i have a friend looking at buying a 99 power stroke. I know there are some differences between the early and late models, just looking for a quick summary of the changes, and maybe even advantages/disadvantages.

I am going with him to look at, i will bring my scanner to run self tests for any obvious probs. owner says it wont start unless it is plugged in, i am suspecting either glow plugs, or plug module/relay. with a relay it should provide power anytime you go to start right? if it has a module will it through a code if the module is the cause of the no start?

 

If you don't mind using the search feature, there are several very informative threads that detail the differences.

good luck in your search!

 

Some differences between Early 99 and 99.5
Credit to Chase aka superduty4x4, Ron aka Ron's Power Stroke and in Bold credit to Jet aka
SolidGround
Early 99 has a wicked wheel in it from the factory. And much smaller turbo (spools faster, though)
The early99 has 120cc(AB code) injectors and the late99-03 has 140cc(AD code) injectors.
The early99 has 2" intake plenums. The late99-03 has 3" intake plenums.
The early99 has a 15* swash plate HPOP. The late99-03 has a 17* swash plate HPOP.
The early99 has one glow plug relay. The late99-03 has one glow plug relay and one air intake heater
relay side by side (along with early '99 CA models) . Both relays are on the passenger side of the ful
bowl toward the front of the truck.
The early99 has a totally different air intake that is not inter changeable with the late99-03 (except for
DRW trucks) . But you can put the late99 air cleaner assembly in the early99 truck. The only three
afterarket air filters that work on the early99 are the AFE stage 2, the AIS and the KWIKK 6637.
The early99 track rod has smaller mounting bolts than the late99-03. (except for DRW trucks)
The early99 has shallower rotors than the late99-03. (except DRW trucks)
The early99 has shorter hub-bearings than the late99-03. (except DRW trucks)
The early99 front axle U bolts are square where they go over the spring pack. The late99 U bolts are
round. (except DRW trucks)
The early99 has a different pitman arm than the late99-03. (except DRW trucks)
The early99 does not have the AIH like the late99-03. (except CA model)
The early99 does not have the automatic transmission fluid cooler in the radiator.
The early99 has different size swaybar.
The early99 has no indicator light showing that "cruise" is on. Late99-03 has a cruise light that will come
on when you set the cruise control. The early99 has the light in the dash already. A newer PCM(Yes it
will plug in and will run better too) must be used to make the cruise light illuminate. It is a green light on
the right side edge, half way up.

 

If you were to search the topic on this (or any other forum), you'd come to the conclusion that the early-build 1999 model year trucks should just be scrapped - and only because of the blind "advice" of people who have never owned or had the pleasure of driving one....but they read it on the internet so it MUST be true. I'm not singling out the E99 owner that posted above (tappit01) though. He owns one. However, it's been slightly modified so it doesn't count.

Yes, some of the suspension parts and brake parts are different. Big deal. It doesn't make the vehicle any less "Super". It makes finding the correct parts on the first try a little more difficult, but you'll likely read that the problems arise when using inferior aftermarket parts anyway. Give the Ford dealership parts person the VIN and you'll end up with the right parts much more reliably.

Personally, I feel that the two stock early 1999 pickups at work run much better and stronger than the remainder of the 99.5-02 vehicles in the fleet (with similar miles on the odometer). In addition, should you have the opportunity, drive blindfolded (well, maybe not THAT extreme) an E99 pickup and a 1999.5 in their stock configurations and try to tell a difference. Good luck. There is nothing on an early-build 1999 truck that is holding you back versus a 1999.5-03 7.3L.

There is ZERO difference that can be felt (power-wise) when trying to increase power from either model year as well. You're not going to feel the difference of a couple horsepower (if it's even that much) in a 7500+ lb. pickup. Both types of injectors (AB/AD) are equally worthless once the 60-80 additional RWHP threshold has been reached. I certainly disagree with the "run better too" statement above since the minuscule amount of injector pulse width difference between the E99 and 1999.5-up calibration certainly isn't cause for an uproar. As I said earlier, both of the early build 1999 pickups at work run better (engine power delivery wise) than the later ones I take care of. I'm comparing manual transmissions to manual transmissions, too. When dealing with automatics, the shifting characteristics of both are IDENTICAL (save for a slight change in the 3rd gear torque converter clutch apply speed based on less than a volt's worth of foot-feed input) until the 2001 model year trucks were introduced as well. Just to clarify, swapping an XLE4 computer for an NVK2 computer (E99 auto for a 99.5 auto) will leave you wondering why you wasted the five minutes of your life to undertake that task.

The "CRUISE" light is one of those things that some people just can't live without I guess. If the vehicle is maintaining speed on level ground and my foot's not on the accelerator pedal.....well, the cruise control is on. Besides, I know quite a few "imports" (from big progressive cities) to my home state that have had cruise control on their vehicles since they have had their driver's license and they have no idea how it even works anyway so they'd be clueless as to whether or not there was actually a light in the dash or not.

The air intake heater? Really? People with 1999.5-03 trucks delete these all the time anyway (for no real reason other than to say they've done it)!!! The same can be said of the transmission cooler deficiency as well. The people with factory-equipped transmission coolers take them out and replace them with a different one. There's nothing stopping an E99 owner from installing the all-time favorite 6.0L transmission cooler!

EDIT:
The turbocharger differences are a non-issue as well since the inducer and exducer of the compressor wheels is the same, just the housing is larger on the later models (hence the reason and existence of the "wicked wheel" ^TM). The turbine housing is exactly the same between both generations.


In the end, it all comes down to what you're happy with concerning the vehicle. If you like the way it runs and drives, then that's all that matters. Once you start modifying the truck to make it "yours", all of the engine and transmission related differences start to disappear. On the other hand, how often does one REALLY need to change brake rotors, panhard bar attachment bolts, and sway bars?

 

Just so you know I can back it up.........

 

Great Posts ^^^^
I've had two e99's and have driven later 7.3's and feel no difference.

I prefer mine, It's more rare and I have made it mine.

 

I dont understand what you mean E99 i have a 1999 F-250 supercab

 

E99 is late 1998 to early 1999 when Ford came out with the new and improved superduty. I think it was march 99 when Ford started making changes again to make it a late 99. But not all changes happened at once. Some suspension parts from e99 made it on to L99 models until all parts were used up.

 

What does your door sticker read as build date? That will tell us if you have a E99 or a L99.

 

Mine says 04 of 98 but the title says 99

 

So you have an e99, welcome to the club.

 

I have to change brake rotors what seems like every other year, but that's usually my fault. Finding replacement OEM rotors is easy, a little more difficult if you want cyro/slotted ones because not all aftermarket manufactures make them for the e99. My only complaint would be when I decide to go with a 38R it not just a bolt in.

 

I also have a 4/98 truck. The oldest 99 I've seen is a 2/98.

There a ton of e99 threads that explain the differences. Search away

 

I love my e99 3/98. The brakes are a little to small for the mountains with steep grades and the biggest pita is swapping to the 38R which Riffraff does have a nice kit, that I will be getting this winter with my christmas bonus... Knock on wood.

 

The only difference I can see with my e99 compared to later models in my family that I have driven is they seem a little more refined and quieter in the cab. But that could be because mine is only an XLT compared to Lariats that may have more insulation. In fact that is my next quest is to search this forum to find out where to add more insulation in the cab to help quiet the interior.

I now have 185,000 on it and recently installed a by-pass oil filter system that filters particles down to 1-2 microns. I plan on keeping the truck a long time but I still plan on changing oil once a year no matter what the mileage is. I might send the first sample to Blackstone just for curiosities sake.

Chips2000