Are you sure that a 2000 rpm limiter is not a good thing with a teen-ager at the wheel

By "dies", do you mean that when it reaches 2000 RPM, it completely shuts off, or it just stays at 2000 ?

At any rate, for $1000 you have a really good parts car, the headlights alone should bring you $800 or so if they are undamaged.