Can you get the 3.55 axle without the 255/70/16 or 275/60/17 tires?
Do all trucks that have the 235/70/16s have the 3.08 gears?
Does the 3.73 axle always come with ORP and the 265/70/17 tires?
I have noticed these are the most common sizes for these axle ratios.

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99 XLT 5.4L Regular Cab 4x2 120" Wheelbase 4 wheel disc brakes/ABS 5 star larait style wheels Toreador Red/Silver 3.55 gears 255/70/16 OWL Delta toolbox, Ford Running Boards, Ventshades, Bugflector, Bullrings, Donnelly compass mirror, 2" Rear drop.
Eclipse 5340 cd player
Memphis ARCS50 component speakers w/tweeters mounted flush in the door panels (excellent sound)powered by a Sherwood 35x2 RMS amp
Kicker ZR360 for the 2 Audiobahn AWC10 subs
regcab54@sc.rr.com

 

My friend has a '97 4.6l with the 235 tires and the 3.55 gears. I believe you can opt for the 3.55 and leave the standard size tires and wheels.

 

The 3.73 was not available in 1997 with 17" standard on ORP. I don't think it has been offered since. I am looking at a 2001 Supercrew and the 3.73 is still not avbailable nor is the ORO. According to the new Ford brochure, to get 3.73 on the 2000 F150 you have to get the 7700# payload group. The 3.73 must be aftermarket only???????

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Mine: '97F150,XLT,SC,4x4 ORP,4.6L,3.55LS,auto,6 CD,Towing package,alarm,Rhino grill guard w/PICCA lights,dual exhaust.

Wife: '99Explorer Limited,pearl white/tan leather,4.0L,4:10LS,CD,sunroof,towing pkg.,alarm

 

My 97 lariat came with 3.55 and 255/70R/16's as standard.

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97 F-150 SC Lariat, Styleside, White over Gold, 4.6L (Windsor), Automatic, 3.55 rear end, electronic 4X4, w/ every option of Lariat and ORP packages except the 17" wheels (I even got the OR decals now!) Almost completed the Towing Pkg. options, MOD's so far: K&N air box mod, Gibson Super Truck, clear Bugflector II, Leer TSC 600 hard cover, Bridgestone Dueler OWL ATP 265/75 R-16's, TrailMaster Invader N7 shocks, Smittybilt step bars, Ford moulded mud guards, "White-white" head lamps, Cloud Rider Design's SS Grill and bumper opening, Bosch Platinum + 4's, Hayden 30K+ Tranny Cooler, Superchip on the way!

 

3.08's are standard on the 4x2's with the 235 tire size. 3.55's are availible as an option, even with the small tires. However, 4x4's come standard with the 3.55's, even with the small tire size. The 3.73's come only with the 7700 payload group (replaces the old light duty 250).

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1997 F150 XLT, Flareside Bed, Moonlight Blue, 4x2, SC, Auto, 4.6L, 3:08, Matched cargo cover, Blu Oval reciever hitch plug, 235/70/16 Firestone Wilderness AT's, Sliding rear window, and a big grin!

 

My '99 came with the 3.73. I'm not exactly sure what package it was as I bought it off the lot(the truck also has the heavier payload option.)

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'99 Lariat Supercab
5.4L, 3.73 LSD, 4x4
265/70R17 GY Wrang. AT/S
(I can see for miles up here.)
4-leaf springs
K&N filter

 

When I ordered mine (March 99) I insisted on the 3.55LS and the salesman told me that the 235's were no longer available with this axel. I was a bit miffed at the time because of the extra cost of the 255's but now I couldn't be happier. These are very nice tires (GY Wrangler A/P) in my view. Quiet, smooth and good grip on wet road.

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99, XL, SC, SB, auto, 4.6L, 255x70R16, 3.55LS, 2wd, Med Tor, Dk Grph, Raider LoRider Tonneau,

More to come!

 

Congratulations Tiger. You are the first person (and possible the only one) to feel the Wrangler AP's are good on a wet road. Makes one wonder where you went to College? LOL

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97 F-150 SC Lariat, Styleside, White over Gold, 4.6L (Windsor), Automatic, 3.55 rear end, electronic 4X4, w/ every option of Lariat and ORP packages except the 17" wheels (I even got the OR decals now!) Almost completed the Towing Pkg. options, MOD's so far: K&N air box mod, Gibson Super Truck, clear Bugflector II, Leer TSC 600 hard cover, Bridgestone Dueler OWL ATP 265/75 R-16's, TrailMaster Invader N7 shocks, Smittybilt step bars, Ford moulded mud guards, "White-white" head lamps, Cloud Rider Design's SS Grill and bumper opening, Bosch Platinum + 4's, Hayden 30K+ Tranny Cooler, Superchip on the way!

 

After a brief trip to Edmunds, it looks as though to get the 3.55's or 3.55ls in a '99, you did have to upgrade to the 255's, and could not get the 235's. They list the 2000 models as not requiring the tire upgrade to get the 3.55's, and also mention the availiblity of a 3.31 axle ratio in the 2wd trucks. This information was looking at 2wd XLT SC Flaresides. (Just a personal preference - see sig!)

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1997 F150 XLT, Flareside Bed, Moonlight Blue, 4x2, SC, Auto, 4.6L, 3:08, Matched cargo cover, Blue Oval reciever hitch plug, 235/70/16 Firestone Wilderness AT's, Sliding rear window, and a big grin!

[This message has been edited by gopher (edited 02-02-2000).]

 

I have 3:55ls with the 235's. I did notice that my speedodometer is off 3 mph. I should get the 255's next time huh... The factory tires are great though... I have 65k miles and still going strong

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Red 97 F-150XL SC,SB,4.6 pinger, 3:55ls, tow pkg.,Rhino Liner, K&N Filter, Smittybilt Nerfbars.

 

There seems to be alot of conflicting reports as to what ratios are available. For instance, many here are saying that the 3.73 gear is no longer available unless you go to the 7700 pkg. But I have 3.73 gears and do not have the 7700 pkg.
I remember seeing in the back of a 99 F series bochure that "powertrain and gear avialabilty will vary by region."
so maybe this explains it.
BTW for '00, the 4x2 standard ratio is a 3.08 and for a 4x4 its 3.31, at least where I live it is.

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99 2wd S/C s/b XLT 4.6 Triton auto. w/3.08 and
2000 Lariat SC 5.4 4x4 3.73 LS

 

notirT,
You say you have 3.73 but signature shows 3.08???????????

My 2000 F150 catalog shows the 3.08 as standard on XL and XLT 2x4. The 3.31 is standard on the Lariat,optional on the XLT, standard on the 5.4L. The 3.55LS is optional on all, standard on 4x4, and 3.73 only on 7700# package.

Maybe cAnAdA laws are different than US - Ahhhh?

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Mine: FOR SALE SOON...1997 F150,XLT,SC,Oxford white/maroon 60/40 cloth,4x4 ORP,4.6L,3.55LS,17" ORP wheels w/GY AT/S LT265/70/17,auto,6 CD,Towing package,alarm,Rhino grill guard w/PICCA lights,dual exhaust. Bought new June '96

Wife: '99Explorer Limited,pearl white/tan leather,4.0L,4:10LS,CD,sunroof,towing pkg.,alarm.

Next: 2001 F150 XLT SuperCrew, 5.4L, 4x4,3:55LS,tow pkg. etc.......

 

notriT - Sorry I didn't notice your second truck is 4x4 with 3.73. Still not available here w/o 7700#.

[This message has been edited by Dewayne Fuller (edited 02-17-2000).]

 

Both my '98 and my '00 came with 235-70 Firestones and the 3.55LS axle. Canadian-ordered (by me) and Cdn-built. I believe there may be differences for US ordered or built trucks. I know the option packages are very different.

'00 Lariats come with 255-70s standard, I note in the Cdn brochure and I know the '98 Lariat had the 3.55 regular axle standard in Canada (3.08 for XLs and XLTs).

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Black 2000 SC XLT short-box. 4.2 V-6, 5-speed, 3.55 Limited Slip. Side steps, CD, remote entry, FORD box liner. Add-ons: Older Windstar driver's side wiper blade (with the air scoop, because I don't slow down when it rains), back-up beeper, "f150online.com" sticker and snazzy Tweetie Bird floor mats.

My third F-series: '73 F-100, '98 F-150 and '00 F-150. Great trucks!

 

The 3.73 axle WAS optional in 1999 on the F-150 XLT and Lariat.

Ford decided to change things for the 2000 model, now the 3.73 axle is ONLY available with the 7700# payload package.

Doug.