Re-conditioned Engine

My Bug is seriously ill - and she needs to undergo a major operation to replace her crankshaft.

She's still under life-support at the moment.

:cry

I'm weighing the options of having the existing engine re-built (for the list of things to be repaired sounded like it), or getting a re-conditioned engine.

Does anyone has any experience to share with me, and whether it's wise to re-built the engine, or get a re-conditioned ones ? What do I look for, or need to consider ?

Also, where in NSW / Australia can I find a re-conditioned engine, and how much will it cost me roughly, to purchase one ?

I'm based in Sydney - more specifically, Thornleigh.