Put your location in control panel so we know where you are.

 

Well, here's the damage report. The motor was knackered with a spun rod on the crankshaft, I took the heads to the machine shop and had them rebuilt, and got a junkyard lower end. After an epic garage battle and thanks to Atlantic British for the videos - seriously I couldn't have done it without them - all back together and runs great.

Now the transmission: I seriously thought about just pulling it with the motor out, but hoped to get lucky. Unlucky! I drained the fluid, it looked and smelled fine. Dropped the pan and swapped the filter, not an unusual amount of gunk in the bottom. All back together and the trans "whines" like a bad power steering pump from about 900 rpm to about 1100 rpms. Not super loud, just enough to be slightly annoying. It shifts smoothly and feels great, and makes no noise above or below that range.

Any bets on how long it will go? Emminent failure replace now or should I just let it run?

It is about the nicest D2 I've ever seen.

 

 

I believe so, the noise is there whenever the vehicle is running, park neutral or otherwise. I think that rules out the converter?

 

Also, I did not remove the torque converter, just unbolted it from the flex plate.