I think you'll find the I-6 toyota engine fairly expensive to rebuild and expensive parts too, in comparison to "mainstream" vehicles. I think you would come out cheaper swapping in a old school carb setup SBC 350. [...] If it were me and I had a toasted I-6 engine, I would go with a GM SBC and not look back, but thats only my view. YOu could do a carb setup on a SBC 5.7 fairly cheap.
No way swapping a small block chevy in for a stock engine is cheaper than dropping in a good used takeout 2F. Even rebuilding the 2F vs rebuilding a chevy I doubt the price is substantially different, especially once you factor in changing mounts, adapting things, getting through emissions if required, and what not. Even if you had a junkyard 350 that you were reringing and sticking a cam and lifters in, I doubt that's noticeably cheaper than a takeout 2F.
Okay, I suppose there is one way - a simultaneous visit from the vortec fairy and the adapter fairy...
As far as paying mechanics go, you're more likely to find mechanics willing to work on a truck that matches what alldata says, as opposed to being converted.