I am still looking for a newer truck. I can't afford the newer Ford like I wanted .3. What should I look for and what so I am looking at 96-97 Fords. I am going to look at a F350 with the 7.3 diesel. What should I look out for in the truck and what to look for in a diesel as this is the first diesel I am planning on buying. Thank
Check the oil pan. The only down side to a 7.3 is their oil pans can and will rot real bad. $2400 job to replace it. Since you have to yank the motor to replace the pan.
I got quoted 1100$ to do the oil pan on my 93 F350. Guy said it was a real pain in the ass and he should of charged more :D Anyways moral of the story is check the oil pans. You lookin for auto or manual? Id go for the manual as there are way to many horror stories with the devil E4OD trans that ford makes.
I am looking at a auto trans. There will be others that use the truck that can't drive stick. The pan I didn't know about thatks. Anything else?
check that the truck had all regular service performed. check the air filter, if its real dirty there is a possibly that some dirt got by, which is real bad for the turbo.
above all get the truck checked from one end to the other by a good shop.
If you buy a truck without a plow try to find out if it has a plow package otherwise it may be difficult to get the right harnesses to install a plow. also I would make sure the truck has 3.73 Axe gears that will lessen the stress on the tranny when pulling and plowing, a friend of mine has one with 3.55 gears and it is lazy compared to mine, If the tranny becomes a concern install a tranny temp guage have the it flushed regularly and if you really start pushing hard just put it down in low range. otherwise I think you will love it it is a power house.wesport
Also have the front ends checked ! the 99-03 S/D eat up ball joints--if buying from P/Party you may get stuck with the repair bill. Ditto to the oil pans! also if auto like you said install a large tranny cooler and temp gauge like suggested. Also check to make sure that the pumkins on the axles arn't leaking--rear seals seem to go on ones that were used for a lot of towing!
Like everyone else said, check that oil pan. Beacoup dollars to fix. Had mine go three months before the warranty was up, thankfully for me. I would definitely stay away from the 3.55 rear end. Not enough power if you want to plow. That leaves you with the 4.10s. Not great on gas, but plenty of power. It wasnt until 99 and up you could get the 3.73s. Also, watch out for the E4OD auto tranny. Put as big a cooler on it as you can find and keep up with the maintainance. I love that body style though, I still say it was the best yet. I had a 97 350 PS for four months until someone else decided they wanted it more than me.
If you buy a truck without a plow try to find out if it has a plow package otherwise it may be difficult to get the right harnesses to install a plow. also I would make sure the truck has 3.73 Axe gears that will lessen the stress on the tranny when pulling and plowing, a friend of mine has one with 3.55 gears and it is lazy compared to mine, If the tranny becomes a concern install a tranny temp guage have the it flushed regularly and if you really start pushing hard just put it down in low range. otherwise I think you will love it it is a power house.wesport The plow package in the model years he's looking at,(96-97), consisted of heavy duty cooling, and heavier springs. The wiring harness isn't different at all. 3.73 gears were not available in these years either. The choices consisted of either 4.10, or 3.55, and thats it!
Also have the front ends checked ! the 99-03 S/D eat up ball joints--if buying from P/Party you may get stuck with the repair bill. Ditto to the oil pans! also if auto like you said install a large tranny cooler and temp gauge like suggested. Also check to make sure that the pumkins on the axles arn't leaking--rear seals seem to go on ones that were used for a lot of towing!
i have 65k on a '99 7.3 P.S.D. duallie dump 4X4 and have had no ball joint issues whatsoever:nono:
but the pan was replaced in 04 payup
...zap!

is it true that fords have independent suspensions on all of there trucks?
No, only on half tons and 2WD trucks. All the Super Duty 4x4's have a solid front axle, with either leaf springs,(up til 2004), or coil springs, 05-present.
it dpends on the truck..here is a little more info....
79 and earlier 4wd, all trucks solid axle
F150 80-96 independent TTB for 4wd, twin Ibeams for 2wd
F250 80-96 independent TTB for 4wd, twin Ibeams for 2wd, some could get solid
F350 80-85.5 independent TTB for 4wd, win Ibeams for 2wd, some could get solid
F350 85.5 - current, solid axle 4wd (dana 60 or 50 dependin on year) solid I-beam was most common for 2wd
hope that helps
oh yeah starting in 92, the solid axle 4wd got ball joints, ealrier had king pins
BTW this is off the top of my head...with a little vodka buzz....so there is goofy things i mised as ford did weird things that i can't remem, but this is the common stuff for 90% of the trucks

my buddy has a 99 f250 and the trailer lights wont work none of them any ideas there is no power to the plug accept the 12volt hot in the center of the seven way
take a test light and start pickin wires
none will be hot until you press the brake, turn signal, etc. then they will have power
im not sute how the fords are run...but the left and right turns signals are each separate (obv) but when the brakes are applied, both turns signals are powered on...make sense? so that equals brake lights.
the 12v int he middle is just for access. such as an extra dome light or soemthin....whatever...
weve all had our trailer light troubles...good luck

Does anyone know of any problems with a Western 8.5 ft plow on a 1993 Ford F-250, 7.3 L Diesel, Auto Trans.?
Nothing certain, but weight may be a issue with a heavy diesel engine. I suggest to check with Western.
i have a 1993 f-250 gasser its got the 5.8l in it and i have an 8ft western which is a little heavy. i would suggest 8ft.
Does anyone know of any problems with a Western 8.5 ft plow on a 1993 Ford F-250, 7.3 L Diesel, Auto Trans.?
If it is the TTB front end you are asking for trouble putting that much weight up there.

I am looking at 2 trucks "big differences". 1) a 1996 F350 XLT reg. cab 8' bed PSD 82,000 miles mint cond. plowed 2X guy put plow on in the fall "older MM1" 2) 2000 F250 x-cab short bed XLT 46,000 miles never plowed 5.4L I can get the 2000 for about $2000.00 more then the 1996. I really like the older body style but 4 years newer and less mileage. What do you guys think?
Personally, I would go with the the 1996 if they were both in the same condition. 82,000 miles on a PSD is nothing, hardly broken in. It already has a plow. By the time you add the plow to the newer one the $2,000 more turns more like into $5-6,000 more. I personally would be much happier with a regular cab 8' foot bed than a short bed and extended cab. I also just love the older body style. So, I would look into both of them. There might be a reason why a 4 year newer truck with half the miles is only $2,000 more!
I wouldnt get either, I'd look for a 1999+ with the 7.3.
but if i had to choose between those two, I would get the 2000.