1980 F350 4X4 C6 Project

[ArdWrknTrk]

You don't yet understand that you will never find a part number on a part....

Ford applies an engineering number to the part.
You then have to use the Master Parts Catalog to decode it and get a part number that you can order.

[Atlas75]

Shoot!  Gary has mentioned that once or twice and I keep forgetting.  It is just such a strange way to do things.

Is there a master parts catalog on the site?  If not, I may need to go find one.

[ArdWrknTrk]

The catalogs are not only massive but Ford has sold the publishing rights to companies like HiPo Parts so Gary is remiss to post them on the site.
You can get your own copy of the MPC or the FSM from HiPo or Helm I believe.

But Gary is often kind enough to look up part numbers for the forum.
Since he is already subscribed to this thread you probably don't even have to ask.  🙂

[ArdWrknTrk]

There is this page....

Edit: and since you posted the specs for your plow package earlier in this thread you should have the FAWR to determine which spring you actually have.
Are you looking to replace them?

[Gary Lewis]

Yep, Jim, that's the right page.  And on that page it is easy to find E0TA 5310-AEA, as shown below.

[Atlas75]

I was on that page but didn’t see the cross reference tab because it was scrolled off the screen on my iPad.

Now I can see what springs I have.

[Atlas75]

Possibly.  I am trying to determine if the spring is good or if it has been damaged in some way.

[Atlas75]

OK guys, my apologies.  I am having a hard time connecting the dots on these front springs.

Here is what is in the truck:
Engineering number - E0TA-5310-AEA
Part number - E0TZ-5310-U (per the spring cross reference sheet)

Here is what the manuals show:

My truck is a 1980 F350 with a 9100 lb GVW (per Marti Report) and a 4500 lb Front GAWR (per snow plow prep package).
When I look in the 1980 F350 4/W/D 133" W/B section of the master parts catalog this is what I see:



I don't see 9100 lb GVW listed.  I don't see E0TZ-5310-U listed.

I have been looking at this for a few days and can't figure it out.  What am I missing?  If E0TZ-5310-U is not right, how can I determine what spring should be in the truck?

I am going to check the drivers side tomorrow to see if it matches the passenger side.

[Gary Lewis]

That's really a puzzle!  But then, the MPC is full of contradictions and puzzles.

The only two mentions of 9100 GVW are for an E-Series van and this 1981 F350, and even then it is only in the rear axle section, not front axle.  So if I were you'd I'd look on the certification label to see what your truck's rating is rather than rely on the Marti report.

Oh, and there's no mention of using the E0TZ 5310-U springs on any truck, even though they are listed as available in that table.  

[Atlas75]

Label says same thing.  9100 lb GVWR and 4500 lb GAWR front.  I guess I’ll keep digging.

[Gary Lewis]

I'll check the 1980 dealer facts book today to see what it says.  I don't have it online.

[Gary Lewis]

I'm not seeing a table in the 1980 dealer facts book that shows the various GVWR's.  But I can see your axle ratings.

There's a Payload Package Selector table, and in the Opt column there's a 2041 (4500) selection for the F350's front axle and a 2834 (6250) rear axle option.  Plus a note that says "Front and Rear GAWRs will in all cases sum to a number equal to or greater than the GVWR for the particular vehicle."

And on the page for Options the Snow Plow Preparation Package says that a 2041 kg (4500 lb) front axle is included.

[Atlas75]

I see the same things you did in the 1980 Dealer Facts Book.

Do you remember by chance where the 3485# rating came from in the cross reference you posted above for the E0TZ-5310-U spring?

[Gary Lewis]

Yes.  Documentation/Suspension & Steering/Front Suspension then the Part #'s tab, Springs tab, Cross Reference Chart tab.  (Man, that stuff is hidden!  )

[Atlas75]

No worries!  I got there.

Two questions:
1.  How can E3TZ-5310-R be listed as both a 3290# and a 3485# spring?
2.  What does the star mean?  The r/b means "replaced by" according to the abbreviations section of the Ford master parts catalog.

So depending on what the star means, do I interpret that to read that E3TZ-5310-R replaced E0TZ-5310-U and E0TZ-5310-T (which would negate my 1st question above)?

[Gary Lewis]

The star means it is NLA, as explained below.  And it looks to me that they actually did away with the 3290
 E0-T spring and replaced it with the 3485# E3-R spring.  I'm guessing that there just wasn't enough demand for the 3290# spring to warrant having it.

[Atlas75]

I guess that explains why you couldn't find the E0-U spring used on any F series truck.

And now I know which spring I need!  And it is readily available!

Thanks for your help nailing this down Gary!

[Gary Lewis]

Happy to help.  

[Atlas75]

I had a chance to pull the passenger front shackle today.  Now that it is out of the truck it does not appear to be bent.  The bushing however was in rough shape.  I think the poor condition of the bushing made it appear to be bent.  I was able to remove the bushing and now I just need to find a replacement.





The center sleeve was almost resting on the shackle without any weight on it.  I’m sure it was touching when the weight of the truck was on it.  There was also a rub mark on the shackle where it was touching the frame.  I’m fairly convinced that rebuilding the front end will resolve a number of issues.  Now I just need to find a good place to get springs.

[Gary Lewis]

There are two types of bushings: rubber, like Ford used, and poly, which most aftermarket companies sell.  The rubber ones are softer and isolate better.  But I've used poly for my rebuilds.

I've not bought springs, but I bought some spring liner material from Eaton Springs and they really seemed to know their business.