Transmission rebuild

SCOTSAIL

MEMBER
1997 FORD F-150
4.6L
V8
AUTOMATIC
175,000 MILES

My truck needs a transmission rebuild.
I was told when I bought the truck that the transmission was replaced with a recovered transmission.
I need to buy a rebuild kit, but how am I to know what transmission kit to get? Looking at kits, it appears there are two types of transmissions that were OEM (4R70W and E4OD). But is there any chance that the transmission that was recovered could be anything different? Meaning, do only those two fit in the truck, or could others (maybe different brands) of transmissions also fit. Meaning I would be dealing with something totally different.
I have attached a picture I took from the tag on the housing. I do not know how to read it and cannot find anything on internet searching to break it out either.

Image (Click to make bigger)

1 Reply

STEVE W.

MECHANIC
13,476 POSTS

There is a trans code letter on the sticker that is on the drivers door. A code U is the 4R70W (which is the most likely one used for that truck) or a code E which would be the E40D trans)

I would just take it to a transmission shop and let them do the rebuild. That gets you a warranty and they generally know the issues the transmission has and will add better parts in places the OEM ones show weakness. Plus as yours has a different trans than stock they can get the parts to match that exact unit. There are minor changes on that trans over the years, so if they used a transmission from a 98 or up the kit will be different than the one for your model year, even though the transmission has the same model number.