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Spring code puzzle: 85 F150 with code "L"

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SCFlareside

Spring code puzzle: 85 F150 with code "L"

Hi all,

Trying to chase down the original springs on my 85 F150 4x4 Flareside with 5.0.

The drivers door card has two digits: code B front and code L rear. On the reference chart there is no spring code for "L" though.

The truck was built in February of 1985. It currently has 4 leaf +1 rears, and they seem very stiff. There is a 2 inch block (factory?) under them and the rear of the truck does seem to sit quite high. I assumed that maybe someone put some f250 springs on it, the way it rides.

I wanted to go back to stock springs so I was looking them up on the chart but again there is no code L. Any ideas?

1985 Flareside 4x4, Silver, 302, AOD, BFG Mud 33x12.50s. California truck with 140k original miles :) (and slowly going up)

1977 F250 4x4 Highboy, Dec '76 production. NP435 4 Speed, NP205, 4:10s. Military 36.5s

Rembrant

Re: Spring code puzzle: 85 F150 with code "L"

SCFlareside wrote

I wanted to go back to stock springs so I was looking them up on the chart but again there is no code L. Any ideas?

Hey Ken,

I took a look in the 1985 FSM and there was a code L for rear springs in there:

Looks like somebody may have swapped in some heavier springs at some point?

H9 axle code too I see, factory 3.55 limited slip. Cool. Don't see the factory limited slips all that often.

1994 F150 4x2 Flareside. 5.0 w/MAF, 4R70W, stock.
1984 F150 4X2 Flareside. Mild 302 w/ 5spd. Sold.
1980 F150 4X4 Flareside. 300i6 w/ 5spd. Sold in 2021.
1980 F100 4X2 Flareside. 351w/2bbl w/NP435. Sold in 1995

SCFlareside

Re: Spring code puzzle: 85 F150 with code "L"

Thanks a bunch Rembrant!

Gary Lewis

Re: Spring code puzzle: 85 F150 with code "L"

Administrator

In reply to this post by Rembrant

That's interesting that there's no "L" in the listing I posted. But there certainly is in the by-year listing.

The E3TA 5560-KA is an ID #. But it cross references to part number E0TZ 5560-Y. And that was certainly an "L" code spring in '85. Here are the specs on that from the MPC. Looks like the FSM has one more spec - arch.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Dad's: '81 F150 Ranger XLT 4x4: Down for restomod: Full-roller "stroked 351M" w/Trick Flow heads & intake, EEC-V SEFI/E4OD/3.50 gears w/Kevlar clutches
Blue: 2015 F150 Platinum 4x4 SuperCrew wearing Blue Jeans & sporting a 3.5L EB & Max Tow
Big Blue: 1985 F250HD 4x4: 460/ZF5/3.55's, D60 w/Ox locker & 10.25 Sterling/Trutrac, Blue Top & Borgeson, & EEC-V MAF/SEFI

Rembrant

Re: Spring code puzzle: 85 F150 with code "L"

Gary Lewis wrote

Looks like the FSM has one more spec - arch.

The measuring guide picture I posted didn't come from the FSM, it was just something I grabbed from Google after doing a search on the L code spring part number.

The FSM's are fairly well detailed for decoding certification labels and VIN's...for whatever reason...who knows. I only have 1984 and 1985, so I can't comment on the other years.

Gary Lewis

Re: Spring code puzzle: 85 F150 with code "L"

Administrator

The FSM's were designed to be used by the mechanics and the MPC by the parts guys. There appear to have been two different teams working on them and they don't always agree.

Man, that had to have been a huge pain. Dunno what software they might have used on the MPC, but they didn't have what we have now. However even today managing a 5000+ page document with all of those numbers and illustrations would be a major undertaking, but to then try to keep it parallel to another document, like the FSM, would be difficult.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

SCFlareside

Re: Spring code puzzle: 85 F150 with code "L"

In reply to this post by Rembrant

So, Gary in your spec when it says it has four leafs... does that count the flat one on the bottom? Mine has four plus that flat one.

Maybe they are original? They are awfully firm.. if so, maybe someone added the blocks but I thought they had 2 inch blocks like this from the factory. The rear sits 5 inches higher than the front at the wheel arches though, there is a ton of forward rake.

Gary Lewis

Re: Spring code puzzle: 85 F150 with code "L"

Administrator

I do believe that includes the one on the bottom since the info Cory posted shows 3/1.

But it is still possible that someone changed them. Frequently a new spring pack will have the same # of springs but the individual spring leaves will be thicker or have more arch. So check those other dimensions - although for the arch you have to take the weight off of the springs.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile