OBS vs SD
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Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 10,121
Likes: 3
From: Orrville, Ohio
OBS vs SD
Hey guys,
I have posted this question in the OBS section as well, but since you guys know your trucks better than most of us OBS guys do, I thought I would address it here as well.
I have a pretty well worn OBS that I am looking to replace with a newer (Super Duty) truck. I want to stay with a CC 4x4 and I'm on the fence about long / short beds, but my question is this. I am pretty well educated in the differences between the pre 99.5 PSd and the 00-03 PSD, but I am looking for some help on the other major differences between the OBS and SD trucks. So give me the scoop, E40D vs 4R100, etc. I am sold on the ride quality of the SD, but I like to do my research before making a snap decision.
BTW I looked at a high mileage F350 XLT,CC,LB last weekend for a pretty decent price. Would 330k miles scare you away from a truck with a very clean rust-free body for around $9k? Turbo was tight, no signs of dusting or end play / slop. It had a new (crate) transmission installed about 40k ago. Looking for your input.
I have posted this question in the OBS section as well, but since you guys know your trucks better than most of us OBS guys do, I thought I would address it here as well.
I have a pretty well worn OBS that I am looking to replace with a newer (Super Duty) truck. I want to stay with a CC 4x4 and I'm on the fence about long / short beds, but my question is this. I am pretty well educated in the differences between the pre 99.5 PSd and the 00-03 PSD, but I am looking for some help on the other major differences between the OBS and SD trucks. So give me the scoop, E40D vs 4R100, etc. I am sold on the ride quality of the SD, but I like to do my research before making a snap decision.
BTW I looked at a high mileage F350 XLT,CC,LB last weekend for a pretty decent price. Would 330k miles scare you away from a truck with a very clean rust-free body for around $9k? Turbo was tight, no signs of dusting or end play / slop. It had a new (crate) transmission installed about 40k ago. Looking for your input.
Thread Starter
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Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 10,121
Likes: 3
From: Orrville, Ohio
Yeah, based upon what you guys are getting them for it seems that way to me as well, but around here you can't really touch a PSD (ANY PSD) for less than 5k unless it is beat to pieces. They are few and far between with fewer than 200k on them, and even a clean OBS (like yours) will bring around $12-15k. It's obscene here, but they are all Amish crew haulers and are beat to pieces (like mine is) before they let them go. That seems to be about the going rate for a truck in similar condition around here. Similar years and equipment pretty frequently bring $8-12k locally depending on the mileage and condition, and that is privately, not through a dealer. Don't get me wrong Chase, it seems based upon what you guys are getting these trucks for that I should be able to find one for less than this as well, but that seems to be the going rate around here. Can the differential really be that great between regions?
Price notwithstanding, would the mileage scare you off?
Price notwithstanding, would the mileage scare you off?
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 12,177
Likes: 40
From: Newport, WA
The mileage would be a bit of a concern for me. Even if the motor and trans are healthy, what about the rest of the truck? It could be a real gem, or it could nickel and dime you to death. I'd go over it with a fine tooth comb, check everything and anything.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 10,121
Likes: 3
From: Orrville, Ohio
Any others on any noteworthy differences between the OBS and SD? I don't want to start a pissing match, but I do want to know what I am getting into.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 12,177
Likes: 40
From: Newport, WA
Some things on the SD you should be aware of if you aren't already...
ESOF (electronic shift on fly) 4x4 - if it has the switch in the dash it has ESOF. When the vacuum system to lock the hubs in fails (notice I said when, not if) the climate control defaults to defrost. Could be as simple as a plugged line, or could be a failed (expensive) seal in the knuckle
Unit bearings- this is what your front wheels bolt to. When they fail, they are expensive to replace
Driveshaft vibration on take-off is a common issue that is easily fixed most times by greasing the splines on the slip joint in the rear driveshaft
Stock airbox is a POS just like the OBS and should be ditched yesterday
Those are the more obvious things I can think of right off hand. Maybe someone else will chime in soon.
ESOF (electronic shift on fly) 4x4 - if it has the switch in the dash it has ESOF. When the vacuum system to lock the hubs in fails (notice I said when, not if) the climate control defaults to defrost. Could be as simple as a plugged line, or could be a failed (expensive) seal in the knuckle
Unit bearings- this is what your front wheels bolt to. When they fail, they are expensive to replace
Driveshaft vibration on take-off is a common issue that is easily fixed most times by greasing the splines on the slip joint in the rear driveshaft
Stock airbox is a POS just like the OBS and should be ditched yesterday
Those are the more obvious things I can think of right off hand. Maybe someone else will chime in soon.
Thread Starter
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Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 10,121
Likes: 3
From: Orrville, Ohio
OK, good info. Keep them coming. Do I understand that the SD's have electric fuel pumps as well?
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Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 17,988
Likes: 207
From: La La Land
Texas!
You are really limiting yourself when you think locally.
Lots of FINE trucks in Texas for sale.
I found mine on ebay, flew to DFW, and drove it home. I paid a decent price for it, and then just dumped some fuel in it and drove it home.
It's probably the best truck-buying decision I've ever made.
Good ones are still out there, and I'd look somewhere that is outside of the rust belt and where they are driving high-speed and long distances.
Texas.
Pop
You are really limiting yourself when you think locally.
Lots of FINE trucks in Texas for sale.
I found mine on ebay, flew to DFW, and drove it home. I paid a decent price for it, and then just dumped some fuel in it and drove it home.
It's probably the best truck-buying decision I've ever made.
Good ones are still out there, and I'd look somewhere that is outside of the rust belt and where they are driving high-speed and long distances.
Texas.
Pop
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Thread Starter
|
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 10,121
Likes: 3
From: Orrville, Ohio
Texas!
You are really limiting yourself when you think locally.
Lots of FINE trucks in Texas for sale.
I found mine on ebay, flew to DFW, and drove it home. I paid a decent price for it, and then just dumped some fuel in it and drove it home.
It's probably the best truck-buying decision I've ever made.
Good ones are still out there, and I'd look somewhere that is outside of the rust belt and where they are driving high-speed and long distances.
Texas.
Pop
You are really limiting yourself when you think locally.
Lots of FINE trucks in Texas for sale.
I found mine on ebay, flew to DFW, and drove it home. I paid a decent price for it, and then just dumped some fuel in it and drove it home.
It's probably the best truck-buying decision I've ever made.
Good ones are still out there, and I'd look somewhere that is outside of the rust belt and where they are driving high-speed and long distances.
Texas.
Pop
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 12,177
Likes: 40
From: Newport, WA
Pop has a good point as well. I bought Whitey sight unseen from CA for WAY cheaper than I could get anything comparable up here. I had a fellow FTE member check Whitey out for me before I flew down and drove it home.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 17,988
Likes: 207
From: La La Land
How did you go about getting the truck checked out before you flew down there to buy it? My only concern is that I would go to pick up the truck and it would be a total POS. I guess I have been burned too many time on internet transactions where the goods don't really match the description, or at least my interpretation of the description.
But this was a truck broker who had fabulous reputation on ebay, and this wasn't his first rodeo. He even gave me the tip on the cheapest airfare, and his wife picked me up at DFW.
However, as Chase just said, once you're a member of The Brotherhood, you can usually "just ask" and there will be folks locally-available to go do the preliminaries for you. At least you'll have a reasonable idea what kind of shape it's in before spending the airfare.
Remember, it's Texas, and sometimes Arizona, where the good ones are.
Pop
Snowboard season cometh..
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,406
Likes: 1
From: Gulf Coast of Florida
Some things on the SD you should be aware of if you aren't already...
ESOF (electronic shift on fly) 4x4 - if it has the switch in the dash it has ESOF. When the vacuum system to lock the hubs in fails (notice I said when, not if) the climate control defaults to defrost. Could be as simple as a plugged line, or could be a failed (expensive) seal in the knuckle
Unit bearings- this is what your front wheels bolt to. When they fail, they are expensive to replace
Driveshaft vibration on take-off is a common issue that is easily fixed most times by greasing the splines on the slip joint in the rear driveshaft
Stock airbox is a POS just like the OBS and should be ditched yesterday
Those are the more obvious things I can think of right off hand. Maybe someone else will chime in soon.
ESOF (electronic shift on fly) 4x4 - if it has the switch in the dash it has ESOF. When the vacuum system to lock the hubs in fails (notice I said when, not if) the climate control defaults to defrost. Could be as simple as a plugged line, or could be a failed (expensive) seal in the knuckle
Unit bearings- this is what your front wheels bolt to. When they fail, they are expensive to replace
Driveshaft vibration on take-off is a common issue that is easily fixed most times by greasing the splines on the slip joint in the rear driveshaft
Stock airbox is a POS just like the OBS and should be ditched yesterday
Those are the more obvious things I can think of right off hand. Maybe someone else will chime in soon.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 12,177
Likes: 40
From: Newport, WA
After 12 years, my ESOF has yet to fail me once. I did replace the original "rubber" lines 2 years ago with the stainless lines from Dieselsite, but I will admit, I'm the exception. My truck has been in Colorado for all but 1 year and with low humidity and no salt in winter, that helps. I also grease up the front hubs every year (details on Guzzle's site) and once a month flip in to 4WD and "exercise" things. I'm not saying Chase is wrong but I love my ESOF, and I didn't buy my truck for the creature comforts.
Thread Starter
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Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 10,121
Likes: 3
From: Orrville, Ohio
OK, so as far as the SD goes we have:
ESOF not so good,
Electric Fuel,
IC,
bigger turbo and intake plumbing,
Bigger DP and stock exhaust
different injectors,
17* HPOP,
4R100,
softer springs,
no need for the RSK,
3.73 gears on most of these,
What else?
ESOF not so good,
Electric Fuel,
IC,
bigger turbo and intake plumbing,
Bigger DP and stock exhaust
different injectors,
17* HPOP,
4R100,
softer springs,
no need for the RSK,
3.73 gears on most of these,
What else?
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 12,782
Likes: 2,142
From: N.GA Mountains
SD has disc brakes in the rear with 'drum-in-hat' ebrake inside rotor.
Isn't rear LSD standard in 4wd's?
'01 switchedfrom forged rods to PMR's.
California trucks have GPCM instead of GP relay. Both mine have this, works fine - just more expensive than a relay...
Isn't rear LSD standard in 4wd's?
'01 switchedfrom forged rods to PMR's.
California trucks have GPCM instead of GP relay. Both mine have this, works fine - just more expensive than a relay...