Question '01 SD 7.3 for '96 7.3 CCSB

I've posted on here before about considering trading my 2001 F250 XLT 7.3l 4x4 for an OBS truck. I'm not stuck on an OBS, just figuring I'd see what trade options I have. I've done just about everything to my truck. All suspension parts are new, starter, alternator, radiator, etc etc, as well as an 07 front clip and 2010 tailgate with a wrap. I love the truck, but having 235k, I'm worried the trans is going to give up one of these days, and I don't have a ton of money to dump into fixing it. The truck also has rust. Well, today I found a 1996 F250 crew cab short bed 4x4 7.3 that the owner is willing to trade for something slightly shorter, as his doesn't fit in a parking garage and mine does. He says his truck has 180/60 injectors, custom tunes, a rebuilt trans, and new torque converter. Aside from the ugly bumpers and headlights, the truck looks really good. Is this a worthwhile trade? OBS has 260k on body, 20k on trans rebuild, and 160k on motor. My truck has 235k on everything








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I did some stupid things back when I was 18 years old also. You know your truck
and you know everything that's ever been done to it, good bad or otherwise.
How bad is the rust on your truck, and how do you know that the 1996 don't have
some rust hiding somewhere? If your truck on has bed rust you can buy a take-off
bed from $800 to $1200. Transmissions go out all the time, start saving for repairs
for your truck. Also that 1996 truck is 21 years old now, it's a lot older than you are.
Just my 2 cents, yes I know I sound like your dad, and yes I am an old fart.
Doug

P.S. I like your tailgate.

WD40 said:

I did some stupid things back when I was 18 years old also. You know your truck
and you know everything that's ever been done to it, good bad or otherwise.
How bad is the rust on your truck, and how do you know that the 1996 don't have
some rust hiding somewhere? If your truck on has bed rust you can buy a take-off
bed from $800 to $1200. Transmissions go out all the time, start saving for repairs
for your truck. Also that 1996 truck is 21 years old now, it's a lot older than you are.
Just my 2 cents, yes I know I sound like your dad, and yes I am an old fart.
Doug

P.S. I like your tailgate.

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Thank you for the response. The bed has rust, but so do the doors, and they aren't easily repairable. I don't see it costing less than $2000 minimum to repair the rust and change the bed rails. I've started saving for a transmission also, but from what I hear, I'm better to buy an ATS, BDS, or other heavy duty transmission rather than having this one rebuilt. That's 3500 dollars. I know a diesel isn't the vehicle for someone not willing to spend a bunch, but I tow every single day and the power and economy gains have been significantly better than my gasser. I just can't see spending another $6000 on top of the $4000 worth of tires and other parts I've already put into it. I haven't had the opportunity to see the OBS in person yet, going on Friday. I will scrutinize it for rust, but otherwise the body looks pretty clean. I would be wrapping that tailgate as well, changing the bumpers and lights to stock, and changing the head unit to a flip out to accommodate my backup cam for towing. Otherwise there's nothing that I know of at this point that would need to be done

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Go look at the OBS and you will see more things that you need to spend money on. I have had trucks since I was just a little older than you and I know you want EVERYTHING now. Common sense says to spend the money up front and be done with it. IF you are looking for a project, then you can throw buckets of $$$ as you go along.

Dave

DaveBen said:

Go look at the OBS and you will see more things that you need to spend money on. I have had trucks since I was just a little older than you and I know you want EVERYTHING now. Common sense says to spend the money up front and be done with it. IF you are looking for a project, then you can throw buckets of $$$ as you go along.

Dave

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There's definitely things I'd love to do to the OBS to make it an eye catcher, but mechanically it is sound, and there's very few things I'd need to fix immediately. I also forgot to add, my truck has been burning a lot of oil which also scares me.

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If you can get cash on the trade...why not? He's gotta get his rig into a garage, that's worth something. But really a trannie rebuild is not a big deal unless you really need the ATS/BDS bling. The oil burning, well that's a real issue indeed. If you make the swap, I'd ditch the lights too...but that front bumper is too ugly to lose.

Well I want to thank everyone for the input. I went to look at the OBS last night and fell in love. It sounded nice, the interior was immaculate, it rode amazing and was all around a very nice truck. HOWEVER, the owner described the tires as being new, when in all reality there was maybe 5k left in them before showing cords. All of the ball joints and both hubs were bad. After having just spent 3k on my truck doing all of that, I decided that it wasn't worth it to me to go through it again. Additionally, I coincidentally found someone who actually traded for the OBS, got two blocks away, and then broke down. He was able to get his old truck and title back. Too many problems for me, I'm out. Thanks again for all the advice

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When I got the 2000 SD I had an '83 6.9 sclb4x4 that I had bought new.I had done a body off frame restore in 96 and the paint was a 2 tone thunderbird blue pearl/silver pearl side insert.The frame was shot blasted and finished with clear coated POR.The truck only had 180k and I had planned to install a complete Banks turbo kit (which I still have in boxes) but never did. I upgraded the 4 speed t-19 to a 5 speed New Process 542 and a divorced transfer case.It had a new interior as well.I traded it to my son for a Jeep.He drove the truck for a year and traded it to a guy over by Chicago for another jeep.That was the last I saw it.
It was so much easier to work on than this SD.The front sheet metal came off in one piece with about 6 bolts,but you didnt have to disasemble the body work to do engine or trans work.It was soooooo much easier to work on.In retrospect,I should have kept it and swapped the 6.9/5 spd out for a 2001 7.3 /manual 6 spd,or even a Cummins.So many times I wish I had kept it.Just a nostolgic rant......................

Personally I would fix yours or trade up to a newer one. I had a '94 and my '04 is such an upgrade I couldn't go back.

troutwest66 said:

Personally I would fix yours or trade up to a newer one. I had a '94 and my '04 is such an upgrade I couldn't go back.

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Going tomorrow to look at a 2006 F150 4x4 King Ranch. I love my diesel and the truck really does turn a lot of heads. But it doesn't make much sense for a student attending college in a populated city. I'll still be towing often but not much in excess of 6k pounds so the half ton should be more practical for the next few years. Not to mention comfortable

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