97 Malibu Transmission should I get a used one?

I made a new thread because this weekend my tranny went from having a clicking noise in 1st to now it has no noises but it does not want to shift from 1st to second. It will eventually but it revs up way to much. I have found that if I shift it manually with the auto then it will shift kinda ok. I did a fluid and filter change and it had some metal and plastic in the pan. This is not good I know. It had 2 round sort of pins that were about 1/2 inch long and a little smaller around than a pencel. Anyway, I know I will have to have it rebuild to the tune of $1600 or either I have been thinking about getting a used one out of a wrecked car. What kind of experence has anyone had doing this? Has anyone ever took out the transaxle on one of these things? I'm afraid to try it myself, cause I don't think I can get the car high enough in the garage at my house to get it out. I have a mechanic that I use for stuff I can't do and he will switch them out for me for $275. Any thoughts on this would be appreciated. Also, does anyone know what other cars besides the cutlass have this same tranny. What other years might fit my 97?
Sorry for the long post and thanks in advance!
Rob

the grand am and alero both will have the same tranny

good luck

I'd look for a used transmission. No codes being thrown in relation to the shift solenoids? Anyway, it wouldn't be cost effective to at all to rebuild the existing transmission