My 16 year old's first car!

[CoogarXR]

Could you just pay somebody to put in a used transmission? I bet a local mom-n-pop type shop wouldn't charge much for a relatively easy job like that. At least then your son could drive it then, and fall in love with it, and in turn rekindle his desire to fix it up.

Plus, if you decide to sell it, a car that can be driven home obviously sells WAY better than one that needs towed.