Last week I posted this thread about what to keep in an engine swap: click here.

Man, what a weekend. I managed (with the help of a GOOD friend) to pull both engines and get the other one back in the van. Lots of little "adventures" along the way:

Swapping the pan and pickup tube from the van engine...

I got the engine and trans mated up and discovered that the flex plate was different (smaller) on the new engine. The holes didn't line up! SO I had to move the trans out of the way just enough to get in there and swap plates.

Where'd I put those flex plate bolts?

You know how it goes...

I pulled the head on the original engine and it all looked pretty good. It must not be the original engine because it has hydraulic lifters (van was an '80). SO, it may not have been a 120,000 mile engine after all... should I have just tried to get it running smoothly? In hindsight, probably yes. Too late now though! So now I'm just trying to get the whole van buttoned back up.

Thanks for all your advice, guys! And, if anyone needs a slant six block or head, I know where you can get one reeeeeaaaallllll cheap!