Need 2002 Honda Civic advice

So my neighbor came over while I was washing my car late this afternoon. She very recently lost her husband to cancer and isn't doing well. She has 5 grown children, the youngest of whom lives with her. Neither of them are car "people". The son drives a 2002 Honda Civic EX that now has issues. ~98k miles currently.

From what she could tell me, they recently replaced the battery, the radiator, some window motors and other smaller items. Then, while she was back at work for the first time since her husband's passing, her son calls and tells her the check engine light is on and that the car is "shuddering" terribly. He limped it to a local car lot where the widower knows the owner and his diagnosis is that the engine block is cracked (remember...I'm getting all this 2nd hand from a non-car person).

So...she's asking for my help in deciding what to do. Not knowing much about Hondas, I turn to you folks. If the motor is truly broken, would it be terribly expensive to have a pulled motor installed? I would think there are thousands of those motors around. Then again, I'm not sure exactly what is wrong with the car.

Regardless, I think money is an issue so I really want to help her out with the most cost effective solution. What do you all think that is?

Doubtful its a cracked block but you have to see first hand.those engines are pretty tough. Getting a replacement shouldn't be too hard since the D17 is unloved.

Mine had 165k on it when is sold it. I did nothing to it but oil changes; if they cracked the block it must have been nearly on purpose. I would guess something else, like a head gasket which has been known to happen.

"Shuddering" could be anything from a toasted head gasket to a screwy transmission to a misfire. Those Hondas are pretty tough, chances are it's something small.

Thanks for the ideas so far. I'm going to investigate the issues further and see if the motor really is toasted.