It all comes down to what makes you feel the most comfortable.  I hate core charges and shipping as well.

LOL, thanks, but there is no "comfortable" for me when it comes to spending $2k.  It's not easy to get the money, so if anything goes wrong I'm screwed 5 ways from Sunday.

Hate to hear all this Alton, good luck sir and let me know if i can help you in any way brother

Well, just ordered the engine.  I went ahead and ordered a Marshall reman engine with its 3yr/100,000 mile warranty.  I ordered it from a place called Stylin' Trucks for $1467 shipped to my door plus the core return shipping.  Pretty decent price I think.

Just realized after some more reading up that I'm going to need to do a CASE or crank position sensor relearn for the PCM after changing the engine.

 

I found the AutoEnginuity ST06 scan tool bundled with the GM EI02 enhanced interface for $432.  I'm wondering if this is one of those things that should be a no brainer to go ahead and order or if I should just go ahead and take it to a dealer to do the relearn.  I think for the money it would be a silly thing not to get it considering that the van and my mother's Blazer are all GM vehicles this thing could be used on.

 

Any opinions?

Are you changing the ECM or any other modules or leaving the battery unhooked for longer than a couple weeks?  If not, I wouldn't worry about it. 

Really?  Damn.  There's just too much to read, lol.  From everything I've read though, if I don't do the relearn the engine won't run at it's best since there will be (slight I'm sure) differences between all the angles on the cranks, cams, and overall timing between the two engines.  How much of a difference and exactly what extent those differences can have on the way it runs with the computer compensating, I have no idea and can't find anything that really spells it out in great detail.  

 

Hell, I may just run it first, see how it is and make a decision on the relearn then.  I don't plan on having the battery disconnected for any longer than absolutely necessary.  I'm pulling out my 100' extension cord tomorrow and the good battery charger and keeping on the charger until it has to be disconnected, that's for certain.