So im new here so bear with me. I have a 1997 F250HD extended cab with the 460. Had it for couple years now. It is in the shop to have my transmission looked at( with overdrive on, it shifts funny). They said new torque converter and rebuilt would be around 3000. Hopped on craiglist for giggles and what not to find a 1997 F350 crew cab with a 7.3 powerstroke for 3000. Transmission also needs repair on that as well. my point and questions are this: The extended cab worked well when i was single and didnt travel much. Well, life changes and I'm engaged with the intentions of starting a family. i also travel about every 6 weeks for school/work and the 460 was not nice to me for gas. I'd rather sell mine as it as and repair the 350 for the longer and bigger life picture. Any thoughts and opinons are grateful. Thank you and God Bless!!

 

You could have a head job done on the 460 and freshen up the short block for the price of new 7.3DI injectors. My 205/30s were about $1600.

No 2 is about $1/gal more than 87RUG in Texas. False economy going Diesel. My ECLB dually 7.3/S5-47 does about 10mpg city and about 16mpg freeway.

Oil changes are far more expensive also.

Honesty, look for a 5.4 Supercrew. 01-03 trucks have most stuff ironed out. Cheap, common, simple. 5star tune and good muffler, they run down the road just fine.

 

Go with the diesel. The CCLB powerstroke is a good combination, but keep in mind that it is a 25 year old truck when the Federal speed limit was 55MPH, not that you're a stranger to these OBS trucks. Anything made in this century will have a better ride and better MPG.
Once fixed, the CCLB powerstroke will have a great resell value as its very desirable vs the 460. Even if you dont plan to sell it, the 7.3 is a better engine, with more torque, and if youre in certain states, No smog checks.

 

Have you run diagnostic codes. I believe you have the E4OD transmission and it is electronically controlled. Diagnostic codes for the transmission are there if you have it and will possibly show you an easier fix than a 3K option. Your door jamb will indicate an E for trans if you have the E4OD. Also have you checked fluid level motor running and at operating temp with trans in Neutral to check level. Use Mercon V if you need it, NOT LV

 

Chances are, both trucks have mechanically fine transmissions.

Fluid, wiring, connectors, MLPS or its adjustment, computer, sometimes solenoids. Or a blown fuse. Codes will point the way.

Take from somebody who rebuilt a perfectly good trans... and problems were multiplied.

I vote keep what you got or a newer truck unless you've gotten a raise lately.

 

I prefer the 460 for the reasons stated but if you need the CC for family reasons, then that other stuff does not matter. Make the CC work for you.

 

The diesel won't be any cheaper to buy, fix, and operate. Fuel economy is only part of the whole equation.

Do you actually need a HD pickup? A previous gen ranger will be a lot easier on the budget.

 

............. Well, life changes and I'm engaged with the intentions of starting a family. i also travel about every 6 weeks for school/work.......

As life changes, so do a man's need in a vehicle. What was obviously omitted from your message was "I need a truck to ________ " (fill in the blank).
You are among "truck people" and we have all been in different situations.
Going down the "Diesel Rabbit Hole" is great for a single guy with money to burn or an old guy who wants a hobby truck and also has money to burn.
As noted above, justifying a smaller, more economical truck could be where you are in life.
At this moment, oil is trading around $83 / barrel and fuel prices will be going up.
Welcome to the "Y in the road". Best of luck with that new family.

 

I bought my 96 CC PSD new and loved it . Just recently traded it to my son with about 62k miles on it. Looking back,I would been just as happy or more with a 460.

 

If milage is a concern, and alot of miles to be had, Buy a cheap 4 door car for driving around and hauling the family. Keep the pickup you have for pickup things. Buying a $550 90s Buick has saved me alot of $$ in gas. I drive it in the winter, and the wife drives it in the summer. Thing gets 24 mpg average all the time.

 

Go with the 7.3 F350 for sure, Dana 60 straight axle in the front instead of the crappy TTB, and a better engine that uses less fuel and is easy to get power out of.

 

Again, it all depends on what the OP is using the truck for. If he's going to put 40s on it and go rock crawling, then yes, the D60 straight axle is a big deal. But if he's going to run stock size tires and stay on the highway, that "crappy ttb" will be just as reliable without the road manners deficiencies that come with the straight axle.

Same thing with the engine. If he's hot rodding it or pulling a 10k trailer daily, the diesel is hands down the better choice. If he's just commuting and doing occasional truck stuff, the 460 is also very reliable and low maintenance and still capable of pulling the big trailers when needed. The higher cost of diesel fuel and maintenance items on the 7.3 likely outweigh the fuel efficiency benefit. Again, pulling 10k daily changes the equation.

That said, all we've heard from the OP is that he's starting a family and does a lot of commuting. Honestly a 460 or 7.3 both sound like horrible options for that use case. As others have said, a cheap sedan is going to be a way better solution. And if it needs to have a bed, an old Ranger will be a lot cheaper to run than any F2/350. $3500 also gets you a lot nicer Ranger than it does an F350.

Then again, maybe the OP does freelancing skid steer work and has a 14k 20 footer + skid steer in tow 5 days a week. Who really knows until he chimes in again....

 

The TTB is junk on or offroad, very poor design to use leaf springs on an axle that pivots in the middle. The are constantly having alignment issues and wearing out ball joints, leaf spring bushings, and tires been through all of that before. The Dana 60 straight axle is superior in every way. So is the 7.3, a 460 is a great engine but gets terrible fuel milage. 8-9 MPG vs 15-16 for a 7.3. Regular 87 at $3.25 a gallon at 9 MPG vs Diesel 4.25 a gallon at 16 MPG.
In 500 miles that is $180 of fuel for the 460 and $133 for the 7.3. A crew cab truck is also a far better choice for hauling a family around than a Ranger so I am not sure where you are going with that.

 

after reading everything, i cant afford a seperate car as stated before. The truck would be a daily driver all year round meaning the harder winters here in the midwest. i travel 3 hours away about every 6 weeks for school/work. the 460 wasnt the best for that. im more looking at which one would benefit not just me but my family in the future. Something that can drive me 3 hours without having to stop at every pump, something to haul camping/outdoor gear, to drive in the winter and be great when the family starts coming into picture. As for towing, i dont do any at all.

 

If you're using it in Midwest winters, it'll be rusted out (honestly I'm not sure where you're finding a $3500 F-350 from the 90s that's not already one pot hole away from a broken frame) before you get to the point of filling the back seat with kids. I say this as a lifelong resident of NW Illinois, father of 3, and owner of several of these trucks in various interactions over the years. FWIW my current OBS Ford is a '94 F350 CCLB 4x4 460/ZF-5. It stays in the shed during winter, away from the road salt.

My advice is figure out what's wrong with the trans in the current truck and go from there. Unless you're pulling big loads, there's far cheaper options for a family vehicle that "does it all" than an F2/350. I had an old 2-door Explorer that we took everywhere up through the first two kids. It's was so old and ratty I didn't hesitate to haul greasy car parts in the back either. There's also plenty of cheap crew cab F150s on the used market at this point. I'll also go on record as having taken a shorter road trip with all 5 of us in a 2011 super cab ranger. It wasn't exactly comfortable, but we made it all the same. If those aren't your flavor, a Lincoln Town Car makes an excellent family car and really soaks up highway miles with ease. They're also one of the best deals going on the used market currently and have a stellar reputation for reliability.