I have a 1997 F250HD 4X4 with 351W and would like to find a diesel from 1995-2003. Was wondering what was the better years for motor/transmission, and what problems certain years had. Love my current truck but is lacking when camper on or pulling my car trailer. What was the differences through these years? . Any advise would be appreciated. Thank's. Kelley.

 

I know in 2002 is when they switched from forged to PMR rods and thus limits power over the previous years, beyond that i'm not sure the differences between the engine itself over the years, I'm someone will chime in with more differences.

 

Yeah, the Powdered metal connecting rods are some 2001 trucks and newer. They're harder but more brittle, and are known to fail under certain tuning conditions. I think 2001 had a diode in the trans that is known to go bad. Early 99 had different turbo and a few other minor things, like up pipes and down pipe, intake, etc... being different.

I'd say late 99 to 2001, but really and truly they're all good trucks.

 

2000s have forged rods, 3/4 of 2001s have a mechanical diode in the trans, 2002s have PMRods.

But I'm prejudiced!

Pop

 

1999 early or late. The e99's were good for quick spooling turbo and the late 99's had the larger turbo that had more top-end power. Of course there were other differences, but that's the most noticeable of them all.

That's my personal opinion though. I probably wouldn't have any problem purchasing a 2000 either. But still, the 99's are my favorite.

Drake

 

This.

Superduty trucks got major improvements over the OBS trucks. By late 2000 they had pretty well standardize all the little things that make early 99's annoying to work on. Some early 2000's still had a few odd parts. I don't think the 01 tranny is much an issue anymore, I doubt there are many still on the stock trans, But better safe than sorry. The newer trucks didn't get enough improvements made to justify the weaker rods.

 

I take offense to that comment

The early 99 do have different parts in a few areas. I don't think it is enough to rule it out for a swap though. If worse came to worse the early 99 parts can be swapped for the late 99 gear rather inexpensive if you got a good deal on a early bird. I know I love my early truck and haven't had any huge issues.

 

No problems with an E99. It just seems the part you need is always E99 specific and never in stock.

At least with an E99 you know it will be the harder to find more expensive part. With my 2000, built late 99, it is always a surprise. I dread when more than one part number is listed. I can never be sure until I see it which one I have.

None of the 7.3's have issues enough to sway a good deal.

 

Honestly, I say early 99 for one more reason. It's to do the modifications. Seriously, I know it does cost some money but I really do enjoy digging into my truck to modify it and make it better that it was to begin with. I have learned more doing that than anything else.

To be able to do the early to late 99 conversion got me into places on my engine I never would have messed with otherwise. That is unless a problem arose by itself in that place. It gave me the excuse to go ahead and do the International up-pipes among others while I was making changes.

It's just as much fun to work on our trucks as it is to drive them for some of us.

Drake

 

IF you're going to dump money into getting a truck to 100%, it's easiest to justify an E99 IMO. They're usually a little cheaper and the conversion is around 2500, but has a 38R and bellowed uppies. Bellowed ups are a likely repair that's gonna happen anyway on any of them, and they are $800 for the E99. Turbo will come due eventually as well, and the 38R is a good candidate for a replacement. The conversion will likely pay for itself.

 

Heres my take on it...

Are you going to be upgrading the engine? Or is it going to stay stock?

If you are going to upgrade it and your HP goal is under 450, then I'd go for any range of superduty motor. I'm assuming you're asking because you're thinking about doing a motor swap not buying a new truck. If youre buying a new truck then you have other factors to take into account like do YOU like the OBS style, interior, etc. As far as the powertrain goes, if you are wanting/planning on modding it I'd go for a early 99 - late 2000. You'll get forged rods, you'll get creature comforts, and if you go with an early 99 you'll save some money. If I knew I was planning on turbo etc I would go Early 99 and throw a T4 mount on it. Swap out the manifolds if needed, and be happy. You'll get rid of the leaky uppipes, and be able to run a variety of turbos depending on your power goals.

If you're going for a whole new truck, look for a 2000. Beefed up suspension compared to the E99, and again all you would have to do is swap out the turbo for a T4 set up and you'd be golden.

As far as best? Personally I love the look of a clean OBS, but there are a lot of things on them that can make them a bit of a PITA to upgrade and work on. Either way you cant go wrong with a 7.3, just stick around here and learn.

 

Was looking at replacing truck and not doing motor swap, restoring my 68.5 CJ mustang and don't need another project at the time. I do love the OBS, but that said, was wondering if the 94-97 had issues, motor/transmission compared to newer 7.3L. Was mainly going to stay stock and not go great guns on it, have the mustang for that! Standard or auto any better through the years also?

 

4R100 is a good auto trans, but if my girlfriend didn't drive my truck sometimes, I'd have gotten the zf6 manual. I've heard nothing but good about it.

 

Late '99 to '00 gets my vote (I bought an '00). As mentioned previously, they have forged rods in the motor (as opposed to PMRs), don't have the mechanical diode issue in the trans (though as others have mentioned, may not be an issue, as many of that age aren't on their original trans, and so would have had the issue addressed when the replacement trans was installed).

I do like the exterior styling of the (pre-99) OBS trucks, but I prefer the more modern interior of the 99+ trucks, and AFAIK the OBS trucks didn't come with an intercooler in stock form, though solutions exist for adding either OEM (7.3L or 6.0) or aftermarket intercoolers to the OBS trucks.

 

That all depends on the payload package that the truck came with. Has nothing to do with being an E99 or 99.5+. My E99 came with W code springs up front.

E99 F250 and 350 came with 10CM (about 4") rear blocks so if you are going to tow it won't be drooping in the rear as much as the later models with 5CM blocks.

You can get a drop in D66 Swamps turbo for the E99 which is a great upgrade at minimum expense and no tuning needed.

Downpipe is the same early or late 99+.

E99s do not have an OTW ATF cooler in the radiator.

One down fall with the E99 is that they are hard to find with all the bells and whistles.

But personally I would love to have an OBS handshaker that is in great condition.