I bought a 2005 Ford F150 STX that according to the window sticker and data sticker on the door should have a 3.73 LS differential. I have discovered it does not. The metal tag on the rear indicates it is an open rear and after removing the cover I verified it is indeed open. So it appears the previous owner paid for something he did not get. Anyone else have a similar experience?
By the way, I am in the process of installing a LS differential. I am replacing all bearings and the clutch pack. Two wheel drive trucks are helpless in bad weather and I think the LS should help.

 

fify

 

So, are you inferring that I am an ignorant driver?

 

I wouldn't speculate that he was referring to you as I'm sure he's never seen you drive. I took it as a generalized term, and I agree with Soonertruck.

I'm also 2wd with non LS. Adding limited slip seems like a waste of money for the little it'll do. You might as well throw a Detroit truetrac in there if you're wanting some help.

 

Agreed. It wasn't directed at you, chzuck, but I've gotten by just fine with 2WD trucks in poor weather. Flooding rains, 6-8" of snow/ice on unplowed roads, trips through soft fields, etc. have never left me stuck anywhere. However, I don't put myself in situations where I will lose momentum or have to bury the wheels up to the hubs in mud/snow. The Baja guys don't seem to have much problem running 2WD, either.

I would have also just gone with the TruTrac as 2008 XL mentioned if I were looking to upgrade from the open rear-end. Since you already have the stock LS, it's a bit late to worry about it. I'm sure it will be a slight improvement when roads get slick, but I don't feel like it's going to be a game-changer. I'd wonder if the rear-end was swapped out at some point prior, and the PO didn't tell you or wasn't aware of it.

 

I should have been more specific as I was referring to snow. This is my fourth 2wd Ford. The little I would actually need 4wd to me is not worth the added expense. Especially now that I am retired I don't need it for going to work.
I agree there are better units than the stock LS. But I already purchased a used Ford LS carrier, all new bearings, and clutch packs. I am now in the midst of the change out.
I think it was Ford's mistake and the original owner did not get the LS he paid for. The previous owner told me he had problems with the pinion seal leaking and later after that repair the rear developed a noise. He took it back and the garage repaired that. He does not know what they did and apparently it was not a Ford dealership as there is no record on Carfax of either of those repairs.

 

You should be able to look on the door jamb and see if the LS was included when it was built. I'd trust that over the window sticker.

It's not going to say limited slip or anything, it'll just be a certain number or letter in a code that states what it came with.

If you got a good deal on a factory limited slip and you're going to do all of the work and save money, it sounded like you got what you wanted. However, the two most important things you could use when driving in snow are good snow tires and weight over the rear wheels. Without those two things, the LS won't make a bit of difference in the snow.

Make sure you add a bottle of friction modifier.

 

I appreciate your clarification.
My last truck was an 85 F150 300cid with 4 speed manual OD. That truck was better in snow than my 73 with a 302 because I could lug it more without stalling in snowy conditions. Yes, it would have been great to upgrade to an aftermarket LS, but I just did not want to spend that kind on money on my truck with how and what I use my truck for.

 

Code on door sticker indicates a LS axle.

 

chzuck---- make sure you put in a bottle of Fords Friction modifier or you will has a posi end rear!

 

No issue with your choice at all. I have a 2WD truck that has every available factory option you could have on a 2008 F-150, EXCEPT 4x4. I simply don't need it for those handful of days each year that we get snow of any significant amount here in NE Okla., and I don't off-road any more than running through a field from time to time. A few hundred pounds over the rear axle and good A/T tires (or better yet, snow tires) will let you do just about anything you need to do in the snow.

 

I have the factory LS in my '08 XL manual. It helps on wet roads, but not so much in the snow as expected. Once the wheels break free in the snow/ice it is spin, spin, spin. You really have to have a light touch and feather the gas just to keep it from stalling in first to gain any traction without spinning from a dead stop. I often times start in second to get going. As others mentioned, weight in the bed above the rear axle does wonders, as do more aggressive tires (better yet dedicated winter tires).
That said, I don't have any trouble getting around with highway tires and a bit of weight in the back. I think the regular cab swb have a slight weight distribution advantage over a long bed or super/crew cab config.
A true locker with the automatic would be my first choice if I were to do an upgrade, but you will realize some benefit to the factory LS.

 

It looks like I have an identical truck to yours except mine has AUTO. I have the short bed and short cab.
I am not expecting a great increase in traction, but I think with some weight in the bed over the axle, as you said, I will still be better than now. I don't expect to take my truck out in heavy snowy weather.

 

And now it has the LS differential that it was supposed to have. Old diff carrier had no preload and pinion only had 10 inch pounds of preload. Bash lash on the old rear was .014 - .015 inches. It had good tooth contact. Worked out well. The only shim change was the .006" I added to each side after I checked tooth contact. Checked tooth contact again and backlash is .008" - .010". I used all new bearings and a new clutch pack and S spring. It is quieter than before. Before I had a slight whine when I left off the throttle.

 

My 2004 truck had the B6 axle, 3.73s LSD. My 2007 has the 16, 3.73 open. The gearing feels great, but shortly after having this truck I missed the B6 in certain low rpm turns. Especially up hill in my neighborhood.