few questions about a 1990/1991 turbo eclipse

[Motivation]

one of my neighbors just got kicked out of the airforce, and he has a 90, 91 mitsubishi eclipse turbo, it has the flip up lights, integra style hatch, and sorta solid brake light panel across the back. not sure what year that is. well it hasnt ran forever and it needs alot of work so instead of paying to get it towed on his move out date, he asked his neighbor to hold it and said he would have a salvage place come get it or have it towed to him that week. its been 3 weeks and the neighbor hasnt heard from him, so he said he is going to give it a few more weeks and if he does hear from him, he is just going to get rid of it. so i said ill buy it if he doesnt hear from him and he told me i could just have it (i guess here if somethings been left on your property for over a month you can do whatever you want with it).

i just want to look into a few things first, from what he said the kid was going 120 and tried to shift but his brothers knee hit the shifter at the same time and he went into 3rd gear. i dont really know what kind of damage that would do to this but i imagine it is ALOT. the guy said the head was cracked, but the only crack i seen was was the valve cover, im sure if thats cracked there is more. if thats really what happen, what else could this have messed up? im guessing this would cause motor and tranny problems. what do motor/trannys for usually cost, or is there any chance it could just need a new head? just trying to see if it would be worth trying to fix or just part it out and let some scrap yard buy the shell. the car isnt in bad condition, just needs some interior peices, paint job, and whatever motor work from what i can tell

That must have been a tall mofo to have his knee hit the shifter into third when he tried shifting to fifth...

There is no telling what is really wrong with it. Depending on who you know, you can get an engine/tranny for a good deal. They are good cars if maintained, but it just depends if you want to put the time and money into it. If the shell is in good condition, I am sure you could sell it quickly to someone looking at building one.

[Schugg]

That must have been a tall mofo to have his knee hit the shifter into third when he tried shifting to fifth...

There is no telling what is really wrong with it. Depending on who you know, you can get an engine/tranny for a good deal. They are good cars if maintained, but it just depends if you want to put the time and money into it. If the shell is in good condition, I am sure you could sell it quickly to someone looking at building one.

yeah i think the kid was just a dumbass and tried to come up with some story to cover it. out here i dont really know anyone, whats a good deal on these types of motors? i dont know anything about these cars so i my sure what im looking into having to spend. if it ends up being alot ill probably part it out or toss it on craigslist. thats if.....my neighboor doesnt try to jew me and get it. a while back i told him i was waiting to hear from the guy cause he said he was going to just give it to me. then today he comes over asking if i think that guy will sell it to him. and i was like wtf, did i not just tell this guy i was trying to get it! that would piss me off if he pulled that on me.