I've never seen any Econoline vans with manual swaps and I can understand its probably pretty difficult... but it could also be because there usually isn't much reason to do it. Most of them are gas and the 4r70/4r100 isn't too bad if not abused, and the diesels are mostly fleet/cargo and don't represent much of an "enthusiast" market.

Well, I'm an enthusiast, dammit. My 99 E350 PSD has an E4OD that has been abused. Its starting to chatter in the 2-3 shift, and of course the TC chatters a bit.

I looked under the van and there is plenty of room for darn near any tranny under there. The footwell doesn't have much room for a clutch pedal but it could be done. I actually have an Eaton RR6 speed (which I won't use for this project, but it does make one drool a bit.)

Has anyone seen it done?

 

Well the shifter would be back quite a ways, but I don't see why it couldn't be done.

 

Why? Throw a built 4R100 in there that will hold up better, shift better and tow better. There is NO advantage to a manual swap in a modern turbo diesel...

 

I couldn't possibly disagree more ... but you don't know my background.

I spent 7 years running a chain of transmission repair shops. If there is anything more expensive than repairing a modern diesel automatic I haven't found it, and there were plenty of them failing.

For about $1000 total, I can do a manual swap if I buy a used NV5600 and go through it. Have you priced one of those "built" 4R100s?

Diesels eat automatics because they overload the torque capacity of the clutches holding. Diesels eat manuals because of the much higher vibrational forces. But repairing a manual is cheaper and they tend to last MUCH longer. Not to mention, if I put an exhaust brake in the manual will use it much better, there is less complexity, less heat, less chance of developing catastrophic leaks from the added plumbing.

I also prefer manuals. Preference plays a big role here

All those years at the transmission shops taught me one thing. A Manual is almost always better. As far as getting torque to the ground, yes, an automatic will do an excellent job, but as far as KISS and reliability is concerned, manual wins for me. Not to mention... a truly reliable 4R100 or E4OD is WAAY out of the price range for me right now.

 

A built 4r100 that will never need to be replaced again will run you $4800 shipped... There is a reason why even over the road trucks are going to autos... Manuals just cant keep up.

But hey, its your boat, if you want to row it, who am I to tell you to flip the starter key...

 

Yeah... that's the deal-breaker for me. I'd rather build an NV5600 and put it in for $1000. It will need to be rebuilt every 200k... which means one time it will need to be rebuilt before the van turns into a pile of rust. That part I can do for $200. Big price difference for only slightly less life.

The other problem with those $5000 4Rs is that the warranty isn't lifetime. If a solenoid fails at 100k and fries the clutches, tough noogies, its time for big money. Way too much complicated stuff in an automatic (IMO). Any of those parts fail it can mean a $20 fix or a $2000 fix.

So, now that we've established that I'm insane and I want a manual swap, back to the topic at hand. Anybody seen one? Any links? I sure couldn't find any.

 

BTS... Things dont happen with a BTS 4r100... and when they do, there fixed, 95% of the time free of charge.

As far as the manual swap it would require a PCM swap, some floor work and a new drive shaft. Never seen it done on a van.

 

That's it? Drilling a hole in the floor, a driveshaft, and a manual PCM? I'll start tomorrow. That's nothing. I'm currently putting a Duramax in a 66 Bonneville and I've been a custom fabricator for 14 years.

I'm starting tomorrow

 

Pretty much. Not a whole lot to it.

 

The reason over the road trucks are going to automatics is so fleets can get rid of their skilled operators and hire brain dead dimwits with xeroxed cdls.