Haven't been here in a while.
Years ago I did accomplish the van lift maneuver in my garage using a floor jack, but unfortunately did not take pics. Here's how...

1. Unbolt the engine (or subframe?) and using a hoist, lower it onto a medium duty dolly.

2. Erect four 2x6 studs, a pair on each side of the van, and secure (bolt) the upper ends to the garage rafters. Each pair sandwiches a 4x8 cross beam under the van and a series of bolt-holes allows the cross beam to ratchet up the studs as the floor jack is used for a sequence of small lifts. In my ordinary residencial garage, the van acheived the neccessary clearance before colliding with the rafters.

3. Roll the engine away.

Yes, you need to worry about the balance and fail safe issues.

 

I also Believe that taking the engine out from the bottom calls for you to disconnect the Brake lines, A/C lines to the fire wall.
Then when you get it put back together you have to do a whole front end alignment, Brake bleeding job, & a Complete A/C Vacuum & Refill.
Thats why I went the pulling through the front route you don't have to disconnect any of those.

 

Yes, dropping the engine down the bottom means dropping the front crossmember, including all of the front suspension. But I don't think you have to disconnect the AC lines. If you have a rear heater, the hot water lines going to the back have to be disconnected.

Rojostar, I'm glad your method worked, but I would worry about overloading the rafters with the weight of the front end of the van. I'm thinking there would be over 1500 pounds on the front end without the engine, transmission, and crossmembers.

 

The bottom end of the studs were on the floor and the cross beam was supporting the entire van, sans engine & cradle. I don't recall what the A/C situation was but typically on engine pulls I will leave the compressor behind, still connected.

 

I got the full picture now.

So four 2x6 were enough to support the front end of the van? That's good to know.