I found this site years ago, trying to figure out the axle in my F100, but lost the link before I could post it to FTE.

Now I found it again, so here it is:
http://www.fordification.com/rearends-ford01.htm

You of course need your axle tag, but it'll tell you axle type, ratio, and splines.

And combined with 76 F-150 390FE's door-plate axle code chart:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...105385&width=0

you can tell your weight rating.

So now I can say with probably as much authority as I can get without actually disassembling my axle that I have a 28-spline 3.00 open axle, with a rear weight rating of 2900lbs in my F100.

 

Looks like a good site.

 

Not really helpful. First one only goes up to 1971.

Ford changed the IDs and codes whenever they felt like it.

One year may show a 3.00 9", but another year may show a 4.11 9".

If you want to spend a lot of time decoding garbage...arm yourself with a parts catalog!

 

Whoever made up this chart was half stewed because it is not correct.

For example, where is there any reference to the Dana 44 REAR axles that were used in some 1977/79 F100/150's?

You cannot go by any of these fracatta charts, because Ford changed the codes from one year to the next, even though the axle is the same.

Ford also used the same codes for Econolines and F100/150's. Some are the same, most are not the same.

You want the correct info? As Chad said, get yourself the apropos Ford parts catalog.

btw: This chart is WORTHLESS for decoding anything prior to 1973.

MOST of the codes are different.

 

Chad-

Look at the bottom of that first link- there's a whole index arranged by tag number. Of course it goes past '71, because the axle tag for my 1976 ford (WDM-BF2) is on the third page ("WDD-B thru WDN-DR") and reads:

WDM-BF2 Ford F100 Pickup '75-'79 3.00 9 in NL 28


Bill-

Given your year range, I'd say all that chart says is that Ford used axle code "06" from 1957 to 1972 to mean a Ford 2750lbs-rated axle with a 3.70 open gearset, and no other information implied. That seems reasonable to me, but I have almost zero Ford truck knowledge compared to you, so I'll defer to you. I can't say if the chart is complete or not, but it checked OK for my truck before I posted it.

 

06 1957/60 = Timken 4.88-1

06 wasn't used 1960/64.

06 1965 = Ford WCR-B / 4.57-1

06 1966/72 = Ford WEW-B / 4.57-1

06 wasn't used 1973/74

06 Ford 9" / 3.50-1 / 1975 E150

06 = Dana 44 / 2.72-1 / 1977/79 F100/150.
------------------------------------------
Let's take #11 on that FTE chart for example, and compare it with what the 1973/79 Ford Light Truck Parts Catalog lists.

1973/75: Ford 9" / 3.50-1 / 3300 lb. capacity / F100/150

1975: Ford 9" / 4.11-1 / 3600 lb. capacity / E150 only.

No listing for 1976.

1977: Ford 9" / 2.75-1 / 3300 lb. capacity / F100/150.

1978: Ford 9" / 2.72-1 / 3750 lb capacity / F100/150.

No listing for 1979.

And...code 12 is even worse, as it refers to FIVE different ratios. And...one of the axle capacities listed on that FTE chart is in-correct.

See what I mean!

You CANNOT go by these fracatta charts. I have yet to see one on any Ford truck site that is correct.

btw: The FTE VIN decoders are not correct either...regardless of what year the truck is.

 

Thanks for the info, Bill. I will totally discard the FTE gallery link I posted.

Is the door GVW plate trustworthy for what the maximum load the truck can safely carry? My truck is the "downrated" catalyst version, and I'm curious what kind of overload margin I've got. It's got a curious combination of overload springs and manual brakes.

 

Uh, yes. It is just like it says. With age, it's even less as the parts wear out.

 

To clarify: The GVW is not the actual weight of the vehicle.

GVW actually refers to this: GVWR = Gross Vehicle Weight RATING.

The weight of the vehicle, the driver, any passengers and cargo should not exceed the GVWR.

If the truck weighs 4000 lbs, and the GVWR is 5200 lbs, 1200 lbs. is what you can safely carry.

It sez this on the Warranty Plate: If the GVW is exceeded, the Warranty is void.

 

Sure, I understand how the door tag works, and GVW front/rear/rating. My truck rings up a hair over 4000lbs tare weight at the county dump (I'm good for 200lbs). I didn't exactly purchase an extended warranty either... What I'm referring to is when the Federal government mandated that anything under 4900GVWR have a catalyst in 1976: what did Ford actually change to create these 4900GVWR-class trucks? (to be clear, I have a 4900GVWR CATALYST class truck)

Did they cripple the axle/springs/frame?

Is it downrated because heavier use overwhelmed the catalytic converter?

Did the catalyst reduce horsepower to where the engines couldn't handle a heavy load?

Or did Ford simply slap a catalyst & name plate on an existing truck and say "Here 'ya go, Uncle Sam!"?

Would I have had this same frame/axle/springs, etc., if my truck had come with a bigger engine and power brakes from the factory?

I can tell you my 4900GVWR truck didn't explode or snap an axle when I rang in at 5360lbs at the dump, and it survived a 400 mile move-a-friend journey through the mountains riding an inch off the frame snubbers. I'm not worried about voiding the warranty- I am worried about whether I'm actually in danger of breaking my truck with an occasional 5500lbs load in my "Federal Catalyst 4900GVWR" truck.

 

Hey, the pages for the axle decoding on the fordification website are not at the link posted above. I did find a link to the Dana site to decode the Bill Of Material (which is the bottom line of both my front and rear differential tags). The link is:

Dana Holding Corporation - The Expert Axle Bill of Material

I am curious, however, of any other information anyone can give about these axle tags:

Front:
3.54 E4TA AKD
610229-2

Rear:
3.54 XE5TA SA
605244-3LS
(the X in the above code is actually an upside-down triangle, I think)

It is a December 1984 (Emissions tag says 1984 Year Model) F250 4X4 with 351W and Standard Trans.

Any Info would be greatly Appreciated!
THANKS!
Rodney

 

Welcome to FTE

A December 1984 build date will be a 1985, as 1985 production began in late August.

The rear axle tag is 1985 (E5). An E5 rear axle would not have been factory installed in a 1984 year model.

The following was decoded from the 1980/89 Ford Light Truck Parts Catalog.

Front:

Ford ID number: E4TA-AKD / Dana ID number: 610229-2 = Dana 44 / 3.54-1 / Free Running Hubs / non Limited Slip / 3850 lb Front Axle Capacity.

1980/89 Ford Light Truck Parts Catalog, Front Axle Parts List # 30.3AR.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Rear:

Ford ID number: E5TA-SA / Dana ID number: 605244-3 = Dana 61-1 / 3.54-1 / LIMITED SLIP.

1980/89 Ford Light Truck Parts Catalog, Rear Axle Parts List #185.

 

Looks like Fordification changed from dashes to underscores in their file names.

Ford Rear Axle Assembly Identification - Page 01 - FORDification.com

 

Nothing. This was done to the F150.

F100s has four leaves in the rear. The rear axle has a 28-spline count and was rated at 2900 lbs for the 9" on F100s. Ford also installed Dana 44 rear axles on later F100s. F150s have 5 leaves in the rear with 31-spline 9" rear axles, 3300/3750 lbs capacity.

No. Any vehicle before 1978 rated less than 6000 GVW had to be equipped with cats.

Cats don't affect horsepower...they have vastly improved since then. But most of the cats installed at the assembly line on these trucks are shot by now anyway.

Springs may be heavier if it had a larger engine. The engine choices were limited in F100s. Up to 351M/360, IIRC.

Who knows what will happen when you overload it...maybe something gave, and it isn't visible, like a broken spring or a cracked frame?

 

Oh, OK. Thanks for the clarification.

My information on GVW ratings for emissions was wrong. I figured Ford created a special "smogger" class to make the EPA happy. What I've found now checks out with what you said, and suggests it was the other way around- that Ford, GM, etc., were offering ways to push GVW ratings up to get around emissions (Ford F150, Chevy "BIG10", etc.)

The Fordification site lists at least a half-dozen 31-spline F100-only axles, but I guess that's just one information source, so I can't assume it's 100%.

I heard that in the early 80's, Ford used some silly swiss-cheese frames and really low axle ratios (2.47, 2.50, etc..) to get MPG ratings. Is this what you meant about crippling the F150?

Now that I know it's not a monster in smoggy sheep's clothing, I'll try to keep the GVW under 4900lbs. I'm pretty sure the bone-stock components haven't gotten any stronger in the last 33 years, and I'd hate to drop a load of something big on the highway...