What Would You Do?, With a dead fourth gen. Celica GT-S? Options

[Coomer]

What would you guys do with a dead fourth gen. Celica GT-S? Mine has a rod knock, but other than that(and a starter issue), it's a good car. It's a five-speed, loaded with every option, the body is in great shape, no rust or accidents from what I can tell, good brakes and suspension, etc.

The only real problem is the dead 3S-GE engine.

My options are:

1. Sell the car as-is for $4-500. Lose $1,500 or so on the whole deal overall, and not have a beater anymore. (So I'd have to buy one before the next winter rolls around, since my bro will be driving the other fourth gen.)

2. Buy a JDM 3S-GE, and pay someone to put in a new clutch and swap it in for me. I'd replace the timing belt while I'm at it. I'm probably looking at $1,000 minimum, but I'd have a nice beater that would be reliable.

What do you guys think? There's no way I could possibly do the swap myself. I'd get very angry very quickly and probably kill something.

[Coomer]

It is Nik...no wiring changes at all. But I'm mechanically retarded(plus I have a short temper when it comes to mechanical stuff), and none of my friends work on their own cars.

Think you'd be interested in getting paid to do the swap for me? I could bring the engine and tow the car up to Spokane for a weekend.