Sounds like busted piston skirt to me and I have done A few however they sounded that way cold also. Not sure how hard it is to pull the pan on 2.5 but that would tell you if you find a piece of skirt. Listen to some busted skirt videos on you tube see what you think. I have done them with the engine in that was 4.0 never worked on 2.5.
I have one but it was for a 89 I think, not sure of what it will fit / I can get some pics, it was in a shed that the roof leaked I will have to check it over.
Buy a trans jack and get A good used trans and do it yourself, AW4`s rarely go bad or look around for local guy who would do the install on the side. If you were close by I would do it for half that.