PowerStroke vs Gasoline

Travis · Post by **Travis** » July 24th, 2008, 5:44 pm

I have a 96 Chevrolet 1500. It has a Pro Comp lift and 35's, 350 Vortek Automatic. It has all power and is extended cab. I happened across a 96 Ford Regular Cab truck today. It is an F-350 PowerStroke 5 spd. 4wd. I think I may venture back out there and talk trade with this guy. He is asking $4950 for the truck which sounds cheap to me but I dunno. Should I even bother with an older truck or wait and buy something newer later? I hate an automatic but love the extra cab. Oh yeah diesel is about $1 more than gas per gallon here but my truck gets like 12 mpg. My truck has 135000 miles on it and the guy wasn't home to check the other truck. Anyone have one of these older Powerstrokes or had one before? If so did you like it?

100hp honda · Post by **100hp honda** » July 24th, 2008, 5:57 pm

i had '01 powerstroke wich i believe was similiar to the '96 7.3 deisel. if memory serves me correct the older versions like '96 didnt have intercooler on them though. i hear the 7.3 was the best powerstroke but its just hear say and nothing i have proven. mine ran good and never gave me any problems but i think the '96 might be a better truck overall...they used borg warner t-case, ZF tranny, dana 60 front axle, sterling rear end. i dont care much for the sterling rear end ford uses because it looks cheesy compared to the dana 70 and 80 dodge uses

Travis · Post by **Travis** » July 24th, 2008, 6:03 pm

I don't pull many heavy loads but I sometimes do. That is why I have a full size truck to begin with. I drive a cherokee everyday and my wife has a sonata but this truck is regular cab and I have 2 kids so the whole family can't go in the Ford where they can in the Chevy. The Ford looks excellent to be 12 yr old except for the semi stacks in the bed. I bet they would burn the rachet straps that I tie my bike in with.

Mad Dog · Post by **Mad Dog** » July 24th, 2008, 6:05 pm

The biggest problem that I know of with the early Power Strokes was the Auto Trans. With the 5 speed, you should be good to go, if it hasn't been hot rodded.
If it's been hot rodded, who knows?????

Travis · Post by **Travis** » July 25th, 2008, 3:56 am

I was afraid it had been rodded because the stacks are black on top. Best I can remember they didn't smoke real heavily factory after they went to the Powerstroke. I did find out from a buddy who has ne of these trucks that he looked at it and thought it had about 180K on it, and that the previous owner installed a SuperChip. It has a boost and Pyrometer gauge on the dassh too. I think I will check it out later today.

JBaze · Post by **JBaze** » July 25th, 2008, 7:01 am

I had a couple of those. 1 96, and 2 97's. All with 5 speed. The only problems I have ever had with them is the camshaft position sensor, which is a real easy ix if need be, You'll know cause the truck will stall out like it is missing real bad. But most people that have them have already replaced that part. Other than that, I have a 99 right now with the 7.3 intercooled engine, and to be honest, I would trade this truck right now for a 96, or 97 crew. I got 20 mpg + with my 96 and 97's. This truck get's 14 to 15 and it's a 6 speed. I think aside from it being a regular cab, you'll like it pretty well but test driver her first. They are great trucks IMO. Jason.

hoofarted · Post by **hoofarted** » July 25th, 2008, 1:16 pm

You can get upwards of 400k on a 7.3 if maintained right. I experienced the tranny woes of the 4R100 firsthand - but now its done right so I am confident that it'll last. Visit the ford-trucks dot com site and browse their areas talking about the pre-99 7.3's. Mine is a 03 and I love it. 20+MPG on the HWY for an 8000 pound truck is superb! Just too bad I dont live closed to Mexico - I'd get some of that $2/Gal Diesel!

Oh - Ford just had a recent recall to replace the faulty CPS sensor as well - so that issue is handled.

Nodge · Post by **Nodge** » July 25th, 2008, 3:05 pm

I have a 97 F250 with a manual tranny. I love it.
It has 425,00 Km's on it right now, and I drive the hell out of it every day.
I run an Edge Evolution programmer on it as well.

Best truck Ive ever had!

100hp honda · Post by **100hp honda** » July 25th, 2008, 4:12 pm

stacks and chip means he probly burned the tires on every corner and drove threw every mud hole. he probly never changed the oil either

. thats how the people are around here anyways

Travis · Post by **Travis** » July 25th, 2008, 4:54 pm

Nice I will see if he will trade to this:

Travis · Post by **Travis** » July 25th, 2008, 4:55 pm

I can't catch him around there though. Maybe I can find hime there on Wednesday....

hoofarted · Post by **hoofarted** » July 25th, 2008, 11:56 pm

Nodge wrote:I have a 97 F250 with a manual tranny. I love it.
It has 425,00 Km's on it right now, and I drive the hell out of it every day.
I run an Edge Evolution programmer on it as well.

Best truck Ive ever had!

..then you'll love the DP-Tuner.

100hp honda · Post by **100hp honda** » July 27th, 2008, 7:21 am

what ever you do, stick with the f350 4x4 that used solid front axle...stay clear of ALL the fords that didnt use a solid axle in the front

JBaze · Post by **JBaze** » July 27th, 2008, 7:27 am

100hp honda wrote:what ever you do, stick with the f350 4x4 that used straight axle...stay clear of the '80-'91 f150 or f250. the front end (4x4) they used on those trucks were a poor design if you want my honest opinion

I have to disagree. I had 2 F250'S that I put over 200,000 miles on each and never had a problem one with the front end. My Dad's truck, an 86 with the old 6.9 had over 600,000 miles when he got rid of it and also never had any problems with the front end. Now my 99 F350 Dana 60, I have had to replace seals several times, and the inner hub bearings twice also. Now the vacuum hubs are not working, and it's starting to grind inside somewhere. Not my opinion, a plain fact.

100hp honda · Post by **100hp honda** » July 27th, 2008, 7:36 am

JBaze wrote:
100hp honda wrote:what ever you do, stick with the f350 4x4 that used straight axle...stay clear of the '80-'91 f150 or f250. the front end (4x4) they used on those trucks were a poor design if you want my honest opinion

I have to disagree. I had 2 F250'S that I put over 200,000 miles on each and never had a problem one with the front end. My Dad's truck, an 86 with the old 6.9 had over 600,000 miles when he got rid of it and also never had any problems with the front end. Now my 99 F350 Dana 60, I have had to replace seals several times, and the inner hub bearings twice also. Now the vacuum hubs are not working, and it's starting to grind inside somewhere. Not my opinion, a plain fact.

say what you will. ive owned many fords and 1 chevy....if it dont have a dana 60 front end with manual locking hubs, i wont buy it

JBaze · Post by **JBaze** » July 27th, 2008, 8:32 am

Everyone has different experiences with different products. Personally I wouldn't own another truck with the 60, because I have had nothing but problems with it.

jbird_710 · Post by **jbird_710** » July 29th, 2008, 2:05 pm

I can't talk about the diesel part since I don't have any experience. I've driven Ford trucks for the last 26 years and I don't believe I could go back to a regular cab truck. There are times when you need the extra interior room. It's always great to have a place you can lock up your extra gear and anything else you don't want to walk out of your bed. Tool boxes are OK but eat up bed length. I personally like my old '85 F-150 Supercab, long-bed. I can put 3 bikes in the back, fuel, ramp, chairs, cooler box, milk crates with parts and chemicals, and close the tailgate so I don't have to worry about anything falling out. I can put the tool box and gear bag inside; still having room for another person and gear bag.

hoofarted · Post by **hoofarted** » July 29th, 2008, 2:06 pm

I used to have the same truck! 85 F-150!

Travis · Post by **Travis** » July 29th, 2008, 4:40 pm

As I was afraid he has sold it. I went over there this morning and he traded it to a ranger and a samurai. However, he has a 99 f250 with a 6 speed powerstroke there but I think he is asking too much for it. He is asking 10,900 but said he would take 9800 for it. I mentioned a little trading and he said he could trade with 7500 between them. I said thanks and left. The truck has 210,000 miles on it and I think my truck is worth more than 2500. Oh well, I guess I will stay on the hunt.

hoofarted · Post by **hoofarted** » July 29th, 2008, 5:04 pm

but at 210k, that diesel is barely broken in! keep an eye out - deals are out there...

JBaze · Post by **JBaze** » July 29th, 2008, 5:14 pm

hoofarted wrote:but at 210k, that diesel is barely broken in! keep an eye out - deals are out there...

The engines last forever, it's just the rest of the truck falls apart around it. I have a 99 350 with 190+ on it. Engine is a as strong as ever, but every thing else is wearing out! LOL.

Travis · Post by **Travis** » July 29th, 2008, 5:32 pm

JBaze wrote:every thing else is wearing out! LOL.

That is what I am afraid of. I did find an 05 dodge with 200k on it for 15k. Still not the greatest deal but has a twin turbo setup and like 5 tvs in it with 20 in wheels. may go that way for the extra 5k?????? Oh yeah the dodge is automatic though

quantum500 · Post by **quantum500** » July 29th, 2008, 6:00 pm

Travis wrote:As I was afraid he has sold it. I went over there this morning and he traded it to a ranger and a samurai. However, he has a 99 f250 with a 6 speed powerstroke there but I think he is asking too much for it. He is asking 10,900 but said he would take 9800 for it. I mentioned a little trading and he said he could trade with 7500 between them. I said thanks and left. The truck has 210,000 miles on it and I think my truck is worth more than 2500. Oh well, I guess I will stay on the hunt.

I think you did good. These big trucks are getting dropped because people were using them for cars. That doesn't make sense anymore. Watch for one with less than 150k at a price you like. #1 rule don't buy a 6.0....ever! One thing that I have noticed with the 7.3 is that when they get up around 250k to 300k they start either starting hard or simply not starting. People think the engine has had it and unload them cheap. In almost all cases I have seen the high pressure oil pump is not making enough pressure at low rpms to fire the injectors. So that is one thing to look at. I have seen some shinning examples of well kept trucks with that kind of mileage and what people think is a bad engine. Patience is a virtue.

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PowerStroke vs Gasoline

PowerStroke vs Gasoline