I'm looking at a 1987 E350 with 6.9 IDI.
The shifter says P R N O 2 L. With a circle around the O.
The owner says it's a 2-speed with overdrive.
The pan looks exactly like an E4OD.
My online research says they didn't use the "E"4OD in 1987.
I drove it and it shifted like a C6.
But no OD. No "4th". Only 3 speeds.
Any of you have any idea what transmission this would be?

I'll check the vin next time I go look at it. But not sure which vin code with tell me which transmission it is.

 

Correction....
the shifter says P R N O D L

 

The VIN won't tell you what trans it has, you have to get the TRANS code off the door jamb sticker. Trans code for a C6 is "K", E4OD is "E", and AOD is "T".

Data I have says that it can only be a C6. First year for the E4OD was 1989, and they never put the AOD behind a diesel.

C6 pan is 17 bolts and is "Utah" shaped. E4OD is 20 bolts.

 

I'll look at the door sticker. My '77 F150 has a C6, and the transmission in the E350 looks completely different. I didn't count the bolts.

My browsing found the same - 1989 was the first year for the E4OD.

So what the heck with the O D L ? Where the O is for overdrive?

It's a Centurion - one of the van conversions with a pickup bed used to pull 5th wheel.

It seemed to shift fine, but only 3 speeds. A buddy says the tourque converter should lock up at around 45 mph for the OD, and I'd feel a 'shift.' But I did not feel any shift.

I'm trying to determine if all is well before I buy it.

 

That's an AOD shift quadrant - and if that's an AOD behind that diesel it's a miracle it still works. E4OD quadrant is P R N O 2 1 and it has a separate OD lockout button.

C6 doesn't have lockup.

 

Well then it's anybody's guess why the OD doesn't kick in.

Judging by the shape of the pan, It could be a 4R100. From what I've read it would handle the torque.

But all the electronics would have to be added - the computer and everything.
Would need to be a really good swap job.

How can I tell if it's a 4R100 vs E4OD? Either way, if the OD isn't working I don't think I want the rig.

If it is 4R100, is the OD via the torque converter locking up? And should that happen at around 2,500 RPM/45 MPH?

 

A 4R100 is just an updated E4OD. Essentially the same transmission - based on a C6 with overdrive, lockup converter, and electronically controlled.

They have both an overdrive 4th and a lockup converter. Under normal acceleration, it will shift to 4th and then the converter will lock up. With OD locked out, the converter will lock up in 3rd.

 

Look at the sticker in the door jamb. The trans code is there.

 

Something doesn't add up here. The first year the E4OD was produced was 1988 for the 1989 model year. All automatic diesels in 1987 had the C6 transmission. That was a three speed, non-overdrive, non-lockup converter The AOD won't bolt to a diesel, and if you somehow got it connected it wouldn't last 10 miles.

The 4R100 is an updated E4OD. The main change is that it can handle more torque than the E4OD. The first year it was produced was 1998, for the 1999 model year.

The 4R100 has two speed sensors on top, the E4OD has none.

No, locking the converter is not overdrive. Overdrive is fourth gear in the E4OD and 4R100. It has a ratio of 0.71:1.

That's more or less right.

 

Stock C6 pan:




Stock E4OD pan:

 

I let the truck go - didn't buy it.

Seems like they replaced the C6 with an E4OD/4R100, but did NOT configure the electronics. Hence - a 3-speed E4OD/4R100 (no overdrive). That would explain why it gets only 11-13 mpg. And why it doesn't shift into 4th. Why they installed an AOD shift indicator is anyone's guess. If someone was way sharper than me, I suppose they could complete the install and get the the 4th gear, but that's over my head.

Thanks so much for piecing this puzzle together for me.

I'll keep looking. I'm pulling my horse trailer with my '77 F150 (351M and C6). It does the job but just barely.

 

No, that's not what you get with an E4OD or 4R100 with no electronics. What you get is a one speed transmission without converter lockup. It will start in fourth gear and stay in fourth gear. It will not make any automatic shifts.