Is the engine shot?
 

I've got a friend with a 2000 Blazer with a 4.3l Vortec... On his way home his truck started acting sluggish and slow to shift.. Then the motor stopped.. the coolant was overheated and he was 1.5 quarts low on oil...

the engine wouldn't crank for about a week and he left it on the charger and kept trying until finally it started up.. It's making a knocking sound and running rough..

To me it sounds like he seized up the engine and may have, for whatever reason, totally shot his main bearings.. He's not very attentive so I doubt he was watching his coolant or oil pressure gages, so no help there..

Any opinions here? Did he fubar his engine? Anything I could check for cheaper/easier fixes? And which is the better option, engine swap or a total rebuild?

thanks in advance for any help!

ITS dead JIM
Engine swap would be cheaper than rebuild.

That's how i got my 98 S10 SS truck for $1000. Same thing happened to the kid that owned it. #3 rod was bearing was shot. bought a good used motor off of craigslist and installed it myself. Runs awsome bilt the trans whill the motor was out. now i have $1700 in a $3000+ true SS.
Tranzman