96 fordf250?

[Schneider591]

im looking into buying a tow rig been looking at the f250 with the powerstroke. im a complete noob when it comes to fords. anything I should be looking for or shy away from. like I said im looking for an f250 crew cab diesel. from what ive been told the 95-97 is the best for the body style I like.
should i look for an auto or a manual trans?
I dont need 4wd in a tow rig but like the stance of the 4wds if I go 2wd can anyone recomend a small lift that will put me around stockish height of the 4wd model

[4XFORD]

im looking into buying a tow rig been looking at the f250 with the powerstroke. im a complete noob when it comes to fords. anything I should be looking for or shy away from. like I said im looking for an f250 crew cab diesel. from what ive been told the 95-97 is the best for the body style I like.
should i look for an auto or a manual trans?
I dont need 4wd in a tow rig but like the stance of the 4wds if I go 2wd can anyone recomend a small lift that will put me around stockish height of the 4wd model


Definetly stay away from the E4OD if you can unless someone has already spent the $$$ to make it right, that's the only auto available in those years. The ZF-5 speed manual will be much better for towing.

Lift on a 2wd should be simple, replace the 1" block in the rear with a 3"-4" block and u-bolts from a 4wd. Use stiff 6" lift front springs for a TTB F-150/Bronco 4wd. New shocks and probably front brake line extensions.

[USMCNetzel21]

X2 on the 5-speed for towing. Those are good strong trucks and we still see quite a few of them around being used as everday work trucks.

[travisford83]

The ZF are great but the E4OD can be built up to hold the powerstroke hp/tq. If you are willing to dump another 3-5k on the tranny, you should consider the automatic.

[94stepsideford]

Never use ablock for lift. Especially on a tow pig. Anyone who would suggest such is a fucking tool.

[4XFORD]

Never use ablock for lift. Especially on a tow pig. Anyone who would suggest such is a fucking tool.


They come from the factory with blocks you grumpy fuck, that's what I suggest using, not stacking blocks. :shaking:

Tell me your trucks don't have any blocks. :homer:

[94stepsideford]

They come from the factory with blocks you grumpy fuck, that's what I suggest using, not stacking blocks. :shaking:

Tell me your trucks don't have any blocks. :homer:

They also come from the factory with TTB. Ford has had some bad ideas a 4" block in a tow pig is one of them.

EDIT: IIRC the 4x4's only have a 2" block?

[joshgammill]

If you decide to go 4x4 get the f350 single rear wheel. It will have a solid front axle. I have the pickup you need, 1997 f350 srw 4x4 power stroke 5- speed, but I don't plan on ever getting rid of it. I have had it for 3 years and worked it hard on a farm and it still works and looks great. And it has 250,000 miles on it. My neighbor has a f250 with over 500,000 miles on it and the only major problems he has had was his automatic transmission. I think he said he was on his fourth. My plans for the future if I ever by another pickup, I am going to convert my 97 into a offroad/trail rig. With the transmission and motor it would be bad ass with some big tires out on the trails.

[Haulin Ass]

I have 1997 crew cab and love it.
It has the auto in it with a 24 quart pan, cooler, and banks shift kit in it we never put it in over drive tell we hit 60 mph and never have it in over drive when pulling steep grades.
We all so have the banks inercooler and bigger turbo and ex on it.
Our 97 is a f250 with a 4" lift from tuff country. Springs front and rear with firestone air bags out back.
The axles have 4:10 gears in them we will be going to 4:30 gears.
I would look for one that some one has all ready has done the work to it to save money.

[Schneider591]

anyone ever swapped in the 5speed trans? I was only able to find a handfull of 5speed trucks.

[IDASHO]

Dont let a hunt for a 5-speed slow you down. The auto's do just fine.

And for towing, I actually prefer the auto.

Ive got a '96 4x4 Powerstroke with an auto. VERY nice to just hit the go pedal. Ive got a very simple torque converter lock switch on mine. At highway speeds with it locked up it drives just like a 5-speed.

That said, when shopping just look for the usual stuff. See if it has any service records, and try to find one that hasnt been on the extended oil change plan (5k + between changes). The injectors suffer big time.

Shopping this time of year (cold) will make even small common problems very evident.

Powerstrokes are notorious for simple stuff like glow plugs and glow plug relays, fried block heaters/cords, batteries/starter, and injector problems if not maintained well.

[4XFORD]

EDIT: IIRC the 4x4's only have a 2" block?

YDNRC. Have you ever looked under any Ford besides your stoopside mall crawler? :shaking: All the 4X4s have blocks, FSBroncos are just wedges, F-150's and F-250's are 2-4" depending on the year and F-350's are 3-4". :flipoff2:

anyone ever swapped in the 5speed trans? I was only able to find a handfull of 5speed trucks.

I'm about to shitcan the E4OD in my F-350 and put in a ZF-5 I got off craigslist. I have all the parts except the column, (I hope). I prefer the auto but don't want to spend $4k+ to do one right.

I think as good a comment as you'll get on the E4OD is in the want ads, look how many ads say 'new trans' or 'needs trans work'.

[IDASHO]

I think as good a comment as you'll get on the E4OD is in the want ads, look how many ads say 'new trans' or 'needs trans work'.

This can be said for ANY rig.

All automatics, regardless of make or model of rig, will need work sooner or later.

An owner with not-so-deep pockets, that finds himself with a truck that needs $$ trans work, will often become a seller.

[bigbroncojeff]

no problems out of either e4OD that i have ... bronco w/ 351 that i have beat the hell out of as a trail rig is sitting at 202,000 with no trans work... and a 7.3 250 that is at 220,000+ right now... maybe i've been lucky (or maybe you see a lot of em for sale with auto trans problems because the f series is the top selling vehicle and auto trans is going to be a more common choice from the dealer:shaking:) ...

[4XFORD]

I did a lot of research before I decided not to rebuild mine. From what I learned the E4OD is the best auto trans Ford has ever designed. Too bad it's not the best one Ford has ever built.