Picked up a low-mileage 95 E4OD to put in my 52 F3. (Checking numbers online indicates this was from Lightning truck.)

Is this plastic plate covering VSS receptacle?

 

That is a plastic plug to plug the hole in the tail shaft that the VSS would go if the vehicle it came out of had to have it there, the vehicle that the transmission came out of its VSS was probably on the rear differential.

You should remove the tail housing to make sure the output shaft has a gear on it for a speedometer before installation.

 

so you're saying that it may not be enabled internally (that is, just because it is there, it won't necessarily work). i thought the VSS was a hall-effect deal, not gear driven... guess i need to look into it more.

here's my issue:
i'm putting a 5.8 and E4OD from a '95 F150 into a '52 -- using the '95 wiring harnesses. the VSS is on the rear axle, but it goes to the PSOM unit first (integrated speedo) to condition the signal, then on to the PCM, then back to the tranny to control shifting. maybe i just haven't talked to the right people yet, but it seems like the PSOM part isn't going to work with aftermarket speedos, so i was wondering about running a second VSS off the tranny direct to an aftermarket speedo, and let the rear VSS and PSOM control the tranny as intended.

anybody have any thoughts on this?

 

Some E4ODs had a gear to run an old style cable driven speedometer. A VSS plugged into this cable, but I believe that signal still went to the PSOM before going to the PCM.

 

is this pretty straightforward? assume i'll need to replace seal(s) afterward?
haven't really delved into automatic transmissions before (so many internal parts!!).

 

Before removing the tail shaft housing, remove the plug you might be able to tell if it has speedo gears or a reluctor wheel already there.

But if you do remove the housing you should at least replace the gasket.

 

Pulled the plug/cover : nuthin' there, just empty space as far as my finger would reach.

C'est la vie.