C6 vs. E4OD?

I agree with your assessment for today's E4OD, but the early ones were far inferior to the C6. Given a vehicle year and model where one could have either transmission, the C6 is a much stronger unit, albeit with less gears available. I suppose the work load plays a big part in the worthiness of the units. I had an '89 1-ton motorhome with the C^, and I was told that this unit was better than the '90 or '91 with the E4OD. Yes, I had one less gear, but I had a bullet-proof transmission, and that had value to me.

I'm not sure where (when) the E4OD was beefed up, but clearly it has been, and the later versions are better if only because they have a better gear pattern. It makes sense to buy a later model truck and get away from the C6 or early E4OD. I *think* the problem units were made before about 1994, or so.

Your comments are not without merit but I am a big "fan' of a 4 speed automatic with a locking converter over a 3 speed without one in a heavy SUV because it allows the use of even deeper axle ratios for reduced overall tranny strain under a heavy load and still have a lower cruising RPM and a locking converter to to reduce fuel consumption. All things being equal you could have a C6 with say a

3.73 axle and a E4OD with a 4.56 and have a bunch more pulling power and still get better MPG cruising and at a lower RPM too than with the C6 with 3.73 gears and no locking converter. I think were some of these automatics get a bad rap is because in late 80's and early 90's the mentallity at Detriot (and Ford was not the only one either) was to use a OD tranny AND a tall final drive ratio to provide the illusion of best possible MPG but this did not pan out in the field and added a lot of extra strain to tranny and forced some to a early grave. Even today a lot of OD equipped light trucks really are not properly geared to provide the proper balance of power and economy and long tranny life. It is kinda a shame to not gear them deeper and fully exploit a 4 speed automatic in some SUV applications rather than a combo that is basically a 3 speed with a extra gear you can "use" sometimes with mixed results.

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