VIN information.

[Nhaz]

Howdy peps.

I spent a few hours at a local yard on Saturday digging around wrecked rangers and explorers. The information that I need is Is it a 8.8 3.73 ratio and is it a locking diff.

The yard owner wasn't able to tell me which rear end is in which vehicle. And most of them are half buried, seriously overgrown or simply missing tires. Or the tags are missing/unreadable.

My solution to the problem was to write down all the VIN numbers of the trucks and take them home and look them up.


When I looked up the very first VIN number on my list on this site:
http://www.ford-trucks.com/vin-decoder/index.php?a=decode

With this VIN number : 1FMDU34XXPUC63111 It says I 'm doing it wrong => and doesn't find anything.

Second site
https://www.fleet.ford.com/maintenance/vin_tools/default.asp#

The exact same VIN number works but doesn't tell me the info that I am looking for. Namely, what rear end it has what ratio and if its a locking diff or a open diff.


So basically what I would like to know is where there is a web site that gives me the info I 'm looking for off that VIN number and the other page and a half of VIN numbers I wrote down.

I also wrote down half a dozen Mazda VIN numbers and does anyone know If I can steal the rear end of those if they match what I am looking for ratio wise.

 

[ronclark]

This might helps you out


http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/Axles.html

 

[cocoasranger]

Check the technical library under Rear Axle Codes which gives the info below along with a chart showing what each code means. It calls out the ratio as well as whether its open or limited slip.

Rear axle codes can be found on the Safety Standard Certification label attached to the left drivers side door lock post. The code appears as a number or letter/number combination in the 'Axle' column of the label. The axle can also be identified by the tag on the axle differential cover bolt. See the diagram above to learn how to read the tag.

Never mind, someone slid in the answer while I was typing.

 

[Mac]

Don't think the VIN has that info but the vehical certication label that's on the door jamb will. Someone here has the inside knowledge on the VIN's but not common knowledge on the net.
Dave - See I was just a little bit slow in typing!

 

[Nhaz]

So. According to that list of codes. I should be looking on the axle box of the drive side door tag with a D4, D5, or R6 in the axle box?

That should tell me that the truck that I am looking at which is buried in dirt to the axles is a : 8.8 3.73 with limited slip?

And is worth my time to dig it out enough to take out its rear end gears =>

No i haven't found one yet but I am going back tomorrow morning and rechecking these explorers and rangers.

I don't see Mazda listed and there's a bunch in the yard are the codes the same?

 

[cocoasranger]

The codes on the door tell you the truck had a particular axle when manufactured (without you having to dig it out of the muck to check the axle tag), and that there is a very good chance it will still have the original.

Buying used parts is always a roll of the dice. Heck, there are even a lot of posts about multiple trips to the parts stores to get new parts that were wrong or did not function.

 

[Nhaz]

Ive found 2 possibles in the yard today. Both are 99 Explorers.

Should I bother taking the entire rear end assembly as in the axle/leafs/disks/calipers? This needs work welding work to get things like the leafs and shocks to bolt on does it not?

Or just take the gears?

I Don't do any serious offroading. I only want the Limited slip for bad roads. which is coming up in a couple months =>