Hey guys, I just found this forum. It's good to see that in this day of intercooled turbo diesels, dual overhead cams, and (sigh) the re-introduced rotary engines, that there are so many of you guys devoted to the "plain vanilla" 300 six.
My first was a 79 F100, 300, with a three on the tree, short bed, styleside, in jet black. Sadly, it was shot out from underneath me by a 78 Oldsmobile.
I replaced that truck with a 86 F150 302EFI, with a AOT. In 86 I was told that Ford only offered the 302EFI in a package. AOT with only 1 rear end ratio. I think it was 3.08 but I am probably wrong.
My question is, I have a chance to buy a 95 F150 4x4 with an automatic trans. with only 39,000 miles. Does anyone know what rear axle ratio these come with? Was there more than 1 ratio available?
I plan to tow a pop up camper from time to time with it, and don't know how well it would work.
My old 79 had 2.73 rears and while it ran like a top, it didn't have a lot of power pulling the hills around here.
I also have the option of a 94 F150 302EFI automatic with 72,000 miles, but I know that a properly maintained 300 will outlive a 302. So I am leaning toward the 95 300. Providing it can handle the job.
Thanks for looking. I think this is a great site.

 

In the owners manual, there is a list of letters for open type differentials and a list of letter-number combinations for limited slip type rear ends. On my 88 i have 3.55 open gears and the code is H. Oh yeah, almost forgot, the code for your axle is found on the drivers side door sticker.

Because this truck isn't yours, you probably don't have access to that information.
So if not, my guess would be either 3.08 or 3.55 gears just because ive seen more of those. Since the 300 has a torque peak of 265lb/ft. at 2000 rpms, i would say a 3.55 is ok for pulling a small pop up. I didnt have a problem towing a 66' f-100 through the Appalacians. Good Luck and go with the 300.

 

if you can get a hold of the door jam sticker check this site out. it will decode most of what your looking for.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/article/...r_Decoder.html

from what i have seen it's either a 3.08 or a 3.55. the 3.55 being the best choice.

 

3.55 open gears are axle code 19. My 95 4wd 300 w/ mazda 5 speed has those gears and my dad's 87 2wd 300, 3 speed w/od has the exact axle code and gears. So H is not 3.55 open, 19 is. 3.55's are a good size IMO. You get the best of both, you can tow very good and get good gas mileage. Being it's a 4wd your chances are great that it will have 3.55 gears but I have seen a few trucks on here that are 4wd w/ 3.08 gears. I have pulled 9,000 lbs over the mountain here. I had to drop it to first but it chugged on up it. So if all you want to tow is a small camper you'll be just fine with those gears. Also being it's a 95 w/ auto, if it's a e4od they've had their problems. I'd do a little research on that tranny.

 

Thanks for the replies.
I bought 'er.
Axle code is a 19. She runs like a bear! A big difference from my old 79 with 2.73's.
Before I do any towing, I'll put a trans. cooler and maybe some synthetic or semi synthetic fluid in it. Can't hurt.
Right now I'm smiling like the butchers dog!

 

good for you I hope that you will be happy with your purchase. Sounds like you have one almost exactly like mine except the transmission and mine is a flareside. Being as it's an automatic it should already have a cooler on there, either built into the existing radiator on the side, or it'll be a small one in front. But it would be a great idea to put a bigger one on there. But being as I can't use a tranny cooler I might as well go with an oil cooler. So much to do with so little money