car question: transmission replacement

[iamme]

let me preface this by saying i'm a car n00b, so if i'm talking nonsense, please forgive me.

dilema: my mom's 1997 lincoln continental's transmission is shot. it went out on her in the driveway and wouldn't even shift into park. it had to be towed to a repair shop. the local repair place said they can rebuild ($$$) or find a used one. they weren't able to find a used one, but i found a 2001 continental transmission for sale locally (~30K miles they say, according to the s/n and VIN). will this work in her car? (they just closed so i can't call them until tomorrow) the pics of the different years look the same (on the outside), but of course that could mean nothing

 

[Iron Woode]

maybe.

depends on how much computer interaction there is with the 2001 vs 1997. Physically it will bolt up, but whether it will play nicely with your car is unknown.

Try a transmission shop and see what they say.

 

[DougK62]

Doubtful that it'll just be "plug and play"...and "plug and play" is all that shops will deal with.

Keep looking.

 

[ButterflyHugs]

Find out the engine specs and check out www.car-parts.com