I think from what I just looked up, most of the 4 speed trans are the same,
even in the V6 trucks, so I would save your $$ and get a used low mile one
from someone, you should be able to pull it and replace it for tons of cash
less than what you were quoted, and no, I have never heard of a trans
spitting gear parts, either you got lucky, or the PO abused it somehow and
unloaded it before it nuked.
By any chance was it a motorhome pusher???
Wild