Need help with Ford chassis info

I don't know how the model year changes occurred with the F53 motorhome chassis and E350 cutaway chassis.

For model year '97 F250/350's, Ford was still using the 351(5.8) and 460(7.5) gas engines, 7.3 diesel, E4OD auto and ZF 5spd manual.

Model year '97 ran well into model year '98, since the new Superduty body trucks' introduction was delayed until model year '99. There is no actual model year '98 on the old body trucks though, they were all called '97s, until the new body came out in '99.

For F250/350/450/550 trucks, model year '99 introduced the 4.6 and 5.4 V8's and 6.9 V10 gas engines and the improved E4OD, which was renamed as the 4R100. The ZF 5spd was replaced by the ZF 6spd manual.

The 4.6 and 5.4 were already in use in the new body F150, Expedition and Light Duty F250 (F150 body and no full floating rear axle), starting in model year '97.

Model year '96 was the last year for the Bronco and old body F150, as well as the 300(4.9) inline-6 and 302(5.0) V8 gas engines, in pickups.

The 460/E4OD combo only got better till it was phased out. 1996 was the last of them. 1997 was first V10 engine and the E4OD warmed over as 4R100.

This is a very good example of why CHASSIS Year matters. A "1997 RV" could well be on a 1996 Chassis with 460/E4OD. Or, a 1997 with V10/4R100.

"you don't need the exact model year, most information was unchanged 1992-1996."
Thanks for this info. Ford only goes back to 1996 and I was hopeing there were not major changes between '95 and '96.

Thanks everyone for your answers.

You can download the 1996 E-Series Owner Manual HERE. It'll do fine for your year.

10W-30 Oil, FL-1A Filter or the HD version. How much driving do you plan on? If it was mine, 10-30 full synthetic, 3-5000 miles or once a year. Change rear axle lube to 75W-140 full synthetic. Inexpensive at WalMart.

It's good to have a manual, but it won't morph into breaking news when recommendations change. The axle lube, for example. Took Ford a long time to get onto the synthetic lubricant bandwagon.

Following the F-53 schedule doesn't sound that far-fetched to me. It's the same engine/transmission (with a bigger rear axle) but as a motorhome chassis, the schedule should follow Severe, or Towing, or Commercial strategy. Because... A motorhome lives its whole live loaded, with that heavy body and accessories. Everywhere it goes, it's Severe, it's Towing.

Join tis forum. It is a great site and there are Many who will provide all sorts of asistance with the 460/E40D which is what you have.

There is a thread on the E40D/4R100 trans fluid change process for the DIYer. It is veruy thorough and I followed it and it worked gra=eat. If your torque converter has a drain plug, even better. I chnaged outr my OEM trans pan to a 4X4 trans pan which had a drain plug. With the TC and trans pans now having drain plugs, the trans service is a breeze!

E40Ds are know to have the trans filter slip off and cause issues. There is a thread on thiws also with info on where to purchase the trans filter clips to prevent this from happening.

If you plan on keeping your RV and want to service the trans yourself, look into the TC drain plug, 4X4 trans pan, and trans temp gauge......it is well worth the effort and cost not to mention the simplicity in servicing.

Also, you should install a trans temp gauge with sender in trans test port. I found that my trans was running very hot (225+) for two two reasons...

1. Radiator trans cooler portion was blocking flow of trans fluid
2. A trans cooler was needed for the temps I was running in (ambient 90-110)

I added the TruCool Max trans cooler and a new radiator

My trans temps went down to 150-185 in ambient temps of 90-110.

These were the BEST upgrades I did to my 460/E40D

I agree with all the others. In addition you should consider
the brake lines too. They have a lifespan of the rubber they
are made of. Also check the belts and hoses.

I agree with all the others. In addition you should consider
the brake lines too. They have a lifespan of the rubber they
are made of. Also check the belts and hoses.

Tom has excellent information and advice.

As far as oil types the old 460 will be happy with almost anything slippery. I believe 10W30 was original fill. I run Delo 15W40 in my 460 just 'cause I like it. Trans fluid was originally speced for Mercon/Dexron and that will work just fine but Ford did update in a TSB to Mercon V (five) which is a semi-synthetic, but to get any real benefit from it you'll need to do a full drain which is hard unless the torque converter has a drain plug. Many don't!

Don't forget to flush in fresh brake fluid as well.

You are just going to collect more opinions. Here's mine.

I would follow the "severe duty" schedule for the E-250/350 van or F250/350 pickup of the same era (1992-1997).

Some service information (service intervals, fluid capacities and fluid specifications, part numbers for Ford filters) will be in the Owner's Manual for either series. You could work from a Haynes or Chilton, but the information there is pretty generic, typically covering all Ford vans from 1975 through either 1997 or 2014. I think only one of the two publishers split out a separate manual for the Triton engine model update.

You should have an Owner's Manual for the E-Series van, if you can find one. If looking for used, you don't need the exact model year, most information was unchanged 1992-1996. Chances are good that the chassis is 1994 model year, since Fleetwood would have started building 1995 models in February or March 1994, and Ford will not have made the model year change until September or October. That's just the way the RV industry has done things.

Your transmission will be E4OD because the engine is a 460. While Ford also used the FMX-derived AOD in that era, it was never matched up with the 7.3 diesel or 7.5 gas engines, those went from C-6 to E4OD sometime around 1989-90.

The E-350 should not have had auxilary oil or transmission coolers, the transmission was cooled by the heat exchanger in the radiator. Motorhome manufacturers did not usually add aftermarket coolers, but a prior owner may have, and that would add capacity but not necessarily change the amount drained for service, because they don't always drain fully from the plug in the pan.

Your VIN or vehicle identification number will give you a lot of information. There are sites that tell you how to read the VIN. I don't know why anyone would tell you to follow an F53 schedule, since you have an E350 (of course they could be the same or similar). One thing to be aware of is that your cab and chassis might not be a 1995 model year. It could be a 1994 or other year.