1998 E350 power stroke speed sensor on eo4d tail housing purpose?

[joeblack5]

Howdy folks, another request for help .
I have a small skoolbus based on an 1998 e350 power stroke..
I converted to bus to 4*4 using a Quigley adapter and a BW1356 transfer case.

On the tailhousing of the eo4d is a speed sensor with a 7 teeth gear machine in the tail shaft.

I read a lot but it is not clear to me what all this sensor controls.. conflicting info about the RABS sensor used for cluster speed AND eo4d, others say not.

I have not tried to drive it yet so I do not know if the tranny is shifting ok.
Anybody has the real in and outs about this sensor? Electric has two wires..
This is an Econoline E350 .

Thank you, Johan

 

[lotzagoodstuff]

I’m certain somebody with more experience and knowledge will chime in, but I’m guessing you need a speed sensor to provide feedback for the transmission control module on an E4OD and maybe the speedometer depending on the year. I think you can get a signal off of the rear axle and/or the transmission, just depends on how the truck is equipped (manual versus automatic). I know some vans have different axles than trucks, so maybe this was a “just in case you can’t get that speed signal somewhere else”. Again, I think somebody else will chime in will more a definitive answer (my bet is trackspeeder as he’s a transmission ninja).

By the way: “Quigley 4x4 SportsmoSchoolBus” is truly a one of a kind build!

 

[joeblack5]

Thanks lotzagoodstuff, With all the Quigley parts I had from my old ambulance it should have been easy,. And probably for other more experienced people it is.
Now it turns out the rear drive shaft has to be 2" shorter because I left the bus rear axle in place.. .
Will see if it holds up.

 

[trackspeeder]

That sensor is the VSS. The PCM uses that sensor for the speedometer and controls shift points.

 

[joeblack5]

Thank you, that what I was afraid of.. no easy way out or around..The bw1356 has a tail shaft/ housing with an optional sensor hole.. mine does not, not does it have the gear inside on the shaft.

Sofar I did not find this tail housing and parts at the scrapyards aroun here..
I will see if I can make a hole accurate enough for the gears to engage properly.

 

[trackspeeder]

89-91 1356 transfer case have a VSS provision. It works off a worm and gear to drive the speedometer cable and VSS. 92 this was no longer needed.

 

[joeblack5]

Thank you all, I drilled the hole and got a worm gear for the shaft. Then Magically a 1988 diesel transfer case appeared on MP. I put that under instead of attempting my modification.. did not check the shaft or sensor gear since I was in hurry.. extended the original wiring. The e350 shifted fine although earlier. Original the 4 the gear starts at 46mph and now at 42 mph. Something to look into.

The next thing is that in low the transmission does not shift because it thinks that is driving very slow.. so I have to tell the computer that I have it low.
Not a big deal for now.

 

[lotzagoodstuff]

Quigley 4x4 SportsmoSchoolBus at the beach