ok,
I've decided to go with the d16y8, found a 30k engine for $600...
And me and my little bro are going strip down and rebuild the one w/ the bad rod.

Really wanted to use this opportunity to mod the car... thought about going light weight fly wheel and a nice clutch since that has to be replaced anyways...

we'll see, it's gonna take me a week to cash in some stuff to pay for this... I'll look around for cool mods in the meantime!