I am interested in replacing my E40D in my 1990 F350 2WD 7.3 IDI with a transmission that is not electronically controlled. I welcome any suggestions, other than leave the E40D in place. I'm new to these forums, and bought the truck about six weeks ago. Thanks for any comments. John.

 

You would need to look for a C6 transmission from either a 6.9 or 7.3 diesel truck (two wheel drive). The C6 is a 3 speed auto (no overdrive) and the torque converter does not lock so your fuel milage would suffer. However it is simple and strong. Just needs the shifter connected, a vacuum supply and a kickdown rod connected.

 

...and you don't even *need* the kickdown rod.

 

why not just go manual with it the ZF5 is better than the auto anyway

 

i know that you said not to tell you to leave the E4OD in place but why do you want to get rid of it? just want to or are you having problems?

If you are having problems with it tell us and we might be able to help.

The idea of a manual trannny in a diesel never really appealed to me but i would say ZF5 over C6. i do like the simplicity of sticks. if something is not going right with them the first part of the trouble shooting process is to look at the person banging the gears.

 

My F350, besides a utility vehicle and a camper-carrier, is an 'Escape Pod', because I am a radiation professional and I am deeply concerned about an Electromagnetic Pulse attack.
If you want to read:
Article: ‘EMP: America’s Achilles Heel’ http://www.hillsdale.edu/news/imprimis/archive/issue.asp?year=2005&month=06 (Link tested and working 09202011)
Congressional Report: http://www.empcommission.org/docs/empc_exec_rpt.pdf (Link tested and working 09202011)
Book: ‘Lights out’ by Crawford. Story about effects of EMP, covering the first three months after an attack, in the San Antonio area.
Book: ‘One Second After’, by Forstchen. Story about effects of EMP, covering one full year after an attack, in the North Carolina area.
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The article explains the effect in simple terms. The Congressional Report goes into more depth. The first book is multiple chapters, and is easy to relate to on a personal level. The second book is more graphic, and is gripping. Both books are emotionally impactful. Because of my Defense Industry background, my knowledge of the reality of the threat caused me to not sleep for about two weeks after I read ‘One Second After’. I have spent about $7k over the last five years on preparations, and the pressure from our government to ‘be prepared’ and associated resources has helped. In my opinion, you should ensure your children have this information. I have provided mine with folding bicycles to keep in the trunk of their car with instructions to Get To Me if the following happens: 1) The lights and power go out; AND 2) Phones don’t work, neither cell phones nor land lines; AND 3) Your modern computer-controlled car won’t start; AND 4) Most other cars on the road are sitting there not moving, some with the hood up. NOTE: At the time these studies/articles/books came out, it was noted that Iran was testing ballistic missiles by launching them out of the atmosphere and detonating them at apogee, as high as they could go, not on impacting a target. That is tailor-made for launching an EMP weapon. Newt Gingrich in Congressional testimony used the term ‘scud in a bucket’ for a missile launched off Houston from a tramp freighter and detonated over the Gulf Coast. It would take about a 100- mile height plus about a 300-mile range to get the weapon high enough to do some EMP damage, and it’s scalable (Larger weapon, more effects, smaller weapon, less effects).
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I was a Defense Industry engineer for 13 years, and a Radiation professional for my entire career. I am chagrined that the transmission on my mechanically injected Diesel is electronically controlled.

 

how are you going to provide power to your FSS if electric power is disrupted? the battery will have to provide 12 volts to it to get the truck to start..... you could roll start it if you had a manual transmission.... not even have the battery hooked up so no power will be going through the lines at the time of the attack and then all you have to do is cycle the key forward. maybe give her a shot of ether depending on temp, get her rolling let out on the clutch and the alternator will generate the power to the FSS and she comes to life right

 

Sounds like you need a C6, that would be easier than ZF5. Like someone else mentioned, the swap should be fairly straight forward. I'm not sure if the cross members are the same or not but everything you need would probably be available for cheap at most big junk yards. The C6, if kept cool, is fairly zombie proof.

 

but not able to roll start which it sounds like you would need should your predicted situation become a reality

 

In his scenario, I think mechanical electrical devices like car batteries, solenoids, relays, and starters would be functional, but printed board type circuitry and programs stored on chips etc would be disabled.

 

Sounds like you want a BOV. Get a manual, then. Keep a good clutch in it, too. A C6 will work if you don't want to modify the interior to install all the necessary controls for a manual. If your vacuum pump goes out, you're SOL with a C6.

Prepping is something we all should take seriously in this day and age.

It really depends on a lot of factors for an EMP to be effective against things like automobiles. It would take a high dose of radiation to penetrate a mostly enclosed by steel box like an automobile. Yes, it is not a perfect Faraday cage but the car does provide shielding around the computer/s. It is not ideal but I think most cars would survive a small EMP attack or ones further away from ground zero. Just my $.02

 

With the E4OD even if the computer gets fryed it will still work in 2nd and overdrive and reverse.

 

could he rig up the e4od to shift by over ride switches in the event of computer failure?

 

No he couldn`t. Failsafe mode will still get you where you want to go.

 

The comments about motors, solenoids, and other simple devices are correct, in that they are resistant to EMP. An EMP signal is very fast risetime (less than 10 nsec), extremely high voltage potential (up to 50kV/m), and low current. So, those devices with poor dielectric insulation or low signal cross section withstanding are most vulnerable, which specifically include just about any integrated circuit or transistor. A mid-90's Ford Taurus was tested on the only remaining operating EMP Field Test site in the country at White Sands, and it was toast. Wouldn't even turn over, no fuel pump operation, etc. That was actually shown on the Discovery Channel. You can put electronics in a Faraday Cage, or treat signal lines with transient suppression, stock spares in a Cage, or just do without advanced electronics. Guess which is cheapest and most durable?
So, a C6, hmm? Plus a spare vacuum pump. and spare vacuum line.
Thanks, guys.
PS...If anyone actually understands the control system for an E40D behind a Diesel, please feel free to comment. From what I understand, the E40D uses a monitoring system to determine RPM and pressures, and the Control Unit actuates the solenoids for gear engagement and change. Not simple. Good fuel management, but vulnerable.