Stop in for a cup of coffee

Thanks Tim.

I've set a deadline for this week to pick a course of action

Option 1 - Go to the Ramen diet and get the 273 built

Option 2 - Pull the /6 and figure out what's broke... maybe cheaper repair ... but still have to un-F$!% the transmission

Option 3 - Find a running motor someone is selling which will be a relatively simple swap with current setup
need to check your local pull a part, usually get 318s for 200 bucks out of wrecks that run