SDDL-UP -- Ask your selling dealer if the vehicle includes option code 422 (California Emissions System). It will be listed on their invoice at No Charge. They should have been able to answer your question within minutes and you should not have had to call the Customer Assistance Center for such basic information. If your selling dealer can't or won't give you this information, please post your complete 17 digit VIN and I'll post your equipment listing next week.

 

SDWill! Thank you! You Da Man! The Cavalry charges in to save the day!

With your pointer to look at the order for for the order code 422 (California emissions package N/C) I have solved the puzzle! The FIRST order for they faxed me had a transmission of 44E - since the E4OD has been replaced, I guess this would be the 4R100. I did not see the 422 order code so I looked at the second order form they faxed me (because the first was cut in two by the fax). It has the 44U transmission code - the 4R70W!

While I would rather have a heavier tranny for the power of the 5.4 liter Triton at least I now know what I will be getting. I hope it holds up... I am going to be towing with it, not often, but up some pretty serious Rocky Mountain grades!

What tranny does the 7,700lb. GVWR package get? If Ford was better communicating ALL the differences, I may have opted for that option (but a 7 lug wheel!?!)

Thanks guys!

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2000 F-150 4x4 SuperCab XLT, 5.4 liter Triton, automatic, 3.55 limited slip, towing package, Amazon Green / Silver.

77 Bronco, 64 Falcon

 

SDDL UP,

I wish Ford would offer a manual tranny for the 5.4l. That would be awesome. The SD's Manual tranny is a slow shifter, but can handle alot of torque. Heres another debate....

 

Hey guys. Just reading your threads and thought that I would give you some info on the 4R70W from experience. My 97 4.6L had the 4R70W and it was in my opinion the worst automatic Ford has ever built. I bought a late 99 model F-150 about two months ago with the 260hp 5.4L and thought that it had the E4OD until I finally read the owners manual. I was completely suprised when I found out that it was also 4R70W. This transmission has been 100% improved! It shifts smoothly and crisply and tows my boat extremely well. I think that Ford has increased the duty rating of the 4R70W because the case and oil pan on the transmission look slightly larger. It doesn't look exactly like the old 4R70W. I was glad to see that it didn't take Ford long to fix this problem. That's why I keep buying them. I hope this helps all of those prospective F-150 buyers worried about the strength of the 4R70W. I don't think you have anything to worry about.

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99 4x4 SC Lariat 5.4l 3.73 rear, oxford white

 

Thanks for the input J.J.

I am glad you are happy with whatever modifications were made to the 4R70W. How much does you boat weigh? What kind of grades do you typically encounter?

I have the 3.55's so mine will be a little more sensitive to steep hills than yours.

Thanks!

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2000 F-150 4x4 SuperCab XLT, 5.4 liter Triton V8, 4R70W automatic, Sterling 9.97 w/3.55 limited slip, towing package, sliding rear window, CD, keyless entry, Amazon Green / Silver.

77 Bronco, 64 Falcon

 

SDDL-UP,
The boat that I have weighs about 4500 to 5000 lbs fully laiden with ski's and fishing equipment. I know that this isn't anywhere near the towing capacity of the truck but I sometimes can't even tell the boat is back there. The boat used to put my old 4R-70W into fits. It never could find the right gear to keep the engine at it's torque peak and had very sloppy shifting. Even small grades caused it to shift down two gears and it sometimes wouldn't shift back until I let off of the accelerator. I'm sure some of this was due to the lack of torque of my 4.6L compared with my new 5.4L but you can tell that Ford has definately refined this new 4R-70W. The owners manual of my 97 told me to tow with the overdrive turned off. The owners manual of the 99 says that it's ok to tow with the overdrive on. This and the slight increased size of the transmission leads me to think that Ford might have strengthened the 4R-70W for 99. I have a couple of friends with 99 F-150's that farm for a living and tow tractors and peanut wagons constantly that weight 10000 lbs or more. They haven' t reported any problems yet. I live in the panhandle of Florida and the land around here is pretty flat so I can't give first hand experience of towing in hilly terrain. I haven't had the truck for long and haven't towed with it very much so I may have to eat my words but I think that the new 4R-70W is at least comparable to the E4OD in strength and durability. I could be wrong but I don't think so.

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99 4x4 SC Lariat 5.4l 3.73 rear, oxford white

 

Thanks J.J.

Yikes! 10,000 lb. peanut trailers! Be sure to let us know if there are any transmission problems. The 4,500 t0 5,000 lbs. you tow is about what I will be towing, to start off with anyway. I think I'll try and keep my maximum trailer weight at about 6,000 lbs. or about 80% of what Ford recommends, just to be prudent with all of the mountain terrain around here.

Thanks again!

------------------
2000 F-150 4x4 SuperCab XLT, 5.4 liter Triton V8, 4R70W automatic, Sterling 9.97 w/3.55 limited slip, towing package, sliding rear window, CD, keyless entry, Amazon Green / Silver.

77 Bronco, 64 Falcon

 

Hi SDDL-UP!
Just thought to let you know that I checked on a brand new 2000 F-150 with the 7700lp option (old F250) and it has the 4R70W. Seams to be the standart tranny for this truck in Canada.



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1999 XL S/C 4x4, 4.6w, auto, LS 3.55
XL Appearance Group (Polished alloys, 40/60 bench, colour-keyed bodyside mouldings)
XL Value Group (Air, AM/FM Cassette)
Tilt & Cruise

 

for what its worth the new lightning uses the4r100 trans.

 

Does anybody know what changes (if any) were made in the 4R70W from 1997 to 1999??? I ask because I was going to purchase a B&M Shiftplus for my 99 but I can only find part numbers up to '97. I called B&M today and they told me they didn't have anything for the '99. Is the person on the phone lazy (he sounded like I was bothering him..)or are the trannys that much different???

Thanks
Mike

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99 Lariat S/C 5.4 4x4 Amazon Green/Harvest Gold 3.55/LS K&N Filter Mobil 1

Oshkosh, WI.

 

Thanks guys!

I never would have thought that the 7,700 lb. GVWR package would get the 4R70W and the Lightning would get the 4R100! Superchargers have a way of necessitating a beefed up drivetrain I guess! It still surprizes me that the 7,700 GVWR package gets the smaller transmission.


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2000 F-150 4x4 SuperCab XLT, 5.4 liter Triton V8, 4R70W automatic, Sterling 9.97 w/3.55 limited slip, towing package, sliding rear window, CD, keyless entry, Amazon Green / Silver.

77 Bronco, 64 Falcon

 

Hi Tim A,

I need more information about the new transmission lineups. Also, if you know, I am wondering what will the transmission configuration be on the 2001 models.

Please e-mail me at:

darcpa@worldnet.att.net

Thanks,

Dirk

1997 F-150 5.4 S/C 4x4 ORP

 

One important fact to remember. The "California package" is not just sold in Calfornia anymore. Any State that has adopted the "Low Emmisions Package" requirements would get them. And the 4R100 in the F150 5.4L's with it. ONe of our members from Virgina hasd one. Othes in the north east do also. Depends on your State. Unfortunately I don't know all of which ones are which.

Yes, even the 7700's in Non-Low Emmisions Package States gets the 4R70W. My States does not. That is one of the things that prompted me to go with a F250 SD along with the greater GVWR (8800). However that being said there is no real problem with this 4R70W. Its been beefed up and can handle it.

My advice is to get the towing package with the extra tranny cooler. Can't hurt.

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2000 F-250 Super Duty, SuperCab XLT, Oxford white with medium grey cloth captains chairs, 5.4L Triton V8 (260 HP - 345 FP Torque version!), 4R100 4 Speed Automatic Transmission, 4 wheel ABS, Deluxe Aluminum Wheels, Trailer Towing Package, Class IV Hitch, Reece load distribution system, Escort Sensor II Electronic Brake controller, Sure Stop towing skirt, "Westin" black powder coated step bars, "White-White" head lamps, Herculiner bed liner, ISSPRO Tranny Temp Guage, Excursion center console, Ford moulded mud gaurds, K&N Air and Oil filter, Amsoil XL7500 5W-30,Air filter minder.

 

My goodness,
do a freaking search allready...more than half of what's posted here is wrong, and most of it I've gone over in the thread titlted "4R70-4R100 what's the difference" or something like...

The 4R100 is the same transmission as the E4OD, just a differnet model year.
The PTO option on 4R100s is not "the only reason" they changed, it really had more to do with emission controls...
4R100 is a code for: 4 Gears, Rear Wheel drive, 1000 ft/lbs of torque rating...the reason a lightning gets one and a 7700# doesn't is the torque rating, the convertor multiplies flywheel torque X 2, and the S/C Lightning 5.4 generates 440 lbs of torque, thus the 4R70 (4spd,RWD,700#) is not big enough, a Lightning would twist the output shaft in half.
The 4R70 is a fine transmission, don't worry about it.
Both of these transmissions come in over 30 models each, for differnt applications, so the 4R70 in a police cruiser is not the same 4R70 in a 4x4 f-150, but they are based on the same design, conversely, the 4R100 in a Lightning is not the same one in a Deisel F350 4x4, but they're both 4R100s.
The reason Ford laid back putting 4R100s in most F150s is a capacity issue, we just can't build enough of them, so what we do build go in the bigger trucks first. THe 4R70 has never been CARB approved for the 5.4 so CA trucks get 4R100s, and a few other states get them now, Virginia and Connecticut I think, and all Lightnings are 4R100s, as I said before.
By my onw count, I've built (well, part built) about 4 Million 4R100/E4ODs, so those little things that you gain from opening a few up I know pretty well.
Noone needs to "write a series of articles" about Ford Transmissions for this board, if you do a search, I think you'll find the archive pretty complete, and if you have questions, ask me, I'm glad to help. A lot of dealers don't know squat, a lot are pretty good. Anywho, read the archive, and the one at Ford Deisel.Com, they're both very good.

Gosh, I've ranted enough,,,but I've been over all this before and I hate to see urban legends created about transmissions....

G

 

Hi Factory_Tech,

I did see your other post and noted the content. By the way, you have built just a few transmissions... Wow. Also, the only reason this thread reappeared, is that I did a search and wanted to contact a Tim A.

So, this thread has discussed the 1999 and 2000 models (I think). Do you know if the California emissions 2001 models will have the 4R70 or 4R100? That is really what I am trying to determine.

Thanks!

Dirk
1997 F-150 5.4 S/C 4x4 ORP