OK guys...I'm casualy shopping fora F-250...I want the new body style for the interior space of the new stlye.

I thought that the new style F-25 came out in 97...but I'm only running across the older syle.....so I look at 98 models....ok what's this....all listed as 3/4 Ton F-250....but with the newer style F-150 cab.....huh??? Then once I check out 99 F-250 ah ha! Finaly the cab I'm looking for.....

What's going on here?

I'm new to Fords and don't know the history and everything....some one show me the light!

The current F150's -1997

The current SuperDuty's -1999

Yep, the F150 was restyled in '97 but the F250s carried over another year until '98. The SuperDutys started in '99. I think you really want a SuperDuty. I'd be real careful on the '98 F250s, kinda a bastard year and I think these were some of the ones that got the weird-ass 7 lug wheels on LD models. Very undesireable IMO.

Yep, my '97 F-250 4x4 Crewcab PSD is the old bodystyle.

Makes no difference to me..... Drives and tows a 30' enclosed trailer with my EB and gear in it very nicely.... :D

Originally posted by Zukster
The current F150's -1997

The current SuperDuty's -1999

Or more correctly:

1997-1998: Restyled F-150, also F-250. For F-250HD, F-350, F-Superduty(F-450) etc, bodystyle remains unchanged from 1996 model year.

1999-up: F250 becomes F-150 7700lb. F250HD designation dissapears, F-Superduty designation dissapears. All 8800lb and up F-Series (F-250, F-350,F-450, etc) are restyled to what is known as the Super Duty body style.

I failed to mention mine is a F-250HD model.

Very complete info Paul.

Originally posted by JSSN
Very complete info Paul.

I'm a geek, I know. :emb:

What was your reference for the info? Just curious.

Originally posted by JSSN
What was your reference for the info? Just curious.

Just off the top of my head.:emb:

Ah HA!

Thank you all!

Yup, it's very confusing. I have a '97 F-250HD (old body style)

When buying parts, though, I always tell counter guy it is a 96 so they don't try to sell me parts for the '97 F-250 Light Duty (new body style).

There was no '98 MY for the F-250HD or F-350. Even though they actually built some of the old body style in early '98, they still called them '97 models. The 99' SDs came out in early 98.

Originally posted by Kevbo
There was no '98 MY for the F-250HD or F-350. Even though they actually built some of the old body style in early '98, they still called them '97 models. The 99' SDs came out in early 98.

YA what he said:D
justin<><

So I want a 99 F-250 Super Duty, right?:rolleyes:

What should I look out for? What engine, tranny, rear etc do I want to get.....any other bugs/quirks?

Thanks all!!!

the only engine to get is the powerstroke, get it with either the auto or the 6 speed (6 speed is supposed to be more reliable) If you're going to mostly be towing a heavy load with it get the 4.10 axles, otherwise the 3.73's will be better for fuel economy

Heavy load????

:rolleyes:

Umm.....hehehehe...sorry noo.....

Sadly this truck will barely if ever get used for what it should. I'm do communications for work and rarely if ever carry anything big much less a trailer!

This will be a daily driver....I just want something BIGGER cause I'm 6'5" and tired of small vehicles. I'll use it for off roading some but I think I'll get another toy for doing that....don't wanna tear up a good truck.

Any lift suggestions for a F-250 SD?

I have an early '99 F250 SuperDuty, what you should look for is a 99.5. If you find a PSD it will have the emblem on the door - no the fender. For some in the early '99's there are parts descrepancies like brakes and fuel filters - I have to get "old" style parts ('97) because Ford must have had some old stock to get rid of. And the 99.5 diesel has more power.

JP

Ok....I ran across a White single cab 00 F-250 Superduty XL V10 Auto, New 6" lift (blocks in the rear), 35" Mickey Thompsons, 30K on the ticker.....AM/FM Bench Seat PS etc...I'm sure it had AC....I hope....

What would a rig like this go for?

The guy said it had a D80 rear under it....is this possible?????

I guess it is possible, but unlikely. Not that I've ever seen a D80.

They came with a Ford (AKA Sterling) 10.5" full floater...which is certainly adequate for a 3/4 ton truck...they used the same on the '350s. If he put a D80 in, ask yourself what he was doing that needed it, and what it did to the rest of the truck.

Odds are he just knows it is a Salisbury style axle, a lot heavier duty than a D60, and chose a bigger number. The Sterling axles (10.25 & 10.5) are pretty distictive: Full-float, 12 bolt D-shaped cover, and serious "I-beam" gusseting top and bottom going to long sleeves for the axle tubes. They are hell for stout and there is little reason to upgrade. Only problem is that axle seals may leak. Ford improved seal design a few years ago, and this seems to have helped a lot.

The Sterlings don't have quite the aftermarket options available that smaller axles enjoy, but I bet the D80 is hardly supported at all.

BTW, the OEM front end was a mono-beam version of the Dana-50. (used in TTB F-250HDs) NOT a D60, which it sort of looks like. This is also an "orphan" axel, but situation may improve, as Ford is moving a lot of the '250 SDs. If you want a D60 you have to look for a '350.

Originally posted by Kevbo
I guess it is possible, but unlikely. Not that I've ever seen a D80.

Last time I was at the dealership, several of the F350s had Dana axles, tho I don't know if they were D70 or D80. IIRC some of the high-GVW F250s had them too.

the SRW should have the ford 10.5" while the dually's I believe got a dana 80 (at least that's what the '01 C&C 350 crew cab I'm looking at has...

Humm....ok....anyone know what to look for on this axle so I can figure out three things:

What is it?
D60-
D70-
Ford 10.5-
Salisbury-
Sterling axles (10.25 & 10.5) are pretty distictive: Full-float, 12 bolt D-shaped cover, and serious "I-beam" gusseting top and bottom going to long sleeves for the axle tubes.

What gear ratio?

Does it have a locker?


Oah and the nasty bench seat that's in it.....is it just a bold in to switch to 40,20,40?

This may help you ID the axel:
http://asclepius.com/carpentractor/differentialid.html



What gear ratio?
Look for a tag with a number like 3 55 or 4 10 or 3 73

Does it have a locker?
Not unless it was added by previous owner. Ford offered Dana Trac-Lok limited slip diffs as an option (included with some packages)

If the number is 3L55 4L10, etc. then it came with the limited slip.

is it just a bold in to switch to 40,20,40?

Yup, but be warned that the boneyards are real proud of those seats. You might need to do a little wiring if you want to use the lumbar bags.

Yikes no locker ever ever ever ever! :mad:

OK...I have seen the Sterling Diff and wondered what I was looking at...now I know.

Humm....this puts a whole new twist on things.....I think.

Thanks all for all the great info! I'll keep ya up todate if I end up with a niccce F-250......

Not sure what you mean by ever ever ever ever....

You can get an ARB or Detroit Locker for the Sterlings, possibly Lockright as well, but they were not available from the factory.

Never heard of factory offering true lockers on ANY truck. Open diff is standard, with limited slip (AKA posi-traction, AKA Traction-Loc) available as an option.

I thought SOME Cheby's came with some detroits and I know that some dodges did at one time.....

Still......

Oah wait.....Unimogs do!!! :D and so do some Samurai's over in Germany! ;)

And now I have heard of it.:D

Dumb fellow newbie:rolleyes:

:flipoff2: