Would it be easier to get a good working crank and rods and drop it in? Not sure if that is the "correct" way to go, but these things are designed to go for 100,000 miles. He is going to need new rod bearings, bolts, and a access to a good torque wrench the $200 kind to do this.
Id find a running motor grab the whole assembly and drop it in. Would be nice to know what cause lack of oil though. I wonder if the inside of the cases were glass beaded?