ok so what happened to the 1998 f-250 and f-350? it goes from 97 to 99 no 98? just curious

i've wondered myself at times too

googled and....
edmunds thinks they exist
http://www.edmunds.com/ford/f250/1998/index.html

this guy owns one (appears to be an LD)
http://autotechrepair.suite101.com/article.cfm/ford_f250

i don't think a 250 HD or 350 existed. i guess they were "retooling" or whatever you call it for the new models

ok i guess im not COMPLETELY insane. i was looking around and couldn't find one at all. i was like "they had a new body style in 99 but nothing in 98?"

If Ernie was selling Fords at the time, he'll know for sure, but I think they did skip the '98 model year. Maybe built '97s a little longer than usual, and started selling '99s early.

Jeep did the same thing around the same time with the Wrangler, IIRC, when they changed from the YJ to the TJ.

In 98 all you have is a light duty.

That's weird. Learn somethin' new everyday.

U wont find a 98. We bought 2 in 98 a 97 style Titled 98 and a SD that was titled 99 .

The '97 had an extended model year, then went directly to the '99 in the SD. There was a little story there- Ford initially planned on the SD having the same nose as the F150/LD 250. If you recall, that new style was very controversial back then, and they did a crash-redesign of the SD to a more traditional look. As a result, it was a late intro.

Same as the '83 Corvette. Offficially, there aren't any- although GM built a handfull for testing that were never sold.

Any idea where to find pics of the original design? I tried to Google it, but I don't have a clue what to search for...

john112deere said:

Any idea where to find pics of the original design? I tried to Google it, but I don't have a clue what to search for...

Click to expand...

The 250 LD looked just like the 97-01 F150s. Here's an F250 light duty:

I know what the LD F-250 looks like... I meant the F-250HD and F-350. From the sound of what Ernie said, it wasn't the same exact bodywork (don't think the bigger engines would fit under it anyway) just looked like it. But maybe I misunderstood...

john112deere said:

Any idea where to find pics of the original design? I tried to Google it, but I don't have a clue what to search for...

Click to expand...

I have never seen any. I'm told it mimicked the LD front nose.

Chris- nice Honda there in the pic. Looks familiar.

polarbear said:

I have never seen any. I'm told it mimicked the LD front nose.

Click to expand...

Huh. I'd think it'd have to sit a little higher in the front, to clear the Powerstroke and get sufficient airflow... Might've worked well, or maybe not.

Glad they changed it, though. Both the LD and SD have grown on my since they were introduced (hated 'em both at first sight), but I still don't like the light duty styling that much. The original Super Duty, on the other hand, I now really like. (Maybe that's just relative to what they've done with it since...)

john112deere said:

Huh. I'd think it'd have to sit a little higher in the front, to clear the Powerstroke and get sufficient airflow... Might've worked well, or maybe not.

Glad they changed it, though. Both the LD and SD have grown on my since they were introduced (hated 'em both at first sight), but I still don't like the light duty styling that much. The original Super Duty, on the other hand, I now really like. (Maybe that's just relative to what they've done with it since...)

Click to expand...

How much since????













Just flipp'n chit atcha, Ian.

Blue Goose said:

How much since????

Click to expand...

Round about 2005, as a matter of fact.

Don't like this grille anwhere near as well as the earlier one:


Harley trucks look good, but don't come equipped the way I like (extended cab longbed, manual trans).

Ohh I'm opposite of your Ian. I LOVE the newer/flatter grills a lot more than the original super duty grills. My favorite generation of Super Duty's was the one BEFORE the current generation, with the grills like that picture you posted.

I did not know that bit about the redesign - good thing they changed em.

I also liked the '05-07 the most out of the superdutys, but my budget only allowed an '03.

Captain p4 said:

I did not know that bit about the redesign - good thing they changed em.

I also liked the '05-07 the most out of the superdutys, but my budget only allowed an '03.

Click to expand...

Any motor problems with yours so far Cap'n?

It is my understanding that in '05 a new bumper law required Ford to lower their front bumpers on the Superduty and that's part of the difference that you see besides the obvious grill change. Note the location of the tow hooks are the same on both examples here.

Could well be, and I do prefer the earlier bumper. But it's the grille and headlight/blinkers I really don't like the change in...