56 Specs

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Jul 22, 2006 | 02:14 AM

8crate

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Joined: Oct 2003

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From: Western Australia

56 Specs

Hi all

Have just purchased a 56 F100 and was wondering what the standard or factory diff that they were released with.

Aug 12, 2006 | 10:19 AM

amish77

Cargo Master

Joined: Oct 2004

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From: Seneca, SC

I kinda want to say ford 9", but something esle says that they started using that in the 60's. guess I'll have to punt.

Aug 12, 2006 | 10:31 AM

Randy Jack

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From: Riverside, So Cal

The stock 56 rear end was not a Ford 9-inch. They were first introduced in 57. My Shop Manual just calls the F100 differential an "Integral Housing, Hypoid". I can't remember if it was a actually Dana or a Spicer. The manual also doesn't list the ratios that were available, but I recall folks talking about a 3.72:1 (or so) being the standard ratio.

Aug 12, 2006 | 11:30 AM

Nuthin

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From: Rural Southern Colorado

Mine is allegedly a Dana 44 (looks like it) with a 4.10 ratio (mine's a six).

Aug 14, 2006 | 05:35 PM

Race4Fun82

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I have a 56 f-100 with a 9" which appears stock. It also has a 8000 lb GVW. and a extra set of springs under it.

Aug 14, 2006 | 08:11 PM

AXracer

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From: Durham NC

Sorry, but Ford didn't start making the 9" until 57 as Randy says. I'd bet a lot of trucks built prior to 57 that spit out a rear end while in service had it replaced with a 9, since they were a direct bolt in and much stronger. R4F, a 4T with one rear end and a 9" at that? I'd be surprised if Ford built it that way. What is the bolt pattern and wheel size? If it's not a 5 on 5 1/2 bolt pattern it's not a 9" AFAIK.

Aug 15, 2006 | 04:56 AM

Race4Fun82

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It has 5 on 5 1/2" X15" wheels.The wheels are not original. It's a 9 inch. My other 9" center chunks will bolt right in. The 8000 GVW is right off the F10 plate. I've heard that a handfull of "Heavy Duty" F-100s were made in this year?? I'm thinking this might have been at the end of 56 and got a newer type 57 rearend? What does RF4 mean? You wouldn't happen to know the paint color seperation for a stock 2 tone paint scheme would you? This truck was gray and white according to the paint code and I would like to put it back that way but don't know what color went where. Thanks any info would be great.

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Aug 15, 2006 | 08:27 AM

AXracer

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Joined: Oct 2004

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From: Durham NC

Why don't you put up all the codes and VIN for your truck, then we can help you decode it. The only mention I found in the 56 truck brochure of a 8000 GVW was with the 9' express bed which was only available on the F350. Ford would build most anything by special order, but then it would have a SO ID on the VIN plate. The factory two tone paint option was any std body color with a colonial white top (area about the gutter) Ford definitely didn't start building their own rear axles until 57, and wouldn't have put a 9" under a 8K capacity truck IMHO. Does your truck have a 110" or 118" wheelbase? Does it have frame doublers? What's the bed length?