FINAL CHAPTER:
I got the car back today and must say that it is driving very smoothly right now but...........the final bill was even outside the top end of the estimate at $5098.34 as follows:

removal/ install 782.00
overhaul 1380.00
master kit 742.80
used gear train 885.00 from good core
rblt valvebody 950.00
fluid* 218.52
tax 231.11
misc. 5.06
nice customer dsct (100.00)
TOTAL $5098.34

*The thing that scares me most is that he used Mobil 1 Syn ATF @20.37 a qt and 10 oz. of Lubeguard Platinum and told me they find it better than oem and a big savings to me. Everything I've read in here says NEVER anything but OEM fluid.
and I think the OEM is less.
MERRY CHRISTMAS, chris