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Rear axle interchangability

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Old Mar 7, 2010 | 11:36 PM
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Rear axle interchangability

I have a 02 Supercrew 4x2 5.4 with a 3.55 non Limited slip rear.I want the 3.73 rear with LS.I thought it would be cheaper to buy a good used rearend setup from another truck rather than buy a LS differential and 3.73 gears and pay labor,etc.My question is which trucks have the LS rears with the 3.73s?I assume the 4x4s?If so will a 4x4 rear bolt into a 4x2 truck?Truck has the 9.75in rear.Also could I get away with the 8.8 if I found one with 3.73LS?I`m pulling a 6k lb boat.
 
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Old Mar 8, 2010 | 01:33 AM
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Most of our year of F-150's didnt get 3.73. I havent found a rear end yet at the local yards that had them.. All 3.55. There are a few out there though
 
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Old Mar 8, 2010 | 01:50 AM
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that's not that big of a change in ratio, are you looking more for the limited slip or better low end power translation? i don't think a 3.73 will make you happy if you want to feel the low end torque working
 
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Old Mar 8, 2010 | 05:37 AM
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I need more of the LS because of pulling the boat out of the water.I was trying to kill two birds with one stone.So which trucks have the LS rears,the 4x4s?
 
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Old Mar 8, 2010 | 08:06 AM
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It really depends on how it was ordered. The LS was an option, not standard. I would speculate that you're more likely to find them on the 4x4s. Check your local yards. You can also check Car-Part.com--Used Auto Parts Market
 
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Old Mar 8, 2010 | 05:06 PM
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Thanks for the link.How do you decipher the tags attached to rearends?Is there a website for this?
 
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Old Mar 8, 2010 | 06:25 PM
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At BurnsTough, Here on the South Carolina Coast the 3.55 axles are scarce and they're flying like wildfire out of the scrappers! The 3.73 is quite abundant. As far as LS, i originally had a 3.55 LS but stupidly misdiagnosed an issue and put in a 3.55 regular As far as the tags go, they'll give you the ratio and if it has a "LS" somewhere in it, it's a limited slip. They didn't come just on 4x4's
 
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Old Mar 8, 2010 | 06:43 PM
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The tag you're looking for is on the right of the axle cover. The bottom line, to the left, will have your gear ratio and whether it has the limited slip.

3L55 is a 3.55 LS. If it was just 3 55, it would be a 3.55 open. A 3.73 LS will read 3L73.

The next numbers, 9 75, says that the axle is a 9.75".
 
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Old Mar 8, 2010 | 06:57 PM
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Question myself on this.

I would like to get a new rear end in my truck, one where i can get to about 60 quicker than what i am now.

Any ideas on the ratio, not sure what i have, but my f150 is the XL edition 2WD. and has the towing package
 
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Old Mar 9, 2010 | 06:15 PM
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Originally Posted by redwood


The tag you're looking for is on the right of the axle cover. The bottom line, to the left, will have your gear ratio and whether it has the limited slip.

3L55 is a 3.55 LS. If it was just 3 55, it would be a 3.55 open. A 3.73 LS will read 3L73.

The next numbers, 9 75, says that the axle is a 9.75".

the top is numbers are the ones car-part.com is asking for
 
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Old Mar 9, 2010 | 07:37 PM
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If you have a 5.4 you don't want an 8.8.

Ford used the 9.75 behind the 5.4 for a reason.
 
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Old Mar 9, 2010 | 07:49 PM
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i work at a junk yard and the 8.8's sell fast, we sit on the 9.75's. i guess theres a lot more ppl blowing the 8.8's out there
 
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