Hey Scotty, I used to own a 1990 F-150 that I sold to a friend. I rebuilt the front end and replaced the idle air controller, the bearings, breaks, and a lot of other parts. Had it running like a top. He rebuilt the air conditioning and replaced gaskets and seals. The transmission was slipping when I sold it to him and I told him he needed to replace the valve body. It is the E4OD transmission. He just sold it back to me for $400. Should I replace the transmission with a rebuild, just rebuild mine, or just replace the valve body and see what happens. I know these transmissions used solenoids to control the shifting. That may also be the problem.
I would go to a trustworthy mechanic and have them tell you what you actually need first so you don't replace parts in vain.
Awesome about buying your old Ford back! Clearly, the truck has a special place in your heart. Just some teasing, and confess, I would do the same. I am imaging what it looks like. Hey, may we have a picture? Those classic lines. Reads you are mechanically inclined, and to rebuild a tranmission is a huge project. Do you have the space, are organized, patient to measure all, ALL the pieces for spec, trips to the parts counter, waiting online for parts, ability to lift the truck, SAFELY, to actually remove the transmission? If so, then heck ya to rebuilding, the learning experience will be priceless. Also need to add, are you prepared to do all the work and then put it in drive and nothing and do it all over again? Im all for the adventure of trying and learning. Is this your primary car?
More information is needed. How much for a shop to do it all? What kind of transmission (rebuilt, junk, factory re-built, may not exist, warranty). Ok, so many questions. Short answer, lifting the truck, SAFELY, is where a shop has an advantage here. What do you think of buying a rebuilt trasnmission and installing it yourself? Again, lifting the truck safely. What kind of warranty comes with the re-built transmission? Will it be honored if you install it yourself? Will intalling it yourself, and the cost of tools be less than a shop? Finally, maybe, just maybe, a shop will let you tag along with the install. Dont see them giving a discount, but it could be fun to work along side a mechanic to install a re-built transmission.
Hey there LiveLove thanks for the reply. Sorry it took me so long to get back to you. Yes I do love that truck. This is the second time I’ve bought it. I will not be selling it again!!!
I’ve been driving it and determined that the problem is not the transmission. It shifts as smooth as butter when the check engine light is not on. As I started driving it I found that it ran pretty good when it was warmer in the afternoon and really bad when it is cold in the morning. The check engine light comes on, the idle is high, and the transmission shifts like a brick hitting a wall.
This tells me that the problem is instrumentation. I actually found my old ford tester and hooked it up. Got nothing on the KOEO self test but got plenty on the continuous memory. Started with the oxygen sensor. Then I took it to town and bought the TPS and ECT. They did not have the throttle body gasket that I need to replace when I put it back together so I brought it home and decided to have a couple of wobble pops until I can get back at it tomorrow.
After I replace those parts I will run the ignition timing test and the KOER self test and see what that gets me. I’m pretty sure what happened is that the information returning to the computer was out of range. It could not properly calculate throttle position, engine temperature, and fuel mixture. This will cause the computer to basically skip the solenoids in these old transmission causing them to shift on pressure alone. Pretty sure after I get it sorted it will be fine.
PS: I will be happy to post some pictures of “Ol’e Red” tomorrow after I get finished. She still needs a paint job but that is the last thing on my list of things to do.
Feel free to post pictures to your heart’s content, in this thread - https://carkiller.com/scottykilmer/qa/member-rides/#post-48702
Awesomesauce! This is exciting and the details, its like reading/watching a video! That corner to getting the truck buttoned up can be seen in the distance, again, very exciting! Thank you for sharing details and keeping us in the loop! It is wonderful to read the progress and huge bonus to finding/still having that tester. Its a sign!
Hey checking back in. Been really busy. Got the truck all buttoned up. Just finished replacing heater hoses today. They were getting ready to go. It’s running like a sewing machine now. Starts the first time every time! Shifts like butter. Hardly even feel it. Now it’s time to get to the fun stuff. I have a feeling that the cat is going to fall off soon. Of it’s on accord of course. I will probably have to put a test pipe on there for a while. You know, just to make sure that’s really the problem. Hehe. Going to bolt on an intake so she can breathe a little.
Still got to figure out heat. Just flushed the heater core today when I replaced the lines. It’s all clear. Blend doors are working. Thermostat opens and closes. Maybe it’s the wrong thermostat. I don’t know what the guy put in when replaced the water pump. Recharged the AC. It’s ice cold now. So as promised I’m going to try to upload some pictures. Thanks for all of the support. This seems like a really cool place to hang out. I will keep posting comments and updating you all.
These are some older pictures from the first time that I owned it. Still the same truck. The toolbox and bed rails are gone now along with the bed liner. Those are the only differences.