Sorry to hear about your AOD woes. I'm not sure how much those Level 2 transmissions go for, but you may want to look into a 5-speed swap. Sometimes you can source all the parts for the same price as a "built" AOD. In my past experiences, even the "built" AODs don't have a long shelf life. Perhaps things have changed?

Anywho, check out www.stangparts.com if you are considering a manual transmission. They put together 5-speed conversion kits for a fair price.