Does anyone in PDX area do Subaru conversions?

With 45K miles on a "factory rebuild", my 2.1 WL is pushing exhaust gas into the coolant.  Time to start thinking ahead.  My main mechanic (M&M Automotive in Aloha) is going to do one in April.  He says he wants to know why it has to be so expensive.  I too find $8K plus motor to be pretty steep.  This kind of expense, right after a new F45 awning, deluxe paint job and alloys is not real easy to ju$tify with the controller, if you get my drift.

BTW, immense thanks to Bill Kasper and Peter of VolksCafe in Santa Cruz for helping me understand and deal with the problem.  I had the great fun of driving it back home over 700 miles, stopping to burp the expansion tank every 30 or 100 miles, depending on driving conditions.  

Tom Salicos
'87 Westy Syncro