[12Ounce]

I think perhaps you should cut your losses and walk away. Life's too short to worry about something .... that you really don't want to worry with.

If you have to pay shipping back for the salvaged engine, ... so be it. To fix this car: You need a local someone who can advise you, someone not only "trustworthy", but someone who knows his "mechanical stuff". A rare person. He may not exist for you. So what!

You have other interests. A car should be transportation, not a headache. Get rid of the car the least costly way you can find.