My vin for the axle's says 24P. What would this be cuz the PO said it had 4:11 gears but i believe 24 is a 4:10.... Also wouldnt that P mean fron 4.55 gearing? (the big bummer is the moron got rid of the D60 front and put in a D44 )

Also, anyone know what the paint code BS looks like? SHould be a Blue, i kinda wana see a pic :P

 

No Ford vehicle has the AXLE code located within the VIN. You found it on the 2nd line-far right of the Warranty Plate.

AXLE 24P: 24 = Dana 60 Rear Axle / 4.10-1 / no Limited Slip / 5,300 lbs. rear axle capacity // P = Dana 44-6CF Front Driving Axle / 4.55-1 / 3,500 lbs. capacity with Power Steering.

If your F250 was a 1976: P = Dana 60F Front Driving Axle / 4.55-1 / 3,550 lbs. capacity with Power Steering.

Two different ratios was a rare option FoMoCo offered for 1973/76 F250 4WD's. Most came standard equipment with the same ratio front/back.

COLOR BS: B = Light Blue / S = Bright Dark Blue Metallic.

What has been swapped is the 390 engine. 1968/76 F100/250 4WD ~ Only available V8: 360 (all were 2V's).

What engine did it come with originally? 4th digit of the VIN is the engine code: A = 240 I-6 / B = 300 I-6 / Y = 360.

 

Why would they have two different ratios?
For two different tire sizes? If so that would have taller tires in the front.

 

I never knew that Bill, I learned something today.
I actually started to answer the question but when I saw what the "P" indicated in the parts catalog I figured I was reading the code wrong so decided to stay out.
I'm wrong enough as it is, I don't need any help .

 

ND, i believe the 4.55 ratio designated by the "P" in the axle code to be an error on the warrany plate or parts catalog, perhaps both.

I've owned three trucks with the 24P axle code, all were 4.09's, my current truck, bought from the original owner, also has the 24P axle code and is 4.09's, i've counted the teeth myself, 11 pinion teeth/45 ring teeth.

4.10 rears coupled with 4.55 fronts would grenade the drivetrain in very short order, broken u-joints, exploded t-case, etc. it's just too large a differential, the warranty claims would be through the roof.

The front ratios on 4wd's are typically lower than the rears (numerically speaking) e.g. 4.09/4.10, this allows the front tires to turn a bit faster than the rears, this aids in helping the truck track straight and "pull" through the mud/snow.

I've seen others on the forum question the 24P axle codes 4.55-1 ratio, so i don't think i'm alone on this, if the OP were to pull his diff cover and count the teeth and find 4.55's i'll vote for Obama on Tuesday.

The one caveat i'd add is that a 203 t-case with its center differential could possibly tolerate a 4.55/4.10 split, but a 205 t-case could certainly not, all my 24P axle coded trucks were factory 205's.

 

AXLE code 24P:

1973/75: 24 = Dana 60 Rear Axle / 4.10-1 / no Limited Slip / 5,300 lbs. rear axle capacity // P = Dana 44-6CF Front Driving Axle / 4.55-1 / 3,500 lbs. capacity with Power Steering.

1976: 24 = Dana 60 Rear Axle / 4.10-1 / no Limited Slip / 5,300 lb. rear axle capacity / P = Dana 60F Front Driving Axle / 4.55-1 / 3,550 lbs. capacity with Power Steering.

Sources/editions: 1973/78 (2/78); 1973/79 (10/79); 1973/79 (10/86); 1973/79 (10/88 final edition) Ford Light Truck Parts Catalogs.

Doncha think Ford woulda fixed it, if a parts catalog error, considering how long it was listed?



The only reason I'd vote for Obama on Tuesday, is if Vlad the Impaler, Hitler, Stalin and Tojo were the only other choices.

 

Florida has early voting, I voted the day before yesterday. If my vote counts for anything, "Mr" Obama will be "former" president.

 

Glad to see most people on this arnt Libs.lol I was named after debatably the greatest president ever! Ronald Reagan My first name is Reagan

And yea if my vote counts "former" Mr President is correct. Time to take America back.

 

I would think so, but i honestly have no idea, perhaps this error just slipped through the cracks all these years???

I just don't see Ford offering a 4.55/4.10 combo from the factory, it makes no sense mechanically, if Ford did offer a 4.55 front i think that it would be paired with a 4.56 rear.

I've never seen a 24P axle with anything other than a 4.09-1 ratio, if someone can verify they have a 4.55-1 ratio in a 24P axle i'll eat crow.

I found this thread (below) but the OP never pulled his diff cover to verify 4.55's or 4.09's

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...tio-combo.html

 

I was out at my local yard yesterday, didn't need any parts but just wanted to confirm or refute this 24P axle code mystery.

I found two trucks with the 24P axle code on the warranty plate, i pulled the diff covers on both, i was able to count the teeth on one set, 11 pinion/45 ring = 4.09's

On the other set i was able to read the ratio stamping on the ring gear, which read "45-11"...... again 4.09's

The parts books (numbers) are not infallible, like anything else they're subject to error, and in this case they're simply wrong.

If anyone can refute these findings i'm more than open to rebuttal, but i'm 99.9% certain the 24P axle code (4.55-1) is an error on Fords part.

 

Montana, et., al.,
I realize this is an old thread but I wanted to add a little input. I have a 1973 F250 4x4 ("Highboy," NP 205 Transfer Case etc.) and it has the “24P” code in the second line of the warranty plate on the door. I bought it from the original owner who ordered it from the factory with the LP Dana 60—labled “undesirable” or “wimpy 60” in several references such as_Differentials_, by Randy Lyman and Jim Allen. The truck still has the original axles in it. According to the Fordification VIN decoder it has a 4:55-1 gear ratio in the front. However, the front differential tag—which is in remarkably good shape—is clearly stamped with 4.09. I have not counted the teeth but I may do that after I swap in a HP Dana 60 just to satisfy my curiosity. Interesting…and confusing to say the least.

 

Pic: See the 8th entry in column left.

The problem is: The only 1973/79 Ford 100/500 (Light Truck) parts catalog available to the general public, is on a C/D scanned by hipoparts.com from an early edition (April 1980), so it has errors and omissions.

This is the catalog that Fordification, FTE members and etc. are using. Pic below is from this C/D

However, the final edition of this catalog is much more accurate as it was printed 10/88, but it is only available on microfiche.

 

Hi Number Dummy,
Thanks for the clarification. You have solved several mysteries that have been discussed in at least two threads on FTE about these axles. I went with the Fordification decoder and did not double check with my own Master Parts Catalog CD which arrived yesterday from Amazon.Wouldn’t you know it, even the old catalog shows the correct axle—the D44CFHD, and it is the same image you sent me. So to clarify:
1. The Fordification VIN decoder shows my front axle to be a D60 with 4:55 gears. This probably explains why other guys have written about odd front/rear gears as well, and that when the tags were read/teeth counted that the front axles in question were revealed to have 4.09 gears.
2. The tag on my axle shows 4.09 gears.
3. The Ford Master Parts Catalog image provided by NumberDummy and my own CD confirm that my axle, #D3TA-HA is, infact, a D44CFHD, instead of the “wimpy 60” I was told I had. Of course after going through all of this, I actually put a wrench on the differential cover bolts andthey were ½ inch—indicative of a D44. It’s embarrassing really.
Thanks ND for posting and helping me to ID my front end, and for the many informative posts of yours I have read in other threads. The detective work continues...