[scuderia]

been looking around the last week or so and it would seem that you can find a decent motor for no more than a grand... just make sure you can hear it run before you purchase and do a compression test and or leak down. lots of guys pulling decent motors for LS swaps out there. Be patiant and good luck.
If you aren't stuck on an 8 there's a lot of straight sixes out there for a few hundred $$. Check the for sale section good guys here on the forum.