I am going to have to say goodbye to my old faithful 1996.5 F250 7.3. She was totaled out in front of my house a few days ago. To much work to try to put her back together again. So I am looking for a replacement and would like another 94-97 OBS to replace but hard to find and pretty pricy. I am fighting with insurance now on the real value of my truck and being the fact the closest one I can find is 467 mi away. Anyway I am starting to think about opening up to the thought of something up to 2003 model. I just don't know what is better about the 99-2003 models besides here in California where I am anything after 1997 has to go through a smog check. A lot of why I want to stay below the 1997 year.
Why shouldn't I go up to 2003? Honest input please these trucks seem to be in the same price range as the 97 OBS models'. I know the 2003 would be newer but seems like the older trucks and the newer up to 2003 have same millage.
any advice and opinions are welcomed.

 

Really there isn't much downside. The sd were more advanced in many ways. The one change was pmr connecting rods. In most cases that isn't a big deal. They ride better and have a little more grunt from hpop,IC,injector updates over our faithful obs.
deff not bad rigs, just different.

 

^^^^what he said^^^^
when i got my 02 i was amazed at how much better it rode. and had better power due to the intercooler too.
than i got the 2014 and realized the 02 rode like it was on square wheels!!!

 

Isn't performance upgrading the OBS trucks "under the radar" easier due to nobody snooping around your truck while getting it smogged? I live in commiefornia too and that was the main reason I bought an OBS. I originally thought that my upgrades were limitless but soon realized I have to get parts shipped out of state and realizing to not give CHP a reason to pull me over to look at my non Cali truck with no cat that someone removed before me. I prefer the more nostalgic look also. The motors under the hood are not too different, right? Maybe it depends what you are using the truck for. I don't daily drive mine.

 

I am also in Comifornia and feel what your saying. My OBS was unseen by the green new deal people, did whatever I wanted. I wont be using it for a daily driver much mostly to pull 5th wheel cross country. Appreciate the comments.

 

Don't get me wrong, at this point I'm fully invested in my obs. It will not leave if I have anything to do about it. I think this rendition minus a built trans should be about as good as I can hope for to tow with. We will see i guess very soon.
I have had 2 sd psd also. They are nice and all but I came back to my obsesssion....this one is 10 years in the oven..it had better be really good.