E450 questions

[litng1]

I'm looking for a 26 foot c class with no slides E450.
My budget is 20 grand.Ive found many but my question is in the motors seems my budget gets me the 460 motor or 2 valve v10 i'd really like the 3 valve v10.
I have a 460 in my superduty truck and does well.Is it a huge diff in the 460 and the 2 valve V10? Should I spend alittle more for a 3 valve?
Opinions from guys that have had these engines please.

[litng1]

great info guys.Thanks very much

[B-goat]

j-d wrote:
From the 1970's through most of the 1990's, the E350 was Ford's only Class C chassis offering. Then in 1997, they went from 460 to V10, and offered the E-Super Duty. That is the beginning of the E450. After a few years, Ford dropped the E-Super Duty and branded their Class C chassis as E350 Super Duty and E450 Super Duty.

Maybe oversimplified, but

1992-1996 E350 with 460 and E4OD transmission

1997-8-9 E350 and E-Super Duty with V10 at 275HP and 4R100 transmission

2000-1-2-3-4 E350 SD and E450 SD with V10 at 305HP and 4R100

2005? -6-7 Same but with TorqShift 5-speed transmission

2008-15 Same with new styling

2016 Same with new Six-Speed transmission

Actually the Six-Speed isn't new. Ford has been using it in their Super Duty pick-ups since 2011 behind both the 6.2 gasser and the 6.7 diesel. It's a shame it took them this long to get it behind the V-10. It's a great transmission. When using the "manual" feature, it's almost like having a clutchless manual transmission.

[tarnold]

See what happens when you get old. Right, mercon5

[j-d]

tarnold wrote:
Funny but both e40d and 4r100 both use the same filter. Dextron has got $$$$!

First, I'd expect same filter in the two models. They aren't that different. Wonder if an old C6 uses that one too...

DEXRON? Please be sure of the fluid spec. My recall (and I did NOT just look it up again, so check...) is Mercon 5

[ron_dittmer]

In our 2007 E350, we have one of the few Torque-Shift transmissions with the bell housing for what looks like a roll of toilet paper as the transmission oil filter. We also have a drain plug on the pan. I wonder if we also have a transmission filter inside the pan as most people have.

[tarnold]

Just turned 100k and about to service the transmission. Funny but both e40d and 4r100 both use the same filter. However in reading, some models of the newer trans have a deeper pan requiring a longer neck. Will pull mine out before ordering! Dextron has got $$$$!

[j-d]

tarnold wrote:
J/D, my 1997 e350 VIN says an 44e transmission, which is a e40d, so 97's can go either way?

Till you brought that up, it was my understanding that when E-Series went to V10, they also changed from E4OD to 4R100. Either transmission was still the venerable C6 (three speed and very durable) with Overdrive added. The change, was going from E4OD's hydraulic valve body plus electric OD engagement, to a fully electronic (solenoids instead of hydraulics) valve body. Then they changed the name to match their new scheme, where 4R was Four Speed Rear Drive, and 100 meant 1000-ft-lb of Multiplied Torque. Say the Torque Converter multiplies Engine Torque by doubling it, and the engine has 400-ft-lb. That'd be 800 into a transmission rated for 1000 so the combination is Good To Go.

It does seem Ford closed out its inventory of 1996 E4OD's into 1997 vehicles. A cousin worked for Ford for decades, in vehicle assembly plants. Said "I don't know how Mechanics keep up - We build with what the send us and those neat Mid Year Change Bulletins don't tell the whole story."

You didn't ask, but I'm sure you could NOT "upgrade" to a 4R100 (or a 5R115 TorqShift) without a total transplant of ECM, wiring, and a whole other bunch of interfaces. You might have to change the Radio before you were done...

[tarnold]

J/D, my 1997 e350 VIN says an 44e transmission, which is a e40d, so 97's can go either way?

[photobug]

my '98 MH and my 2001 E350 van both have the v-10 haven't had a bit of trouble with either. MH has the banks power pack system installed, 13K weighed at scale, no problem in the mountains. Van was pulling a 9000lb trailer, a bit slow but worked ok. Lazy Daze MH don't have slides.

[j-d]

From the 1970's through most of the 1990's, the E350 was Ford's only Class C chassis offering. Then in 1997, they went from 460 to V10, and offered the E-Super Duty. That is the beginning of the E450. After a few years, Ford dropped the E-Super Duty and branded their Class C chassis as E350 Super Duty and E450 Super Duty.

Maybe oversimplified, but

1992-1996 E350 with 460 and E4OD transmission

1997-8-9 E350 and E-Super Duty with V10 at 275HP and 4R100 transmission

2000-1-2-3-4 E350 SD and E450 SD with V10 at 305HP and 4R100

2005? -6-7 Same but with TorqShift 5-speed transmission

2008-15 Same with new styling

2016 Same with new Six-Speed transmission

[litng1]

Thanks so much for info guys.I have a slide in camper in a 97f250 460 ci
Needing more room now

[ron_dittmer]

I agree with the other replies.

The V10 2-valve is the only Triton engine available in a van & cut-away van chassis because the 3-valve version is too large to fit inside the engine compartment. The V10 in an E350/E450 is very reliable and also powerful. The only complaint people have with the V10 is that it is very loud when accelerating or climbing, and the passenger floor gets quite warm from the exhaust system passing underneath it. But it is a great engine.

If you can get a 2008 chassis or newer, easily identified by the current-day dump truck style front grille, you'll have a more capable chassis with regard to the weight it can handle. And I think we would all agree that "weight" is the number-one problem with class C motor homes. By the time you add people, water, food and gear, most are over-loaded.

[Desert_Captain]

Nothing wrong with the 2 valve V-10. Every E-450 made in the last 15+ years will have one along with most of the E-350's.

:C

[blownstang01]

Personally, I would go with the V-10. Also, they did not put a 3-valve in the E-series (no room). So that's not an option on a C, unless you go to a class A.