Looking for help on purchase

[XPED4X4]

Hello all expedition owners,

I'm looking for alittle help on a possible purchase on a expedition.
I have looked in the sticky on what to look for but I still have a couple of questions. Your help will be much appreciated.


VIN# 1FMFU18LXVLA86616

I will tell you about it and then ask my q's. 1997 4x4 expedition EB with 5.4, 133,*** miles. The expe appears to be in good shape its very clean. It has trailer hitch and trailer brake controller, warn brush gaurd, winch, and lights. It seems to run great, shifts fine. The drivers power seat goes back but not forward, power locks, lock but not un-lock. i put the 4x4 switch in A4wd and the light started coming on and right back off and I could here the relay clicking as soon as I went to 4x4 hi it started working fine.

My q's.
TCASE type and reliability,
transmission type and reliability,
engine reliability

Im concerned with the tcase, it seems to fine other than the described above. I use to have a 97 explorer EB and the tcase on that was junk. It used an electronic magnet to engage a clutch in the tcase.
Does the expedition have the same type?

What tranny does this model have?

Do any of you have any major concerns from my description?

Pleas any insight and info will be great. I'm supposed to go tomorrow and either buy or not.
And if theres anything I should know before buying that might not have been in the sticky

 

[FordandPolaris]

As far as I know, magnetic clutches are used for the A4WD feature, but mechanical means are used for 4x4 high and low. Now obviously I can only speak for my truck, but it has been extremely solid for me and my family during the time we have owned it (knock on wood). I had one hiccup with the transmission not wanting to shift into drive last summer, but it honestly fixed itself after the guy dropped the pan and put it back together. It was very clean inside he said. Otherwise, the engine has been totally bullet proof so far, done a couple wheel hubs in front, trailing arms in back and a little rust repair, but I have definitely flogged my truck quite a bit over the years off road and hauling trailers. She has never let me down. I would totally jump on another 97 with that low of miles. Check for the towing package (little radiator right behind the bumper gives it away) as that is definitely a bonus. People say their expeditions sometimes feel a little sluggish, but with the 3.73's that the towing package comes with it gets going just fine for me.

 

[XPED4X4]

thanks for the info.

Anyone else? id really like to know about the tranny and tcase. Oh yea I think I forgot to mention this, but the expedition just had a new heater core put in last week.

 

[mindgame]

After a good mud bathing.. Experienced no tranny/transfer problems

 

[walnuts4x4]

never had a problem with mine turning 37s.... wheeling and daily driving

 

[XPED4X4]

I bought it. Just got home with it. I will upload a pic as soon as it stops raining. The trans code on the door jamb is "E" and the axle code is "H6". Do I have the r100 trans and 9.75 axle with 3.73 gears? From what I can tell I think thats what it has.

 

[XPED4X4]

here it is. Its really in very good shape, paint looks great interior looks brand new.

 

[mindgame]

 

[Lightnig]

I bought it. Just got home with it. I will upload a pic as soon as it stops raining. The trans code on the door jamb is "E" and the axle code is "H6". Do I have the r100 trans and 9.75 axle with 3.73 gears? From what I can tell I think thats what it has.

Ford Expedition Gear Ratios

I believe you are correct.

Yours has the same codes are my 97, which has the 9.75" 3.73 Limited slip and the 4R100 trans.


If you lant to verify the rear end, crawl underneath and check the tags attached to the cover. The size is easy enough to verify just by looking at it, the 8.8" is oval with 10 bolts attaching it and the 9.75" is more teardrop shaped with 12 bolts...

 

[Lightnig]

by the way, I like that grille guard a lot, have you figured out what brand it is?

And looks like you have the same winch I do too...

 

[hammerg26]

Well done.

 

[XPED4X4]

by the way, I like that grille guard a lot, have you figured out what brand it is?

And looks like you have the same winch I do too...

I havent even checked to see what it is, I will look tomorrow and let you know.

Thanks for the input guys. Now im trying to figure out if it has the tow package. I looked behind the grill where the ac condenser is and I didnt see a trans cooler but that it is when I noticed a big dual tone air horn++. I didnt think the exp came with this trans and rearend without the tow package,