Replace core search with a fancy Finder form

In the following lines I'll try to explain the steps I took in order to substitute the core search with Finder.
I'll detail my specific scenario (Theme, Finder options, etc.) but bare in mind that it can be adapted to fit anyone needs. I hope this would of use to anyone looking for the same feature.
Needles to say, this is the way I found. There surely are better ways to achieve this.

So, let's start with what I'm using:

• Drupal 6.20
  • Search module Enabled.
  • Search box Enabled. (admin/build/themes/settings/[your_theme])
• Finder 6.x-1.10
  • Finder Autocomplete
  • Finder Node
• Theme: Framework 6.x-3.0

01. Create a Finder form:
Site building > Finder > Add finder
Here you can choose the options that best suit your needs.
My objective was to make the search as much user friendly and cool as possible. Here is what I chose:

• Path: Although it was not what I intended, I guess you can completely override the core search result page by setting this to search/node.
• Provide block Must be enabled.
• Button text: Search Not really needed.
• Show results on results page even before the form has been completed Disabled. This won't work if you are using just a Block.
• Validate empty submission Enabled. This will avoid whole database scanning when nothing is entered in the search field.
• Use submit button Enabled. We will need this.
• Use AHAH on submit button As of bug #1214024: Use of AHAH and a block occasionally breaks theme all AHAH options should be disabled.
• Pager: 0 We will disable paging due to bug #1214028: Pager and Redirect to the only result issue.
• Redirect to result: Redirect to the only result, or show results page if there are multiple results. If you choose any other option here, you won't need to disable paging.
• Hide URL arguments on results page Enabled.

02. Add an Element:
From the bottom of your newly created Finder, add an element.
I used an Autocomplete textfield. You have some other options at your disposal. Just enable them from the Modules page.
Once again, you should choose whatever fits you best. In order to provide the less restrictive experience possible I choose:

• Autocomplete matching: Contains.
• Submit upon selection Enabled. This is cool. =)
• Result matching: Contains.

03. Configuring the block:
Site building > Finder > Blocks
In the block list, locate the block that was automatically created by your Finder. It should be named something like: Finder: [Finder Title]. Once located, click con Configure.
You may want to set the Block title: to <none> here in order to hide its title.
While being here, take note of the URL; we will need it soon. It should like like this:
admin/build/block/configure/finder/finder_1
Go back to the previous screen (Save if you made modifications) and set this block to the Footer region, or wherever it won't bother much. You will find out why in a few lines.

04. Duplicate the block:
From the block list, Add a new block.
Once again, you can set the Block title: to <none> here in order to hide its title.
In Block body: we will use the following piece of code:
$block = (object) module_invoke('[module]', 'block', 'view', '[id]'); print theme('block',$block); [module] and [id] are taken from the previously noted URL. Like this:
admin/build/block/configure/[module]/[id]
While you are here, configure you block to Show on only the listed pages..
For instance, using search/books will show the block on http://yoursite.net/search/books.
You can match this with the Path you defined in your Finder to make the block appear only on the Finder results page.

05. Replace the core search box:
Time to hack into the theme files!
Edit the Page template file (page.tpl.php) from your theme directory:
Example: sites/all/themes/[your_theme]/page.tpl.php
Replace the code where the search box is printed with what we used to create the block.
In my Framework theme, I changed this:
<?php if ($search_box): ?><?php print $search_box ?><?php endif; ?>
into this
<?php if ($search_box): ?><?php $block = (object) module_invoke('finder', 'block', 'view', 'finder_1'); print theme('block',$block); ?><?php endif; ?>
Save the changes and clear you site cache:
Site configuration > Performance > Clear cached data

06. Theme to clean the mess.
Through CSS theming we must make the new search box look pretty and hide the unnecessary block at the Footer. You will need some CSS knowledge for this, but it is somewhat easy and information is available on the web. Also, Firefox and add-on Firebug will be very useful here to know the classes and ids applied to every page element.
Basically, you will need to edit the CSS file for your theme and add the required modifications.
This file will probably be located at: sites/all/themes/[your_theme]/style.css

I won't extend on CSS here, but these are the modifications I made in my Framework theme:

/* I applied the same style that was applied to the core search box */
#header #block-- {
  float: right;               
  margin: 1.3em 0 0;
}

/* Here, I'm hiding the title of the new search box, */
#header #block-- h2,
/* also hiding the title of the right search box (block) */
#sidebar-right #block-- h2,
/* hiding labels from the main search box */
#header #block-- label,
/* hiding the complete footer block */
#footer #block-finder-finder_1 {
  display: none;
}

/* Here I position the main search box exactly how and where I like it */
#header #block-- .form-item {
  float: left;
  margin-bottom: 0;
  margin-right: 5px;
  margin-top: 0;
  position: relative;
  top: 1px;
}

#sidebar-right #block-- .form-item {
  margin-top: 0;
}

That's it! Despite this guide seems quite long, it's fairly simple.
The most tedious part may be to play around with CSS if you are not familiar with it.
Hope someone finds this piece useful.

Please, if you are and experienced coder/themer, don't laugh about my implementation.
I know this is as noobish as it can be. =)

If you have any comments or recommendations, you are welcome!

Hope this is an acceptable place for this; as I have seen guides/tutorials on the issue queue before.
Thanks to danielb for this nice module.
Have a nice day! and excuse any grammar mistakes; English is not my first language.

Almost forgot!
Why do you need an extra block?
When you set the real Finder block to show only on some pages, the piece of code needed to make the Autocomplete feature work will only be loaded on that pages. As we put the Finder form in place of the core search box, we will need this feature on every page.
That's why we secretly load the original Finder block on the bottom of every page, and we need a duplicate to load at the Finder results page.