There is a lock nut and a screw on the top side of the box for tightening the steering but be careful and only adjust it 1/8 turn at a time at the most. I didn't catch how many miles you have on it but that would help in deciding if things can be nudged along or just need replaced. While many things can go at any time there are age and mileage points that constitute borrowed time on many parts. One time I got 16 MPG but for the most part I'm more like 13-14 MPG so don't feel short sheeted if you don't get 18. And the diesel engine is heavy so if the hard steering you are referring to is sitting still it is typical and I would recommend against turning the wheel without at least a slow roll, it's hard on the front end parts. While driving I don't feel like mine is particularly stiff.

Also while under the VC's you could check the torque on your injector hold down bolts, they should be at about 120 INCH LBS and are known to not be at that point. Glow plugs are pretty cheap (about $10 ea) and are not hard to change. You can also ohm them out at the UVCH plug, the two outer pins on each end of the plugs feed the glow plugs, I cannot remember the acceptable range for them. Good glow plugs are an important part of the mix for cold weather starting.

 

I forgot to mention if you change the glowplugs, ONLY use motorcraft plugs. Don't buy anything else. Anything other than motorcraft and they can expand in the cylinder head and not come out.

 

 

Mileage is 199xxx
If glow plugs are cheap I might as well replace them. I will probably be setting up an injector fund so that when I do have to do them it won't hurt so bad.

So if the up pipes are the bellows type I'm good to go then?

I may take a look at the steering box adjustment...

 

At 200,000 your steering box could be on the way out, injectors can be good for quite a while yet depending on how well the oil was tended to. And yes, if you have bellowed up pipes they should still be good.

 

Looks like a solid pipe all the way up, here's a pic, not a great one but you can see it at least.

I did see that the very back bolt on the drivers side exhaust manifold looks new, while the others are rusty. Possibly had an exhaust leak and someone tried to fix it?
Took the drop in bedliner out and it was FILTHY! Lots of dust and what looks to be a couple of goosneck accidents as there are some pretty good sized dents in the bed. I'm not crazy about them but at the end of the day, it's a truck. If a guy can't use a truck like a truck, it becomes a car. Went to the self serve car wash and washed it all clean. Driving back I couldn't resist getting on it a bit, just on stock it has no shortage of power, leading me to doubt that I have a bent pushrod or something of the sort

 

Those are the stock exhaust pipes. The arrow shows some soot where the exhaust leaks past the donuts. Your's isn't bad, I've seen much worse. It's just like a giant compression fitting for plumbing, the pipe is straight and the donut is squeezed tight by the clamp. The design is meant to allow the pipe to expand and contract as temp changes. Eventually the donut just wears away until it's useless.

 

I've never noticed an obvious steering difference between them so my guess is something's wrong with yours. Your "sloppy steering"; does the steering wheel move back & forth without moving the tires or does it just feel sloppy going down the road like it just does't want to go straight? I've had the latter on two vans after someone decided to tighten up the adjustment on the box like another poster suggested and it made them kinda wander going down the road. At my wit's end with front end repairs and adding more caster to the alignment I loosened the adjustment bolt and it got better, replacing the box was the fix.

 

Saint, what are some good up pipes to get? I saw some sinister diesel ones for like $400, ain't no way I'm paying that much. Then I saw some on walmart, and they were like $80, I'm guessing I want to stay away from walmart diesel parts

'88 E350, it just has a lot of play in the wheel. It actually tracks really straight down the road, but I can probably give it 1/8th turn and it wont move the truck while I'm driving.

 

'99
The general consensus is to with bellowed up pipes. You can go the the ones from Dorman - less expensive or International. Probable the most expensive. Dorman had some fitment issues early on but I believe that has been rectified. I went with the IH with ceramic coating, but I had money to burn back then. Retirement changes things a bit!

 

E99 up pipes are one difference between the years so be sure to get the right ones and they cost more for the E99 than they do the 99.5+. I also installed IH ceracoated from Riffraff but I also was able to afford it, fit and finish was perfect. I have had enough problems with Dorman parts that I steer clear of them except when quality is not an issue but YMMV.

 

You will want to go with the Early 99 up-pipes for your truck. Riffraff makes the nicest hands down, unbelievable American made quality.

Riffraff Diesel Bellowed Up-pipe Kit 94-Early 99 (RDP-1843486C92)

 

I may do some research on the Dorman's, I would love to get the riffraff pipes but I can't afford those right now unfortunately...

 

Dorman's have been getting good reports,so order up.

 

Dorman don't make Early 99 or OBS pipes. My guess is the market is too small.