A few questions . . .

[skirch56]

To start with I am new here, and planning to buy my first truck, I've had two explorers up to this point. Here's some backround . . .

Three years ago my dad traded a 96 F250 with 94,000 miles, 460 V8 and five speed, for a new 2004 F250 Diesel. Both trucks are extended cab, long box trucks. The old truck showed up on a local lot, with only 104,000 miles, about a week ago and we have been considering the idea of buying it back. It's still as clean as the day we traded it.

The first question has to do with the rear end. The 96 has 4.10 gears, and the 04 has 3.73 gears, because its the lowest they offer now on a new diesel. If we get this truck, he would like to swap gears, because the 4.10 gears better suite the truck's uses on our farm. My question is, is it possible to swap the gears?

Second question, this truck (96), and as I have heard, other trucks of this model with this engine have a chronic problem. The aluminum heads tend to warp when hot causing an exhaust leak, and a ticking noise. What are my options to correct this?

Third question, the truck has a chrome DMI bumper. And as some of you know, farm work can be hard on a truck, and the bumper on this is probably the part in the worst condition on this whole truck. I recently heard you can reskin the bumper, or just replace the chrome part itself, but I do not know where to look.

Fourth question, all 4 center caps have fallen off of this truck. Where can I find replacements with out spending an arm and a leg?

Fifth question, I want to do something with the air intake to add more power, but chiefly better the gas milage. Whats around for parts and where can I get them?

Sixth question, Do you fellas have any other suggestions for power and or gas milage upper?

[75K30]

Welcome to the site.
I am puzzled, why would you have the desire to take a fairly new truck apart, and swap gears from an older one with over 100K miles. Regardless of whether or not you desire to have 3.73's in the diesel, or the other way around. Why would'nt you just buy a new set of gears for either truck? That whole swap thing does not make sense to me.
For your second question, the heads only have a problem with spitting spark plugs randomly,although it occurerd in the later years more often. It does leak at the exhaust manifolds, and simply installing new gaskets will keep you going another 100K miles.
For your bumber needs, I am assuming that you are talking about your rear bumper, and even though the center can be seperated from the chrome shell, and the plastic can be removed, it wil be very difficult to just purchase the chrome portion. I also believe that if you could find someplace to sell you just that, it would not be cost effective. If you tear up bumpers every 10 years, just buy another one, they are not that expensive when you consider that the last one lasted you as long as it did.
Center caps can be purchased at any of your local tire supply stores, unless you are looking for factory plastic ones. Those are easiest to buy on evil-bay
The last one can be answered with one easy reply. That truck is a full size 3/4 ton truck. It was designed to be fuel a miser. That 460 will consume as much as you can feed it, my biggest suggestion for keeping decent mileage, is to keep your foot out of it. Save your money on all of the "gas saving gizmos", none of them are going to work enough to justify the expense of purchasing. And none of them will make that big a difference. Get you a decent servicable filter, and keep it clean enough to flow. With 100K miles on the clock, don't expect a hot rod, and remember what the big truck is designed to do. Sounds like a nice truck.

[skirch56]

thanks for the info. The rear end was just an idea, I didnt even think about the mile difference, but its a good point. I figured on putting a K&N filter in it too. I looked on ebay, but I didnt find much for centers, and I am talking about the stock ones. And as I have noticed, any truck of the same model, most are missing the rears anyway. The question I have is, will the centers off of later model fords fit on mine, fronts and back.

[75K30]

Yes and no. The lugs after 99 are metric and the older ones were not. So some modification to the clips will have to be done. Does this mean they will not fit? No they can be made to go on, but seem to fall off quite a bit easier because they do not fit correctly. I hav seen some last for years, and some fall of in a few miles. Probably better to find the right ones that fit correctly. I think I remember plenty of wheel companies making OEM replacement copies for older wheels. I will dig around, and post up some findings.
I am going to get shot for saying this, but the K&N is a decent idea, but don't be fooled, they do not flow that well. They have some advantages because they can be cleaned, but most people clean them incorrectly, and damage them by using compressed air, or some type of heat source to dry them Then they usually use too much oil, and clog the filter in no time at all. I do use them, but for one other reason. They are good for water, and mud applications. My rides see plenty of the sticky stuff, and wet paper filters are ****. I clean my K&N's after about every trip, and I run pre-filters, and take along an extra filter in the event that I ruin one on my trip. By all means install one, but don't expect a rocketship that is going to get 20 mpg, afterwords. Most proples expectations of these are just way too high.

[skirch56]

Ok, so do you have any other suggestions as far as replacement air filters go?