I picked up a 1989 Ford F-2504X4 with the 5.8 liter v8 for $1500 from someoneat work. Prety descent shape for being an old work truck. The problem with the truck is that the transmissiontakes for ever to engage.Put it in drive and it takes 20-40 secs to engage the gears this process can be spead up by pressing the gas a little. doesn't matter if its forward or reverse gears, it takes an iternity to engage. the person that i bought it from said thatthe truck was working fine untila minor flood we had here in the summer of 06 (virginia beach va )hethinks it might have gotten wet. he took it to the shop and they said that the problem was a vacuum hose in the transmission. not sure about that
any suggestions?

 

Does it do this every time? when the unit finally moves and you go back into park, then drop it into D or R does is hesitate/stall again? Or just after a cold soak, and/or some time being shut down..

 

it does itr all the time, for instance, when i get to the stop light. when i go to take off again its the same deal i rev up slightly and then it engages again and i am off until i have to stop again! even if i change from park to drive or reverse.
there is no slip , no grinding , no squealing,no vibratingm or burning smells.

auto trans fluid level ok, nice and transparent red.
is there a vacuum hose in the tranny?

 

is the tranny bad and should i replace it?

 

There's no vacuum hose/s modulator ect in a E4OD.. Whats the mileage on the truck, and does the trans look to be original? Hard to know if the unit is bad without checking it out electrically, as well as for correct pressures ect. first. I was thinking 'possibly' torque converter drainback, but thats a delay on initial engagement only.. Might be worth your while to have a local shop trans shop check it out before a replacement..

 

thanks, i will have a shop look at it and let you know!