Ok I am rebuilding the front end on my '92 F150 4by 4.9 E4od and I have the front axle out and apart. Now would be the time to regear while its out. The truck has 3.08's in it stock with no LS. This truck is going to be the one I do dump runs with and someday put a plow on it. I don't do alot of off-road driving if at all. It currently has 31" tires so I'm thinking of putting 3.73's in it.

The question is do I put a locker or posi in the front diff?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts

 

If it were mine I would put in a locker such as an ARB. Full time posi on the front end is not a good thing, the truck is not going to like to turn.

 

How have you been!

If you are not doing any off roading, just plowing, I would not bother with the expense of a locker. Some trucks did have a stock front LS but i have never seen one. When you do the rear though, you should put one there, my truck is open 3.55 rear and it slips even in the rain. Let us know what you decide!

 

A switchable locker would provide maximum traction, but as already mentioned you almost need 2 people in the cab to turn the truck when in 4wd.. a locked front end just wants to go straight. The next best thing is a true posi like the Detroit TrueTrac, power to the wheel with grip instead of the other way around. An LS diff has to be fairly tight to provide any real traction benefit so it's not a good idea in the front for the same reason as the fulltime locker. Other than that just leave it open. For me it breaks down like this...

Serious offroad use:
1 Switchable locker
2 Posi
3 Fultime locker
4 LS
5 Open

Occasional offroad, mostly onroad:
1 Posi
2 Switchable locker
3 Open
4 LS
5 Fulltime locker

 

does anyone make a switchable locker for the ttb? all the ones i have seen use the cover to make them work

 

you will probably be doin full lock turns in 4x4 while plowing,
so i would put a LS in back and leave the front open
my 04 SD is set up that way and i have no problem pushin snow, with a 9' blade and the 5.4

 

Which ones are those? Detroit has an electric locker now.

 

i was thinking like the ox lockers and the arb lockers i beleive they both use the diff cover as part of the locker

did not know detroit had an e-locker for the 44... good thing to know since i am swapping gears in the future i gave up tonight