Deciphering VIN?
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From: Parkersburg Good ol' USA
Deciphering VIN?
Trying to figure out my gear ratio on my truck, my dad custom ordered it back in '78 and says it is 3.93posi, front and rear, a mechanic buddy of mine says it is not possible or top speed would be about 70, (I know i can peg it pretty easy) On the door tag is marked "DSO" which he says means "Dealer Special Order", and I could contact ford with the info on that tag and they can tell me everything about it, my local ford shops says "no". So pretty much I am left in the dark. I know I have the original window sticker, somewhere, but I can't find it, if anyone knows of how to decipher this stuff it would be greatly appreciated. I would like to believe my dad knows what he is talking about, but then again that 'was' almost 24 years ago.
Thanks
Thanks
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
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From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
Deciphering VIN?
Chris, Crawl under the truck and look for a thin metal tag on one of the bolts, usually on the drivers side and towards the bottom of the center section of the rear gear. It will have numbers pressed into it. See if you can find it and give us something to chew on? 
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New User
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From: Parkersburg Good ol' USA
Deciphering VIN?
John, been there there is just a little stub left, apparently after years of work and play it is gone
. I will get the info off the door and post it here shortly, maybe that will help some too, the mechanic did agree I had posi-rear, which brings me to another question, can that go bad? I cut firewood and the ol' brown beast still gets her workout pullin logs and stuff, sometimes when i hook up to a log and it tries me, only one wheel in the rear spins, and it may or may not budge, but when I get on it a little (or a lot) i can usually roast them both? is this normal? thanks again....
. I will get the info off the door and post it here shortly, maybe that will help some too, the mechanic did agree I had posi-rear, which brings me to another question, can that go bad? I cut firewood and the ol' brown beast still gets her workout pullin logs and stuff, sometimes when i hook up to a log and it tries me, only one wheel in the rear spins, and it may or may not budge, but when I get on it a little (or a lot) i can usually roast them both? is this normal? thanks again....
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Deciphering VIN?
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 20-Jan-02 AT 02:50 PM (EST)]"Posi" is a GM term
Limited Slip is the Ford equivalant
Yes, Limited Slip gears can go bad,Right now someone here is looking for a supplier for another unit for re-building.
Regarding your axle:
Why don't you just jack up the rear of the truck >mark a tire with chaulk with a corresponding mark on the floor >Then,While turning the tire ONE revolution,count the revolutions of the driveshaft.
If the count is 3 2/3 revs you have a 3.69:1
If it only turns 2 3/4 turns you have a 2.75 or 2.79:1 rear.
It only takes 20-30 minute to know FOR SURE.
BTW, DSO is the DISTRICT code >Not dealer special order
Give the dso code and I'll tell you what district it was delivered to
Have fun!
Dennis
Oh....Please Don't Ask Me Any Tough Questions As:
"I'm Saving Up MY Memory For When I Develop Alzheimer's"
78 F-150 429CJ C6 ,Silver w/Explorer Pkge
641/2 Mustang,Pre-World's Fair Car #8092
64 Fairlane S/C waiting for a 390-4spd.
68-Mustang.Sunlit Gold 80,000 miles
Limited Slip is the Ford equivalant
Yes, Limited Slip gears can go bad,Right now someone here is looking for a supplier for another unit for re-building.
Regarding your axle:
Why don't you just jack up the rear of the truck >mark a tire with chaulk with a corresponding mark on the floor >Then,While turning the tire ONE revolution,count the revolutions of the driveshaft.
If the count is 3 2/3 revs you have a 3.69:1
If it only turns 2 3/4 turns you have a 2.75 or 2.79:1 rear.
It only takes 20-30 minute to know FOR SURE.
BTW, DSO is the DISTRICT code >Not dealer special order
Give the dso code and I'll tell you what district it was delivered to
Have fun!
Dennis
Oh....Please Don't Ask Me Any Tough Questions As:
"I'm Saving Up MY Memory For When I Develop Alzheimer's"
78 F-150 429CJ C6 ,Silver w/Explorer Pkge
641/2 Mustang,Pre-World's Fair Car #8092
64 Fairlane S/C waiting for a 390-4spd.
68-Mustang.Sunlit Gold 80,000 miles
