My first choice would be a salvage yard, and have them do the install. Salvage yards are in the business of making money, and aren't going to install a transmission they aren't sure of. It will be one they actually saw drive and will have new fluid and filter. Most will give 90 days or more warranty, as well as some history of what it came out of, the VIN, and its mileage. Think of it this way. It was used the day after it drove off the lot in 2000, and has been used ever since. A good used one could set the clock back a long ways.
Caveat! If you buy a used trans from a salvage yard to have someone else install it, all bets are off. Salvage yards warranty is then only to replace the part, they will not pay labor. In those cases they often yank a tranny off the shelf they know nothing about. If it works, they win. If not, you bring it back to exchange it and they still win. Have them install it, then they have to eat the labor. And read it again, they are going to put in a good one because they dont want to eat the labor.
I started out working in a Transmission shop, and oh man did it ever open my eyes. Virtually all rebuilders, including AAMCO, are a racket. They use used parts to fix transmissions, including reusing clutch discs, and charge new prices and tell you (sell you) its a complete rebuild. You get a used transmission that is basically "fixed. They can offer a lifetime warranty because they have so little invested while they charge quite admirably.
Ask the dealer for a quote on a factory reman. It might be expensive, but if you can live with it, Ford will back it for quite a while. But again, calling it a reman might be a stretch. Its just a bigger facility using used parts over to make a working transmission. Though AFAIK they do replace clutches and seals with new.
You could probably have several used ones installed before you would pay for a reman. Just sayin.
Caveat! If you buy a used trans from a salvage yard to have someone else install it, all bets are off. Salvage yards warranty is then only to replace the part, they will not pay labor. In those cases they often yank a tranny off the shelf they know nothing about. If it works, they win. If not, you bring it back to exchange it and they still win. Have them install it, then they have to eat the labor. And read it again, they are going to put in a good one because they dont want to eat the labor.
I started out working in a Transmission shop, and oh man did it ever open my eyes. Virtually all rebuilders, including AAMCO, are a racket. They use used parts to fix transmissions, including reusing clutch discs, and charge new prices and tell you (sell you) its a complete rebuild. You get a used transmission that is basically "fixed. They can offer a lifetime warranty because they have so little invested while they charge quite admirably.
Ask the dealer for a quote on a factory reman. It might be expensive, but if you can live with it, Ford will back it for quite a while. But again, calling it a reman might be a stretch. Its just a bigger facility using used parts over to make a working transmission. Though AFAIK they do replace clutches and seals with new.
You could probably have several used ones installed before you would pay for a reman. Just sayin.
,