[Christ]

I found a Merc 300D parts machine that I may be able to trade a John Deere 285 tractor for, so I'm gonna go for that. It'll cost me about $200 in fuel to get the tractor to the guy and pick up the car, but the end result is that the 5 cylinder diesel engine is charted to be put in this van, along with the 4 speed transmission I have from a 240D [since it's already set up to be cable actuated with external shift levers on the gearbox housing].

At some point in the future, the /new/ plan is to outfit the van with 8-lug axles and front spindles and lower it back to it's original height with the heavier suspension and the diesel engine, then add a Laycock OD unit as a divorce mounted OverDrive. I just hope it actually works out this time, and I don't end up having to back out of the plan half way through it due to things that aren't under my control. Again. :/