So as most of you know I'm planning on doing a 7.3 swap into my bronco just waiting to find a donor truck.

Here is my new questions.
Differences between a 94.5-97 7.3l PSD vs 99+ 7.3l PSD?
Types of trans' behind the "newer ones" (older ones had E4OD or ZF-5) newer had E4OD, 4r100 and..?

Computer differences? (Like could I use a 02' donor truck, put my body in, use the 02' computer but a 96' diesel core support/dash.)

Can I swap a manual transfer case behind one of the newer transmissions instead of the turn dial electronic one?

I am doing research as well so... Not helpless here.

 

I'm not sure of the mechanical differences, but I know the early '99 7.3 was much like the '94.5-97. Then they made some changes to it to make them different. I know the OBS/'94.5-97 and early '99 used different (I believe single shot) injectors, even though I know of people who converted a later 7.3 to the single shots.

I imagine the wiring differences between an OBS and NBS/Super Duty are quite a bit. I'm sure you'd get down to a point somewhere that the wiring would finally work. Your best bet is probably to find 7.3 engine harnesses from an OBS that you could use with any 7.3. But for the sake of common parts, I think you're better off finding an OBS 7.3 to match as many parts as you can.

Then there's the whole connecting rod debate. '94.5-late '00 had forged connecting rods. '01-early '03 had powdered (PMR) rods, which were supposed to be a little stronger, but are more brittle. The way I understand it, there really isn't much of a difference unless the truck is used on a track, where it sees high boost and lots of fun stuff injected in. That's where I understand the forged rods can withstand more of that. But for regular driving/towing and even mild fun, there's basically no difference between the two. I found this little tidbit:

Start of production thru serial #1425746 are Forged Rods.
1425747 thru 1440712 are Powdered Rods.
1446713 thru 1498318 are Forged Rods.
1498319 thru final production run are all powdered.

Not sure about your question regarding t-cases. I know people have swapped them out on their particular truck, but I don't know how the job is. I know people replace the ESOF hubs on Excursions all the time with like a Warn hub lock, so they have to get out and manually lock/unlock the hubs each time, and then the dial just engages the t-case. Manual t-cases were definitely available (up through 2009 or 2010 I believe), so it is something they made at times. Usually the truck was either a work truck trim or custom ordered to have manual 4x4.

All Super Duty had 4R100 or ZF5/ZF6. I forget the breakpoint of ZF5 vs. ZF6, but they did all have 4R100. E4OD was an OBS thing that carried into the Econoline as well, and I think it did stay just OBS and not early '99. I don't know about OBS, but all the Super Duty had a different instrument cluster for a manual truck vs. automatic. Not that you're concerned about the cluster itself, but the wiring will again be different. You'd need a cluster to work in your Bronco that matches how the powertrain is equipped.

I was lucky to find a 7.3 Excursion very similarly equipped, but I still have a lot of harnesses to change. Hopefully most of the body components will plug right in since it's identical option wise. We shall see...

 

I think Jon covered the 7.3, I'll just add that the super duty 7.3s come intercooled, obs trucks were not ( from the factory anyway). T-case's in the super duty's are mechanically the same, Manual shift (NV 271) and electric shift (NV273), and can be swapped for one another. I have seen NV273 cases converted to manual operation using fabbed linkages. Personally I would stick with an old body truck to do the swap, so many little nuances involving the body side will fall into place. Unless perhaps you find obs truck minus the engine already and get a super duty for the more desirable power train components.

 

Well I was asking about the NBS trucks because I found a 02' Lariat 7.3 4x4 for $3,000 in Howell and even though it sounded a lil too good I was just curious of the differences. Most of the OBS trucks I find are either 1) out of my price range, 2) too beat up, or 3) too high of mileage that I would feel better rebuilding it before using it.

 

Also from what it sounds like. I wouldn't be able to take a NBS 7.3L with drivetrain and frame. Then put OBS front clip and my bronco body on it then fit the NBS electronics into the dash because the cluster is different and possible the NBS dash is larger?

 

That would be a good truck to donate needed mechanical parts if the mileage is to your liking, but you would have to find an obs truck for electrical stuff. Not sure about getting the newer auto tranny to work either.

 

Is it a wreck?

 

1997 Ford F-250 HD 7.3 Diesel this is right down the road from where i am staying right now.

 

02 f250 7.3 powerstroke

 

Ya, but how good do you think the frame is from the condition of that bed?

 

Nice find would love to grab that up and swap engine into mine. Same year, body, everything.

 

It's real nice, but an 02' 7.3L for only $3,000 makes me just a little sketchy.

 

This is another truck a guy from Pennsylvania sent me some pictures of as a response to my wanted ad on craigslist.



212,000
E4OD
BW1345?
New bedside
completely stock
"Ford rust" on both front fenders.

He's asking $3,000 just for truck because the "engine is worth that alone"

 

97 f-250 7.3 turbo diesel

Now they are starting to come up for sale.

 

Ill also add that the obs had a 15* hpop and the nbs has a 17* hpop. Obs came with a sterling 10.25 nbs has a 10.5.
If you go nbs and don't have room for an intercooler you could find a van turbo because the vans didn't come Intercooled either so they put a non waste gated turbo with a 1.15 a/r exhaust housing on them to help keep egts in check.