With limited funds just get a stock longblock, swap over your new parts and drop it in. Or find a complete motor and drop it in whole. If I were to do anything on that year it would be to install a hardened 4th clutch hub in the trans. before it strips out and you loose overdrive forever.
I wouldn't have a shop rebuild the bottom end on one of these unless they are very familiar with this motor and its quirks. Just slapping new rod and main bearings in it will not do, or it will die again shortly and you will have wasted your money.
Probably had a leaking LIM gasket that wiped out a bearing or wrong grade fuel (MUST have 91+ octane at all times). The MAF code probably didn't help either.
