KNOCK ON WOOD... we warmed the van up, put a little transmission fluid into the  oil filler ran it for 10 minutes. Then we changed the oil and filter, put in 5/30weight... drove it for abiut 15 minutes and it sounds just like a sewing machine!! It feels so weird right now there are just  a couple of loose ends to do ( lube the slider,  make some props to help hold the  hatch up now that we have the Fiamma rack) but everything seems to be good on the mechanical end -- wow-- it's like when your baby has it's first  full night of sleep...

thanks so much for all the help!

susie