[Coley]

One thing to consider...and maybe get the best of both worlds is if you and your buddies do some of the preliminary work and then let him finish it off and start it up.
A lot of the time spent is pretty simple labor based stuff like draining/removing the radiator, disconnecting belts, hoses, brackets, and linkages, etc...pulling the original motor.

If you dropped off the truck, hood off, cleaned, etc ready for the motor then you will probably save yourself some of the labour.

Regardless tho'....$1900 given the scope of work for this is not out of line or a bad price if you have the money.

my two bits.
Coley