best year OBS?

[jeremiahmercier]

And of course both are completely different now, with all of our mods.

[97psd16.5mpg]

Don't think it matters too much if they were beat to death…if it's a good deal…a little tlc and these things will last forever. I honestly believe the truck itself will rattle to pieces around the motor and drivetrain. Just my .02

[powerstroke cowboy]

Originally Posted by jeremiahmercier

Not that this makes a difference, it kinda contradicts what others have said, but my 96 says it has 230hp, and my cousins 97 says 225hp. These #s are from the stickers on the valve covers.

Almost sounds like you have a set of 99 Valve covers on there.... The 99 was 230.....

[C.D.]

Along with my 99 I had a 96 RCLB 4x4 manual(sold it), and now have a 95 SCLB 4x4 auto...both in great shape, but I'd rather have the 96 back.

[jeremiahmercier]

I believe the sticker also says 1996 on it as well.

[old man dave]

Originally Posted by Sethward

97s had some advantages but I also have found its a pain in the but getting replacement parts for my 97 because they were "97" specific because of a lot of little changes that were made in the 96 year timeframe. Also my rear axle was a 10.5/10.25 mix of components which was a huge pain to fix when it blew up on me.

Id say anything from 94.5 - 97 will do. But I would never buy an automatic EVER again after what I went through with my first OBS. Just my $0.02.

I never tell my parts guy I have a '97 F-250 HD, too confusing due to the light duty F-150 and F-250s in the SD style. Just tell them you have a '96.

I also installed a BTS as one of the first mods to my truck, that solved all of my auto trans issues.

[diesel_brad]

Originally Posted by old man dave

I never tell my parts guy I have a '97 F-250 HD, too confusing due to the light duty F-150 and F-250s in the SD style. Just tell them you have a '96.

Exactly. ALWAY tell them you have a 96, then there will be ZERO confusion

[Airstreamer67]

Originally Posted by jeremiahmercier

Not that this makes a difference, it kinda contradicts what others have said, but my 96 says it has 230hp, and my cousins 97 says 225hp. These #s are from the stickers on the valve covers.

My 96 has a build date of Jan 96. The valve cover says it develops 215 hp. It must have been built earlier than the ones quoted above.

In any case, it's got the guts for towing my 6K travel trailer, and does so at 14 mpg or better running 55 mph. The only repairs so far has been a gasket kit for the oil cooler.

[GM Duraturd]

I had a 95 and have a 97. Any year will be a good truck if you find a good one, I wouldnt worry about year when buying when it comes to OBS PSDs.

[96BlackOBS]

After owning two IDI 7.3's my 96' F350 PSD is by far the BEST truck I've ever owned. I wouldnt mind another OBS maybe a 95 or 96 f-250 ext cab with 4wd.