I need to replace the front bumper on my 96 F250 Powerstroke. The one that's on it is bent and the rust is starting to pop out in a couple of places. My question is: Is there a reason why I absolutely need to replace it with the exact bumper (with the cut outs in the center of the bumper)? Or can I replace it with the solid base bumper (no cut outs, with or without plastic molding strip)? I had heard years ago, that they went with the cut out bumper for cooling reasons, especially for the heavier trucks such as the Powerstroke.

 

I suppose it's possible that it helps cooling the PSD's. I've seen gasoline trucks with either bumper, F150, 250, & 350, if I'm not mistaken. I'd like to hear what other PSD owners have to say. I only have a 4.9 with the slotted bumper.

 

IIRC they only made those bumpers in 96-97 (my 97 with a 7.5L gas has one). Since there have been plenty of diesel trucks before 96 that don't have these bumpers, I don't see it being a problem.

Also look at any diesel truck that has an aftermarket bumper, none of them have any slots in them. So I'd say your free to put on whatever bumper you choose.

 

My buddies 97 f350 7.3psd front bumper doesn't have any holes on it.

 

Our '95s have the cut-out bumpers. But from what I hear, our trucks get plenty of cooling air anyway. You should be fine with a gasser bumper, although you might get some looks....

 

Thanks for your input everyone. I was skeptical when I first heard the supposed reason for cutouts were for cooling, and I still am. But it also wouldn't suprise me if an engineer did all the math for a worst case scenario and came up with the bumper cutouts to make the math work. I like the cutout bumper and will look for one, but I'm finding the solid base bumper and the solid bumper with the plastic molding strip on Craigslist for decent prices at this time. I'd really like to get a new one from LMC, Summit, or even Amazon, but my budget is being squeezed pretty tight right now. I'm moving from OH back "home" to PA at the end of August and that of course is making things tight right now.

 

Zmorby, This may be a dumb question but I hate assuming, is your buddies bumper a stock Ford style bumper or a custom aftermarket?

 

Madpogue, fun rabbit trail story about looks. My son, who is a senior in high school says: "I like driving your truck to school. I get a lot more respect than when I drive my explorer. I start it up and everybody looks. Classic 80s music just sounds cooler when it's coming from your truck. Your truck has a whole lot more style than my explorer." We currently live in a small rural farming community with at small school system.

 

Yeah, the Explorer should have a warning label on the steering wheel - "Warning - May cause drowsiness". I have to drive a g-car for work now and then, usu. a Malibu or Taurus. Yawwwwwwnnn.

 

The reason these trucks to have holes in the bumper was for the automatic tranny cooler for towing heavy loads. Depending on where you live you may not need it. IM here in California and never had an issue with my trucks over heating (except my mothers 2005 GMC off roading at the beach).

I have this bumper in front of my truck even towing a trailer over the grapevine.

 

I dunno whether the above statement is entirely true......I have a '96 PSD that is a MANUAL trans.........No cooler used.......and it has the cut out bumper.....I have a '97 F-Superduty 460 manual trans that has a solid bumper........

 

Its only for diesels. Only gas rigs our year have solid. I have 3 trucks. I have a 1996 f350 diesel that was manual then swapped to automatic then back to manual had the cut outs. My 1996 F350 460 gas automatic had a solid bumper but I immediately changed it out because I was thinking a head of time about the tranny cooler. Now my 1997 f350 dually diesel 4x4 manual had one that had holes on it but I used that bumper on the gas rig and put a Custom Ranch Hand bumper on it.

 

They were not only on diesels, because my 97 with a 460 has one, and I have seen many other 96-97 gas trucks with the bumper with the cutouts.

Unless you live in extreme heat while hauling heavy loads up a steep hill, I really don't see it making much of a difference.

 

And then there is the whole "Who knows what the hell a previous owner did" thing........these trucks are at least 20 years old.......The only one on earth who could probably enlighten us on what FOMOCO actually did would be NumbersDummy........

 

My 96 gasser has the cut-out bumper to, definitely not just a diesel thing.