Things are well. Don't worry about the body damage. Take care of the tranny first.

Try Ford Honey tranny fluid change.
http://www.contour.org/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=tranny&Number=960062&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=31&fpart=1

"Always do the cheap and easy ones first." 1996 V6 ATX 96K miles