Hello helpful forum folks. I recently bought a 2000 F250 Super Duty Crew Cab 4x4. It is in really good condition overall and I am pleased with the purchase. I have, however, come up against something that I have never had with a vehicle before. One of the things I needed to replace was the sway bar link on the passenger side. I ordered the part, and it did not fit. It was too long and angled wrong. I called lthe company back and we even gave them the VIN to compare and they said they absolutely had sent the right part. I ended up getting a refund from them and wen to the local NAPA store. They went in back and pulled the part for a 2000 model year, and it was the same thing. The very wise gentleman at NAPA checked a 1999 part and it was the right one. Fit perfectly. I have a valid original title showing it as a 2000 Super Duty XLT, it is not salvaged, so I am puzzled by this.

The other thing that is odd is that my truck has 265 R75 16 tires which is exactly what is on the label on the door column. When I look online at tires, all of the stores show 235/85/16 tires as th enly option. Is this something others have encountered? If so, is there any thing specifric I need to look for when searching for parts? Most other parts I have looked for have been correct when looking at the 2000 model year. This is the 6.8 triton V10 engine by the way, just in case that makes a difference. Any guidance the group can provide would be greatly apprecaited!f

 

What is the 10th character of your VIN?

It is possible a left-over '99 was titled as a 2000.

 

Could be an early 99. They have square front axle u bolts vs the late 99 and newer have round front axle u bolts. Check the date of manufacture on the door tag.

 

I cant speak to a 2000, however my 3/99 which is considered late IIRC has early 99 parts on it. Some things that were changed in the early/late are unit bearings, sway bar parts, spring U bolts to name a few things.

 

The 10th character is a Y

 

I will check on that and update soon.

 

Model year code "Y" = 2000

Possibly an early production model.....

 

That was what the NAPA clerk surmised that they possibly had 1999 parts left over and used them up on some of the 2000s. I am going to check the date of manufacture, but it is below zero temps here and we have a winter storm warning...not going outside unless I have to, LOL.

 

By the way, anyone else have larger tires than what all the automated systems say are called for. Every time I put my make and model truck into the tire finder systems, they only show 235/85/16 but mine has 265/75/16 and that is what is on the manufacture sticker on the door post. That is one thing I have already checked. Just wondering if anyone else had that size tire come from FORD on your early 2000's Super Duty.

 

Those years were...interesting, to say the least. You could find parts from early build '99 on a late build '99, Parts from an early '99 on a '00, etc etc. I'm sure there's some kind of rhyme or reason to it...but I don't know what it is.

I had a late '99 F250 7.3, my FIL had a late '99 F350 7.3. He had the intake air heater, I did not. That difference is the one that sticks out to me, but I can't tell you any of the others offhand. I just remember there were a LOT of things that didn't line up between the two trucks, aside from the badging differences.

 

You are right, very interesting years. Still happy with my retirement present, just have to work a little harder to make sure the right parts go in the right places!

 

I put 285/75/16 on my e99. With x code front Springs and f350 blocks on the rear, they looked just right. I put new 265/75/16 on my 01 about 3 years ago, sold it about a year ago.

 

The 235/85/R16 tires were the size the DRW trucks used. They're right about the same height, but a little narrower than the 265/75/R16s.

 

Turns out it was manufactured in November of 1999.