7.3 OBS VS 7.3 FORD SUPER DUTY 

I have a 2020 f250 6.7 powerstroke and recently bought a late 99 f250 7.3 with 223,000 miles and let me tell you I can't believe how nice it drives and not a single lick of blowby, Awesome truck !

I have a '97 OBS which now has seats from a 2016 Super Duty. Heated and cooled! Rides like a dream.

Thanks for the videos just picked up a 95 f250 7.3 4x4 199k for $2500. Just getting everything squared away

So here’s my 2 cents. A superduty does everything better than the OBS fords. The interior, mirrors, door handles, seats. The only thing that an OBS does better is front wheel bearings. You really have to WANT an OBS in my opinion. You’re sacrificing a lot compared to the superduty platform in comfort and functionality, especially for the prices the OBS trucks are going for these days. They look good, but they are not better. One thing I wish ford would’ve stuck with on the superduty’s are the Alcoa wheels for the duallys.

I noticed you still have the red brake switch in your OBS (the fire hazard ones). There's an update to that with a black sensor and a new pigtail. Amazon has them from Motorcraft for like $20. I swapped mine out in my 94 and promptly mounted a fire extinguisher between the driver seat and the door lol

1986 f250 4x4 6.9idi been driving for 37 years have over 1 million miles. Never let me down amd getting ready to do a full restoration done

I personally prefer the OBS trucks, while they may not have all the newer features, I feel that they are tougher trucks. Currently I own a 1991 7.3 IDI, and yes I know, so many will tell me it's a bad engine, but, mine is sitting at 491,000+ miles, all on the original engine and trans. I'm not gonna knock other people's preferences, but I love the OBS trucks.

Easiest question ever to answer…keep ‘em both and keep looking for a 3rd! I would never sell my 97 CCLB4x4 7.3, not even for a SD….I’d just add another :) (Thus I have a 97 Short bed Chevy, 72 K20 and the 97 7.3 lol.

Wait, tow 10k?! That’s it? My 08 Jeep Grand Cherokee CRD can tow that much! Man… I was looking to buy the 7.3 450 hoping to tow 25k! Well, that goes out of the window…

My wife has a 02 Super Duty 7.3 Crew cab long bed that she loves and I have a 97 OBS 7.3 ex cab long bed but we also have a 01 5.9 Cummins ex cab short bed and a 03 5.9 crew cab long bed Cummins. I say Keep them all 🤣🤟

if you buy a hydro bost for a 1996 or 1997 f450 they bolt right in to the obs that is what i will be doing to mine i will say the hydroboost definitely is better. so me swapping over to hydroboost and bigger injectors and turbo with a tune i think the obs fairs well especially a clean one and i love both super duty and obs but the obs has something about it that makes me like it more

Love the 7.3. Strong engine and good puller. Love them Fords!! Peace my friend!!

Very well done man! That super duty is in fantastic shape! I agree, I like different features of both trucks👍

I have a superduty 7.3 coupled with a zf6 and it is the best truck I've ever owned. Minor general maintenance and these trucks just keep going I'll never part with mine.

I own a early 99 f250 7.3 powerstroke with 273k miles and I love it first year of super duty there pretty durable

I like the OBS it's easier to find a wheel to fit it you can carry one spare to fit the truck and the trailer back when 8 lug was an 8 lug

In my opinion looks go to the OBS but ride comfort goes to the super duty

Y had a 97 but changed for a 2000 superduty I don't regret it at all, I've used it to for work and to pull a trailer about half the time my 2000 got to over 600000 miles with little mantainence

I’ve owned both and I would keep the obs, I sold my 6.0 all manual truck to get my 97

OBS F350 PS always had front Dana 60. ALL SDs had Dana 50 from '99-02 had front Dana 50 UNLESS a dually. ALL '03-up SD front Dana 60.

Dude...I just experienced this today! I have a 2002 F350 XLT Super Duty 7.3l diesel, Crew Cab, 4wd, short bed, leather interior, carpet, etc. I just purchased a 1997 F250 XLT, 5.8l gas, Extended Cab, 4wd, long bed with vinyl floor, manual transmission, and old cloth bench seat. The 2002 is three times the truck for towing and gets better gas mileage, but the OBS is pure Ford truck porn. A thing of beauty that is not really good at anything! I am keeping both because I too, have a Ford truck problem!

96-97 OBS are quickly becoming sought after classics. Where I live, a clean crewcab f-350 will easily fetch a higher price than the equivalent SD. Other than the nostalgia and classic investment, the SD takes the cake. Practicality and comfort, go SD. U want an awsome head turner of a classic truck for years to come? Go OBS.

Why so negative on the IDI? I've had nothing but luck with them and super easy to work on.

I have a 97 tuned and a 02 f350 7.3. I like my 02 alot more. The 97 rides like a stiff board but its also lifted. My 02 has over 400k and my 97 has 250k. My 97 is also intercooled

I love the look of the obs. I currently own a 2008 f350 super duty regular cab 8' bed 4x4 with the 6.4 automatic with manual hubs and manual transfer case. I love it. My previous truck was a 1992 f350 dually crew cab long bed with the idi 7.3 and I loved that truck. In fact I wish I kept it. It was easy to work on and completely mechanical. Once running it would run without any battery power at all. I'm trying to find another one because I am a little concerned about the cost fixing anything major on my 2008. I purchased it with 80,000 miles on it and I now have almost 150,000 miles and it still runs strong. But you never know.

I wish it was possible to start a company that just builds a truck like these (not ford obviously) but low tech diesel trucks with just the features people want and none of the extra crap / emissions.

There is no such thing as a truck problem! 🤣

I agree, owned a BUNCH of both. GET A LATE '99-'00. Second '00-'03 7.3L In OBS I'd take a '93-'94 IDI Turbo EVERTTIME!!!

I have a 02 f250 xlt extended cab long bed 7.3 I love the obs but I like more the super duty that just me that y I have a 02

Should I get a 2002 Ford F350 dually? (I tow a lot)

I would love bolth, i got a 95 obs with the intercooler upgrade, injectors, bigger turbo, and a tune. I would love a super dutie aswell, main thing its not a 6.0! Love everything 7.3

I work on my 96 f250. I prefer something easy to wrench on, i cuss much less. And no DEF in old diesels

My biggest gripe with the 10th gen and up was the motors being crammed under the cab. I should be able to reach behind the motor and undo the bellhousing bolts from up top when changing the clutch. It will take an act of god for me to part with my 95 half ton, and by that I mean death.

Wing window delete? I do not understand why! I love the wing windows in my obs. It's the best way to cool the truck down quickly.

youre in honeymoon stage with the new truck. give it time youll appreciate that 97 more

Enjoy those pmr rods! I wouldn't put to big of injectors in it.

I would just keep both the Super Duty and the OBS 🎉

I was gonna say, a lot of both these trucks in Central Oregon 😂

Is the obs factory suspension and what size tire are your running

I thought I was the only one with a truck problem😅

My first truck was an obs now I have a super duty. I really want to get rid of the super duty and get an obs again. The OBS Fords are way more comfortable inside. When I had the OBS it was an XLT with a bench seat which was super super comfortable. My super duty has bucket seats it's a Lariat and it's not as comfortable.

would you please clean the interior of that 97

The super duty’s were 10.5 obs were 10.25

My 99 Powerstroke has floor transfer case

it’s the james and kyle show

How about just plain reliability between the two

I personally think keeping the super duty is worth especially considering what you could do with it down the line compared to the obs

I just bought my first truck a year ago it’s a 2001 f250 with the 7.3. Love it. Very capable truck, so far no issues other than about 8 month ago I had to replace starter, which is hardly really even an isssue to be honest. More normal maintenance

what the hell is wrong with the 94 ldl lmfao

got a 97 obs w/ stroke. i have had it 19 years. i got sick of rear brakes and fuel bowl. i replaced rear end w a2001 f-250 rear end with disc brakes and 2001 front rotorz. 01 rotors fit 97 spindle but are thicker so you must turn down a few hundreths of an inch or use old pads to fit caliper over disc. but it worked beautifuly. steers greatstopps even better than ij expected. smooth and controlled . now can use late model wheels . i used 2001 f-250 alloy wheels. also built a regulated return, flow thru ,fuel system and threw out fords fuel bowl assembly. electric pump and fuel filter / water trap now under cab and clean. has 50 psi at key on before you even crank. starts immediately . cool benefit of rear end was 3/73 gear and limited slip. disc brakes are sooo much better than drums and way less problems. my truck has 316, 965 miles on original motor . runs very nice. needs a transmission now. no rust no rattles .everything in the cab works and cold air. mostly original. just a tough truck. well made.

I’m in Prineville with an OBS and a super duty maybe we should link up and play trucks sometime. 🏁

We have an 2001 F550 wrecker. How the heck do you keep the truck still with the Parking brake? If our truck is at any amount of angle loaded or empty the Parking Brake won't keep it still. We have talked to long time Ford Mechanics and they say the system is junk. Do you have any ideas? Probably going to end up with a MICO Brake System.

What headlights are in the 03 7.3

body off to work on superduty

the interior of the OBS fords are unmatched. and thats where your at and looking 90 percent of the time. and newer they get harder they are to fix

1 and Rev. Gear hight in the old truck,,,,and Rev is half moon holds rev.gear ,,,pretty bad gearing,,,,,,,,411 or 488 the best truck,,,run good from 10 mph to 80mph,,,,,,,3000 t0 3400 all day

we get it u dont like the obs lol

OBS PS had single shot injectors, they're louder. SD 7.3L had split shot injectirs, quieter. I AGREE, SINGLE TANK BETTER. ALSO prefer SD electric lift pump.

Heavy Duty

I have a '99 Superduty 7.3l w/ Zf6 manual and the manual transfercase lever on the floor...(165k mi) I don't think I would like it as much in an automatic trans and dash switched transfer case, but that is just imho...

For me if I had to choose, it would keep the OBS if at all possible just due to the simplicity and reliability, unless I absolutely needed more power for towing. I think towing needs would be the only deciding factory.

ZF-6: BEST pickup trans EVER. Have 3 6.0L ZF-6 and had a Duramax ZF-6. 6.0L SUUUUCKS but ZF-6: GREAT!

OBS’s not having the granny low gear like the ZF6 in the SD keeps them from being a real serious truck to haul with. You’ll still see some guys running 7.3 SD’s with the ZF6 pulling hotshot flatbeds or 3-car wedges. They don’t have the power of the newer stuff but still get it done. Very rarely you’ll see an ole F-Super Duty OBS still working

I had a 88 F350 crew cab long bed dually with a 460 automatic, still have my 1999 F250 supercab shortbed V10 automatic and my 2004 F350 6.0 automatic super cab long bed. For looks the 2004, for comfort the 2004, for quickness the 1999, for interior room the 1988, for fuel mileage the 2004, for dependability the 1999. Best overall, the 2004 F350 dually 6.0. All of these trucks are 2 Wheel Drive.

OBS 7.3 has that vintage truck look I love, but the SD 7.3 is the first Ford truck I owned that actually lived up to the Made Ford Tough slogan.

’ve got two questions about the transmission: the knob only shows gears 1-4, plus “R” for reverse, plus “L”, plus one more gear in the upper right-hand corner of the knob that I can’t make out. What’s that gear in the upper right hand corner, and what’s the “L” stand for?I’ve heard these ZF6s are great, but do you really have 6 gears to run through if I’m seeing just 1-4 written on the knob?

Lower power, inferior brakes, not intercooled..... Easy decision for me,i don't give a f*"k. I'll keep my OBS !

I own both, can't let the OBS go. The OBS looks great, but that's it. I actually like everything else more on the 02 chassis anti-twist in ditches / interior room much bigger. The OBS looks better but the 02 seems to handle twisting / off-roading better with less frame twist and noise.

I have a 2002 XLT 7.3l power stroke dully 1 ton It pulls better then my dad's Duramax I love my truck

i just gave this truck to my Dad. he blew up his 2010 f 350 with v 10. it ate a spark plug and sent another one flyin. leave it to the 25 yr old truck to save the day! he only had 180k on f 350. his mistake was trusting the dealer to do what they charged him for. they never changed the plugs since new. Dade city fla ford dealer. i wontsay any names.

I am currently towing my super duty with my obs, should say something..

problem with the Hydroboost system only becomes an issue when you replace the steering gearbox and the warranty wants you to install an inline filter between the gearbox and pump and you start repeatedly blowing filters apart while driving. When I replaced my gearbox I gave up after blowing up 4 or 5 filters and instead voided my warranty by running it without a filter

Friend had a '97 and I've got a '99. '97 was louder and rougher ride, more like a tractor. '99 is more comfortable.

One thing I’m not a fan of on the super duty is from personal experience… while driving a 99 350 powerstroke 4wd 4dr longbed a couple months back one of my pulleys on the belt tensioner sheared off… luckily I wasn’t on the highway or towing!!! Once that belt stops spinning you lose brakes and steering. I’ve owned plenty of cars and trucks with no power steering so it’s not to bad but losing the brakes in that big mutha is a bad scene. Them genius engineer’s didn’t fully think that one through!!!Needless to say I replaced the fan belt the whole tensioner unit both pulleys and the idler pulley as well for insurance 😂.

If the obs is struggling with 10k towing there might be something wrong

My old trucks been parked in the field it has 430,000 on it 410 years guarantee used to spend it close to 5,000 RPMs it has amazing set for rods and crank 5,000 RPMs 5th gear for 4800 about 112 mph never turn it over 3,800 it could take off on its oil

About fuel: I have a 94' lightning which has the same fuel system as the truck you have there, since its a "tuner" truck you are correct it runs lean. I have to run 3 fuel pumps one being inline with the fuel system, the other problem is people can't buy a whole kit to convert to one tank, the guy who sells it requires you to buy his intake and shit first.

Why is the engine compartment of the super duty so much dirtier?

I just bought 1997 f250 Two weeks ago I drive it 1600 miles back home .. runs great only 190 k miles .. I love my new truck .. one owner .. I like the sound that makes purr 😻 purr

Damn I love both of these

I honestly probably will buy another 7.3 but a dually 4x4 version next😮‍💨

Keep the OBS! Everything the SD offers plus more you can now add to the OBS.

It’s a very tough choice between these two pickups, the super duty’s have so much to offer but it’s like you said, the OBS is super cool too! It’s so hard to choose!

5000 to 10000 all day,,,,15000 on intestate was bad trucks run in4 5 around 70 80 mph WFO about 14 mpg

Sounds like you just need to put Superduty seats and an electric fuel pump into your OBS to be a happy camper.

I will keep both of them she just have to get over it. I have two super duties and a 84 bronco.

I have a ‘02 F-350 7.3. The truck has over 300k miles and runs great.

I bought a 1997 f350 with a 7.3. Not rust free, but original condition and 170000 mi. I think OBS is my favorite truck but non intercooled, small turbo and manual fuel pump is definitely a drawback. Love all Fords since I was born into a Ford loving family.

out of curiosity, could you swap the zf5 manual from the 97 in to the super duty?

They are both cool. I am holding on to a 96 OBS that I daily. It runs strong, sounds good and is cool AF. But it is rusty and parts are falling off (especially interior...UV destroyed plastic parts). And I have a rust hole in one wheel well so I get mud/snow thrown into my bed. I need to trade it in and yes I think the Super Duty Fords are kinda cooler, but that old OBS mojo has me in a similar situation. I may just drive it until it breaks up, like The Six Million Dollar Man intro: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-mVGoivuwco4.html&ab_channel=painamajorpain

just like my old explorer with a 302 really i should should buy a newer f150 to handle things but i just don’t want to get rid of it these damn old fords pull your heart strings just keep them

OBS they dont make new old trucks only getting more vauable

f250

Does your truck have the cruise control switch below the brake master cylinder in the engine compartment? My son had an 2002 f250 and that switch shorted and started a fire. Fords on that era had a problem with that. I think there was a recall on it where they gave you a new pigtale with a fuse. What would happen is, over time brake fluid would get on the switch and the switch would short. Our truck was just sitting, not running, when it caught fire. We don't know for certain thats what happened but it sounds suspicious. According to our mechanic, this was a problem with these trucks. I was devistated.

New subscriber! I have a 7.3 ! Great content bro!!!!!

Early '99 is basically a '97 7.3L with intercooler.

seems like yo can swap most things from the super duty over to the obs and make it nicer

I have had both OBS and Super duty I've had better experience with the OBS

Worst thing about the superduty is the cheap plastic door handles mine has been broken into 6 times . the older 7.3 had the forged rods. I like superduty because you could get the shortbed f350

Twice I missed a gear and broke every rockers arm off of one side so I learned to Granny shift it when I took it up that high and it worked like a dream