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Old Mar 3, 2012 | 04:47 PM
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New truck

I traded my powerstroke recently for a 03 f150 fx4, 4 door,xlt. I had a 97 f150, but I have some questions like right now it has some 35 inch mud tires on it and I hate em their to loud, so would my truc still look alright with say a 285/70/17? Or to small? Also does it come stock lifted with blocks? What is some preventative maintenance I should do first? I know it needs oil change, air filter, fuel filter and brakes here soon. Anything else? Thanks
Adam
 
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Old Mar 3, 2012 | 05:52 PM
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From: NE Iowa JD Country
Originally Posted by 89broncoll
I traded my powerstroke recently for a 03 f150 fx4, 4 door,xlt. I had a 97 f150, but I have some questions like right now it has some 35 inch mud tires on it and I hate em their to loud, so would my truc still look alright with say a 285/70/17? Or to small? Also does it come stock lifted with blocks? What is some preventative maintenance I should do first? I know it needs oil change, air filter, fuel filter and brakes here soon. Anything else? Thanks
Adam
the 285's are just 1 size bigger than factory...so it should be fine.

start with getting fresh fluids, unless the prior owner gave some documentation of maintenance.

then I'd remove and clean the throttle body housing and IAC.

check to see if it is included in the gas tank strap recall
 
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Old Mar 3, 2012 | 06:58 PM
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Ok.what's the IAC? I've already cleaned throttle body and planned on give it all fresh fluids from differentials, to trans and motor with new filters.
 
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Old Mar 3, 2012 | 08:54 PM
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From: NE Iowa JD Country
Originally Posted by 89broncoll
Ok.what's the IAC? I've already cleaned throttle body and planned on give it all fresh fluids from differentials, to trans and motor with new filters.
IAC= Idle Air Control...module or valve
it controls the idle...if sticky or not functioning as it should it can give a wide range of runnability issues....mostly a higher than normal idle or choppy or surging idle. Has been tagged to hard starting that requires a bit of throttle to get started too.

Its located on the rear side or firewall side of the throttle body housing. There is a little plunger/shaft inside of it that needs to move freely, carbon tends to build up on it and hinder it function. It been suggested to to clean with good ole WD-40....carb cleaners tend to be a bit harsh even though cleaning well. and even if no improvemnets are yielded it just maybe time for a new one. I cleaned mine a couple of times and then finally got a new one. Some have cleaned theirs several times.

sounds like your well on your way to some good maintenance

if your truck has a limited slip differential, then be sure to use the friction modifier .
 
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Old Mar 3, 2012 | 09:05 PM
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Idk..he said the fx4 package included a different reared.. I want to say the 9.75 with 3.73 gears posi.
 
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Old Mar 4, 2012 | 06:54 AM
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From: NE Iowa JD Country
Originally Posted by 89broncoll
Idk..he said the fx4 package included a different reared.. I want to say the 9.75 with 3.73 gears posi.
Not all FX4's came with LS differentials, mine is a 02' and is open diff. I too thought that they all did. You can check the inside door jam sticker, it 'll have a axle code on it. Then note if the code is all numbers or combination. Ford Door Sticker Decoder .: Articles

with 35's even at 373 gears it was struggling at times, your transmission will be happier for the smaller tires.

The gear ratio still could be some thing different from the door sticker....seeing as it is new to you truck. No telling what was done by the former owner (FO) until you pop off the diff cover. Even if the FO did change gears, ( odds are they weren't changed ,but), the new gears would have the ratio stamped or embossed on the ring gear. There should be axle tags on the diff cover too that have their own set of coding , not to be confused with the door jam sticker.

Just set the rear axle on jack stands to get the tires off the ground so you can turn/spin it around to see it. You mentioned that you're gonna change the diff oil out anyway, so when you pop off the cover then take a gander to know for sure.
 
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Old Mar 4, 2012 | 10:20 AM
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Ok.thanks for all the information, the transmission doesn't seem to have a problem.
 
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Old Mar 5, 2012 | 01:08 PM
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Axle code is b6
 
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Old Mar 5, 2012 | 01:10 PM
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So it's the 3.73 ls.is that a bad reared?
 
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Old Mar 5, 2012 | 04:17 PM
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enriched&beyound
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From: NE Iowa JD Country
Originally Posted by 89broncoll
So it's the 3.73 ls.is that a bad reared?
should be no different than any others ...it is more of a light trailer/offroad gear. (4.10 being the one most prefer trailering gear ratio). I got 3.55 in mine & wish at times that did have the 3.73 for when I do pull a trailer, just a bit more gumph on the lower RPMs.

if you don't ever plan on pulling a trailer of any kind and you only use yours for extended highway use, you may wish it was a 3.55 or numerically lower , just maybe, for the gaining 1-2 mpgs.
but for the most part you never really notice anything different & the MPGS maybe negated by a little softer right foot. shucks it might even be better, by getting the engine in a happier place?? it kinda falls under the fine print commercials "results may vary"
 
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Old Mar 5, 2012 | 04:26 PM
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Ok.lol.I really like it I filled it up last Thursday and I'm already on a quarter tank left, but I've drove alot I'm at like 190 miles right now, but once I ditch the crappy k and n air filter change all the fluids and fuel filter I hop that'll improve a bit.
 
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