My JDM EJ205 swap is in serious trouble. Any advice? UPDATE

[HoosierBuddy]

So guys,

I got this JDM EJ205 from JDM Racing Motors. It's in the car and will idle and run OK on my original ECU.

I bought the add on wiring kit from IA Tuning and paid for an etune for the JDM ECU also supplied by JDM Racing Motors. I believe the ECU is from a 2002 WRX with a MT. The new ECU was programmed with a base tune for the engine, but as soon as the key is turned on, the AT OIL light starts blinking indicating a communications issue.

The car is undrivable with the JDM ECU as the transmission doesn't shift right. It winds up too high and then shifts super hard. I swapped the USDM ECU back in and the AT light doesn't flash with it installed and the transmission goes back to shifting normally. The car idles and drives OK on the USDM ECU but it does have a CEL p1491, which is "PCV blow by sensor"...I don't think the JDM engine even has that sensor.

Stephen has supplied 2 tunes to try to correct the "AT light flashing/transmission won't shift right" issue and has now thrown in the towel as he says here "there appears to be a software conflict beyond my remote ability."

NOW he suggests that I should give up on the AVCS, remove the engine from the car, remove the cams, plug the oil holes in the cams for the avcs, and change the cam gears. He tells me without that the engine will be way down on power due to the avcs keeping the cams retarded.

Honestly, I'm as low as I've been in years at this point. I just can't imagine pulling the engine back out of the car. This is my kid's daily driver and school starts in 2 weeks. This project just became a nightmare.

Does anyone have any thoughts here? I'm at a loss.

Phil