I have read alot of post with 4.6s or 5.4 w/ 3.55 gear ratios. I was wondering how many of yoour trucks came with a stock 3.73LS or is my truck an unusual package. Please reply with what you have and if you have any information on the 3.73LS as being a special order package option?

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Todd in Alaska

1999 F-150 4x4 Lariat, SuperCab, Amazon Green/Harvest Gold, Off-Road Pkg, 5.4L, 3.73 Limited slip, Towing Pkg, and every other option possible... K&N filter, SuperChip (Love it!!), Ventvisor Vents, Bugflector II, Extang Platinum Soft Tonneau, and Westin Nerf Bars

Future Mods: Dual exhaust, Smittybilt Outland Grill Guard, Lund Moonvisor

 

I think 3.73 was the gear included with the ORP in 99, but that was changed to 3.55 in 2000. In favor of better gas milage. The LS however was and still is optional. I think it is about 285 bucks.

LHM

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2000 F-150 Super Cab XLT 4x4 ORP 5.4liter V8, Towing Package, Rear Slider, Remote keyless Entry,3.55 LS, Black Exterior, Medium Graphite interior, manual shift 4x4. Current mods Gooseneck hitch, mud flaps and Y pipe with duals.

 

LHM:

You sir are correct... no 3.73 for 2000 models, unless you opt for the 7700# payload package. Ford claims "no reduction in performance and improved gas mileage" with the 3.55 diff ... go figure that one out.

90% of the 4x4's I've seen on dealer's lots have the open diff, and 95% of the 4x2's have the limited slip. IMHO, all 4x4's and 4x2's should have the limited slip. The only good thing with the open diff on the 4x4 is its easier to upgrade the diff with an aftermarket posi or locker with the open carrier.

Steve

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2000 4X4 Lariat SuperCab
5.4 Triton
Two-tone black on silver
All options except LS differential

MODS so far:

-Westin step bars (powder coated matte black)
-Lund bug shield
-Gentex electrochromatic rear view mirror
-Cabin filtration kit
-Superchip
-Stull Billet Grill
-Flowmaster Force II catback (series 50 SUV with duals out the rear)

MODS to come:

-K&N or AirAid FIPK kit
-Mickey Thompson Challenger 16" wheels with 295/75 BFG AT KO's
-4.10 gears (still thinking about this one ...anyone have any input?)
-LS diff or locker of some sort once they are available..

 

Limited slip on the lot is rare here in SC.

 

My 1997 ORP came with the 3.55LS - 3:73 not available at the time. As far as I know, the 3:73 was only available with 7700# package.

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Mine: '97F150,XLT,SC,4x4 ORP,4.6L,3.55LS,17" ORP wheels w/265/70/17,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

 

I was searching for a F250/5.4L, The dealer already ordered mine with a 3.73LS. Actually it was another dealer, they traded trucks to get me mine.

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99 F250XLT Supercab LD
5.4L 3.73 LS
White/Silver
Graphite interior
6 CD changer/Captain's Chairs

 

I searched high and low when i was lookijg for a 2000 alll the dealers i tried told me the same thing it was not affered any longe at all i learned about the 7700# pkg here the dealer was not aware of it . I have the orp pkg also , i wish ford would offer ls in the front diff as a option. I think that a 4x4 should come with the ls in the rear as standard equipment, if ford is listinig.

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2000 blk xlt f150
5.4 4x4 3.55 ls
sc orp pkg
tow pkg, 17 inch wheels
herculiner,remote start
flowmaster, air box mod
bfg ko's A.R.E. cap
sony 10 disc cd player

 

I have 3.73ls in my 99 I paid for the ls I think it was around 250 to 300 bucks

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1999 F150 Bright Red Extended Cab 4x4 Off Road, With Gray Interior, 5.4L, 3.73 Gears,
ADD ON'S BELOW
Access Tunnel Cover
Stainless Stell Nerf Bars
Stainless Stell Rocker Pannels
Flowmaster Exhaust
Lund Bug Guard
GTS Head Light Covers
K&N Air Filter W/ Air Box Mod
Putco Bed Rails
Red Stering Wheel Cover
Pionneer CD Deck

Wish List: F1 Ram Air Hood, Tinted Side Windows, Brushguard, Wiper Crawl, Visor, Lift W/ 34" M/T Tires, ECT,ECT...

 

Steve g,

Just so you know, you can't get the 7700 Payload Group and the ORP Package together. They both use the same heavy duty shocks, but w/ the ORP you get 17in rims and tires as well as skid plates. The 7700 Payload Group uses 7 lug wheels. I paid extra for skid plates. ($160-msrp) As well, according to the Ford website, you can get the 3.73ls w/ either the ORP or 7700 Payload Group. But I've heard otherwise.

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'99 F-250LD 4x4 SC XLT 5.4 3.73LS TTP
285/75/16 BFG Muds, Gibson 3" swept-side, K&N FIPK, clear corner lenses, tinted windows, ford bug deflector

 

For those of you that have driven with the 3.55s and 3.73s..how much of a 'seat of the pants' difference is there? Is it worth it to go with 3.73s and how much of an impact is there in fuel economy with 3.73s? I have considered having 3.73s put in for some time now.

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2000 F-150 XLT, 4x2, 5.4L Supercab, Styleside, Black with silver two-tone, 3.55, class III towing package with heavy duty cooling package, 4 wheel disk ABS, overhead console, sliding rear window, keyless entry, dark graphite interior, in dash CD, Pendaliner bedliner, K&N air filter, rubberized undercoating, cabin filtration system, Bugflector II, 5W-30 Mobil 1, engine build 10/4/99

 

I'm getting about 13-14 city and 16-18 highway. The 3.73 isn't felt so much in the pants with the 17" wheels, it's all relative.

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'99 Lariat Supercab 4x4 SS
5.4L, 3.73 Diff (9.75" LSD Rear, 8.8" Front)
ORP: Skid Plates, LT265/70R17 GY Wrang. AT/S
Group III towing: HD Electrical/Cooling, GVWR 6500# (Extra leaf spring).
Step Bars
4W Disc anti-lock brakes
K&N filter
Stock Items That Differ Across F150s: Steel Driveshaft, Oil filter bolted to engine w/ drip guard, 4R70W transmission.

 

My 2K upshifts earlier than did my 97 -- and it is at a lower MPH -- even though the 2K is a 3.73 and the 97 was a 3.55.

Seat of the pants is noticable in top gear (OD), but negligible (if at all) in lower gears.

Only 3K on the clock -- so haven't tried it with the trailer yet -- although the combination of extra ponies and the 5% difference in ratio do add to a pleasant ride -- where I now find myself letting it shift at 2KRPM whereas the 97 was normal for me to let it shift at 2700RPM or so.

The added size of the tires (LT245r16 vs P255r16) and less the 5% for the ratio is nearly a wash (still can't break the tires loose from just a 'punch' at the light), but the RPM in Direct Drive at normal towing speeds seems perfect (my GCW with the trailer, dogs, wife, and birds) is around 11K -- and the truck weigs in at 5560 (tare).

70 MPH in OD is 2KRPM -- and 3K in Direct.

In short: 3.73 is definately not 'too much', but, as Little Red Riding Hood Said: "...Just Right...".

Oh, gas is runnin thru it in the 12's so far this winter, with the 14's on the freeway -- seems to be a bit worse than the 3.55 -- but since it's winter and new -- the jury's still out.

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Y2K XLT EC 5.4L 7700# SB 4x4 w/LS 3.73 (repeat buyer)

 

I have a '99 F250LD 4X4 with the 5.4 and 3.73LS. I get @ 13-14 mpg. I have a superchip and my own cutom intake. Groggy Modem, how does this compare to yours? Noticed you have the same truck I do. these are rare in my area, that's why I asked.

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1999 F-250LD 4X4 XLT Supercab, Short Bed, 5.4L, AT, 3.73LS, 33"Wrangler ATS, Dual Exhaust, Custom Air Intake, Superchip, Color: Harvest Gold cc "Ready to Farm"

 

funkster,

I get anywhere from 12-15 mpg, depending on how I drive. These are also pretty rare over here in CA as well. I tried about 10 dealers, and finally ended up having to order one.

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'99 F-250LD 4x4 SC XLT 5.4 3.73LS TTP
285/75/16 BFG Muds, Gibson 3" swept-side, K&N FIPK, clear corner lenses, tinted windows, ford bug deflector

 

With my 2000 150 I opted for the 7700lbs. package to get the 3.73 rear end. Ford website says you can get the 3.73 on the ORP but, dealer said Ford deleted that option.
I tested both the OFP and the 7700lb. package with both 3.55 and 3.73 rears. I thought the 3.73's showed a noticable off the line increase. Also thought the 7700lb. package had better ride characteristics. Unfortunatley, the only 7700lb. package they had did not have limited slip. The dealer quoted me $655.00 to install one. I'm going for it. Snow and ice performance in 2wd needs improvement. Should help acceleration as well?