Notices
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks 1987 - 1996 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350 and larger pickups - including the 1997 heavy-duty F250/F350+ trucks

drivetrain identification

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Nov 26, 2007 | 02:52 AM
  #1  
89460250's Avatar
89460250
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: calgary alberta
drivetrain identification

this probibly seems like it is asked ALOT, anyways, i have an 89 f-250, 4x4, supercab, long and wide i'm wondering what axles, transfercase and tranny i have... the rear axle is ****ing huge... i'm thinking a 10.5, but i don't really know (i spent the last 12 hours under the back taking out my aft mount tank) the tranny, i think it is, might be the transfercase, has PTO coverplates on both sides, which i thought was interesting, engine is a 460, transmission is manual 4 speed+overdrive (5 speed total)

i'm wondering what numbers on the identification plate will tell me all this information... or if i can get it from the vin...
 
Reply
Old Nov 26, 2007 | 03:03 AM
  #2  
NumberDummy's Avatar
NumberDummy
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
Likes: 785
From: Simi Valley, CA
Club FTE Gold Member
Originally Posted by 89460250
this probibly seems like it is asked ALOT, anyways, i have an 89 f-250, 4x4, supercab, long and wide i'm wondering what axles, transfercase and tranny i have... the rear axle is ****ing huge... i'm thinking a 10.5, but i don't really know (i spent the last 12 hours under the back taking out my aft mount tank) the tranny, i think it is, might be the transfercase, has PTO coverplates on both sides, which i thought was interesting, engine is a 460, transmission is manual 4 speed+overdrive (5 speed total)

i'm wondering what numbers on the identification plate will tell me all this information... or if i can get it from the vin...
Look on the decal located on the left door face near the latch. There will be codes there for AXLE & TRANS (among others). The info is not in the VIN itself. Post the codes here...someone will decode them for you.
 
Reply
Old Nov 26, 2007 | 03:29 AM
  #3  
89460250's Avatar
89460250
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: calgary alberta
i had a feeling someone was going to say that, it's too cold for me to write the numbers down, plus i don't know which ones i'm looking for... here's some pics, not the best quality unfortunatly





 
Reply
Old Nov 26, 2007 | 03:43 AM
  #4  
NumberDummy's Avatar
NumberDummy
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
Likes: 785
From: Simi Valley, CA
Club FTE Gold Member
What appears to be 39 is the rear axle code:

Sterling 10.25 / 3.55-1 / Non Limited Slip / 6200 lb. Rear Axle Capacity.

The axle code usually is three digits for a 4WD, with the third being the code for the front axle, but all I see is 39.

I can't make out the trans code in the blurry pic. Looks like an M..??...but I'm not sure.

M = Toyo Kogyo (Mazda) 5 speed overdrive.
 

Last edited by NumberDummy; Nov 26, 2007 at 03:46 AM.
Reply
Old Nov 26, 2007 | 03:48 AM
  #5  
89460250's Avatar
89460250
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: calgary alberta
155 x268 (body which i didn't copy) W 39

that's all there is along the bottom row, didn't read which any of them are, the W is the trans, the 39 is the axle, can't remember the first 2... a snow storm blew in over the past half hour
 
Reply
Old Nov 26, 2007 | 03:51 AM
  #6  
NumberDummy's Avatar
NumberDummy
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
Likes: 785
From: Simi Valley, CA
Club FTE Gold Member
Originally Posted by 89460250
155 x268 (body which i didn't copy) W 39

that's all there is along the bottom row, didn't read which any of them are, the W is the trans, the 39 is the axle, can't remember the first 2... a snow storm blew in over the past half hour
W isn't listed in my parts catalog except for a C5 auto trans, and it sure ain't that.

Snow? What's that?

It hasn't snowed around here (Los Angeles) since 1949!
 

Last edited by NumberDummy; Nov 26, 2007 at 03:54 AM.
Reply
Old Nov 26, 2007 | 04:01 AM
  #7  
89460250's Avatar
89460250
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: calgary alberta
lol, the closest thing you guys have down there that's like this is anthrax... except this stuff is cold... and doesen't kill you as often... AHHHHHH i love Canada! lol

yeah it's definetly not a c5... it's really a 3 speed, plus low, plus od 1st is too low to use on the road... 5th is mainly hiway, i use it when i hit about 80 km/h (50mph) if i do a short shift... and i've got the 3.55 in the rear, which is supprisingly high... i woulda thought 4.10 or do they generally put a higher gear ratio in with 4x4's due to the low range?
 
Reply
Old Nov 26, 2007 | 04:13 AM
  #8  
NumberDummy's Avatar
NumberDummy
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
Likes: 785
From: Simi Valley, CA
Club FTE Gold Member
Originally Posted by 89460250
lol, the closest thing you guys have down there that's like this is anthrax... except this stuff is cold... and doesen't kill you as often... AHHHHHH i love Canada! lol

yeah it's definetly not a c5... it's really a 3 speed, plus low, plus od 1st is too low to use on the road... 5th is mainly hiway, i use it when i hit about 80 km/h (50mph) if i do a short shift... and i've got the 3.55 in the rear, which is supprisingly high... i woulda thought 4.10 or do they generally put a higher gear ratio in with 4x4's due to the low range?
Your trans, whatever it is, is classified as a 5 speed.

3.55-1 is the standard ratio, 4.10's are optional. At one time, there was no charge for any optional ratio Ford offered.

No anthrax here...unless some Canuck tourists brought it with them, eh.
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-1

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalytic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

 Brett Foote
story-4

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

 Brett Foote
story-6

Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

 Brett Foote
Old Nov 26, 2007 | 04:18 AM
  #9  
89460250's Avatar
89460250
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: calgary alberta
lol, well apparently people are buying drills from the canadian home depot stores, putting a significant amount of anthrax in the cases and returning them to the stores... with notes on them saying ***** home depot

i assume there should be a casting number on the transmission somewhere? and do you know anything about the t-case?
 
Reply
Old Nov 26, 2007 | 04:34 AM
  #10  
NumberDummy's Avatar
NumberDummy
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
Likes: 785
From: Simi Valley, CA
Club FTE Gold Member
Originally Posted by 89460250
lol, well apparently people are buying drills from the canadian home depot stores, putting a significant amount of anthrax in the cases and returning them to the stores... with notes on them saying ***** home depot

i assume there should be a casting number on the transmission somewhere? and do you know anything about the t-case?
FTE has VIN decoders...but since I've never used one, I dunno if the trans info is listed, tho I would assume so.

On the transfer case is a Ford ID tag. The code on that tag will be something like E9TA-7A195-AA. I can decode the info.

I'll wait around while you go outside in the snow and crawl under to read that tag..If I don't see you post in the next 20 minutes, I'll call 911.
 
Reply
Old Nov 26, 2007 | 04:47 AM
  #11  
89460250's Avatar
89460250
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: calgary alberta
yeah, i took a look outside, there's a fair amount of snow... i'm gonna wait till tomorrow before i do any more crawling around...
 
Reply
Old Nov 29, 2007 | 05:12 PM
  #12  
andypinto's Avatar
andypinto
New User
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Hello NumberDummy:

Could you decode the rear axle code of my 2002 4X4 Explorer?
In the tag attached to the pumpkin appears two lines:
the first: S MP V 651 B
the second: number 355 followed by A8? or 48? or 4B? or AB? (dunno what is correct) and ends with 2D23.
Thanks for the help.
Happy rides
Andy
 
Reply
Old Nov 29, 2007 | 05:21 PM
  #13  
andym's Avatar
andym
Post Fiend
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 19,402
Likes: 38
From: Bonita Springs FL
The tranny is the ZF 5 speed. Good tranny, but I've never seen it identified as a W. It should be a Z. Maybe someone who once worked for Ford could explain that one.

The front axle is a Dana 50 TTB.

The transfer case is a BW 1356.
 
Reply
Old Dec 2, 2007 | 07:08 PM
  #14  
89460250's Avatar
89460250
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: calgary alberta
Originally Posted by andym
The tranny is the ZF 5 speed. Good tranny, but I've never seen it identified as a W. It should be a Z. Maybe someone who once worked for Ford could explain that one.

The front axle is a Dana 50 TTB.

The transfer case is a BW 1356.
thanks, there are a few odd things with the truck, i don't think that the body on it is origional... reason being is on the underside of my hood, it says in junkyard paint writing 5L... which doesen't make any sence to me... body is rusted like hell, frame is solid as a rock

dana 50 is good, TTB? i don't know that one...

the transmission takes atf, and the driveline is all GL-5 right? ATF seems a little thin for a heavy duty transmission but i think that's what the book calls for
 
Reply
Old Jan 10, 2008 | 10:39 PM
  #15  
tjthegreat's Avatar
tjthegreat
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 721
Likes: 0
From: Ft Wayne IN
hey guys i just bought a 92 f150 with a 300 and it has 3.08s in it and that sounds kinda small and i was just wandering if thats a good size and if it would be a good choice to put bigger ones in it or would that be impossible or pointless
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:39 AM.

story-0
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: the best gifts for dads & grads

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-02 21:45:57


VIEW MORE
story-1
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalytic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-30 18:33:59


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Slideshow: 10 most expensive Ford trucks ever sold on Bring a Trailer.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:24:34


VIEW MORE
story-3
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Here's everything that has changed for the latest model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 16:17:28


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE
story-5
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

And it might be even better than that.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-18 19:26:42


VIEW MORE
story-6
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

Slideshow: Does lowering an F-150 Lobo RUIN the ride quality?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-18 19:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Slideshow: Ford's bizarre fishing-themed Explorer concept has resurfaced after spending decades largely forgotten.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:07:46


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: The 10 best Ford truck engines we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 13:09:47


VIEW MORE
story-9
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

Slideshow: first look at the 810 hp 2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road!

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-12 12:50:07


VIEW MORE