Hey Guys,
I have been lurking for 2 to 3 months and have been reading a lot. Anyway, my time to make a decision got moved up considerably.

I have a family member that owns a 1999 PSD automatic with ESOF. Its purple (mixed feelings) extended cab long bed with a cover. It has 280,000 miles and I will have to go and bring it back to CO. He has maintained it very well.

I stumbled across this 1999 PSD with a manual reg cab long bad and the manual 4x4 system. it has 200,000 miles. The main issue is I don't know what the maintenance record looks like. They included a Car-Fax type report. It looks like it has bigger tires, but i can't see evidence of any other mods except the exhaust system. I am going to see the truck tomorrow.

1999 Ford F-250 Super Duty - Berkenkotter Motors

My intended use is lots of 4 wheeling and eventually towing another 4x4 vehicle (crawler). I will tow a 4000 lb boat pretty frequently and I have always wanted a diesel.

I think that there could be a small difference in price. but my biggest concern is its not from someone i know and OASis doesn't do 99 anymore. I am really excited about the manual tranny vs. the 4R100 (any thoughts on that?) and the manual 4x4 system. I haven't seen many complaints about either on here. I think I would rather have the smaller tan truck, but I am looking for anybody that might see something that I am missing or help me not make a mistake.

Thanks in advance! can't wait to join the club

 

Here is a good link for tips on buying a used PSD... See;

1999 - 2003 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel Used Truck Buyers Guide .: Articles

A big Welcome to the Forum

 

I prefer the manual too, not to mention the purple part Maybe one of the local Colorado boys will look at that truck with you. Read the link above for some good info on what to check.

What I'd do first when I went to look at that local truck is remove the lid off the air filter. See if there is any dust inside the intake tube going back toward the turbo. If you look at the picture they provided, it appears the the lid is not hooked in toward the end of the box. You need to find out if the plastic is broken, or if someone just didn't put it back together right. If it's broken and there's lots of dust inside the tube, you're not interested. And to be fair to the next guy, don't tell the salesman why. That way they don't get a chance to clean it up and hide the evidence.

Welcome to FTE.

 

That air filter has been sucking dirt I would pass it up. The price is too high anyway.

 

isnt that an early 99 ?? badge on the fender...

 

Yes, good observation. Nother reason to pass , if it were me....

 

The '99 F250 looks like it has been used for towing. There's a brake controller in the cab and it looks like a gooseneck ball was taken out. Goosenecks are usually used for horse trailers, farm equipment and heavier loads. Also $10K is a lot. I got my 2002 with 75K miles on it for $18K three years ago when it was 5 years old. This one's 11 years old. But I got to say, sometimes doing business with family members has its problems. I'd say look some more.

 

nothing wrong with a early 99 just a little low on power to the 99.5-03 trucks...but you will want to look at the air box and turbo close....if its clean its the perfect mod truck....has the good rods and because its low on power..they havent been hurt...nothing in my truck is early 99 any more..every thing i changed is the same as every other guy changes to get where i am in there 99.5 - 03 truck as well.....

 

Ok, I will look at that. I have a mechanic (not ford) going with me as well. I haven't seen many Colorado guys on here. Anyone willing?

Your saying that because the air box isn't closed properly? As far as price goes, what would you say is right? KBB on the purple truck is like 10 to 11 and a base model is 8 to 9. I don't know how much i can work the dealer down on price etc....

Early 99 has less power right. (smaller turbo and a few other minor differences) The bigger one as the badge on the door. Does that mean late 99?

MY plans are just intake, exhaust, gauges, and chip really. Not looking for major power.

Thoughts?

 

yes smaller turbo,HPOP and injectors..people change badges..mine has 05's....look on the sticker inside the driver door for the build date,,if its built in 98 its an early bird..built in 99 then its the 99.5 truck...the change was made 12/7/98..if your not going for more power..then you may want the 99.5....the power isnt all that much better...you get no surge from the smaller turbo but it does run a little hotter EGT's..its a stick so thats a plus as long as the clutch is good...weather its a work truck or not..im sure the motor and trans are good..thats what there built to do and last for ever doing it....if it towed and was an auto..then i would worry about the trans....the springs and brakes may need to be replaced if it has towed also...but thats got to be done on any truck at some point in its life..

 

the goosenecks are hard on the rear axle right? And Obviously towing its more strain on the motor and transmission, but how many trucks could you find that haven't been used for that. The other truck was also used for towing horses. I appreciate all of your advice. I think i will still look at it tomorrow and take some more pictures of the intake tubes and anything else and send to you. I will also keep looking.

 

This has always been my thinking as well. I bought my truck so I could tow. I still tow with it at 320,000 miles. What difference does it make that it has towed before now?

Of course if the air filter has been sucking dirt, you may need a new motor in the very near future (shouldn't cost more than $10,000), so pay close attention to the intake thing. As I said (and so did everyone else) check the intake. Maybe they just didn't hook it back up right after checking the filter and detailing the engine. Then again, maybe it's something you need to walk away from.

 

There was a recent thread about how some of these 99-03's are getting harder to find and some are going up in value. The ZF-6 trans is really awesome, and they are getting somewhat hard to find. The same thing is happening with the early diesel Dodges, a really clean one is going for more than the books are showing. Edit: also, for 4-wheeling, the regular cab (shorter wheelbase) is a little better for tighter turns, etc

 

You really need to look at the mfg date.. the badge won't always tell ya it is a early 99... My early 99 mfg date is 10/98.. and no badge on the fender..

 

I have been looking at prices between 5 and 15 grand.

Not sure what the right price could be.