Kevin, what you might consider is wiring the amount you feel comfortable paying for the block, and incidentals, to blykins. Instruct him to contact the seller, have a chat and, if he feels comfortable with the deal, to make the purchase on your behalf at the best price he can negotiate that is equal to or less than the amount you send him. The block, of course, should then be shipped to him. He can then build you the engine of your spec choices, using that block, and keep the incidentals that he does not use for you to do as he wishes and offset that against the final price of the build, which you two can work out, but I am quite confident you two can reach an accord with minimal posturing.
