cresing

I am sure this can be done but I guess I just don't know where to begin.

I received an older dell laptop that didn't work correctly and I believe it is a motherboard problem. But anyway, I wanted to take this laptop and gut it and install newer components. Is this possible to do? Would this be an expensive project to try out? How would I go about finding components that would fit in it (motherboard, psu....)? I am sure I could find things to fit because this is a rather big laptop compared to the ones out today. Anyway, if anyone could help me out and point me in the right direction that would be a big help or just to tell me its pointless to even try.

Thanks