It really depends on the state of the chassis and drivetrain. If everything else is in decent shape, around $500, max.

I'd also take everything the seller says with a full shaker of salt, seeing as how he managed to throw a rod through the block. I'll put it to you this way. When buying a car that a previous owner has managed to grenade, do you trust that there aren't five million other problems or half-assed repairs?

1998 Eclipse RS-T - Totaled 4/23/09 -
1998 Eclipse GST - Stroked 2.3l, HX40 fed: Build in progress
2010 Subaru Outback Limited

I hate hipsters.