Howdy everyone, I might have a problem. two.. actually.

My '89 F-350 7.3 IDI with an e4od and DRW died on me about a year ago. IP went out at school and ended up parked there for a hot minute. Not being able to afford a tow, I eventually had a buddy help me pull it home across town in neutral. (4-5 minute drive, tops) Anyway, now, I finally scrounged up enough to buy a used pump and get it running. The issue is, transmission is super unhappy, I somewhat have reverse, but just a little pull (as if it's low on fluid), and I have nothing in drive. Upon inspection, the fluid is super brown and burnt-smelling, but there's plenty of it. I have the stuff and plan on doing a fluid change, but is it even worth doing, or is the trans cooked? I know she's been worked pretty hard before (hauling an 8000-pound tractor quite regularly).

Aside from that, I also redid the rear brakes (new shoes and cylinders), and now I can't get it to bleed up. I noticed a line that I didn't understand at the T (making it a 4-way, I guess) on the axle. It came off that split and hooked to the bottom of the bed and just capped off. Some kind of weird vent line? What's weird is that it seems to have been cut off from the 4-way a long time ago and was just dangling there. The whole area was leaky with brake fluid, though. Any ideas on what this is? Thank you!

 

its a breather and brake line manifold on the axle

 

update: did the trans fluid change and it's not promising. every bit of the fluid is dark brown burnt, a considerable amount of clutch sludge in the pan, and plenty of metal shavings. plus the filter had fallen out and was sitting in the pan. Cleaned it up, plan to ignore all of it, give it some fresh fluid and just send it! if it's cooked.. it is what it is.. might be in the market for a used 4r100!

 

Not certain you can swap the E4OD to a 4R100. I know the converter hydraulic circuit is different, probably more.

 

Only internal parts are similar from e4od to 4r100.
Case is completely different, bell housing to engines differ.

 

For your IDI diesel truck,
You can use a 89-94 diesel E4OD as a direct bolt in (although I'd skip the '89).
You can use a 95-97 diesel E4OD, so long as you use the early 89-94 solenoid pack and a diesel 4 stud converter.
You can use a diesel 4R100, so long as you use the early 89-94 solenoid pack, a diesel 4 stud converter and mod the pump from PWM to lock/unlock by installing a cup plug and drilling a hole of correct size in it.

All DRW pickups on the era, are all 2wd, so you want to find another 2wd trans for a direct swap. If you find a 4WD version, you can install the t-case with it, modify your rear driveshaft and have a set low range gears to use.

Oh, and no, don't waste over $100 on fresh fluid. That wont change anything. Your trans is shot. Even with dark fluid, when full, you should have a good strong reverse. Shiny metal in the pan and lack of movement confirms she's spent.

 

If the fluid is still dark, then how much fluid was drained? If you only drained out 5qts, there is still a lot more in there.

I have a drain plug in my converter so it takes well over 13qts and probably closer to 17qts [I have an aftermarket 2WD pan].

 

That's what I feared, I'm gonna have to have a talk with the previous owner of this rig, because I know my month of daily driving is not what burnt this thing up. I appreciate the help, everyone.

 

Actually it could have, if the truck had been sitting for a while or something and the cooler lines were plugged, it could have burnt it. Be sure the lines from trans to rad are all clear and the trans cooler section of the rad, to ensure the next trans doesn't suffer the same fate.