Does It Matter

[JohnnyReb1951]

I think I have a frame from a 1997 to 2003, are there any differences in them. Is a NAV. frame and an EX. frame identical?

 

[whtbronco]

I don't know the Gen 1 97-02 frames well enough to say if that's what you have. It's certainly not a Gen 2 2003-06 frame. Expedition and Navigator frames would be the same.

Gen 1 had solid rear axle. Yours appears to me to have stock suspension from a Gen 1.
Gen 2 had independent rear suspension.

 

[JohnnyReb1951]

I think you are 100% correct.