Shipping would be anywhere from 20-40 depending where you are. Its cost me 40 from me to jeff and im in BC Canada, which is not to bad really.
And side to side play is fine as there will be NO side to side movement when the pistons are in and the cyls are bolted down. Unless you can move the rods REALLY far from side to side and you can tell its messed, but it aint.
Now, up and down play you want NONE of, i always check at BDC and TDC on both rods, just to make sure there's none at all.