[merc81]

What's wrong with a rebuilt long block for $1880 and a 100k/5 year warranty?

If you do any sort of web search you will find that $1900 is pretty much the going price for the long block and that includes shipping. Your choices then are all about warranty and trust.
I have purchased two longblocks so far; I see it as an investment in what amounts to a new car with a better warranty than I could get from any dealer.

So long as you know you can keep the rest of the van up to standard, I'd go with a longblock replacement anytime.
John