What to do next?
 

Having had the car back a few days and putting a few miles back on, I have to say I'm gutted that it's not running as sweet as it used to. Still drivable but with this annoying flat spot at 2.5-3k revs.
Anyway, the garage reckons it will need a new camshaft to fix the issue but they say that would cost as much as a replacement engine?
Realistically, how much would a camshaft cost(new and secondhand) and is it a big job to replace?

120? Get the part and drop it round here, I'll fit it for you :) lol

No idea what it will cost for the part though...

It would be easier to swap the whole head, using secondhand cams is not a good idea imo

Which camshaft do they think needs changing?

Depends if you want to change the head gasket or not surely?

I was just thinking that sourcing s/h cams might be difficult, I'm assuming the garage meant changing both cams.

Should of mentioned its the lower camshaft. Imagine where the bottom of the cambelt is, that attaches to some kind of shaft through the bottom of the engine.
I'm not technical and have lost my Haynes!

Crankshaft you mean.

Fair enough... that does need clarifying...

But, could also be a good excuse to put a vvc head on ;)

Crankshaft? Ah. New engine would be easier there IMO!