wrote

Forget the aquisition cost - it's the maintenance/rebuild that kills
you. Certified parts are pricey. An average auto conversion can be
zero timed for the cost of doing one jug on a "real" aircraft engine.

Right. You could overhaul to new a auto engine conversion every 500 hours,
and still be money ahead.

In reality, you probably will be able to go to well over 2,000 hours with a
auto engine that has been flown frequently, at reasonable power outputs,
without problems.
--
Jim in NC