1997 Crewcab PSD....

[BBR]

Going to swing by and look at this during lunch.



Anything to watch for?

[stangbanger]

Normally I'd say rot, but judging by the picture and your location i doubt that'll be an issue.

Don't know much about these trucks other than I want one. I'm sure someone with more experience with them will have better info.

[PT Sportwagon]

Love those body style PSD. there is one locally that needs a transmission for 2500. my see if he will take less.

tim

[DanStokes]

Gas or Diesel? John (Milner) knows his way around these guys - worth a PM if he doesn't see this entry. The poor guy has to work.

John did suggest that the 7.3 is a great engine but to pull the intake hose any look at the inlet to the turbo. You don't want to see the impeller chewed up and you also need to be sure that it spins freely with minimal slop in and out. If it's an automatic my trans guy says they're really tough but you need to inspect the fluid to be sure it isn't burned, like with any auto trans. I haven't looked into the gas fueled trucks so I know nothin' if that's the case (not like I know much about the Diesels).

Duhh - PSD = Power Stroke Diesel. I get it now.

I've started looking for a new (to me) one too. The next generation ('99/03) came with an intercooler so that's my target.

Dan

[Stich496]

what do you need that pig for?

[BBR]

I want a crewcab pickup to haul family and pull my trailer easier. Not real convinced I need a diesel, but it's pretty much either that or a 460 in these trucks. I would think the diesel would get better mileage than the 460.

[DanStokes]

I researched this a bit and added that to my experience with Diesels during my working life. Not wild about the Duramax (I'm sure many have had good experiences but they don't get it for me) but the 7.3 Navistar in the Ford and the Cummins in the Dodge are both great engines. The Dodge trucks are somewhat more troublesome and considerably more expensive so I wound up with the Ford as the truck of choice.

The Diesel will DEFINITELY haul better and they're very durable. When the trans guy gave the trans his blessing I knew I was on the right track. I don't want 4WD and my first choice will be a short bed extra cab, '99-'03. '03s came with 7.3s and 6.0s so you have to check that. The 6.0s are not as good an engine.

Dan

[Barry Donovan]

Normally I'd say rot, but judging by the picture and your location i doubt that'll be an issue.

Don't know much about these trucks other than I want one. I'm sure someone with more experience with them will have better info.

same here.
I was nearly killed in a 1985 ford f350, frame bent and sent the axle through the floor into my leg. Nothing justified the horrifying looking pile of mangled mess...like it wanted to die.

It was only recently I deciphered it was some six cylinder diesel hack job, started off as a v8 diesel.(this is maine after all)
my advice to look for?
be sure it has the v8. and not some hack job...

and look for any signs of kinker/wiggle below a-pillars at frame. if they are really worked, they really move.

I am looking for one of these as my next project..but shorter, no crew cab.
the n/a diesel is going cheaper all the time. I am not one to look to lower vehicles...
but when i think of the diesel pickups.. it is one of them.

(I do look for 2wd first )

[milner351]

I could write a book, and I don't know half of what some guys do about these things.
Ask the seller about coolant and oil maintenance.
As Dan mentioned - pull the intake hose off at the turbo and look at the wheel - if it's all nicked up - walk away.
CHeck for loose lid on the factory air box if it's still in there.
If you see evidence of Propane or nitrous - walk away.
Otherwise - you're a smart guy - drive it - look it over as you would any used vehicle, and go from there.
That's a great truck - I never put an inner cooler in my '97 and didn't miss it.

Make sure you can get a true "cold start" where you put your hand on the engine to make sure it's cold before you start it. Bad glow plugs and some other issues won't show up if it's been runing that day before you go look at it. Listen for a miss - and look for puffs of smoke out the tail pipe after a cold start. Some white smoke is normal as long as it's hitting on all 8. A miss coupled with even puffs out the tailpipe is a sign of one or more bad glow plugs. On the PSD - that means pulling the valve covers to change the plugs - might as well do them all - they're about $12 each.

[BBR]

Well I looked at it. 190k miles. The bed was originally blue, the front sheet metal has been replaced and painted, rear doors won't hardly open. Engine and undercarriage is very clean with no gunk built up. No drips underneath. Interior is ok with a few little things that would need to be fixed. It's 41 deg outside and it would not start. Batteries were weak. I think I will pass on this one.

[ford141]

Don't know much about the 7.3s, other than the guys that have them love them, but I do know that the trucks will take an unmerciful amount of abuse and laugh back at you. The auto trannies are about the only weak point, but the problems and replacement costs are well documented by now.

[SuperBuickGuy]

from your description, that looked like a good one to just walk away from.

[stangbanger]

from your description, that looked like a good one to just walk away from.

I'd have to agree. From what you said, the truck had "hacked" written all over it.

[milner351]

RESALE WHITE!

keep looking - there should be a plethora near you - you live in the largest diesel truck market on the planet.

[dieselgeek]

Q: What should you be looking for in a truck that age?

A: A Cummins engine. Seriously. I'm not so sure where we got tothe point that we all think the 7.3 PSD is some great engine - it's not. Ford abandoned it for a reason, the problem is Navistar couldn't make the newer engines be reliable at all... I'm not anti-ford, but I know enough guys that have had issues with their 7.3s - while my neglected Dodge truck still runs like a champ at 350,000+ miles... considering they'll both be priced about the same, you should really consider the easier engine to maintain - the BT5.9A or ISB.

EDIT: a 1997 Dodge/Cummins combo is one of the most desirable and longest lasting. Usually the first problem is Rust (not in your part of the world though). My neighbor has a '97 that we turned up back around 2001. It still runs like a champ, makes more than enough power, and I think he's just over 300,000 miles on his motor - which has never had the valve cover off.