dropped the pan to install new filter and shift kit and fluid.
behold a steel pin, ball ended apparently centerless ground 1/8"X 1&5/16" length eas laying in there??
a close examination (and lighted well) before and after pulling the VB seems to show no place this pin would fit?
I've accessed online VB builds and nowhere does this pin show up - anyone w/an idea?

 

I once pulled a pan on an Econoline van and found a plastic ball-shaped thing with a rubber O-ring around it and a pin sticking out of it. I found out that this thing was installed in the dipstick tube during production to keep stuff from falling down into the transmission - when the dipstick was inserted, it pushed the ball-thing all the way through and into the pan - it had apparently gone ~12-years without a fluid change...

As for that pin you've found - I've no idea...

 

thanks for reply Furyus this was mentioned on another forum's thread. so far no idea where it came from as I accessed a diagram of the a4ld VB and no part of that such is shown?
also I checked/looked over the tranny with a strong LED light after I pulled the VB off - no sign of a missing pin?
anyone? I'd hate to button this tranny back up to discover it's a simple part missing? got me stumped

 

I found one in my 5R55E on its first pan drop & heard the same dipstick plug explanation.

 

I wouldn't think a dipstick plug would be made of steel and only be 1/8" diameter, though - unless whatever it was attached to disintegrated...

However, I would think that if the transmission has been working fine with that pin in the pan, then it's probably nothing to worry about...

 

Ask for a part ID on the FTE tranny forum, or maybe run it by a trusted tranny shop, or Ford Dealer that has an in house tranny man & see what they think.

 

this appears to be the pin from the modulator. the spring I have'nt found yet.