2.7T-4.2 engine swap
 

I just bought two cars. One is an 01 with a 4.2 in it. It was in a head on collision. The motor still runs. Just cosmetic damage and possibly frame damage.
The other is a complete 01 with a 2.7T that the motor is bad. Bent valves.
I know pretty much nothing about Audi's, only reason I bought is cause I got both cars for under a grand.
I need help understanding if I can swap the 4.2 into the 2.7 body, or would it be better to put the front clip on the 4.2 off the 2.7?
Or if any of you have more ideas I would appreciate it. I have little money to play with but I have some for sure.

I failed to mention they are both automatic.

We need to know more about your confidence considering tackling this, because either way could turn out well. swapping the front clip can take as little as an afternoon, and boom you;re done.

If I was in your situation, here is how it would play out. I would pull the front bumper and headlights off the damaged car, and inspect the structural damage. If it looks like the part that the radiator support bolts to is in tact and not crunched, you are in luck. If the car was hit dead in the front, you have a good chance of this. But if it hit more to one side there is a chance that it could be bent. The condition of the radiator should tell you if you have a bent frame.

If the frame looks pretty good, I would be pulling the front clip off the 2.7t car, and seeing how well the radiator support lines up. If the bolt holes do not line up well, then your frame has been bent in the collision. If it lines up well, then I would begin assembling the front clip to see how good it all looks, and possibly have a finished car.

Good luck with the project!