Windstar Transmission interchange

Hi all I have been reading these forums for a few months so I decided to join in. I have a 95 windstar with a 3.8. I bought this van for only $600.00 dollars but it needs a transmission. When I got it the transmission would not pull in any gear. I checked the fluid and it was as I expected dark brown and smelled burned. Also the od light would start flashing as soon as you put it in drive. So I thought that I would change the fluid and filter just to see what it would do. To my suprise it helped. The van went into reverse then into drive and I drove it around the block. After a couple of test runs I felt confident enough to drive to town in it (about 5 miles). That has been a month ago and it will still drive. The only problem is that between 1st and 2nd there is some slippage. I hoped that it would smooth out and I even tried some Lucus transmission additive but I could not tell a difference. I don't fully trust the tranny to make a long trip so I decided to replace it with a used one. I know that this looks to be quiet a job but I feel that I and a buddy can handle it. My question is that I found a transmission out of a 97 windstar. They appear to be the same but I don't know if the PCM will learn the new transmission. Any advise would be greatly accepted and hopefully I'll be able to share some as well. Thanks

I'm not any form of expert on the FWD A/Ts, I suggest you post this question at www.flateratetech.com

These fellas (and a gal or two) KNOW Fords!