Save the old girl from the scrappy part 2!

[Mr_PPP]

Following up from my previous post

http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=63359.0

after a heart to heart with my girlfriend on how wonderful the gti is, she is willing to donate £1000 towards it's repair

lucky git aren't I!

anyways considering the work involved to revive it, what are ppl's advice on the route to take with this?

my own thoughts are going with a mk3 bottom end AGG and whacking the pb head on it, how much would i be looking at for a typical mechanic to do this
I'd love to do it myself but truth is i dont have the knowledge, free time, or space to do this so expert assistance is all i can rely on, anyone know of a reputable mechanic in the south glos area they can recommend for this sort of job? im more concerned with just getting the engine running for now and working on the other problems in the future when money allows!  As always appreciate everyones views

[Mr_PPP]

Maybe i wrote too much there, bottom line is i have an 8v that visually is in good nick but the engine which is a replacement has had a ring go, cost wise which makes more sense, repair old, upgrade to a 2 litre bottom end with old head or something else with a budget of a grand? Any thoughts at all entertained! Anyone with personal experiences of the cost of these jobs done by a mechanic?

[DarnPB]

I repaired my engine with new rings and a de-glaze. But I only did that because I am not allowed to do engine swaps in Spain. The thing is, if you buy a second hand bottom end, you don't know the condition its in. Even if you get one from the scrapyard with a warranty, the moment you take off the head, the warranty is gone.
Look out for a second hand engine from a crashed vehicle. Then you know at least that the car was not scrapped because of the engine! Or wait till you find one in the small adds from a car that is being broken, with the engine still installed. You can then listen to it and even do a comp test on it. You can at least make a good assumption before you buy it.
The cost of a mech to do it, I have no idea, but the job to do it yourself seems daunting, but its not as bad as you think. The read the manual...carefully and ask plenty of Q's!