yeh, right now we pay between $1 CDN/L to$1.30 in eastern canada.
In the US it works out to about $.70 USD/L, which is stupid since western canada has the second largest oil and gas reserves next so saudi. Plus, there are refineries right in alberta

As far as the V8's. They are a dime a dozen. Usually you can pick one up that needs a rebuild for free somewhere, or go to a scrapyard, and you will pay maybe $500 for a running engine with alt.,starter, etc...