on the SN cars and New Edge body styles I always check for rust. Mostly in the trunk area and the rear fender lips.
Also I would have them start it cold to make sure the valve seals are good and it doesn't tick when cold real bad. The 4V heads are notorious for making some off valvetrain noises.
Most of the machine shops locally arent any good or are so good they are backed up for months.
Mechanics have been beaten up by soo many lawsuits and crap like that these days over dumb shit that I cant imagine anyone would want to ever work in that field.
There is no way a build of a modular block, if it is a teksid, should come that close to an Aluminator. If someone quoted me that I would walk out and never speak their name again.
Seriously, an aluminator? Must be nice to be made of money.
Stick with the block you have if its a Teksid and ditch the crank/rods/pistons. You can run a 03/04 Cobra crank with some manley rods and maybe some JE pistons or whatever is popular with Modular guys.