My brother just bought a 79 Ford F150, 4x4 shortbox. The tags on the front and rear diffs reference 363; is that a gear ratio common to Ford????

Thanks Guys,

 

First welcome to FTE.

no it's not a common ratio, are you sure it says 3.63 and not 3.73 or a version of 3.5#?

 

363 doesn't help it determine what gears it has. What are you reading it off from?

Since it's a 4x4, it has either 3.54 or 4.10 gears. Some 78-79 Broncos have 3.00 gears, but don't know if pickups could get 3.00 then.

3.73 is a 2wd only ratio.

 

On the Warranty (VIN) Plate look on the second line where it says axle. Post here what the axle (code) is. There is no such ratio as 363.

The rear axle could be either a Dana 44 or a 9 inch Ford. The front axle could also be a Dana 44.

 

More than likely it has 3.50 gears(not 3.54 or 3.55 that was after 79).
The axles would be 9" rear end and D44 front if it's all stock.

 

What would the stock front end gear ratios on a 79 F250 4x4 C6 be?
My axle code is 24, so it has it has a 4.10 rear, but the rivet is right after the 24, and looking here

http://www.clubfte.com/users/mil1ion...ruckCodes.html

it appears the front axle code is a letter that comes after the 24 (which I'm guessing was punched out by the rivet).
Would the front end just have the same gear ratio as the rear? (as I just finished typing this I realized that would make sense )

 

Most trucks came with 3.50 gears, but it was a option to get 4.10 gears(which was more common on F250s).
The gear ratios would have to be the same or your transfer case would get in a bind and blow up.... It can be 4.09 in the front and 4.11 in the rear(nothing wrong with that, but 3.50 and 4.11 would be a bad thing).

 

Glad to hear it. Thanks!

 

363 is a specific Ford Identification number for something else

You need to post ALL the other info from the Axle Tags

 

There were 3.54 ratios in '79 according to my service manual. Maybe only on 2wds.

 

My73 F100 is tagless but I am guessing 3.50 gears because it will run 70 mph at about 1/3 throttle in 4th. Also, is it true that the front gear has a slightly higher gear so that running it in 4x4 mode on dry pavement is not recomended. I was told that by the seller.

 

Not so, both the Dana 44 and the Ford 9 inch rear axles were used on 4X4's..beginning in 1959, the first year Ford offered a factory 4X4 F Series truck.

Here's two sample parts catalog references (have dozens more).

1973/79 Ford Light Truck Parts Catalog ~ Section 40; Page 7

1973/ Rear Axle Application Chart

F100/F150 77/79 Dana 44.3 Locking 3.75M Semi Float / Parts List 208 (Ratios: 3.23; 3.54)

F100/F150 77/78 Dana 44.3 Non-Locking 3.75 Semi Float / Parts List 207 (Ratios 2.72; 3.07; 3.23; 3.54)
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
Here's a ref from the 1964/72 Ford Truck Parts Catalog: Section 40.2; Page 1

F100; F100 4X4 Locking Spicer 44.1 3.3M Parts List # 92 (Ratios: 3.31; 3.54; 3.73; 3.92. 4.09)

From 1959 thru 1972, more often than not...rear axles on 4x4's, especially if lockers, were Dana (Spicer) 44's.
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Mrcorey5: Did you read my axle code reference post?

Ford put references to AXLE on the VIN plate, you don't need the tag, most which are usually missing today. Get the codes off the Warranty (VIN) Plate. FTE has decoder charts, or post the number(s)here....that will tell you what type of axle(s) used and the ratio(s).

 

F150 4x4 came with a ford 9" in the rear.
Right... F100s could of had D44s in the rear, but from 75-79 F150s had 9"s.

Also none of the info you have said anything about 3.08 gears in a D44 which my 77 came with.

Noticed you said: From 1959 thru 1972, more often than not...rear axles on 4x4's, especially if lockers, were Dana (Spicer) 44's.
Ford never installed lockers, just limited slips or open diffs.

I've also looked at original brochures for late model(77-79)4x4 pick ups and 78 79 Broncos showing gear ratio front and rear to be 3.50

 

I have 3 sets of factory gears sitting here, all original, all from 77-79 4x4s 2 of them are 3.54 and one is a 3.50 ratio, I also have the front D44 gears for the same trucks, they also are not all 3.50 exactly. the brochure will give 3.50 as the ratio even if it is 3.54, same thing they call them 4.10 gears yet I have seen 4.09, 4.10, and 4.11 all original and all from the 70s

edit to add, the axle tags always say the correct ratio, just not the sales brochure is what I am saying, and yes you could find 3.54 gears in 70s F150 4x4s

 

It's real simple..I posted the refs, and would post pics of the refs, but that's impossible using Ford microfiche slides. You don't believe what I typed, well then...go to any Ford dealer and look in their catalogs...there are 100's of refs for Dana (Spicer) 44 rear axles on both 2 and 4 wheel drive F100/150 rear ends. In case you are unawares, Ford ONLY used Spicer 44's in 1948/56 F1/F100's and all the Ford and Merc passenger cars from 1949 thru 1956. The 9 inch rear end was introduced in 1957, but Ford continued with 44's for decades after the 9's came out.


I strive to post factual information here on FTE. My information comes direct from actual Ford parts catalogs, and I list references to the Ford parts catalogs, which can be verified. I don't post BS, internet pipe dreams or maybe's.