• Thank you for visiting HeavyEquipmentForums.com! Our objective is to provide industry professionals a place to gather to exchange questions, answers and ideas. We welcome you to register using the "Register" icon at the top of the page. We'd appreciate any help you can offer in spreading the word of our new site. The more members that join, the bigger resource for all to enjoy. Thank you!

93 Ford F450 super duty

Tom Spivak

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 31, 2007
Messages
56
Location
ontario
The chance has come along for me to buy a F450 long wheelbase, diesel, automatic that previously belonged to the Canadian department of defense.
It was some sort of special purpose vehical and only has 41,000 kms or 25,000 miles original on it. There is what looks like about a 12,000 lb. Ramsey frame mount winch on the front, with remote control, and it has a 12 ft. isulated box with side compartments and a side roll up door.
The truck is unbelievably clean and rust free with provincial saftey certification and drives like a dream.
Are these good trucks and is it worth $9500.00
 

Freightrain

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 13, 2007
Messages
127
Location
Ohio
I would say that it's probably a 7.3 diesel(non turbo), correct? Or is it still a 6.9? Can't recall when they switched over, as I think our 91 was a 6.9 diesel. They aren't rocket ships, but will get you there everytime. Our 91 had 200K when we traded it for the '99.

They turbo'd them in about '97? Then in '99 they intercooled them and were called Powerstrokes in the new body style. I think the early 6.9 were only like 170 hp, then the 7.3 upped it bit. Then the PSD was 275 hp with intercooler.

With that low mileage it will last you a long time. They are good for couple hundred thousand with normal maintenance. I think the tranny would be an E4OD? Maybe they still had basic C6's in them still? Does it have OD? As long as you don't overload it bad it should last a long time(E4OD). Usually a bigger aftermarket tranny cooler mounted to it would help in the long run. Don't lug it in OD, or you'll burn it up.

Looks like a near $1500 winch hangin out front, so I'd say for the money I think it's pretty fair.
 
Last edited:

humboldt deere

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 28, 2008
Messages
223
Location
N.california
Occupation
general building and engineering contractor
The 93 should be a 7.3 turbo indirect injection. The powerstroke debuted in 94 without an intercooler at 215 horsepower. In my opinion it sounds like a good deal and willbe a reliable truck. They may not have the horsepower of the new gen. psd but way more reliable and economical IMO. Take good care of that auto tranny, they are by no means bulletproof.
 

Tom Spivak

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 31, 2007
Messages
56
Location
ontario
The 93 should be a 7.3 turbo indirect injection. The powerstroke debuted in 94 without an intercooler at 215 horsepower. In my opinion it sounds like a good deal and willbe a reliable truck. They may not have the horsepower of the new gen. psd but way more reliable and economical IMO. Take good care of that auto tranny, they are by no means bulletproof.

Yes it's a 93 with 7.3 non turbo anbd I agree that the auto is likely the weak point but with care and a cooler it should be ok. It does take a while to get moving thouygh.
 

Freightrain

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 13, 2007
Messages
127
Location
Ohio
Didn't think they had turbos first year or so. Must been '94 when they added turb and started calling them Powerstrokes.

Buddy had a '97, added a Banks kit(turbo, chip and intercooler), big tranny cooler and shift controller and Propane. That truck would flat out get it. He pulled a 50ft race trailer with it and with the big cooler under the passenger side of cab the temps never got anywhere near hot.
 
Last edited:

humboldt deere

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 28, 2008
Messages
223
Location
N.california
Occupation
general building and engineering contractor
The turbo was an option in 93. It was a garret like the stroker has but with it's low amount of boost I'm not sure it made much of a difference for HP. If you added a hypermax turbo and cranked the manual pump up a bit you should get some performance out of it, but then the tranny will need upgrades to survive. For a reliable work truck the best upgrades you can do is a good exhaust and intake, and leave the rest alone.:cool:
 

Thundurbyrd

Active Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2008
Messages
30
Location
Akron, Ohio
Occupation
IMT Equipment Specialist
Sounds like a good buy as long as The Dept. of Defense maintained it well. The 7.3 is a great engine as well, a lot better than what they have now.
 

Tom Spivak

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 31, 2007
Messages
56
Location
ontario
Sounds like a good buy as long as The Dept. of Defense maintained it well. The 7.3 is a great engine as well, a lot better than what they have now.

With only 25,000 miles on it, they couldn't have done much wrong, after all they didn't have it long enough.
And since it's not an active service vehical it never went anywhere to be abused.
Thanks for the input from everybody,sounds like it's not a bad truck, I'm going to go for it and will let you know how it works out.:drinkup
 

CM1995

Administrator
Joined
Jan 21, 2007
Messages
13,246
Location
Alabama
Occupation
Running what I brung and taking what I win
Didn't think they had turbos first year or so. Must been '94 when they added turb and started calling them Powerstrokes

The '94's were all turbo, I believe. In '97 they started calling them Powerstroke when they went direct injection. If I remember correctly Ford did not have a '96 model F250 above, they went from '95 to '97 year model. Had a '94 F450 with the turbo non DI. It was a good truck but no comparision to the '97- '02 powerstrokes. I have 2 -7.3 PS, both '01's and 3 - 6.0 PS and the 7.3's are a much better motor. Don't know much about the new ones - too scared to try.:cool:


On edit: There was no '98 year model, they went from '97 old body style to '99 newer Superduty body style.
 
Last edited:

P Backus

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 13, 2007
Messages
75
Location
N.E. WI
Wow. There seems to be a lot of confusion on the Ford diesels. Not to say I get everything right, but here's the deal as I understand it.
'84- ~'88 6.9L IDI
'88- 94 7.3L IDI
'94 7.3L IDI with turbo available
'94 7.3L DI Powerstroke motor introduced. 1st generation with computer controlled HUI injectors (Hydraulic Unit Injector), turbo, 110V DC glowplugs, and several other changes.
'99 2nd generation Powerstroke 7.3L DI, still with HUI and now an air to air aftercooler (plus new lower fuel economy!)
~'04 I think, 6.0L DI Powerstroke introduced.

So, the '93 would be a 7.3 IDI non-turbo with either an E4OD or AOD tranny.

I agree, it sounds like a good truck. In some ways the low miles actually scares me a bit with a diesel. Did it run for 5 minutes and get shut down all the time? Was it for emergency response where some yahoo got in and ran the hell out of it when it was cold to get to a site, then shut off hot? Sometimes those low mile engines need an overhaul long before the miles say it's time for it.

Paul
 

humboldt deere

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 28, 2008
Messages
223
Location
N.california
Occupation
general building and engineering contractor
Paul good info. 03 you could get a 7.3 or a 6.0, I feel sorry for the guys that opted for the new and "improved" engine. While 94 was the first DI 7.3 they werent called powerstroke till 95 and also along with the addition of lower fuel economy the other big change was the addition of a wastegate on the garrett turbo.;)
 

P Backus

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 13, 2007
Messages
75
Location
N.E. WI
Thanks Deere- er, I mean Humboldt Deere! I knew there were a few lapses in my info.

I had to wire the wastegate in my '96 open as the compuker was telling to to close until I couldn't get above 35mph. Problem solved. Truck is still going strong with 350,000+ miles, although it has had it's share of failures.

My '01 has been disapointing in the performance department- uses more fuel and has less power- and I'm not hotrodding. It's just a work truck. I'd hate to get one of the 6.0L.

My '90 has been the best of the bunch, with 456,000 miles and never an overhaul, and very few failures on the road.

Paul
 

Steve Frazier

Founder
Staff member
Joined
Oct 30, 2003
Messages
6,599
Location
LaGrangeville, N.Y.
I'd imagine the truck has a lot of idle time on it, take this into consideration. That E4OD is a junk tranny, I had mine blow 3 days out of warranty. The 4R100 in the first round of Super Dutys was a slightly improved version of it but not much more reliable. I'm on my 4th in my F350 with 72,000 miles. I like that style truck over my newer ones, I would give it a go with these detractions in mind.
 

Freightrain

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 13, 2007
Messages
127
Location
Ohio
They had 7.3 in '96, as I had a F350 with 460 in it, dealer had matching truck with 7.3 in it. '97 was last of that style as there was no '98 truck. I ordered a new '99 V10/5 spd CC DRW and got it early spring '98. Just about the first one running around this area. I then traded '99 in spring '00 as I ordered the same truck with PSD/6 spd in it. I got really good trade in as truck was titled 99 but I got it in '98! I had it two years, but the books say it was only one year old.

I really miss the PSD, as it ran great and looked really good all black hooked to my all black trailer(only a real bear to keep clean). It was bone stock(removed muffler, it was cat exempt that year), so it sounded really great pulling hills.
 

OCR

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2008
Messages
1,195
Location
Montana
Occupation
Rancher/Farmer, Wildland Fire Fighter, State snowp
Steve,

I had tranny problems with my '99 F250. When I put a performance chip in, I
also got the gauge set... pyro, boost, and trans. temp. Just pokeing around in
the hills, the trans. gauge would peg out high. On the highway, at 75 or 80, on a hot day, it hardly left the low side. I went through 2 tranny's, one before, and one after the chip... so probably not chip caused. I finally got
one out of Florida, that had a cooler about the same size as the radiator and
modified clutch packs, that seems to have solved my problem.

btw... for you red tractor guys...the PSD was made by?? (check Wiki)

Also... my heating problem stemmed from the viscous fan not engaging under
light power usage, and torque converter staying unlocked... they're fixes for
both conditions.

OCR
 

Looper

New Member
Joined
Jul 23, 2008
Messages
4
Location
Travelers Rest, SC
That sounds like a good deal to me. The 7.3 non-turbo, if that's what it is, is a great engine. With only 25,000 miles, and no rust, it should last you a long time. I had a '91 F350 that I ran through the ringer and it held up well. I had the automatic and never had any problems, but like Steve Frazier said, the e40d was not Ford's best tranny.
 

Countryboy

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 8, 2006
Messages
3,276
Location
Georgia
Occupation
Load Out Tech. / Heavy Equipment Operator / Locomo
Welcome to Heavy Equipment Forums Looper! :drinkup
 

Preppypyro

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 19, 2007
Messages
246
Location
Saskatoon, Sk.
Ford has had some pretty crappy auto' trannies over the years. The motor will last a long time with proper maintenence.

My dad has a 91 f250 with a 7.3 and he put a aftermarket turbo on it, and it made a huge difference.

For the price though, thats a steal. You could yank that tranny out and beef it up and have a really realiable transmission, and a fairly bulletproof truck.
 

Tom Spivak

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 31, 2007
Messages
56
Location
ontario
F 450 superduty

Well, I've got it on the road, all it needed to pass provincial inspection was a u bolt on axle.
Runs well, quite, lots of power, I love the 4 wheel disc brakes, carries a good load, rides well for a big truck, just wish it had air conditioning.
Thanks to all for the input!:drinkup
 
Top