So, getting this train wreck back on track, here's another update....
I knew the transmission was supposed to show up today, but I had no idea the owners from Texas were to be here too! They arrived late in the morning, full of questions about the engine and what happened to the transmission. I did my best to answer and explain. I also found out that they had make it back to Texas by Sunday, so the wife could get back to work.. Great, they need to get on the road and we have no transmission. No pressure...
I got a chance to quiz them a bit on their service habits. Turns out that they've owned the car from 100K on and they maintain that they've had the oil changed every 3k miles.
The transmission showed up just before lunch, so we chained it to the tranny jack and started swapping sensors. After lunch, (1:00) me and our resident rock star (Dave, a 67 year guy that plays guitar, bass and harp, loves rock and blues) started putting it in. By 4:00 I was cruising around on a test drive. Came back, checked the alignment and for leaks. Found one at the transmission cooler line fitting on the (new) radiator and tightened it down. Dave took it for a spin and upon returning, the check engine light, traction control and VSC light came on. About that time the owners showed up... Great... It was a P0430 (catalyst low efficiency bank 2), which automatically kicked on the others. Crisis averted. After some chatting, we sent them out the door and down the road with a new engine (3yr, unlimited mileage warranty) and a new transmission (3yr, 50k warranty) at 5:30 - a half hour past quitting time.
Here are some more pics from the job. Sorry, no follow up pics... Had to stay moving to get it on the road.
Up on the hoist, awaiting a transmission
A view from underneath
From the side (the HHR in the background is also my job - jumped timing chain from a bad guide and no compression on all cylinders)
A little closer view of the engine support fixture.