93 E350 7.3 with a 3-speed?

[mross43]

I am currently looking for a work van, and have come across an ad for a 93 E350 with a 7.3 and the ad says it has a 3-speed auto. My question is this: wasn't the 7.3 backed by a 4-speed automatic after 1989 or so? I thought I would ask here first, as I find most car dealers are idiots. Today being Sunday I am not able to contact the dealer, and will call tomorrow to see if the ad is correct. The van is 317 miles away from where I live, so I will get as much info over the phone before I go see it. I usually live in the 6.9 forum, as I have a truck with a C6. That is the only thing about the truck I don't like, not having overdrive. I need a van with overdrive to get decent MPG on the highway, and won't need to carry or pull a lot of weight.

[Mark Kovalsky]

The three speed C6 automatic was available with the diesel through the end of the 1996 model year. The four speed automatic E4OD was available starting in the 1988 model year. Both were available from 1988 to 1996.

[mross43]

Thanks! I didn't know that both were offered.

[r_j_d_one]

Something to consider is that the C6 transmission is much more reliable than the 4 speed overdrive transmission. It is also quite a bit less costly to rebuild than the 4 speed. So in the end you need to decide which will actually be more economical to own; each has its own advantages.