I agree with the above, but from what I know of you, I'd go with a used engine

1. You've got 2 spare cars, so tex can be incapacitated at least briefly.
2. You've got the tools and know-how (or at least resources) for any engine trouble you might run into.
3. You're paying for someone else's labor by buying Metric, which considering how much we work on these cars ourselves, we're not used to paying for that.

And I don't know what you plan to do with other motor. It'd be cool to rebuild it and swap it back after, or the other way around (buy a used engine, rebuild, swap in). That is, however, also expensive (a fraction of Metric, though) and time-consuming (probably the problem here).

I bet if you exercise proper diligence when shopping, you can score a rusty car with a good engine and possibly make your purchase back by selling stray parts and junking the body (Holland Used Auto Parts in Billerica picked up mine for free). Let me know what you plan on doing.

__________________
1983 240D 3.0T 4-speed manual, now sold

1989 Subaru GL Wagon 5-speed Touring Edition