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My next job is to put an engine in our 2003 pontiac Montana. My daughter called Wednesday evening to inform me that the engiine was making noise. When i got there, noise was a little bit of an understatement. It starts and runs, but doesn't have enough power to move. I've found a used engine, headlight assy. and turn light to resplace the one that was knocked off in a parking lot incident. If I can find a seat base to replace the broken seat back adjuster I hope that the van will last them through college. I have to go to Virginia to repair and pick up a 1994 Buick LeSabre for the other one. I thought babies were expensive whet these two showed up. All of this is on top of over $400.00 for two prom dresses. Anyone have a spare few thousand they don't need?

Oh what I have to look forward to
That van engine might be some kind of fun. You gut those from underneath, don't you?

This one looks like it can come out the top. Since I don't have the headroom, I hope that it will come out easily.

Good luck with the kids. It sounds like home around here too. I have one in college that we just bought a new/used car for and one doing the prom thing. At least he wont need a dress!

After all the headaches and heartaches of the past 5 -6 months, I finally have time to start on the engine swap. I've been working on the used engine I purchased in April and just got every thing done to it that I wanted. I moved it over to my sisters house last Tuesday and got it up on stands to get started, but when I hooked up my compressor only to blow the electrical in the garage. I got to spend today replacing a fuse box with a new breaker box and tie it in to the garage power. alking about Murphy's law, I think Mr. Murphy has taken up residence with me. HJ, you were right, the whole drive train has to come out the bottom, just another headache to deal with.

Well it sounds like a productive long weekend. You were able to work on many things needing attention. Now to work your way back up to the top of the list

Murphy has taken up residence in the van! After getting the engine in and running, I kept getting 3 transmission codes. After further investigation, I found four pins bent on the transmission side of the wiring harness. When I finally got the harness out, I found that part of the connector had separated from the transmission part of the plug and came out with the male part of the connector. If everything goes OK, I should be able to get the van on the road tommorrow.

Friday I finally got everything finished. After checking all of the lights, wipers, and all other items for state inspection, new sticker on and a few miles road test, I finally gave it the OK for my daughter to take. It runs better than it has in a few years. New headlight capsules and new front bulbs in the front lights, should be good to go for the next year or so.

A weight off your shoulders?

Very Large weight. I made sure to text her to remember to keep check on all fluid levels, I'm 95% sure that an incident about a year and a half ago involving not keeping check on the antifreeze led to the engine swap.