There is no real cheap way of doing this conversion due to the parts required. He could buy an ST205 halfcut, and will pay a premium for such, along with haveing the issue of still having to source a gearbox to suit his FWD platform. Advantages of buying a 205 halfcut are that more areas of the conversin become "plug and play" (ie, wiring looms) than any other option, and he can offset the halfcut price with parts sales fr0om the cut that he can't use in his FWD platform.
He could also opt to buy a SW20 3SGTE MR2 halfcut, which would see him obtain the required gearbox with the halfcut - but this option will require extra work elsewhere (eg, shifter assembly needs to be swapped to suit RWD to FWD orientation, and general engine plumbing), and the wiring is not as easy to meld into the body loom.
He can also cut corners by using cheaper gearboxes, different intercoolers, second hand parts (ECU's, onsold long motors, ...), but this will always be a compromise, and not one I'd take if it was my car. Assuming he can do the spanner and electrical work himself, including the price of either halfcut plus the incedentals he'll need to address, he's still looking at around 5-6K to do the conversion.
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