Hey, I GOT your sorry!!!!!! Jamie's got your 6 bro......
It IS finally done. What we found was a bent tube!!! Luckily, I still had the one from the '97 still in the shed! Also the dang bolt and threads of the drain plug we put in stripped (POT METAL!!). So good thing I had a large enough drain pan under it. Pulled the pan, re-drilled and retapped with a one size larger bolt....good to go.
You guys told me how to get the dang thing OFF, but never said anything about how much fun it is re-installing it!!!!! But, it is done...8 lousy hours for 1 bolt. My son says, is EVERYTHING this difficult on a Lincoln! He said it was much easier shoehorning the V8 in his Fiero......LOL