Blown Rod(?)

[alicja malinowska]

For about a half year now, my 93 senta se-r has been making an odd tick-tick
noise from the engine bay. Its been getting worse and a few days ago, the
noise got really loud and the car became undrivable. It would stall at idle
and make ugly vibrations and noises. I took it to the shop and they think its
a blown rod. They want to put in a new engine, which will cost about 1000,
plus another 1000 for installation. So I need a second opinion on a few
things.

Do you guys think it is a blown rod? or could it be just a broken belt or
something else and the shop is BS'ing me?

Is the price for the repair fair? They got the engine from a junkyard and it
has about 80 thousand on it.

Is there even any sense in fixing the damage? I got the car for 2000, but I
put another 1000 in for brakes and paint. Should I just look for another se-r,
because I really like this car. If I get a new car, what can I do with the old
carcass? Sell it on ebay, sell the parts? Give it to charity and write it
off?
Thanks for your help in advance,
Jarek.