i have a 2000 f150 v6 4.2 with a 3.55 rear axle. i am interested in swapping the rear axle for a lower gear ratio. what years should i look at the junk yard?

 

Depending on your production date (before or after 3/2000) or your size of lug nuts, sort of decide what years you can use. Actually you can use an 97-04(H) rear 8.8 rear axle. Before 3/2000 is 12mm and after that date they are 14mm studs. If you didn't mind having to have 2 lug wrenches or a 4 way, you can use any year.

GEN 10 with 4.2's come with up to a 373 or 410 gear ratio from the factory in the 8.8 rear end. Most came in the manual trans trucks, so tend to start with those and you should find what you need.

Being a 2000, you most likely have drum brakes. If so, now would be a good time to upgrade to discs if you can find a complete rear end. On my 98 I upgraded to a LS disc brake rear end. The braking is much better than the drums that were on it originally.

 

I don’t know how typical this is across the 10G model year range, but you probably aren’t finding a v6 with 3.73s or 4.10s.

Looking at this ‘03 brochure, the 4.6 SCrew had 3.73s as an option, but 4.10s were an HDPP package option...if you want a 7-lug wheel rear end.

There is plenty of old school 8.8” aftermarket where you can get a fresh set of 4.10s and limited slip, rather than the fussy Trac-lok.

 

98 for sure have 373 and 410's and they are available all across the Carpart and Hollander pages. These were for the 4.2 models. S871B or F would have a limited slip.

AZ, WA, OR, FL, IA, MN, MI, and more have them in the yards.

1999 and 2000 here

1998 here

 

The hub caps don't swap from 12 to 14, since they attach to the lug nuts. Just a small factoid. I found some cheap 12 mm rotors in the wrecking yard and found that out later. And the look of the later style of cap is not available to fit the 12 mm lug nuts.