update time...
Got the car back yesterday. Good news and bad news.
Good first
The idle problem has been solved! it WAS a vacuum leak.. but not the MAF. its the crank case vent valve.. (i didnt even realize that was part of the air system
) so a new valve and breather hose later it just purrs.
wonderful shop, parts are kinda high, but labor is reasonable so it evens out. best of all they didnt talk down to me
thanks again for the ref Jamie!
BUT
the oil leak that we thought was the oil pan gasket (which he admits he didnt put the correct gasket maker on) isnt the problem. apparently when the engine was removed from the donor car, the junkyard sawsalled through the hose above into the timing chain cover
**bangs head on desk**
the engine is under warranty. for a lot of good it'll do. we called them up today and explained the situation. lot of bs, 'how do we know you didn't do it?" etc.
basically boils down to this:
if we replace it ourselves we null the warranty.
has to be done by a shop, but they wont compensate any of the bill, labor or parts.
we can only trade the engine in for a replacement, no refund.
and they dont seem to care if we go to small claims or not.
le sigh.
decision time again. least we know whats wrong this time, no giant puzzle.