I want to put higher gears in my 78 F150 4x4 short bed stepside.

I've priced a new Ring Gear and Pinion and all the stuff needed to install it (Pinion shaft, bearings, shims, pinion seal...) to do the front and back is $425.00. That is the parts....I'm doing the labor.

That is a little more than I have at the moment...:-)

I'm going to call around to some salvage yards, but I'm not sure how to ask them what I need. A friend of a friend of mine got the above price from a 4x4 club that he is a part of.

The numbers from the rear rear-end is:
OM-B2 7HB
50 9 390B

That "2" may be a "Z"??

The front rear-end doesn't have a tag. The only numbers I can find are right on the bottom of the pumpkin and they are: 072. These are fairly large numbers. I don't know their significance.

What do I need to ask for when calling the local junk yards? Is there anything I need to be extra aware of? Will the spline count come into play? I need some advice and I would like to be able to work on it this Saturday. If I don't get it done then it may be after the first of the year before I have a chance and I need a higher geared truck before then.

Please help....

Thanks,

Chad

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 27-Nov-01 AT 11:14 PM (EST)]There should be another number in front of the _.50:1
to finish the ratio.
This is a 9".
The other letters and numbers say what the make-up of the axle system.
A Ford dealer would have that info.

I have the letters/numbers description for cars BUT,not for trucks.


Dennis


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

EDIT :
I just realized That was my 500th post !

Let's Party !
Attachments:

 

>There should be another number in front of the _.50:1
>to finish the ratio.

There isn't. It has very, very, very low gears. I'm thinking the gear ration is 5.09 or something like that.

That is the main reason I'm doing the swap. I want/need 3.5 to 4.0 gears.

Thanks,

Chad

 

What does the data plate on the door say for the axle?

A 5.09 is NOT listed for that year AFAIC see.

Dennis

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

 

>What does the data plate on the door say for the axle?
>

The data plate on the door says 16 for the axle.
Below I have posted everything from the door.

Door:
VIN: F14BLAE5863[table border="1" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1"]
[tr]
[td]WB[/td]
[td]Color[/td]
[td]Type/G.V.W.[/td]
[td]Body[/td]
[td]Trans[/td]
[td]Axle[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]117[/td]
[td]H[/td]
[td]F140[/td]
[td]DZ3[/td]
[td]A[/td]
[td]16[/td]
[/tr]
[/table]

GVWR: 6050
D.S.O: 1978 53


I don't know if this is the origional door or not. The reason I say that is because I'm assuming that "Trans A" means an automatic transmission....I have a 4 speed in the floor. However the VIN on the door matches the VIN on the door post (where the tire and axle weight info is given).

The main thing I need to know is how do I figure out if what I find at the salvage yard will work in my truck? Are there numbers to compare...can I go in and pull the gears from the salvage truck, or should I get the entire rear-end (axles and everything), will I have to change drive shafts or u-joints?

Thanks again,

Chad

 

>>What does the data plate on the door say for the axle?
>>
>
>The data plate on the door says 16 for the axle.

16 = 3.50:1



>Below I have posted everything from the door.
>
>Door:
>VIN: F14BLAE5863[table border="1" cellspacing="1"
>cellpadding="1"]
>[tr]
>[td]WB[/td]
>[td]Color[/td]
>[td]Type/G.V.W.[/td]
>[td]Body[/td]
>[td]Trans[/td]
>[td]Axle[/td]
>[/tr]
>[tr]
>[td]117[/td]
>[td]H[/td]
>[td]F140[/td]
>[td]DZ3[/td]
>[td]A[/td]
>[td]16[/td]
>[/tr]
>[/table]
>
>GVWR: 6050
>D.S.O: 1978 53
>
>
>I don't know if this is the origional door or not. The
>reason I say that is because I'm assuming that "Trans A"
>means an automatic transmission...

No, It means *New Process 4-speed manual*

I have a 4 speed in the >floor.


However the VIN on the door matches the VIN on the
>door post (where the tire and axle weight info is given).
>
>The main thing I need to know is how do I figure out if what
>I find at the salvage yard will work in my truck? Are there
>numbers to compare...

SEE Below:

can I go in and pull the gears from the salvage truck,

YES

or should I get the entire rear-end (axles
>and everything)

NO

, will I have to change drive shafts or u-joints?

NO
>

Look for the number/letters

06 or 13 for an open axle. = 2.75:1 ratio

or H4 = 3.25:1 Ltd.slip axle.

Just make sure there is a good Return Policy in place.

Most were 28 spline axles.

31 spline axles are hard to come by with wrecking yard vultures around.


>Thanks again,
>
You're welcome , Dennis


>Chad

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