So, I've got a 210,000 mile 1990 F350 Reg Cab duallie flatbed 4x4 and 4.30's and realizing the transmission (E4OD) may not have a lot of life left in it. Obviously, I've got a couple of options.

1. Remanufactured (with warranty).
2. Convert to manual (5spd was available, would the 6 fit?)
3. And ????

So if I have a little fun and get mine built up (or get one already built) then I'm into plenty of money to afford other transmissions. My question really is:

What 5 or 6 speed transmissions can I make work?

I can't seem to find adaptor plates for the "cool" transmissions, and I can't see spending a ton of money on the E4OD. Thoughts? Input?

Thank you.

 

I think that something like this might be an option for you. Kinda spendy though :S

[url=http://www.compperformancegroupstores.com/store/merchant.mvc?Store_Code=TC&Screen=PROD&Product_Cod e=271601P5&Category_Code=6XFprd)[/url]

 

A ZF5 from another 460 will bolt up, the ZF6 will not.

 

I have one with the 5 speed and I love it. 1st is low enough to pull ANYTHING and OD runs me around 2200 rpms at highway, and I have 4.10s. I would look for a 5 manual. They bolt up easy and last forever. I've even got an extra one if your around NE KS.

 

94BigRed, thank you for the offer! I live in Carson City, NV, so not that close by.

DIYiT, thank you for the link! Yes a little too spendy for me :-(.

Kind of coming back to what I'm finding with the big blocks: 3 tranny options. I am tempted to make a manual work. . .. .

 

Last forever? My truck just turned 90K & the synchros are SHOT-I can't upshift into 3rd or downshift into 2nd without double clutching. And my truck has led a sheltered life-never hauled anything heavy or towed anything bigger than a sailboat or a Jeep CJ. I've talked to several other people who've had synchro issues with the ZF as well.

 

Might be operator error there.

 

Well don't count that E4OD out just yet, I have 250k + miles on one, and it is still going strong. And I do occasionaly tow, up to 15k with it.

Even at that, if you have gotten more than 200k out of your current E4OD, why condem it? I seriously doubt that a manual woould have run that long without some work - IE the clutch, if not syncros also as I am sure that they would be starting to to get weak, IF it is used in the city.

Besides, even as a CDL driver, I could care less to shift, to me it is a meaniless task better serveved by a automoton (although I will admit rowing thru the gears on a buttershift 10 speed RR is nice, but that is NOT what we are talking about here, instead we are taling abour a notchy, long throw MEDIUM duty manual)

Also, the wear and tear that a manual transmission forces on your body is nothing to ignore. I have a long scar on my right shoulder from repairs to the joint from shifting balky medium duty transmissions for years, and am still in pain from the wear and tear that could NOT be fixed. I am in pain as well from my left knee and ankle from years of depressing stiff clutches.

Just food for thought

David

 

???More like a crappy ZF trans! It's not like I'm trying to speed shift the damm thing...

 

While the zf syncro are not bullet proof they are pretty good. My brother has a 94 F250 that he has owned since NEW, has beaten the crap out of, towed with and speed shifted more than half the time and had 250k on the clock. O did i mention, the trans shifts like butter.

I vote operator error as well

 

Thank you everyone for the continued input. dmanlyr, good points all around. Keep in mind, I am not "condemning" it. It has done a great job and not knocking it. Now that it is transitioning to retired life (not really working the truck too hard at all anymore, just taking care of a good truck and adapting it to my newer needs), I don't see it puling too often, or carrying a lot (looking to downsize from the 12.5'x8' flatbed to a 10' as well), so I am cruising down the highway.

If you've ever been to northern Nevada, you'd understand I'm not exactly stuck in traffic a lot so the manual isn't too big an issue other than the fact of switching tranny, pedals, clutch stuff, etc.

So with the thought of keeping the truck for a while, I was looking for a way to get to 5 or 6 gears. Because it lasted so long, it looks like I'm heading back to an E4OD (remanufactured) and maybe gear vendors down the road? I like the 1st 3 gears a lot, I could just use an overdrive. If I could also get better (closer) gear spacing with it, that would be a plus in my mind. Just not any adaptor plates to bolt up a big block to a modern transmission (I think it is obvious transmissions have evolved greatly in the last 20 years).

 

Yes, but OverDrive is still a .70-.76 no matter what year OD trans you are looking at.

Axle ratio may be more of a help

 

While I would prefer to have ZF-5 behind my 460( they are never available when I have been in the market) I have been pleasantly surprised by the E4ODs I have had...........no problems at all.........Maintenance and a BIG external cooler do wonders.

 

Well, this is kind of odd, but i'm posting it as "something else to look into if your E4OD is acting up".
It turns out 1990 was the first year of a merged radiator/tranny cooler. I replaced mine with a similar to stock unit but with metal endtanks (vs plastic). Thought I was going all "big dog" here.
turns out it was faulty (dropped a quart of coolant after I parked it at work) and they (Summit) are warrantying it. I'm using the opportunity to go with a dedicated radiator and a dedicated transmission cooler. This could be a reason why it was acting up to begin with.
as a side note, I have decided that if I replace the transmission it will be with another E4OD.

 

found this while looking for options on trans,

1st the e40d is a great trans after getting rebuilt and gets a bad reputation for the lightweight aluminum gears ford used. mine failed and spilled trans fluid onto exhaust and started on fire. but i got it rebuilt for $3,000 in 2012. its built to handle 40k plus towing. all stainless gears, hard **** kit, upgraded torque converter, large cooler and lots of other add ons that added up. i use the truck for ranch and fence work, and its spends a lot off miles on trails into and out of the throttle and doesn't have any problems, already put 80k hard miles on a trans including towing and still running strong. the factory is the biggest setback on these as they don't work good, i would get better shifts if i upgraded to a add on controller but i got used to its hard shifts and when it shifts and let off throttle a little. i have hit 12% or better grades towing 15k plus and no heating or slippage.

now i have 2 1 tons and both need more gears so bigger trans,

i have a 88 7.3 idi which i am going to try to find a class 3 bell housing for and put at least a 12 speed on if not a 18 speed.

and a 88 460 and need at least a 7 ideally 9 speed trans. any ideas are helpful as there's not a lot of leads or information and not a lot was done to upgrade these trucks, but i need to increase the mileage and torque and high way speed from 55 to at least 65 to keep up with highway minimum laws in some states. 55 is minimum in some parts of the country and on a flat i am lucky to see that, so would be nice to stay off back roads. floor pans, cross members don't matter to me, these frames wont be the same when i am done.