3.03 transmission question?
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Elder User
Joined: Jun 2015
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From: York Pa.
3.03 transmission question?
I have a 1976 LWB F100 2WD with a 302 engine, 27 inch diameter tires, and a 3.03 manual transmission and was wondering if anybody knows if all of these transmissions came with the same gearing with this model year truck? I have read that they have 2.99 first gear, 1.75 second gear, and 1.00 third gear. Does this sound right? I want to change the third member in my 9 inch rear to a possi. and want to have accurate information to pick the best rear gears for my truck. My intentions are to hot rod it and I'm thinking 3.70 rear gears would be good.
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
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From: Simi Valley, CA
This truck does not have a 9" rear axle.
F10 = F100 2WD Pickup.
G = 302 2V
C = Oakville Ontario Canada Truck Assembly Plant.
B29273 = 1976.
133" Wheelbase.
D = Blue Metallic.
F101 = F100 2WD Pickup, 4800 lbs. GVWR
MB4: MB = Blue Vinyl & Blue Cloth / 4 = Styleside Pickup.
C = Ford type 3.03 3 Speed Manual all Synchromesh Transmission.
12J: 12 = Dana 44-3 Rear Axle / 3.00-1 / 2,900 lbs. Rear Axle Capacity // J = Power Steering.
4,800 lbs. Gross Vehicle Weight Rating.
1976.
12 = Buffalo NY Ford District Sales Office, where the original selling dealer ordered the truck from.
Dana 44 has an inspection cover, the 9" does not.
In 1976, Ford began installing Dana 44 rear axles in some F100/150's after the 1st Arab Oil Embargo ended in an effort to improve MPG
The 2nd Arab Oil Embargo occurred in 1979.
F10 = F100 2WD Pickup.
G = 302 2V
C = Oakville Ontario Canada Truck Assembly Plant.
B29273 = 1976.
133" Wheelbase.
D = Blue Metallic.
F101 = F100 2WD Pickup, 4800 lbs. GVWR
MB4: MB = Blue Vinyl & Blue Cloth / 4 = Styleside Pickup.
C = Ford type 3.03 3 Speed Manual all Synchromesh Transmission.
12J: 12 = Dana 44-3 Rear Axle / 3.00-1 / 2,900 lbs. Rear Axle Capacity // J = Power Steering.
4,800 lbs. Gross Vehicle Weight Rating.
1976.
12 = Buffalo NY Ford District Sales Office, where the original selling dealer ordered the truck from.
Dana 44 has an inspection cover, the 9" does not.
In 1976, Ford began installing Dana 44 rear axles in some F100/150's after the 1st Arab Oil Embargo ended in an effort to improve MPG
The 2nd Arab Oil Embargo occurred in 1979.
Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 664
Likes: 2
From: York Pa.
I was not sure if a mostly stock 302 engine could even get 4.10 gears moving, 3.70's was as low as I would want to go in case I was to sell the truck some day down the road.
Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 664
Likes: 2
From: York Pa.
I have a 1976 LWB F100 2WD with a 302 engine, 27 inch diameter tires, and a 3.03 manual transmission and was wondering if anybody knows if all of these transmissions came with the same gearing with this model year truck? I have read that they have 2.99 first gear, 1.75 second gear, and 1.00 third gear. Does this sound right? I want to change the third member in my 9 inch rear to a possi. and want to have accurate information to pick the best rear gears for my truck. My intentions are to hot rod it and I'm thinking 3.70 rear gears would be good.
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Tuned
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 308
Likes: 27
From: Fallout Shelter
Unless someone removed it there may be a metal tag on the trans that has a letter sequence starting with something like "RAT" or "RAN" that will cross reference to a gear set. May be total bs but I always heard the 3.41 1.86 1.00 set was a bronco 6 cylinder application and the 2.42 1.61 1.00 set was a 390 application. That leaves only the 2.99 1.75 1.00 which is what I've always seen behind a 302. But previous owner could have swapped that too. Check for the tag i believe in the passengers? side.
Oh btw....small engines like 302 will appreciate lower (numerically higher) gear sets in a performance application due to the short stroke and to a certain extent will make it easier on the engine under "normal" driving/hot rodding. Short strokes/lower torques and higher gearing (numerically lower) usually don't go together well for performance and will be harder on the engine/trans. 2.99 first gear is plenty low for a hot rod and works ok with 3.50-3.70 gears if driven much on street IMHO.
Oh btw....small engines like 302 will appreciate lower (numerically higher) gear sets in a performance application due to the short stroke and to a certain extent will make it easier on the engine under "normal" driving/hot rodding. Short strokes/lower torques and higher gearing (numerically lower) usually don't go together well for performance and will be harder on the engine/trans. 2.99 first gear is plenty low for a hot rod and works ok with 3.50-3.70 gears if driven much on street IMHO.
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Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 664
Likes: 2
From: York Pa.
Unless someone removed it there may be a metal tag on the trans that has a letter sequence starting with something like "RAT" or "RAN" that will cross reference to a gear set. May be total bs but I always heard the 3.41 1.86 1.00 set was a bronco 6 cylinder application and the 2.42 1.61 1.00 set was a 390 application. That leaves only the 2.99 1.75 1.00 which is what I've always seen behind a 302. But previous owner could have swapped that too. Check for the tag i believe in the passengers? side.
Oh btw....small engines like 302 will appreciate lower (numerically higher) gear sets in a performance application due to the short stroke and to a certain extent will make it easier on the engine under "normal" driving/hot rodding. Short strokes/lower torques and higher gearing (numerically lower) usually don't go together well for performance and will be harder on the engine/trans. 2.99 first gear is plenty low for a hot rod and works ok with 3.50-3.70 gears if driven much on street IMHO.
Oh btw....small engines like 302 will appreciate lower (numerically higher) gear sets in a performance application due to the short stroke and to a certain extent will make it easier on the engine under "normal" driving/hot rodding. Short strokes/lower torques and higher gearing (numerically lower) usually don't go together well for performance and will be harder on the engine/trans. 2.99 first gear is plenty low for a hot rod and works ok with 3.50-3.70 gears if driven much on street IMHO.
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