Trans code G. I looked it up online and that's the code for a C4.

 

My E350 says trans code G too. It the C6.

Ford Transmission Spotter's Guide .: Articles

 

Thanks for the link, but the list is too smashed together to make a whole lot of sense. In one place it says X tranny from x year to x year and then in another place it says the tranny wasn't even manufactured in the years it previously said the tranny was used.

I need to find a more reliable source than that article or what I found on my own. Some people have tried to tell me that an '89 shouldn't even have a three speed in it, but I know that Ford used multiple transmissions during those years. Just because it has the 300/6 doesn't mean it automatically came with x tranny. Ford is known for making changes in mid-year which doesn't help much when determining things like which tranny my van has. It also doesn't help that they used the G code for both the C6 and C4. From a toughness standpoint, I'd much rather have the C6 than the C4, but losing 60hp doesn't help with the 300/6. If the weather were better I'd have my son get under it and describe the pan (# of bolts) and the bell housing to me. Guess I am just going to have to wait to find out.

Either way, the rear end (3.08) means I will be limited in what I can tow. Since we're not getting that diesel I talked about in another thread, I was hoping this van could maybe be used to pull a camper. I was hoping against hope, but it doesn't look like that is going to be a good idea, regardless of the tranny that's in the van.

I suppose I could look into changing the rear end for one that would be better suited to towing. The manual listed all the rear end options offered for their vans that year and what the towing capacity would be. I think the next one up from mine is a 3.55, but I don't remember what the towing capacity would jump to with it.

I sure appreciate all the help fellas.

 

Aha!!! Cool beans. Looked in the capacities section of the manual and the only three speed auto it lists is the C-6. Glad I got that settled.

Also, even with the 3.55 rear end, the towing capacity doesn't go up with this van. Looks like the only way I can tow a trailer is if it weighs 2000 lbs. or less. That's not much camper for six people to sleep in. Oh well. I guess we're back to looking into an RV.

 

No matter what the manuals says, you can pull way more than it says you can.

But to a certain limit.... you'll need a fairlly big camper to sleep 6 comfortably so the van might not cut it.


Yup an RV is probably going to be better for all of you!

 

you need to get something similar, but with the 351/C6 package. I have an 89 E250 Class B motorhome, that weighs almost 7000lbs. and I get 13-15 in that. You get a 250 with a 351W in it you can tow a 26-28 footer no problem. Won't be fast, but you'll be able to pull it and get decent mileage. That size trailer oughta fit you.

You don't want a Class C motorhome with the 460. Waay bad gas mileage, like 5-7, and it still may not be big enough to sleep 6 comfortably. If you can live with 5-7, then get like a 36' Class A and a 460. They're all over Craigslist right now for less than 5K, because everyone is afraid of gas hitting 5 a gallon.

Oh yeah, mine says trans code G too, but it's a C6. Only Ford knows why....

 

Heres my camper, it gets on average 11-12mpg! It is a diesel with the C6 though, and good luck finding one, there like trying to find a needle in a hay stack!

It's 26ft, and sleeps 6 and eats 6, it is very well layed out inside so it may sound small for 6 people, but it is very comfertible being 6, we were 6 in it for a long weekend last summer.

 

Without a doubt. I've hooked on to stuff with Fords I had no business hooking on to and on down the road we went. Fords are almost always under-rated. However, I try to be extra careful when it comes to things that involve my family. The last thing I want is to end up on the side of the road with my wife and kids. KWIM? I'd rather pull less than what I know it can do than exceed what the manual says and take a chance on a breakdown.

 

Nice. We've seen a few of those on CL, but they've all been 460s. Screw that. As much as I like Fords, I'd take a 454 Chevy over a Ford 460 any day, at least as far as mpg is concerned. I had a van that had a 460 in it back when gas was $.99 a gallon. Even back then I couldn't afford to drive it. That crazy thing got 5 mpg! I also had a Camper Special with a 460 in it for a short time. It got about 7 mpg!

 

We talked about that last night. We've had a couple of those old church vans with the 351 H.O. before. In fact, I used one to pull the trailer I had when I was junking for a living, so I know they can handle a heavy load just fine. If I could find one with all the side windows tinted, we'd probly get it. Those old church vans usually have pretty low mileage on them too.

As a side note, I was showing my son some pics of van dually conversions yesterday. He actually thinks it would be cool to have a van set up that way. LOL! You gotta understand that he's 18 and absolutely hates driving our van when we send him out on an errand for us 'cause it ain't kewl enough fer him to be seen in. However, he has no problem whatsoever getting into his truck that's been tipped over on its side, put in a ditch, and has dents all over the place from him and his irresponsible ways. That POS is plenty kewl but our van isn't. Hehehehe!

 

Hey John, she's in great shape for her age! Wanna sell her?

You're right, finding B's and C's with Diesels is next to impossible. I've heard that a few like mine came with diesels, but no one I've talked to has seen one in years. I see an occasional C with one, but not often. These are older units I'm talking about (70s-80s).

I love Fords, but man that 460 is just too much. They made B's with them and you can't give them away now. I am so glad I found one with the 351W in it. Only thing that might make me give up my B is if I could find the same one with a diesel.

Edit: Anyone think it's time to start lobbying for a Ford-based motor home sub-heading in the forums? Seems there's at least a few of us on here.

 

Your not the first one to ask me if shes for sell. I could never sell it, cause I know I'll never find another one like it! I bought this one 10 years ago with only 125,000km (78,000 miles) on it and i've had my fair share of problems with it for the first 3 years, i've had to do injectors, Injector pump, head gaskets, and man head gaskets aren't funny to do in a van! Especially when the heads are 125 pounds each! but after working out all the bugs and little issues with it, it's been trouble free for the past 7 years, and 100% problem free for the past 5 years, (i've had some problems with the old original fridge but finally got tired of it and bought a brand new one).

Last summer we left for a 9 week vacation to California and visit along the way, we did 17,000km (11,000 miles) in 9 weeks! Not a single problem! I had to do 3 oil changes my self during those 9 weeks, I would buy a baby bath from thrift stores for like a dollar and I'd use it for an oil pan, and I did my oil changes in parking lots

Yeah any diesel camper, especially the older ones like ours are impossible to find, I do remember seing one for sell on my area last summer, was a 28 footer though, same year had a 'lil bit more mileage and was for sell for 18,000$! Only took a week and it sold.


A 460 in a B camper I find is a little overkill, a 302 or 351 will do perfect in a camper van. I have seen my self a couple with 300 straight 6's in high top camping vans like yours! I found that pretty awesome! Wouldn't be the fastest thing, but you can defenentlly depend on it for anything!!



And Rico:

I'm gonna be 18 soon and you wouldn't believe how it be an honor to me to drive a van like yours! I've been looking for a full size Ford van 1975-1991 now for a while, never found one I like or was in decent shape! Friend of mine has an '88 E150 EFI 300-6, C6 and he loves it, it's flat black with a nice red interior! He says it's hard on gas, but he can afford it so he doesn't care.

I'd love to have one of these vans with a 3 speed on the column or 4 on the floor, but still would settle for an auto.