>Has anyone put together a simple, step by step
>description that fills out the Bentley procedure on how to drop the
>engine/transmission as a unit?

I don't have step by step but these points might help you...

1) Have lots of small buckets/trays/rags to catch coolant.  There are
so many hoses to disconnect, coolant will go everywhere.  Disconnect
ground wire from battery.

Jack up van, 12-18" if you can (so complete engine can clear skirt
after lowering)

I always leave exhaust and intake systems, dizzy etc on the  engine,
easier to remove the whole engine then take it all apart on a bench.

It's pretty straight forward...disconnect all wires from engine to
body/harness, drain coolant, drain oil, disconnect any cooling lines
going to chassis, remove side heat shields, loosen rear heat shield
bolts (don't remove it, it will flop down as you lower engine).

Support engine with cherry picker.  Loosen engine crossbar bolts. (2
on each side)

Use cherry picker to SLOWLY lower engine, check for anything caught
up as you lower it....like wires on the starter etc.

If removing manual tranny at same time, disconnect drive shafts,
shift linkage and slave cylinder, do not disconnect hydraulic lines,
just tie up slave cylinder with haywire.  Put small hydraulic jack
under front of tranny mount, loosen tranny bolts, lower jack slowly
as you lower engine.  It's much easier if you have a helper.

Others can chime in here with their advice...