Looking for advice
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Apr 2026
Posts: 33
Likes: 1
From: Polk County Florida
Looking for advice
Looking at buying a 1992-1996 Ford F150 with the 4.9 in it. I found one that has the E4od with 3.55 gears and 2wd. Its a regular cab and long bed. Has 160k miles. Wondering what to expect transmission wise. Also what to expect mechanical probblem wise. From everything I have read on the 4.9, its basically a bulletproof motor.
Other questions??
What can be done for even small to medium hp increases for towing?
what mods can be done to increase transmission life? deeper trans pan? trans cooler with fans?
is it worth putting a 2.5-4.5 lift on it even though its only a 2wd vehicle?
If I buy it and leave it stock ride height, whats the biggest wheel and tire i can put on it? are 20's possible with 0 offset?
Other questions??
What can be done for even small to medium hp increases for towing?
what mods can be done to increase transmission life? deeper trans pan? trans cooler with fans?
is it worth putting a 2.5-4.5 lift on it even though its only a 2wd vehicle?
If I buy it and leave it stock ride height, whats the biggest wheel and tire i can put on it? are 20's possible with 0 offset?
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 9,550
Likes: 2,034
From: North Texas
High flow cat and muffler. Scorpion 1.72:1 roller rockers with some Comp 903s, the head wakes up with porting. Small EFI cams are around, but the issue is finding a good core as CWC apparently quit. Regrind is possible if one can sort lifters. I have a good EFI cam card you are welcome to have if wanted
4R100 4x4 pan is plus 1qt and has a drain plug. Mild shift kit, either Superior's or TransGo. The TowPower one I have in my 4R, works great. Cooler always smart.
Lift it if you want 20s will make it slower yet, I would regear to min of a 4.10:1 if you do that.
4R100 4x4 pan is plus 1qt and has a drain plug. Mild shift kit, either Superior's or TransGo. The TowPower one I have in my 4R, works great. Cooler always smart.
Lift it if you want 20s will make it slower yet, I would regear to min of a 4.10:1 if you do that.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2025
Posts: 1,841
Likes: 399
I mean, you can run 20s and still have the total tire height of 28.9” like the stock tire. You can do that with a 4” lift also. I’ve seen it! Towing 1000 miles, definitely swap 4.10s, more if taller tires.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2019
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From: N.W. Alabama
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Apr 2026
Posts: 33
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From: Polk County Florida
so as long as i stay 29" total height i wouldnt have to lift the truck? i am not looking at spending a massive amount on rims but want something that looks good
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Mountain Pass
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Originally Posted by 94_911Turbo;[url=tel:21806558
21806558[/url]]Looking at buying a 1992-1996 Ford F150 with the 4.9 in it. I found one that has the E4od with 3.55 gears and 2wd. Its a regular cab and long bed. Has 160k miles. Wondering what to expect transmission wise. Also what to expect mechanical probblem wise. From everything I have read on the 4.9, its basically a bulletproof motor.
Other questions??
What can be done for even small to medium hp increases for towing?
what mods can be done to increase transmission life? deeper trans pan? trans cooler with fans?
is it worth putting a 2.5-4.5 lift on it even though its only a 2wd vehicle?
If I buy it and leave it stock ride height, whats the biggest wheel and tire i can put on it? are 20's possible with 0 offset?
Other questions??
What can be done for even small to medium hp increases for towing?
what mods can be done to increase transmission life? deeper trans pan? trans cooler with fans?
is it worth putting a 2.5-4.5 lift on it even though its only a 2wd vehicle?
If I buy it and leave it stock ride height, whats the biggest wheel and tire i can put on it? are 20's possible with 0 offset?
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 20,376
Likes: 843
From: Mi'kma'ki
This is true, however no '95+ internal hard part upgrades are worth doing with the 302 or 300 and probably not even a stock 351w.
Any of the early E4OD's will likely live a long healthy life behind the 300 (I dare say probably most pre '95 460/diesels didn't suffer hard part failure either, just wore out).
-----
Do not lift and add larger tires, or you'll hurt towing performance. IF anything, put on shorter tires to help.
You don't have to do anything to the trans. That engine doesn't have enough power to hurt it. The best thing you can do is buy a temp gauge and put the sending unit in the test port. If it reads 200F or less while towing, don't do anything. If it reads higher, install a aux trans cooler to bring it down. That's all you need.
A Transgo tugger kit wouldn't hurt, but with a 300-6, I wouldn't worry too much.
With a 300-6, I think I'd just install this one and save a bit:
Don't fall for online myths that ATF shouldn't be changed if it hasn't been for a while. The longer you keep trash, dirty, burnt ATF in there, the higher risk of sticking shift valves you'll have. Only fools think dirty ATF should ever be left alone.
Any of the early E4OD's will likely live a long healthy life behind the 300 (I dare say probably most pre '95 460/diesels didn't suffer hard part failure either, just wore out).
-----
Do not lift and add larger tires, or you'll hurt towing performance. IF anything, put on shorter tires to help.
You don't have to do anything to the trans. That engine doesn't have enough power to hurt it. The best thing you can do is buy a temp gauge and put the sending unit in the test port. If it reads 200F or less while towing, don't do anything. If it reads higher, install a aux trans cooler to bring it down. That's all you need.
A Transgo tugger kit wouldn't hurt, but with a 300-6, I wouldn't worry too much.
The Installation Of Transgo's 'Tugger' Reprogramming Kit (Shift Kit For HD Hauling & Towing)
With a 300-6, I think I'd just install this one and save a bit:
the installation of transgo's E40D-HD2-D reprogramming kit (shift kit)
Don't fall for online myths that ATF shouldn't be changed if it hasn't been for a while. The longer you keep trash, dirty, burnt ATF in there, the higher risk of sticking shift valves you'll have. Only fools think dirty ATF should ever be left alone.
Last edited by FORDF250HDXLT; Apr 13, 2026 at 12:04 PM.
Thread Starter
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Apr 2026
Posts: 33
Likes: 1
From: Polk County Florida
I am the type of person that when I buy a used car or truck I will do whatever maintenance is needed like oil change and trans filter and fluid just to be on the same side. I also like to get the maintenance of worn parts out of the way like window motors if they are needed bbut the vehicle im looking at has manual windows
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 20,376
Likes: 843
From: Mi'kma'ki
You'd have to call one of your local trans shops to get a quote for installing a shift kit. Tip; get two prices; one for just the valve body mods and one with the pump mods included. To install the pump mods, they have to pull the trans and the cost will be a lot more....and no, although very nice, you don't have to install the pump mods.
Last edited by FORDF250HDXLT; Apr 13, 2026 at 12:13 PM.
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 9,550
Likes: 2,034
From: North Texas
And we do not have in our trucks? Hel, seven good E codes for my dually are about $1500 with warranty
I posted the PowerTow kit instructions over in the first gen Powerstroke section
Last edited by Hit Man X; Apr 13, 2026 at 01:14 PM.