I just recently purchased a 1995 F150 Ext Cab 4x4. 151,000 miles on it. Automatic Transmission.
The owner who sold it to me was very adamant about the strong running engine, it's a 5.8l 351 (gas hog )
I've put less than 1000 miles on the truck and noticed a problem. I'm sure he did too, just didn't tell me. for $2000 I won't complain.

I'm not a mechanic, so I can't diagnose transmission problems very well.
Whenever I start the truck, I always let it warm up 5-10 minutes.
It's a 30 mile drive to town, drives down the highway just fine, shifts like a knife through butter.
When you come into town though and hit a stop light..
As soon as it downshifts after being driven on the highway, it feels as if someone had run into me when shifting 1-2 and also 2-3.
After it's in 3, runs just fine.
And this is only random.
Some days it will have this problem all day, somedays it will not do it once.

I drove it over 200 miles to buy a topper for it and it never had this problem once, drove it 20 miles the next day and it did that the whole damn way.
Anyone have any sort of information as to what the cause may be?

I've been told some sort of "valves" may be sticking open, which would make sense to me, considering the randomness of it all.
Also been told the transmission needs to be replaced, or rebuilt.

I changed the fluid and filter and it looked like a dark blood red.
Bad I know, but the magnet in the pan had no shavings at all.
Sorry for rambling, just trying to get as much information as possible out.

If it helps at all, I was told the transmission is Heavy Duty, the largest Ford makes.

I'm having it looked at by a Ford Mechanic(15+ years) who decided to go out on his own. He is going to rebuild my transmission for half of what the dealership would charge, and says they are tyrants because he is still making money out of the deal.

 

Also, if I may add.

The truck seems to "drink" coolant. I have never smelled antifreeze with the heat on either, and everytime I park, I check under the truck for leaks on the ground and see none.

 

Have heard of similar problems that were caused by poor electrical connections at the trans. Might pay to just unplug the plugs and check for any corroded contacts.