Wow! Informative post there!!

All I can say is I am glad I don't live where they have emissions testing, seems like a lot of work right there!

Hope it all works out for you twister, you have definitely put the time into your truck, now it is time to enjoy it a little!

 

I saw this earlier and thought it was for use on the rollers or dyno. Pretty hard to achieve unless you can find one big *** parking lot. Lol thanks for the info though. It gives me a better feel for what I should be up to. It's appreciated!

 

So a final up date just for the record...
I ended up putting 174 miles on the truck on the 30 day temporary permit. I stopped and checked the computer every 30 or so miles to see if it would clear allowing the smog test. Finally it cleared this weekend at the 174 mile mark. Monday morning I was first in line at the smog station which was fairly painless. With my pile of paperwork I made a special trip to mr semi local AAA insurance office to get my tags. Well no so quick buckaroo. Just so happens California DMV's computers wouldn't work at the AAA office. System was down. Tried last night... System was down. Tried this morning and they were down for everything but what I needed so bingo l got it all legal and I'm good to go!

I Have to say, it has been years since I have driven a stick but it sure is fun! I'm really impressed with the truck in a lot of ways. The only thing I am really going to have to keep in mind is the length of the truck and the poor turning radius. Everything else is wonderful!

And one last time thank you all for the encouragement and help, it is very much appreciated!

 

Glad you got it going, and licensed! I know about needing that large area when making turns too!

 

Yep no U turns unless you have at least 4 lanes. You can still do one in 3 lanes if you start at the far edge of an intersection and include the crosswalk in your turn but it gets a lot of looks.

There is an old song some people might remember "gimme 40 acres and I'll turn this rig around"........

 

Yep, don't even attempt U turns hardly any more, so much easier to pull off into a parking lot and come back out......

 

EXACTLY!!!

 

LOL, I noticed that most of the single line parking spaces need to be passed up as well. Guess that is why I always saw the big Fords out always in the parking lots! Other than that I'm loving the truck.

 

I've taught every one of my kids to drive in my F250 and our Excursion. They griped and complained at first, but I kept telling them it was worth it. Every one of them now thank me because EVERYthing else is easier to drive and park! In fact, when my 20yo son was finishing up his EMT training with the ambulance driving test, he was the only one who didn't have trouble missing the parking cones and said it was just like driving the Ex... then he thanked me again!

 

Very cool... It's always a good time to learn new skills. It's just a matter of remembering I'm not squirting around in the jeep any more! good job Dad!

 

Just for clarification, wasn't the 7.3L diesel production end year mid 2003 not 2004?

 

Yes. From what I've seen when looking at 2003 year models for sale is that the vast majority are 6.0L engines and only a few 7.3's. ALL 2004's were 6.0L engines.

Also, I'm certain that Y2K knows that as well, and it was either a fat-finger mistype, a brain fart, or that he meant that the "1996-04" was "UP TO but NOT INCLUDING '04".

 

I ordered one of the last 2003.25 (Ford's term at the time) 7.3L F-550 chassis cabs to build a tool truck for a small construction fleet, and that truck is still in service today. I convinced the company owner to not wait for the 6.0L, coming later that model year. Two years earlier, I had heard there would be problems with the new to diesels EGR. Little did I know just how big those problems would end up being, but I did know enough to get that order in before the engine switch in North America during mid 2003. However, for other markets (Australia, South America, Marine / Industrial power, etc), the production of the 7.3L soldiered on until 2005.

The drive cycle for the 6.0L requires that the PCM has had an opportunity to self test monitor that troublesome EGR, as well as a run through of the Misfire Detection Monitor (yes, in a diesel!), a Glow Plug Monitor, and a Comprehensive Component Monitor... all these monitors will have had to run through their tests at least once during the OBDII trip monitor drive cycle, making for an even larger battery of tests to complete before the PCM is "ready" for emissions testing.

 

I NEVER cease to be amazed at how much you know of so many of the small and subtle details behind our trucks' history and development, and I am always glad to learn of them when you share those details!