremely humid or when it first rains till the engine warms up... like moisture gets in there and causes a lil gremlin to get pissed off at the wiring somewhere... but it's miniscule. You can find a CHEAP Axiom engine here: http://www.car-part.com/
Did a search and there are several within 500 miles of you, with less than 100k miles and less than $1800, (there's one in Arizona, with 60k miles, @$1625, a little further, but your mechanic should be able to get it shipped pretty cheap). That should be, (with the right mechanic) around a $3000 R&R job... shop around for a good mechanic that will do it for a reasonable price. I know you will be happy with the results from the Axiom engine... It's the cheapest most reliable way to go. Good luck and hope you go this way so there's someone else that can praise the Axiom engine swap.