We motor swapped my old E30 in a gravel driveway with a few sheets of plywood.

Quit being a bunch of mancy's.

 

Unknown miles doesn't mean ready to pop. If the headgasket is all that needs to be replaced why go through the extra hassle? If swapping, then don't bother with a 1.8L, just go V8.

Either way, if he has another car to tote around a bunch of plywood, he's at more of an advantage than some of us. I'd personally not waste my time and just start driving the thing. $100 to get it running, and build another motor for piece of mind later down the line when he has his house ,garage, lift, wife, kids, dogs, cats, birds, saltwater fish all ready and sorted.