1995 Auto Trans gave up

My trans suddenly gave out. I have 92k on her and I was leaving work, doing about 55mph, let off the gas, coasted down to 45, hit the gas again and the motor just revved. Dropped it down to D3 same thing. Slowed to 10 and put it in D1 and still nothing. Stopped, tried going in reverse, nothing. The only thing that works is the parking lock, every other gear selection is neutral. I had it towed to a buick dealership that I have family working at. He looked it over, said everything on the outside of the tranny is okay but the inside's F'd. The only other car I have available to me in my price range (I own an escort, obviously i"m broke as a joke) is a 1978 Buick LeSabre with a 455.... :uhoh: So I'd kinda like to fix the escort.

I just had new shocks/struts whatever put on the car, realigned, new tires, rotors, brakes, wheel bearings, cyl head, timing belt and windshield. The cyl head was free, mechanic broke mine somehow when changing the timing belt. The suspension work I just did over the summer and just had the brakes and windshield replaced 2-3weeks ago, again free from an insurance claim after a dumptruck lost his gate latch and poured rocks all over the highway..

The car has only 92K miles and runs and drives like brand new. I had no problems with the transmission before this. I bought the car 2 years back for $400 after it was considered a total loss from an ins co. due to slight "frame" damage (minimal body damage, hit on pass rear 1/4 panel, big dent, no broken glass)

I'm not particularly fond of this car but it's given me 40k miles with no complaint. I had everything fixed because I had planned on selling it before it hit the big 100K mark. Now I'm in a bind. I decided to go back to college so my income has been cut down to less than half while assuming an additional $8k/yr tuition cost. I got a quote of $750 to replace the transmission from a trans shop nearby. That's quite steep but considering the condition of the rest of the car, I couldn't get a better car for $1500, anything in that range would also need repair.

I'm very mechanically inclined but have never done anything with auto transmissions. I've replaced and repaired many a manual trans on motorcycles, not that that would help me any in this case. But I can get a junkyard unit for $70 if I pull it. How hard would it be to replace the trans myself? I've replaced one trans in a mazda RX7 but that's rwd.

Do I pay the $$$ to the trans shop?
Do I junk the sexcort?
Do I attempt to replace it myself? (I don't have a gooseneck but do have a homemade overhead crane that I use for motorcycle engine swaps.)

And what year transmissions would fit into the 95 LX 4D hatch?

I'd have the shop replace it. Lot of miles left in your car :smokin:

I take it DIY tranny replacement is too hard on the scort?