Well once again I'm only updating the narrative after I've returned from France to the UK, but I can report that the engine and dolly made it to France and that the plot was successfully unloaded from the van and is now nestling at the back of the garage. It took four of us to ensure that it didn't go careening off down the hill (my house and garage are on a steep hill that also has a sharp bend right where we were unloading), but all was well that ended well.
The rest of the trip - not so much. The van had a major breakdown (clutch disintegrated and took the starter motor, master cylinder, DMF and a gearbox component or two with it) and presented me with a €2500 bill that I wasn't expecting. But nobody died and after all it's only money... We made it back OK and next time I return (probably September) I'll be taking an engine hoist with me.
So the saga continues.
