"But at this point it doesn't matter what happened and the REAL PROBLEM is there's holes in my pistons and I can't do anything until I do have a new engine."

You just stated your problem right there. You only get holes burnt into your pistons by running too lean, too hot of a spark or too much advance. You build a new engine and put the same details back on, ie ignition and carb set how they are, you will just burn up the new engine too, it may take ya 50K miles but you will burn it up unless you fix the problem.

Sean