My initial plan was if the cylinders look pretty healthy I was just going to put the rods and pistons in with the block still in the engine bay.

If the cylinders were scored I would have no choice but to have it machined. And this would give me an excuse to paint my engine bay flat black like I've been wanting to for a long ass time.

It's not like I'm strapped for cash, I'm strapped for spending like 800$ all at once. Since June I've driven my car about two weeks tops. It's just a shitty feeling.