94 astro ext engine help

i just got it for free it is a really nice van but the engine acts like there is no oil pump it knocks and rattles and ticks and clanks some bottom end some top end howe do you recomend to pull the motor out of this it is not awd does it come out the front or underneith it is a vorteck i am just going to replace the engine it will be easyer them trying to fix it

Hello - as to remobving the engine, it's the same as with other vans; you'll want to remove the engine cover (inside the van), and remove the entire grill, radiator, etc, until you have room to slide the engine right out the front. There's a little jinking up and down as with any engine removal, but basically you will poke your hoist into the engine compartment, over the intake manifold, (oh, and I think you'll ned to remove the FI to make room), chain it to the motor, lift it a bit to get it off the motor mounts, and roll the thing out the front. Before you get into it, you can do a search in the 'net for "Astro engine swap", or such, and you'll fine several sites from people who have done engine swaps in the vans, and were nice enough to document what exactly they had to do to remove the engine. Have fun.