1999 Ford F350 4x4 7.3 Powerstroke, good or bad?

Doug in Illinois · Oct 30, 2010

I have never had much luck with Ford products, but am considering one now.

I did have a 95 Powerstroke for about a year, bought it with just under 200K on it. The (automatic) transmission went out within 6 months, it had fried the electronics inside of it.

It was a 250 4x4. Spent over 3K on a "new" tranny at a local shop, took 6 weeks and 4 rebuilt trans from their supplier before one held together longer than a week.

It had the same camber issue as you see on a lot of the Ford 4x4's. Sold it at a loss and said I would never own another.

BUT, I have found a F350 with a snowplow on it in Macomb, IL on eBay. It is a 99, so has an intercooler, and better injectors to my understanding. With it being a F350, I assume the suspension might be enough heavier to somewhat resolve the front suspension issues. I am going over to drive it tomorrow, Oct 31.

It has WAY more miles than I like to see, the listing says 277,369.

The pictures look great, one of my friends has driven past the lot and said it looks like new from the road. I am VERY worried about the miles, I was told that around 200K the injectors need attention.

My credit union has OK'd the loan if I want it.

To see the pictures, eBay listing 180578703726. Thanks, DOUG

toolz · Oct 30, 2010

Not sure what you mean about the camber issues- all the 250/350 4x4's had a solid front axle, so no I beams. The two wheel drive twin I beam suspension was very strong and reliable, and wouldn't wear tires if the alignment man knew what he was doing. I'm sure the ball joints have been replaced by now- maybe twice. We did my son's 2001 at about 120,000. The miles would concern me too- it all depends on the care it had. I suppose if the truck is real clean, it would indicate good care. There's been a lot of the 7.3's that went 400,000+. I had a 2000 for 8 years- best truck I ever owned, but it only had 79,000 on it when I traded. I guess you just gotta look it over close. It's hard to find a low milage diesel truck, and if you do, it's expensive. Good luck-

State of Jefferson · Oct 30, 2010

I'd be wary of a rig that had a snow plow on it, and especially one with that many miles. It may be fine, but pushing snow with a pickup can lead to all sorts of issues...

I bilieve the suspensions are the same on all the 3/4 and 1 ton Super duties, and unlike the 3/4 ton 90's Fords, have solid front axles.

I think as far as Ford diesel's goes, the 7.3's are the pick of the litter. Both mine have been almost totally trouble free. Automatic transmissions do eventually wear out. I've bought 3 of em in the combined 310k miles on my rigs. Ford did the first 2, got about 125k out of each of them at a cost of $2300ish each. Had a GOOD independent shop build the 3rd, only about 25 k on it so far with no issues but I did spend $3500 for it, so it'd stand up to the extra ponies that pickup is pushin...

Check it out real good, and if the price is right, I'd say go for it.

Ben

Doug in Illinois · Oct 30, 2010

I realize just what you said, very hard to find a reasonable priced diesel truck. I wish the body wouldn't have "fallen off" the frame on my old 1987 Chevy 4x4 with the 6.2. It was short on power in the hills, but made 21 empty and about 11 with a load behind it.

The best the 95 ever did was 22mpg pulling a small trailer to Boston and back, after it had the new tranny.

I don't expect any work truck to make good MPG, but my 92 Dodge is at 8 highway and about 3 or 4 with the mini dovetail hay trailer.

I have a 2001 Chevy 2500 gas 4x4 that is basically helpless pulling trailers in soft conditions or heavy loads. It is too shallow geared, it will make 18mpg or so empty at 70 MPH, but is terrible when you have to run in the low side of the transfer case picking up hay. It won't go into overdrive until 63.5 MPH, at 55 it sucks fuel.

The 92 Dodge is sold, the Chevy might be sold if the 99 Ford is decent. DOUG

Doug in Illinois · Oct 30, 2010

I quit going out of state with my pickup, should probably surrender my DOT number. It is cheaper and easier to just have my remaining items back at my Nebraska farm hauled with one of the haulers I have used. Time is no longer critical, I have all I need here now, just need to get the rest of it sometime.

Having said that, I won't put more than 5K yearly on my truck with the farm anymore. No more 950 mile round trips and all the hassles.

The wife wants a dependable pickup that makes OK mileage, with extended cab. We both like to go up in the mountains (850 miles away) or anyplace else we want to go.

The truck might see 10K a year.

The reason for a snowplow truck is my long driveway and my rental property. They are 8 miles apart, I don't want to road either tractor that far in the cold and dark.

It would take me 10 years to rack up 100K, so if the 99 is decent, should last a while. DOUG

Nancy Howell · Oct 30, 2010

I've got a 97, F350, SRW, 7.3 but its not a 4x4. Bought it last June. It had 94,000 miles on it. Its got 132,000 now. Just had to get the ball joints redone.

Its a crew cab, long bed, automatic. I get 20 - 22 mpg when I'm not towing. Get 15 mpg pulling 8,000 lbs. I had the tranny drained, flushed and new filters put in right after I bought it. Had it done again about a month ago. Will have it done every 25 - 30,000 miles.

It seems to be a good, stout truck.

S2710 · Oct 30, 2010

Check for oil leaks and how much blowby it has. If no oil leaks and little or no blow by I would not worry about it. BUY IT

Hardline · Oct 30, 2010

The mileage is high but I think the money is right. I have a 97 that has 317K on it and works good. It is a 5sp though. looks pretty clean for a truck that age in that area with a plow on it. JJ

souNdguy · Oct 31, 2010

for a srw it looks pretty decent and clean.

I have a 99 f450 drw. 7.3l psd.

120k miles. love it.

just put a water pump on it a month ago.

wonderfull toy hauler.. I pull a gooseneck with it. only downside is it has 4.88 rear. makes 70-75 top speed.. but pulls whatever you hitch to it.

I have an 04 f250 psd with a 6.0 in it... the 7.3 is not as pepy as the 6.0 ( 3.73 rear ).. but then.. I'll probably never have the head blow off the 7.3

seriously.. i love my 99 7.3 psd. has never lacked for power even pulling a full loaded e350 stretch van on my gooseneck, with my extended cab full of passagers, plus near 1000# of gear in the bed down the interstate at 75mph.

I got a 50g transfer tech aux diesel tank inthe bed to prevent having to make fuel stops every 4 hours...

soundguy

ASEguy · Oct 31, 2010

Look it over carefully. Salt can really damage frames and parts.

Ed in Northern VA · Oct 31, 2010

Listen to ASEguys warning. I've replaced brake lines, fuel lines,& gas tank on my 2000 Chevy plow truck, all eaten up by salt. All kinds of rust on the frame. If that trucks has been plowing since new, its likely to have similiar issues.

JDemaris · Oct 31, 2010

I used to joke about Fords, just about anytime I saw a F-series 4WD truck on the road. That because the front wheels were just about always cockeyed. At the time, all my trucks were diesel Dodges and Chevys with solid front axles. I swore I'd never own a Ford truck with the wacky front-end.

But since then, I picked up two Ford F250s. I had too due to the cheap prices. Both extended cab, 4WD, diesels - a 1985 with am IDI 6.9 and C6, and a 1994 with turbo IDI 7.3 and E40D. No crooked wheels on either.

Note that the 1994 had spent its entire life pulling a big fifth-wheel horse-trailer around the country. It had 220,000 miles on it when I got it and now has over 300,000 miles. Front wheels are still vertical and NOT cockeyed. So, I don't know why mine is fine and so many others are not.

My E40D trans went bad shortly after I got it. I rebuilt it with a few upgrades, and now has 80K miles and still works flawlessly. The later E40Ds used with the later "Powerstroke" engines are even more rugged.

If your supplier had to go through four transmissions to find one good one, it's his inventory that is junk - and not the transmission design.

nickg · Oct 31, 2010

I wouldnt be so conserned about the miles as much as the fact its been a plow truck would consern me a bit do to rust issues. As far as your camber worries ford took care of that in 99 when they went back to a solid axle front end and not a TTB in there 250"s. A 350 has always been solid axle.

JayinNY · Oct 31, 2010

Jd, I think Ford still has the straight front axle. At least my 2000 f250 has it. I usta laugh years ago at those fords with that split axle, especially with a snowplow on the front.

JayinNY · Oct 31, 2010

If its a plow truck look at the oil pan and make sure its not leaking, they are nowen to rust out, and you have to pull the engine out to replace them. The frame crossmember is just below the oil pan.

JDemaris · Oct 31, 2010

Yes, but both my Fk250 diesels have the independent front axles and both are straight. Don't know why.
Never had a bit of trouble - except a little cursing when I had to put in a new U-joint on the front passenger side. Ford says you need to pull the entire differential out to do it. I did it, in place, but it wasn't easy.

JayinNY · Oct 31, 2010

Thought you might like this pic,,,Ya, my father has a 82 I think f250 400 gasser and it has that straight split axle. My Superduty has the solid straight front axle just like my 73,84, and 89 Chevrolets, leaf springs and no coil springs. I think some of the f250s that had the split or independent front end were not as heavy duty, nothing against your trucks. Example I have a 84 chevy k20 4x4 and it does not have a floating rear axle, were some other 3/4 tons did? Not trying to start trouble with you, just remembering some of the trucks I have. OHHHH boy, YOU GOT ME THINKING,, I gotta get that 84 Scottsdale in the garage. Its got a 77 smallblock 400 I put in it, edelbrock performer intake, 600 cfm MANUALE choke carb(nonemmissions) and Hooker headers, with a 4 speed lo 1,2,3. Pulls the trailer great... But now I have the powerstoke 7.3. So the chevy sits waiting restoration.

lol J

JDemaris · Oct 31, 2010

Many Chevy and GMC 3/4 tons have the 14 bolt semi-floating rear unless ordered extra heavy. I've got half-a-dozen of them sitting out in my field. With Ford and Dodge, diesels usually csme pretty heavy. With GM, having a 6.2 or 6.5 didn't always matter since it was never meant to be a HD engine. That's why there were so many 6.2s and 6.5s in 1/2 ton, trucks, vans, Suburbans, Blazers, etc. You won't find a Dodge/Cummins or Ford/International in a 1/2 ton or LD 3/4 ton.

I've got several 79 Blazers with 12 bolt rears, HD cast-iron four speeds, and HD cast-iron NP 205 transfercases. Funny how things changed over the years. Turbo 400 trans started out in a car (Buick Rivera), and later became a heavy-truck option only. And, the first car versions had dual-stage torque-converters which was eliminated later.

That truck in the photo looks pretty good from here. I've got an 82 I'm dying to fix up soon. 1/2 ton K10, 6.2 diesel, 3.08 axles and four-speed-manual-overdrive. You don't seem many setup like that. Those NP833 overdrive manuals seem to be pretty scarce.

dhermesc · Nov 1, 2010

I would put used taxi cabs and snow plow trucks in the same class.

Doug in Illinois · Nov 1, 2010

Just an update, I did look at it Oct 31, (Sunday).

The reason it looks good in the pictures is that ALL the sheet metal has been replaced. No bondo used, but mostly nothing left to weld the new metal to. Examples are both doors have little metal left if looking straight up from underneath.

One rear tail and brake light is out, I suspect the wiring has been salt compromised. Alternator light goes on and off, voltmeter in dash gives OK voltage, but something else is going on.

It does run like it should with that exception, no leaks or road rattles. Front axle appears to be nearly new, paper sticker is still on it and legible. I did find a receipt in the console showing the "dealer" who has it had a line replaced that was leaking.

It would probably be an OK truck for my needs, but I have a feeling I would spend between 3000-5000 dollars before I know nothing will fail. DOUG

1999 Ford F350 4x4 7.3 Powerstroke, good or bad?

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