jbroxton, I'd like to see that link you referred to in your post. I'm sort of in the same boat. I've got a 2000 Windstar with 156K miles that the tranny's slipping in and a motor that's eating about a quart of oil every 2 weeks. Still feels tight and has plenty of power but pings when it's under a load like a hill. If I'm going to pull one, I may as do the other at the same time. Like you, I'd like to go to a newer motor. How hard was it to drop the engine out the bottom? I've got all the tools except an engine hoist. A can buy one of those. I never met a tool I didn't want.