OBS 7.3 2wd DRW -> 05+ supr duty swap and general build-up

[Nvr-enough]

Finally have some time to kill sitting by the pool on vacation, decided its time to write up a proper build thread/ spot to dump info about my truck/ camper adventures! I know a few of you have been looking for me to do this for a while, so here we are. Ill post what i can from here with picture off my phone, but can get better detail shots when I get home next week.

Always loved OBS 7.3s. I think theyre a great mix of simple, reliable, fair priced and still modern enough to be comfortable for driving all day (important when you live in OH and like to wheel in CA).

Had the twin to this truck that I had spent a couple years loving on and planning on doing this swap to, until I found this truck which had more miles, but a cleaner body. So I sold my old one to a buddy and went and bought this one. I fucked up, my old truck was pretty well sorted out after I had owned it for a couple years. This truck turned out to be a complete turd and has cost me more to make reliable than I care to admit.


It started at a clean (midwest clean), 2wd, 7.3 Auto. Had a noisey rear end, a 'rebuilt auto', lots of bad LED blue lights, typical hillbilly shit. I bought it knowing going in I would be doing this swap and knowing that I was buying it for the long haul, with an intention of keeping it for a long time, building it right and not being concerned about the dollars put in. Almost immediately after dragging it home I went and bought a 2005 F350 DRW with a popped 6.0. I think I paid around $3k. In hindsight, I shoud have just spent that $3k on the newest/nicest axles I could buy and not buy an entire parts truck. Next time I know.

('New truck' with the topper, nex to my old one I sold to my buddy)

Parts donor-

 

[Nvr-enough]

First step was working on things I *knew* were fucked up, little shit like making the doors open/ close well, making the in-op drivers window work, cleaning door latches/locks etc. Removing the bullshit wiring, all the fun stuff that comes with buying a 24 year old truck. Did lots of little detail work and those things are still on-going (looking at you door seals...). Replaced alternator, all the idlers, belt, etc. Starter failed while the truck was on jackstands getting the front axle swap. nothing like being excited for first test drive and having a no-start . Worked on fixing all the lights, removing blue LEDs, and just generally making it not a cop magnet. Tons of time and money that most people dont even notice or realize that things have been fixed/updated but go a long ways towards making the truck more enjoyable to drive.

Part of this project included rebuilding the steering column and ignition switch assembly. I dont think I have any pics of this, but it can be an intimidating project. If anyone is trying to tackle it, hollar at me and I can try to talk you through it. Upper and lower bearings had both failed in mine, so the steering wheel had lots of slop. The key didnt really have 'positions' it just kinda felt like sticking a key into mashed taters and turning. A little annoying to live with.

 

[Nvr-enough]

Okay and now for what yall are looking for-

First step was tearing the axles out from the parts truck. Pretty straight forward there. Tear that shit out.

First thing I did was swap the rear axle since the factory one was noisey and I needed to use the truck for some work before I completely took it off the road for the 4wd swap. The rear is pretty straight forward being leafs. I bought new ubolts, ubolt plates and nuts. I used the 2" block from the 05 to lift the rear up some since I figured the front would be pretty tall based on other 05 swaps I've seen up till now. Leafs are the same width apart on the 96 and 05, So bolt that shit in there.

I used the sway bar from the 05. Bought new sway bar end links since they were hammered on the donor. They fit the same mounting hole on the frame as the 96 way bar links.

Biggest thing to sort out in the rear was shock mounts. I bought a new set of Ford shocks based on the VIN of the 05 donor. Lots of people online say they bolt right in. ...Yes you can bolt them in, but you better be okay with replacing shock bushings every week and Im 99% sure the shocks will bottom before you hit the bump pads. Not cool in my book.The bushing geometery is trash if you use the stock mounts. Luckily I have a 4x4 plasma table and drew up some mounts, cut em out and burned em on

I went through the rear end. Checked gears, bearings, etc. Replaced brakes, lines, calipers, pads, rotors, etc all with motorcraft parts. Cleaned and inspected wheel bearings while I had the hubs apart. Bought a new rubber brake hose for a 2005 F350. Then used an adapter to make the 05 soft-line talk to the 96 hardline at the frame. I want to say its this- Dorman 785-432 (3/16" x 1/4") Brake Adapter, but need to crawl under the truck to confirm I dont have it backwards in my head.

 

[Nvr-enough]

Time to go find a cold drink. This spots reserved

 

[Nvr-enough]

And maybe this one too

 

[06h3]

Can’t wait to see how this turns out!

 

[Grendel]

Subscribing.

 

[Pt_Ranger_v8]

fuck yeah. about to do this same thing.

 

[SLOWPOKE693]

Thanks for posting this!

I'm very interested in doing something similar to my 96 F250.

 

[Levigarrett76]

looking forward to the rest of this.

 

[SLOWPOKE693]

And then???

 

[YotaAtieToo]

I love the obs, but I definitely would have just engine swapped that 05

 

[jhama78]

Bumpdates?

 

[SLOWPOKE693]

Bumpdates?

Dude is KILLIN me. I want to do the same to my truck and was looking forward to reading all about how it's done in this thread. OP is a cock tease.

Nvr-enough.

 

[Nvr-enough]

God damn that cold drink in post #4 was a good one..

I promise I'll work on this thread some. Truck has been working hard for me this year, so for now it's vacationing at a friend's ranch in CO while my ass is home working. Truck hit 300k the night I hit CO with it.

 

[06h3]

bump for updates

 

[Nvr-enough]

Shit

 

[Nvr-enough]

I actually ended up selling the 05 swapped dually last year and almost immediately regretted it. But buying a spotless '97 Cali truck with 125k miles on it made the sting hurt less now considering moving this one along now and buying a truck that's not old enough to vote

 

[Levigarrett76]

Damn, Id dump that fucking leaf sprung TTB too

 

[Pt_Ranger_v8]

this thread sucks!


well?

Got the rear swapped, then decided to take a "tactical pause" so I could retire, get another job, pay off debt, then collect monies and parts to rebuild the front axle and swap in the powerstroke 7.3 instead of the n/a idi I have.

 

[Nvr-enough]

Damn, Id dump that fucking leaf sprung TTB too

The front suspension is about the last thing I'm ready to move past. I'm kinda getting soft and ready for some modern amenities, like a trans with more than 4 speeds and more than 235hp without spending 4k on injectors, turbo and fuel system upgrades

 

[akguy09]

How much?....asking for a friend

 

[Nvr-enough]

Honestly I'll have to shop around on prices. It has ~145k on it now. It has had seat, dash and steering wheel covers since the day it left the showroom and it shows. Bone stock down to the factory radio. No tuner, no exhaust mods, nothing. I did just replace the rear slider window with a solid window and have them tinted all tinted.

 

[Nvr-enough]

Even comes with a slightly mismatched topper if desired

 

[Pt_Ranger_v8]

That's a $3K truck all day long

 

[SLOWPOKE693]

The front suspension is about the last thing I'm ready to move past. I'm kinda getting soft and ready for some modern amenities, like a trans with more than 4 speeds and more than 235hp without spending 4k on injectors, turbo and fuel system upgrades

I gave in and bought a 22 F350 dually after doing the math on the costs and time needed to turn my 97 into the "ultimate tow rig." I don't regret the decision and love the new truck.

 

[Nvr-enough]

I gave in and bought a 22 F350 dually after doing the math on the costs and time needed to turn my 97 into the "ultimate tow rig." I don't regret the decision and love the new truck.

Thats pretty well where I'm at. I've been down that path with my dually. Spent shit tons of money, the thing hauled the weight amazing. Steering, brakes, etc were all on point and killer. But a 4 speed auto and a vintage power plant left a lot to be desired..

It was always cool too see the looks and chat with people at the gas station when they saw the thing hauling a ~40' tri-axle gooseneck or whatever the flavor of the week was then.

That said, I've downsized my personal trailer from a 28' (tall) enclosed to a 20' enclosed and now just bought the 20' aluminum car hauler in my last post. And no longer have a fleet of miscellaneous trailers available to me like I did at my last shop. So I'm thinking about moving into a gasser, probably F250 or maybe even just F150. Living at ~5k feet and almost all of my towing going up into higher elevation, I wonder if the 3.5 ecoboost would be a better option than the 6.2, especially for the ~7k pound load I'll be towing 90% of the time I have a trailer hooked to it.

Bought this trailer from a friend for a cross country move. Had thoughts of building out a crawler hauler, but my place in the mountains lacked storage for a trailer this big.

Traded it off to another wheeler for this 20 foot trailer that actually fit in my driveway. Hauled the rig and some gear great. It's going to probably be up for sale soon.

Decided I wanted to go simpler and lighter to make the OBS happy and/or go to a gasser. Found this on sale, 2022 left over for a good price. Haven't hauled the rig on it yet.

 

[SLOWPOKE693]

That truck still makes my pants tight every time I see a picture of it.


I ended up buying this 22 XLT slightly used.....

And then because it pulled my 28' extra height race car trailer so effortlessly we decided to trade that in on a 34' triple axle trailer with a bathroom, windows and a bunch of other amenities that will make staying in it at the races enjoyable.....

 

[GLTHFJ60]

That truck still makes my pants tight every time I see a picture of it.


I ended up buying this 22 XLT slightly used.....


And then because it pulled my 28' extra height race car trailer so effortlessly we decided to trade that in on a 34' triple axle trailer with a bathroom, windows and a bunch of other amenities that will make staying in it at the races enjoyable.....

That's a sweet trailer. Nice truck too.

Why TAG instead of gooseneck though? I get it for a small car hauler or small enclosed, but that thing is pretty big.

 

[SLOWPOKE693]

That's a sweet trailer. Nice truck too.

Why TAG instead of gooseneck though? I get it for a small car hauler or small enclosed, but that thing is pretty big.

Gooseneck was 40' and $20k more and I honestly prefer a TAG trailer. No chance of me destroying the tailgate with that setup vs a gooseneck.