Stock vs Mods
Logistics Pro
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 4,446
Likes: 25
From: Panama City, FL
I would add a coolant filter, external spin-on tranny filter, and when you do the hutch and harpoon mod I would add a external spin-on fuel filter and a bypass oil filter.
How many miles do you have on the truck now?
How many miles do you have on the truck now?
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 6,096
Likes: 26
From: Mesa AZ
I didn't know either until I purchased a complete wiring harness from an '02 and began comparing stuff. 
The '99-'01 trucks have a relay mounted on the passenger fender well under the hood for some odd reason. It's not really needed since the starter has it's own solenoid already but I guess Ford found it was a hard habit to break. (Ford has had fender mounted solenoids for decades on their trucks...)
Starting in '02, Ford got rid off that fender mounted solenoid which probably saved a nice sum of money in build costs. They also saved quite a bit in cable costs since the body power was supplied by the driver's side battery clamp vs the previous method which was to route the cables across the cowl all the way over to the solenoid on the fender.
All in all, I think the '02-'03 method is probably a better way as long as the post clamps are kept clean. One nice benefit of the earlier style is the fender solenoid makes it easy to add a starter kill switch by simply interrupting the small wire that operates the solenoid.
Here is a link posted in another thread that shows what the earlier style harness looked like.
New Positive Battery Cable 99 01 Ford F250 F350 F450 F550 Excursion 7 3L V8 | eBay
The '99-'01 trucks have a relay mounted on the passenger fender well under the hood for some odd reason. It's not really needed since the starter has it's own solenoid already but I guess Ford found it was a hard habit to break. (Ford has had fender mounted solenoids for decades on their trucks...)Starting in '02, Ford got rid off that fender mounted solenoid which probably saved a nice sum of money in build costs. They also saved quite a bit in cable costs since the body power was supplied by the driver's side battery clamp vs the previous method which was to route the cables across the cowl all the way over to the solenoid on the fender.
All in all, I think the '02-'03 method is probably a better way as long as the post clamps are kept clean. One nice benefit of the earlier style is the fender solenoid makes it easy to add a starter kill switch by simply interrupting the small wire that operates the solenoid.
Here is a link posted in another thread that shows what the earlier style harness looked like.
New Positive Battery Cable 99 01 Ford F250 F350 F450 F550 Excursion 7 3L V8 | eBay
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,243
Likes: 16
From: AZ
Yup...agreed. How about extra tranny cooling and the admonishment "Always back up with the transfer case in 4L with a trailer"?
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 26,966
Likes: 50
From: Texas
Otherwise, it's stock with a whole bunch of oil changes under it's belt. Just got a new clutch put in and it's like I've got a brand new truck again. Life is good. 500k doesn't look so scary the closer I get to it.
I have swapped out the high pressure oil lines on top of the motor, replaced the o-rings and sleeves on the fuel bowl, and changed all the coolant hoses, but that's more of a maintenance item than a mod, unless you count changing to the dual alternator upper radiator hose so the hose goes around the serpentine belt instead of through the middle of it.
It's a Van Gogh
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 7,813
Likes: 1,335
From: Elk Grove, CA
O yeah, the man blasphemes with a 6.d'oh alternator but that's not a mod?!
Just messin with ya Chris.
That's a great thread and now on my to-do list along with a T444E water pump.
For the OP, x2 on the trans cooler, coolant filter and Hutch/Harpoon. These mods have been used by many people for many miles, which approximates the level of development FOMOCO built into these things. IMO very few mods can exceed OEM for longevity, but where the bean counters cut production costs we can make some improvements.
I'll also recommend the FRx, but it has less of a track record.
Also read thru the Failure Prevention Thread for additional mods/fixes.
Just messin with ya Chris.
That's a great thread and now on my to-do list along with a T444E water pump.For the OP, x2 on the trans cooler, coolant filter and Hutch/Harpoon. These mods have been used by many people for many miles, which approximates the level of development FOMOCO built into these things. IMO very few mods can exceed OEM for longevity, but where the bean counters cut production costs we can make some improvements.
I'll also recommend the FRx, but it has less of a track record.
Also read thru the Failure Prevention Thread for additional mods/fixes.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
From: Knoxville, TN
This thread has been very helpful. I have a great list of things to do now to help keep my trucking for a long time. I've noticed that a lot of people on here have moved away from the stock air filter box. Is it really that bad? I'm thinking about replacing mine because of cracks and broken tabs... Should I just go ahead and grab the 6637 kit from Clay?
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,546
Likes: 9
From: Wellington, Co
This thread has been very helpful. I have a great list of things to do now to help keep my trucking for a long time. I've noticed that a lot of people on here have moved away from the stock air filter box. Is it really that bad? I'm thinking about replacing mine because of cracks and broken tabs... Should I just go ahead and grab the 6637 kit from Clay?
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