Ford OBS 7.3 manual trans or 1998-2003 manual trans 4x4 for overlanding? F250 or F350

[Korben]

My IDI would use a quart of oil every 200 miles on a good day

Then it needs a new air filter and the CDR is probably toast, neither are hard or expensive.

and couldn't make it over 85 without overheating because the air gets caught under the hood and won't flow air to cool the thing.

Uhm the IDI uses the exact same radiator, hood, etc. as an OBS PSD, this makes no since.

Diesel requires expensive filters, 10 quarts of oil, a $15 filter

This one always baffled me, both have filters, both need oil, even if the diesel needs twice the investment per change you do it half as often, it's a wash.

But the last comment is, well, as general as they come.



Please enlighten us with regards to your everything is industrial grade compared to the OBS comment.


Im dying to here the specifics.

Thanks

The front axle certainly isn't.

 

[IdaSHO]

The front axle certainly isn't.

That certainly depends upon the axle(s) you are talking about,
however actual strength differences based upon model is a moot subject due to the increased weight of the super duty.

The SD is always lugging around more weight than a similar OBS.

Still, load rating for the front axles are not very different, especially D60.
if I recall correctly, the actual difference in load rating was due to a redesign of the knuckle.


But from research I did a long time ago... and Ill just assume the info is accurate (enough)
No guarantees though :sombrero:

OBS F250 has a TTB D50 load rating of 4600 lbs
SD F250 has a D50 solid axle load rating of 5000 lbs


OBS F350 has a ball joint non-unit bearing D60 load rating of 5000 lbs
SD F350 has a ball joint unit bearing D60 load rating of 5200 lbs


At the end of the day Ill ALWAYS choose a non-unit bearing hub over a unit bearing.
Standard bearings are serviceable for the life of the truck provided seals are intact.

Unit bearings, not so much. And Ive heard some horror stories with regards to them.
As in, only lasting 20-30k miles.


I also choose to eliminate ball joints all together, so that's what I do, and that's what I run. Kingpin D60.

 

[Korben]

That certainly depends upon the axle(s) you are talking about,
however actual strength differences based upon model is a moot subject due to the increased weight of the super duty.

The SD is always lugging around more weight than a similar OBS.

Still, load rating for the front axles are not very different, especially D60.
if I recall correctly, the actual difference in load rating was due to a redesign of the knuckle.


But from research I did a long time ago... and Ill just assume the info is accurate (enough)
No guarantees though :sombrero:

OBS F250 has a TTB D50 load rating of 4600 lbs
SD F250 has a D50 solid axle load rating of 5000 lbs


OBS F350 has a ball joint non-unit bearing D60 load rating of 5000 lbs
SD F350 has a ball joint unit bearing D60 load rating of 5200 lbs


At the end of the day Ill ALWAYS choose a non-unit bearing hub over a unit bearing.
Standard bearings are serviceable for the life of the truck provided seals are intact.

Unit bearings, not so much. And Ive heard some horror stories with regards to them.
As in, only lasting 20-30k miles.


I also choose to eliminate ball joints all together, so that's what I do, and that's what I run. Kingpin D60.

I was really most referring to the bearing, I can't consider anything with a unit bearing as "industrial grade".

FWIW those numbers are Ford numbers Dana rates all D60s at 6500lbs

 

[IdaSHO]

I can't consider anything with a unit bearing as "industrial grade".

I agree 100%

Do you have a link to Dana axle spec sheets?

I thought at one point I had found them, but I dont know where!

 

[digdug18]

I've been searching myself for a unicorn as well. Though in the 7.3 OBS 4x4 centurion variety....

 

[njtacoma]

Well here is the first CCSB I have found. But I don't need a CC as it will be only me for 90% of the time and still hankering for a manual trans. Let me know if this is inappropriate for this thread.

Seems spendy for 1/4 million miles but they do seem hard to find here in Cali.



http://www.protrucksplus.com/1997-F...T-Crew-Cab-Livermore-California-94551/5076261

I know this might be late, but in my searching, you can find that truck with lower miles (half) for a bit more (low 20's) i think.

There is a diesel specialist in Salt Lake that seems to regularly have 1 or 2.

 

[IdaSHO]

I've been searching myself for a unicorn as well. Though in the 7.3 OBS 4x4 centurion variety....

Careful.

The bodies on many of those seem to be built/modified by idiots.

 

[Korben]

I've been searching myself for a unicorn as well. Though in the 7.3 OBS 4x4 centurion variety....

Got an eye out myself for a Centurion(4 door Bronco), but with what they go for I don't see myself buying one before I turn my F350 into something similar but better, for me anyway.

 

[jonb96150]

I know this might be late, but in my searching, you can find that truck with lower miles (half) for a bit more (low 20's) i think.

There is a diesel specialist in Salt Lake that seems to regularly have 1 or 2.

This guy? http://www.diesel-deals.com/

 

[snowaddict91]

This guy? http://www.diesel-deals.com/

Gotta be who he was talking about. He gets some nice stuff from time to time. His lot used to be right down the street from my house, used to drive by and gawk all the time. He's on a few of the local facebook groups, seems like a nice guy. You could probaby convince me to go look at a rig for ya if he has one you want.

 

[jonb96150]

Gotta be who he was talking about. He gets some nice stuff from time to time. His lot used to be right down the street from my house, used to drive by and gawk all the time. He's on a few of the local facebook groups, seems like a nice guy. You could probaby convince me to go look at a rig for ya if he has one you want.

I spoke with him a few weeks ago about an obs eclb that looked very nice but it was lifted on a ttb dana 50. Sprung under from the pix so I had him send me some more pix of the front end. I just don't know enough about the right way that is supposed to be done so I passed. It is stupid expensive to fly from either Reno or Sacramento last minute (I live at Tahoe) to SLC so it would be a big roll of the dice. I appreciate your offer and may take you up on it!

You' right, he does get some nice rigs. I am always checking his website and right now it looks like he only has two fords for sale. Almost all of the inventory he has posted has already been sold.

 

[IdaSHO]

Done correctly with the right lift hardware, a lifted D50 TTB is nothing to worry about

But I cannot imagine any reason, or legitimate way to spring-under a D50 TTB


Still, Id rather go D60 solid axle

 

[Korben]

I spoke with him a few weeks ago about an obs eclb that looked very nice but it was lifted on a ttb dana 50. Sprung under from the pix so I had him send me some more pix of the front end. I just don't know enough about the right way that is supposed to be done so I passed. It is stupid expensive to fly from either Reno or Sacramento last minute (I live at Tahoe) to SLC so it would be a big roll of the dice. I appreciate your offer and may take you up on it!

You' right, he does get some nice rigs. I am always checking his website and right now it looks like he only has two fords for sale. Almost all of the inventory he has posted has already been sold.

A spring under D50TTB, I wanna check this out. Can you post those pics?

 

[jonb96150]

A spring under D50TTB, I wanna check this out. Can you post those pics?

Oops, my bad. Looked at the pix on my phone he sent me and it is spring over. It was the fact the springs did not have the oem reverse arc thing going on that caught my attention. I am still at the low end of the learning curve!

 

[jonb96150]

Is this the legit way to do this? This is what he sent me, the truck is no longer listed as available but I really appreciate the knowledge.