You might want to add your location to find someone local... it'll make it a lot easier.
Also, it's REALLY REALLLLLLY easy to softmod an xbox or install a solderless chip. If you have a half hour and can use a screwdriver, you can install a solderless chip. I understand some people just dont' want to do things like that.. which is fine... but it is really easy. And swapping in a hard drive is just like in a PC. Pull out old drive.. put in new.
Good luck.