What should I do with this engine

[Porkchop]

Okay, I bought my 69 chevy four years ago with the intentions of restoring it, but with the lack of help, time, skills, tools, and now money, this truck has made no progress at all. It sits with the interior almost gutted, the bed off, the doghouse off, and rust rust rust. I had no real aim of where to go with this truck until this summer. I tore it down to its current condition and figured out what I wanted. Well with no welder and as it turns out, the skills to weld, I can't fix this thing. I have tried welding at the school shop, but I just don't have time and if I hadn't seen others do it, I would swear its an impossibility. There is no chance whatsoever of working on it afterschool. If I do this thing, I want it done right and to look decent. So that means painting the frame, fixing ALL rust, and of course the engine bay would have to be beautiful. I came to grips with the fact that I could't paint the body or spend alot of money on the frame. I went over it in my head and decided that I can build a solid truck with a decent drive train, and later upgrade it. Well, that has since gone out the window. I have chosen an expensive college to go to ($25,000 per year ), and all of a sudden every penny counts. ( not that I was careless with money before) This truck just isn't going to happen. No chance. I "have" the money to finish it the way I want, but I should really save it. Sure, I could slowly do small things to it, but there is one more factor to this drawn out story. I already built a $3000 vortec 355. That's right, the cart is before the horse (or maybe it isn't Hmmmmm.....). This thing has been sitting in my garage for a year and it NEEDS to run. So, my question for you all is, what can I do with this engine? I suppose I could toss it into the chevy and piece the truck back together, but I don't think that is possible. I went crazy with the oxy-acetylene and cut every single rusty bolt and carved out room for all the patch panels. The core support for the radiator won't even go back on. As it sits, it isn't even safe to sit in. So, if I were to do it this way, I would end up spending alot of money and time just to get it running that it would be close to a decent restoration anyway. And as we all know, if you fix one tiny thing, you're going to want to go further and further and further, thus spending more time and money. I don't plan on selling this truck (as a matter of a fact, I REFUSE to sell this truck....or what's left of it)

However, I do have a Ford (I know I know.) It is a 69 and is in great shape for a Michigan truck. The paint is in fine condition and so is the body as far as rust goes. The interior is also great. Sure, these things wouldn't qualify as "restored/show condition" aspects of the truck, but they aren't so bad that they require alot of time, money, or work. So what do you think about putting the engine in this? Yes, I know I am probably asking for alot of trouble, but I don't know what else to do. Maybe you guys could do a cost comparison between fixing the chevy and dropping the 350 into the Ford. (I suppose I could just use the tranny out of the chevy for the time being)

So, what do you think? Which would cost more? Which will take more time and skills? I can describe the work that is required on the Chevy more if you want. I really want your opinions.
One last thing- I really want to avoid selling anything. I ALWAYS here regrets about selling first cars, and I don't want to live in regret. I am EXTREMLY sentimentally attatched to old cars (it tears me up to watch movies in which they wreck classics). I just can't sell the chevy, ford, or the engine, and I don't think it would be financially wise to let a (or even sell) an engine I spent $3000 to build.
Thanks for ANY opinions
brad