How can I tell what tranny I have in my 1998 XLT 5.4 Expedition? Is one common with the 4.6 and another with the 5.4? Do I use my VIN # on a chart? Anyone know how to tell this info out?

 

Go to the Vehicle Certification Label located on the driver's door. Under the barcode, look for "TR". Below "TR" will be the code for the transmission type. "E" = E40D (pre 4R100), "U" = 4R70W.

 

One can visually tell the difference fairly easily. The 4R100 is a big boxy case with a grid pattern on it while the 4R70W is a more rounded (traditional bell housing) type tranny.

 

4r100 has 20 bolts around the big drain pain,4r70 has less around a smaller pan

 

just piggy backing on your question. Which tranny is better?

 

The 4R70W is also found in grandmother's Ford Crown Victoria. The 4R100 is also found in V8 Ford F-250's.

 

The 4R100 is supposedly a heavier duty tranny behind the larger engines, but I read the new Expy specs and it says the 4R70W is rated for 500+ ft.lbs. of torque which ain't too shabby.

Unless one is extremely demanding on a vehcile, either tranny should perform equally well.

 

I see nothing that says a 4R100 nor 4R70W. I need the specs for a transmission cooler. But don't understand how to get the transmission type out of these numbers on my 2001 expedition 5.4 v 8

 

Like PaulC said, "Below "TR" will be the code for the transmission type. "E" = E40D (pre 4R100), "U" = 4R70W."

So you have an E40D (4R100) transmission.

 

The 4R70W is rated for 700 lb-ft of torque at the input shaft. This is after the torque converter multiplies the torque. Since the converter approximately has a 2:1 torque multiplication, that equates to about 350 lb-ft at the crankshaft.

The 4R100 is rated for 1000 lb-ft at the input shaft, or about 500 lb-ft at the crankshaft.