96.5 F250 VS 99-2003 F250
 

I am going to have to say goodbye to my old faithful 1996.5 F250 7.3. She was totaled out in front of my house a few days ago. To much work to try to put her back together again. So I am looking for a replacement and would like another 94-97 OBS to replace but hard to find and pretty pricy. I am fighting with insurance now on the real value of my truck and being the fact the closest one I can find is 467 mi away. Anyway I am starting to think about opening up to the thought of something up to 2003 model. I just don't know what is better about the 99-2003 models besides here in California where I am anything after 1997 has to go through a smog check. A lot of why I want to stay below the 1997 year.
Why should I go up to 2003? Honest input please these trucks seem to be in the same price range as the 97 OBS models'. I know the 2003 would be newer but seems like the older trucks and the newer up to 2003 have same millage.
any advice and opinions are welcomed.

Honestly, I like the older trucks because the cab is a little smaller. But I'm 5'7". Easier to reach things in a smaller cab.

The super duty is an upgrade to the OBS so it will be better in everyway, except the looks department. I'm a sucker for OBS trucks and I'm biased AF.

​​What is your price range for a truck?

Obs trucks have more room under the hood as in the cab doesn't go over the engine like the super duty does. And like said before obs is better looking. Superdutys have better brakes and no more IFS front end. Either way it's still a hard decision. Sorry I didn't help lol

OBS trucks do not have more room under the hood than a Superduty, they had to shoehorn the 7.3 into the OBS and the firewall is so close you can only run a 3" downpipe. The Superduty was designed with the 7.3 in mind, more room under the hood for sure, even with an intercooler and the extra piping.

The main drawback to the up to 97s for me is the seating position. I'm 5'7" as well and the bucket seats in the 95-97 vehicles sit so low that I have to have the seat nearly all the way forward......which puts the steering wheel in my chest. I put a 2000 MY steering wheel in my 1995 which gives me another 2" of arm reach (and light-up cruise buttons) and I put 2001 seats in my 97. Both are good ways for me to be comfortable.

Also, even thoughthe turbocharger is pretty well out in the open on the 95-97 trucks, it's immensely harder to remove in its stock T4 flange configuration.

Yes that sucks as well, almost as bad a removing the turbo on a 6.0.

Worse. 6.0 turbos are pretty easy.

My favorite truck to drive was my 1991 F250, but I had to buy an aftermarket seat to achieve that, LOL. The factory seats in that thing felt like I was sitting in a 5 gallon bucket.

I feel like the pre-smog aspect would be a huge determining factor for me.

IFS front end? No twin I beam?

That's a big factor for me also.

Anyone have any experience with bringing a out of state truck into the comifornia zone. I do travel a bit and could find something in my travels.

IFS = twin-i-beam