Tach was still there. Everything seemed to work until 1800rpm or so, then just like when it would go to 2nd with the sensor connected, it would lose gear, I would shut it off in nuetral, start, and go a little farther... and well home was uphill so keeping the rpms that low was an impossible thing to do, so it was a fun experiment for those who ended up behind me.. 20 or so starts..
I just took off to find out if it would code and throw on a check engine light, it didn't... so I guess the code readers used weren't up to transmission codes.

 

something about the behavior tells me the input speed sensor is putting out, just incorrectly, as if the voltage range is gone (bouncy speedo syndrome).. I understand the input and output sensors are identical, so I'm going to try pulling,cleaning,switching and see the results..

 

They are not interchangeable.

 

By the way, I know it's been a while since I posted on this, but I wanted to add for anyone who might read it in the future..
I replaced the sensors with brand new ones and well.... no good.. needs a transmission.
too bad for a car I drove less than a tank of gas with but, sometimes I have all the luck..