ok guys,

I need some thought input. I have a '90 F350 4X4 with a 460 coupled to an early model E4OD. I will be towing a 10,000lb travel trailer 3-4 times a year and I have learned that even with a tow package, this early E4OD is prone to failures.

I can get a new, upgraded E4OD for around $3K from Factory Tech and TCI has one for $3,400. These have all upgraded internals to take them to a 4R100, a stronger version tranny.

I would also like to get a GearVendors Over/Underdrive for those times when I am not towing in order to get some kind of gas mileage. However, the over/underdrive is $3,400 as well.

Between these two, the cost to upgrade for towing / mileage is around $7K. For that kind of money, I am sure there is a five or six speed manual tranny out there that can give me the same benefits for less. However, I have to ask a few questions about this process of going from auto to manual.

1. What to do about my computer chip looking for auto tranny data?
2. Will this give me better mileage and be strong enough for what I want?
3. What will the cost be and how hard?
4. Has anyone ever DONE this before successfully?
5. How does it affect my transfer case driveline?

Any input is welcome.

Ox

 

1 - You don't have to do anything. The computer will throw a few codes, but it won't affect driveability at all. The CEL will remain off.

2 - Yes on both.

3 - Cost varies widely depending on how creative you are. The best way is to buy a parts truck and sell off the parts you don't need, recouping some, most, all, or more of your money. It's not extremely difficult, but there are a lot of details.

4 - Yes, lots of people have converted from auto to manual.

5 - You will likely need to modify the lengths of both your front and rear driveshaft. Your transfer case will bolt up to the new tranny.

The tranny that you want to use is a ZF. The only one that will fit behind your 460 is one that is behind a 460. They aren't interchangeable with anything else.

 

If the one you have now is working good then just service it up good and put the biggest cooler on it you can and start puling.

I had a 89 with 460 auto and I put a GV overdrive unit on it and never saw any change in MPG I wish I had never spent all that money on it. it is a good unit but you will find that the 460 gets 10 to 12 no mater what you do

 

manual tranny cost is less but harder install could cost more depending on how you get parts auto tranny cost more but easier install, unless you really want manual i'd just keep what u got and fix it if it breaks mileage most likely wont get much better ever. sorry bout thread jacking but how can you tell if you have E40D tranny, i'v got auto w/ od so i guess its E40D

 

seems to me that you'd be able to get a new truck in good condition for 7k. sounds like you've got a great truck already. say it's worth $3,500 (i have no idea). i'm sure you can get a newer truck similarly equipped with the tranny you want for around $8-9,000. 9,000 - 3,500 = $5,500 difference & a new truck. For my money I'd go that way. That still leaves you $2,000 that you would have spent on the transmission upgrades for mods. Maybe I'm just missing something.