I posted the other day about maybe buying a 3.0 but it fell through. When I look for older trucks with mileage around 120,000 I like to find 5 speeds to avoid high mileage trans issues. How are the autos in these trucks? Are they prone to any issues? If I can't find a good 5 speed I will settle for an auto if they are stout

 

Like anything else, if the PO took care of it they are pretty stout. I'm the 3rd or 4th owner of my 93 Ranger XLT 3.0 with 4-speed auto overdrive slush box and no problems. Heat kills...so no matter what you buy, replace the juice fully when you get it...along with all the other fluids...and put in an aux. cooler if you plan to do any pulling/towing. Some people do this as a rule of thumb regardless. There's a good description of the trannies in the Tech Section of the Ranger Station site and probably one here in the Articles Section. Would have preferred a five speed in mine, but price was right...upside to an auto is there's no clutch or slave cylinder to deal with. Mine is real easy to service, pan drop and filter/fluid change, or just using the cooler lines to pump out the old fluid for a fluid change.

 

I am just going to be commuting in snow with it for the most part, no heavy hauling or towing. Some trannys just have a bad rep though like the e40d and the 4r100 or what ever they were in the 7.3. I am in the same boat as you I found one priced right but it's auto

 

Well if the price is right and it shifts okay and the fluid looks healthy, might be worth a go. But if you really don't like auto trannies, I'd pass...just wait for a standard to show up on the market.

 

Slightly off topic-I have owned two Ford trucks with the e4od, and I never had an issue with either of them. Don't know if I am just lucky, or not, but I have nothing bad to say about them

Jim