decode the diff tag

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Jan 12, 2014 | 08:20 PM

#61

hav24wheel

FTE Chapter Leader

Joined: May 2006

Posts: 11,273

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From: North Dakota

It's a 3.73 LS axle for sure.

Jan 12, 2014 | 08:24 PM

#62

sammie0126

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From: Westfield, Indiana

Quote:

Originally Posted by sammatt1

I've been wanting to decode mine for a while now but just forgot. This thread persuaded me to grab the tag that has been sitting in my toolbox for over a year. I removed the tags after I changed the cover to the finned aluminum.

Mine show "V" on the top row. Anybody know what that represents? I thought all Ex came with "S" Sterling axle.

That is a ford axle, just wasn't built in Sterling, MI.

10.5 LS 3.73 Ratio
Build date 12/8/03

Jan 12, 2014 | 08:30 PM

#63

hav24wheel

FTE Chapter Leader

Joined: May 2006

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From: North Dakota

There's another name that starts with a V for the Ford axle, it's just slipped my mind at the moment.

Jan 12, 2014 | 08:55 PM

#64

sammie0126

Postmaster

Joined: Aug 2012

Posts: 2,737

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From: Westfield, Indiana

Quote:

Originally Posted by hav24wheel

There's another name that starts with a V for the Ford axle, it's just slipped my mind at the moment.

Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville

<table style="border-collapse: collapse" border="0" cellpadding="2" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" width="50%"><table style="border-collapse: collapse" border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td align="center" bgcolor="#FAE9D1"> CODE</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#FAE9D1"> ASSEMBLY PLANT</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#FFF4E6"> B</td> <td>Oakville</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#FFF4E6"> C</td> <td>Ontario Truck</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#FFF4E6"> E</td> <td>Manwah</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#FFF4E6"> H</td> <td>Lorain</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#FFF4E6"> I</td> <td>Highland Park</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#FFF4E6"> K</td> <td>Kansas City</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#FFF4E6"> L</td> <td>Michigan Truck</td> </tr> </tbody></table>
</td> <td valign="top" width="50%"> <table style="border-collapse: collapse" border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#FAE9D1"> CODE</td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#FAE9D1"> ASSEMBLY PLANT</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#FFF4E6"> N</td> <td>Norfolk</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#FFF4E6"> P</td> <td>Twin Cities</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#FFF4E6"> R</td> <td>San Jose</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#FFF4E6"> S</td> <td>Pilot Plant (Allen Park)</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#FFF4E6"> U</td> <td>Louisville</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#FFF4E6"> V</td> <td>Kentucky Truck</td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <hr color="#000000" noshade="noshade">

Jan 12, 2014 | 09:16 PM

#65

sammatt1

Senior User

Joined: Aug 2011

Posts: 251

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From: Waxhaw,NC

Great. Thanks for the info. I guess the Wiki info is not correct -- The rear axle for all Excursions was a Sterling 10.5 axle.

Jan 12, 2014 | 09:47 PM

#66

hav24wheel

FTE Chapter Leader

Joined: May 2006

Posts: 11,273

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From: North Dakota

Quote:

Originally Posted by sammie0126

That's good info there. but I was talking a bout another name for the sterling axle, not where it was made. I just can't for the life of me remember it right now. It starts with vu or ve. It will come to me at some point. The V on that tag reminded me of it. I wasn't trying to say anything about what plant it was made in.

You have a lot of good info for all of us

Jan 12, 2014 | 09:54 PM

#67

hav24wheel

FTE Chapter Leader

Joined: May 2006

Posts: 11,273

Likes: 99

From: North Dakota

I was way off. Visteon is what I was thinking.

Jan 13, 2014 | 12:48 AM

#68

Stewart_H

Super Moderator

Joined: May 2004

Posts: 29,380

Likes: 118

From: Central Coast of CA

Quote:

Originally Posted by hav24wheel

I was way off. Visteon is what I was thinking.

They do the headlights. Dunno if they do axles too, but I know they do the headlights.

Stewart

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May 30, 2023 | 12:16 PM

#69

97nightmare

1st Gear

Joined: May 2023

Posts: 1

Likes: 0

Top photo, how do you decode the label? story of miss matched parts

Quote:

Originally Posted by hav24wheel

Here's a bit of info, here is two different ford tags, one is older, and the ratio is in the top line, other is newer(off my Ex) and it's the first in the bottom row.
First tag reads 3.54 gears the second 3.73s

Is it a 10.25"? My 97 is a horror story of miss matched parts... I need a new rear axel and only have a front tag like the top photo! I'll insert my tag

Sep 21, 2025 | 10:24 PM

#70

Josh614ohio

1st Gear

Joined: Sep 2025

Posts: 1

Likes: 0

Quote:

Originally Posted by icentropy

Hi all, quick little question. I was curious as to the diff ratio. I figure it's the stock 3.73 but figured wouldn't hurt to know for sure.

No code on the door sticker (no shock there)

Pulled this tag off the rear diff (i didn't see one on the front diff)
Didn't match any of the numbers on the tech folder article so didn't know what i was looking at. Figure one of you ford gurus can decode it without blinking an eye.

Thanks for any help.

to me it looks like S is what plant it was made the next is the model I believe B is open axle. Next line is your gear ratio, 10" last number is the date manufactured i believe