Looking at 96 Powerstroke

[direwulf23]

Hey guys, I've had a bit of a conversation about this over on the IDI forum but I figure I'd cross the aisle and ask you PSD guys.
I've found a 96 F250 4wd 5spd PSD for $2000. I haven't looked at it seriously just yet but I have the story from the original owner,who I'd be buying it from if I did.
The truck has been sitting for a good while, but I'm not sure exactly how long. He says the only problems with the truck is it has some fuel leaking, an oil leak, and he bent the passenger tie rod/ end on a stump. He said he thought it had about 185k miles.
Now, my question is what should I be looking at/ for? I understand the common fuel leak problems with the PSD is the fuel drain O rings and fuel lines. What are the biggest expensive fixes could there be with that milage? It's a low price, so I figure there's reason for due diligence. Thanks.

1994 Ford F250, 2wd, 7.3L IDI, NA, E4OD

2006 Ford Expedition Eddie Bauer, 2wd, 5.4L, automatic

 

[greenskeeper]

185k is nothing for these engines if properly maintained. Do you have any service records? My 97 just rolled 187k and the major things I have done is the cam sensor, ipr, vacuum pump, and a valve cover harness.

FYI the 50/50 life rated by international is 350k and that was thought to be on the conservative side.

 

[lindstromjd]

Most of us PSD guys were the ones answering the questions you had in the IDI forum ;p

 

[direwulf23]

No surprise. Just thought I'd place it in the proper place. So, yes, I'm sold on the idea of buying it and have a plan. Now to just thoroughly inspect it and test it out.

1994 Ford F250, 2wd, 7.3L IDI, NA, E4OD

2006 Ford Expedition Eddie Bauer, 2wd, 5.4L, automatic

 

[lindstromjd]

Then here's a slightly pre-emptive "welcome to the dark side".

 

[lotzagoodstuff]

Sounds like a pretty straight deal, if you can hear it run I'd buy it as leaks can almost always be fixed. The first time you pull a big hill or hook a trailer, you won't believe that you can leave it in top gear and get the job done. I miss the simplicity of the idi, but once you get a load or some elevation involved, you'll love the PowderChoke. The truth is you need one of each to truly appreciate both, and you already have an idi

 

[direwulf23]

The Powerstroke worried/ worries me because I've heard cost of ownership is pretty high. I suppose the 7.3L want real bad, but I've always heard a lot of cautionary tales about the cost of ownership.

1994 Ford F250, 2wd, 7.3L IDI, NA, E4OD

2006 Ford Expedition Eddie Bauer, 2wd, 5.4L, automatic

 

[GOOSE]

I have both in my yard. M y 1991 F350 4x4, and my company truck, a 2001 F250 4x4. Let me set the record straight, my IDI will pull the guts out of a stock PSD and feels light footed around town in comparison. That being said, I understand that the PSD is bone stock with worn components.

Lets concentrate on the PSD now....

Its a 2001 extended cab shortbed, automatic, 3:73 gears, utility cap with about 1600lbs of tools. I got it just about 1 year ago now with 321,000 miles on it and it just turned 361,000. That's 40,000 miles this past year my friends. Heres a rundown of its service record.

-New drivers side bed skin. A flat destroyed the old one and it was like this when I got it. $2,100
-Tires, Firestone Transforce AT's $800
-serpentine belt and tensioner pulley. Approx $150
- front end work. New track bar and sway bar end links. Approx $250
-new rear leaf springs, driver side cracked. $700
-new headlights and lens polishing kit. $100
-air filter, fuel filter and oil changes. $800/yr
-50 cent mod on the passenger side bank. $.25
-batteries, $200

That's not too shabby considering we had 100,000 mile Chevys and Dodges puke engines and transmissions! The Ford is on its 2nd 4R100 at 360,000 miles and it shifts damn good. I know it had an HPOP put in at around 300,000 miles. To the best of my knowledge the injectors, turbo, head gaskets and all the other major conponents are all origional.

I truely believe that the PSD is much better suited to seeing high mileage than being used as a personal truck that only sees 5-10,000 miles per year. I am very pleased with my company truck and hope to put another 360K on it.

My cousin has an '03 7.3 and it has given some issues, I believe because its not driven enough. He's done front end work, radiator, water pump, HPOP, injector cups, and a few other things. He has 140,000 on his. The repairs aren't cheap but he is seeing his truck as one that will be around for another 10 years or better so the repairs are money well spent to him.

I hope this may give you some insight to the PSD's. I feel like I just ramble on sometimes, lol.

 

[lotzagoodstuff]

The Powerstroke worried/ worries me because I've heard cost of ownership is pretty high. I suppose the 7.3L want real bad, but I've always heard a lot of cautionary tales about the cost of ownership.

If you keep a 7.3 PSD stock and you're cost conscious, I think the repairs can be pretty reasonable. Yes, by comparison to an IDI, they are more costly, but I run across stock used injectors all the time for less than $50 each, and you can argue about the value of the injector tips but the electronics in a PSD injector is pretty bulletproof. Stock HPOPs can be had for pretty cheap too. Just keep in mind, lots of people upgrade the 7.3 PSDs so the stock leftovers are pretty abundant and reasonable.

Don't be scared: I'm starting to like my PSD more each day, and I was really hesitant to get away from my IDI.

 

[Can30Diesel]

I also have a 2001 7.3PSD and I have an 85 6.9IDI. I love both of them for different reasons. I have to admit that having the reliable power of the PSD is addicting. Like the guys above said, you notice the difference on hills when pulling something (though the same can be done with an IDI). The 350k 50/50 rating on the 7.3 PSD was not only thought to be conservative, but it was proven to be ridiculously so during the engine's lifespan.

Here is a link to some detailed information on the 7.3 powerstroke. http://www.internationalpowerstroke.com/73psd.html

Generally the big dollar item that can fail is the High Pressure Oil Pump. Its about as close as this system can come to for the equivalent of the IDI injector pump. But they rarely go.

Generally its just little stuff, glow plugs, etc.

The most important part on these engines is maintenance, specifically oil changes. Even with that, these engines are much more forgiving than say their successors.

 

[IDIoit]

2K?? I WOULD HAVE BOUGHT IT RIGHT THEN AND THERE!
i just purchased a 98 E350, same engine as the 96.
i looked for rust, and anything out of the normal.
hooked up my solus to it, and BAM " NO CODES PRESENT"
I handed him 2 grand with 300k miles and didnt even bat an eye.
great running rig.
now the kicker, BRAN NEW E RATED TIRES... CHA-CHING!

 

[direwulf23]

Tires are a huge deal now days. Lol
My desk is I need a daily driver I can work as well, and I only want to drive diesels anymore.

1994 Ford F250, 2wd, 7.3L IDI, NA, E4OD

2006 Ford Expedition Eddie Bauer, 2wd, 5.4L, automatic

 

[IDIoit]

Tires are a huge deal now days. Lol
My desk is I need a daily driver I can work as well, and I only want to drive diesels anymore.

as i do love my diesels and i do drive them on a daily, i am really really itching to get my 1942 pontiac running.
somthing about having 550 hp at your tippy toes with a throttle response thats quicker than a 2 dollar ****** taking a 100 dollar bill.....

 

[IDIoit]

1994 Ford F250, 2wd, 7.3L IDI, NA, E4OD

2006 Ford Expedition Eddie Bauer, 2wd, 5.4L, automatic

good god man, will you figgure out the signature already?? lol

 

[direwulf23]

I'm using tapatalk I can't figure out how to edit it nor can I figure out how to sign in with this profile on the Web. Started it with tapatalk when I didn't have home Internet access. Lol

1994 Ford F250, 2wd, 7.3L IDI, NA, E4OD

2006 Ford Expedition Eddie Bauer, 2wd, 5.4L, automatic