# How to tell a 150 from a 250 **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** van, ford\ **Created:** [April 22, 2009, 5:02am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-to-tell-a-150-from-a-250/29484 "2009-04-22T05:02:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TEEJAY2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b782af/32.png) [@TEEJAY2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TEEJAY2)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 5:02am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-to-tell-a-150-from-a-250/29484/1 "2009-04-22T05:02:34Z")
I just brought this Ford Econoline van and I was asked if it was a 150 or a 250. It doesn’t make a big difference to me (not doing any heavy hauling) but is there any way to tell by vin# etc? Also,is there an easy way to tell if I have a limited slip differential without jacking up the back wheels? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![kmccune](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/kmccune/32/1237_2.png) [@kmccune](https://community.cartalk.com/u/kmccune)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 9:57am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-to-tell-a-150-from-a-250/29484/2 "2009-04-22T09:57:40Z")
Look and see if it has a floating rearend-check its behavior on sharp turns and see if it wants to spin both wheels from a stop on slick surfaces-Kevin ---
**Author:** ![FoDaddy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/fodaddy/32/717_2.png) [@FoDaddy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/FoDaddy)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 11:55am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-to-tell-a-150-from-a-250/29484/3 "2009-04-22T11:55:36Z")
What year is it? One way to tell is the rear axle. The half ton (150) will have a Ford 8.8 rear axle 3/4 ton van will have the Sterling 10.25 inch rear axle. If it’s a newer model 98?-up and it has the 5.4L it will have a 9.75 inch rear axle, but I think that’s only on the half ton vans, though I could be mistaken. As for the limited slip just look on the door jamb sticker for the axle code, if it’s a two digit number, then do not have limited slip. If it’s a letter followed by a number (for example H9) then you have limited slip. Keep in mind that Ford’ Track-Loc limited slip is no great shakes and that by 90k miles or so it’s pretty much ineffective as the stock clutch packs are usually pretty worn by that point. ---
**Author:** ![TEEJAY2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b782af/32.png) [@TEEJAY2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TEEJAY2)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 1:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-to-tell-a-150-from-a-250/29484/4 "2009-04-22T13:42:41Z")
It’s a '94 guys…sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Ranck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/aca169/32.png) [@Ranck](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Ranck)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 2:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-to-tell-a-150-from-a-250/29484/5 "2009-04-22T14:54:21Z")
The VIN will surely tell you. Do a Google search for “VIN decoder” and you’ll find several web pages where you can type in the VIN and it will spit out the Make, model, and some option info. I think the CarFax site does that much for free. ---
**Author:** ![ken\_green](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/ken_green/32/816_2.png) [@ken\_green](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ken_green)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 3:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-to-tell-a-150-from-a-250/29484/6 "2009-04-22T15:15:28Z")
5 lugs or 8 ? Right in the vin is the truck type, digits 5,6,7. for example 1FDWE15H71EB93834 is an E150. 1FSWE25------- is an E250. 8th digit is engine. Tell me your vin to help decode. ---
**Author:** ![TEEJAY2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b782af/32.png) [@TEEJAY2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TEEJAY2)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 4:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-to-tell-a-150-from-a-250/29484/7 "2009-04-22T16:09:39Z")
1FTFE24Y7RHA41442 ---
**Author:** ![ken\_green](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/ken_green/32/816_2.png) [@ken\_green](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ken_green)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 4:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-to-tell-a-150-from-a-250/29484/8 "2009-04-22T16:43:14Z")
1994 E250 cargo van, 7200 gvw ( a light 3/4 ton )-- pro.date 11/12/1993 – 300cid 4.9 L strait 6 – dana 60 semi-float NO limited slip, 9.75" rg, 3.54 ratio tag#605676-1 D403A – C6 3spd auto trans – ---
**Author:** ![TEEJAY2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b782af/32.png) [@TEEJAY2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TEEJAY2)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 8:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-to-tell-a-150-from-a-250/29484/9 "2009-04-22T20:22:50Z")
Thanks Ken. You da MAN! I don’t care what everyone else is saying about you here on the site. lol ---
**Author:** ![Beadsandbeads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c57346/32.png) [@Beadsandbeads](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Beadsandbeads)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 2:32am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-to-tell-a-150-from-a-250/29484/10 "2009-04-23T02:32:15Z")
Spinning wheels are not always a good indication. Especially on Mustangs, the clutches on the limited-slip can be worn out from lots of wheel spinning. ---
**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 2:36am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-to-tell-a-150-from-a-250/29484/11 "2009-04-23T02:36:04Z")
There will (should) be a sticker on the door jab that will tell you the same thing and more… ---
**Author:** ![FoDaddy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/fodaddy/32/717_2.png) [@FoDaddy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/FoDaddy)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 12:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-to-tell-a-150-from-a-250/29484/12 "2009-04-23T12:18:55Z")
A Dana 60? and a C6 to boot? no kidding? I thought for sure that the 3/4 and 1 ton vans shared the same running gear as the F-250/350. This is interesting stuff. Thanks for decoding that VIN. ---
**Author:** ![ken\_green](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/ken_green/32/816_2.png) [@ken\_green](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ken_green)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 3:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-to-tell-a-150-from-a-250/29484/13 "2009-04-23T15:07:20Z")
And they often do. This was probably someone’s plain-jane delivery van ( flower shop ?, beer ?, illegal aliens ?), just a light 3/4. The build sheet says it didn’t even have a radio from the factory. Had grey painted bumpers, but it has a/c. Now TEEJAY2 has a good starting base to cusomize from. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 1:37am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-to-tell-a-150-from-a-250/29484/14 "2009-04-24T01:37:18Z")
Does that mean you take back half the bad things you said about him? 😉