ajsimmo wrote:All the ancillaries will swap over from your old engine to your better engine. It's really the van that's early or late, the core engine is practically similar and interchangeable.
As Andrew says the core engine is pretty much identical from a point of view of fitting all the cooling system, ignition, carb, fuel pump and all the other ancillaries.
The main differences are inside with the crank bearings and little things like some internal case mods to allow a 2.1 to be made with the same case and an extra oil pressure switch. Also I read the metalurgy of the head studs was changed to reduce the rusting problem.
When rebuilding you are more interested in early or late because of the internal differences but from your point of view either will be fine.