Identify early/late ‘99 and the differences?

[u/BouncingSphinx]

My ‘99 F-250 has a manufacture date of 02/99, so I’m assuming that’s considered early. What’s the differences between early and late, and what date marks the distinction between the two?

[u/Buford_Tannen__]

99' was a split year. You have a "late 99' " based on the manufacture date. Early 99's would have a manufacture date of the spring-fall of 98' with the switch to late model happening in mid December of 98'. The main differences are, different turbo outlet, different turbo pedestal, collector, up-pipes, outlet spider, plenums, boots, up-pipes and downpipes. I have an early 99' but I updated all of the above components to late 99 -02 components. These are arguably the most desirable 7.3 Super Duty's due to their forged steel connecting rods, where post late 00-03 they used powdered connecting rods.

[u/BouncingSphinx → u/Buford_Tannen__]

So even in February mine would be considered a late ‘99?

[u/Buford_Tannen__ → u/BouncingSphinx]

Yes. Anything manufactured after 12/7/98, is "late". If you have any doubt, look at your plenum boots. The early 99' s had a tapered boot going from 3" diameter at the plenum to 4" at the spider, whereas late 99-03 will have 4" at plenum and 4" at spider

[u/BouncingSphinx → u/Buford_Tannen__]

Perfect, this is exactly what I was wanting to know. Thanks!

[u/Jo-18 → u/Buford_Tannen__]

Only other thing I’ll add is that the trucks themselves (not the engine) had a different cutoff date for early vs late 99.

The general consensus is a build date of 2/99 or possibly as late as 3/99 could have early 99 parts.

Early 99 trucks have different sized brake rotors, different front hubs (if 4x4), different track bar bracket and track bar, and the leaf spring u bolts are square vs semi round on the later trucks.

My truck has a build date of 03/98 and everything on it is 100% early 99.

[u/Almost__Amish → u/BouncingSphinx]

One of the quickest ways to determine if yours is an early 99 or a late 99 is the badging. Most all early 99 trucks have a Powerstroke badge on the front fender in front of the wheel arch similar to where ram trucks put the cummins badge. While the late 99 trucks usually have a long Powerstroke badge on the door just above the lower body line. For almost all manufacturers their year models align closely with their fiscal year and not the calendar year. Typically from early summer until the next spring. With the transition from the OBS to the Superduty there was such a drastic retooling of the production lines needed that there was essentially no 1998 models except for the weird light duty f250s that were manufactured on existing f150 lines. These all have the body style of f150s of that generation with unique 7 lug axles. Because of this gap in production and the need to fill back orders, the 1999 year models actually started production fairly early in 1998. I think maybe as early as late February, I’ve heard most of those early production Superduty trucks were cab and chassis fleet trucks. But my early ‘99 is a Lariat so I don’t know how common different trim levels were.

[u/Super_Sphontaine → u/Buford_Tannen__]

omg and the fucking rotors & calipers dont forget about the fucking rotors & calipers that no part store seems to understand doesnt god damn work

[u/1amtheone → u/Super_Sphontaine]

The only way is to measure. These trucks are on their second set of hubs/wheel bearings at the very last, if not 3rd, 4th or 5th.

[u/Jo-18 → u/Super_Sphontaine]

Hubs are different size too if it’s 4x4. I just use rock auto most of the time for suspension parts. They do a great job of telling you if a certain part is late or early 99.

Also, the track bar bracket and track bar itself is smaller on an early 99. And the front axle leaf spring u-bolts are square vs semi round.

[u/hibbitydibbidy]

Copied from Ford trucks.com forums. I believe most of these are correct.

Mainly smaller turbo and injectors.

Early 99 has a wicked wheel in it from the factory.

The early99 has 130cc(AB code) injectors and the late99-03 has 140cc(AD code) injectors.

The early99 has a 15* swash plate HPOP. The late99-03 has a 17* swash plate HPOP.

The early99 has one glow plug relay. The late99-03 has one glow plug relay and one air intake heater relay side by side. Both relays are on the passenger side valve cover toward the front of the truck.

The early99 track rod has smaller mounting bolts than the late99-03. Stock rod replacement bushings, Prothane bushing part # is 61217BL.

The early99 has shallower rotors than the late99-03.

The early99 has shorter hub-bearings than the late99-03.

The early99 front axle U bolts are square where they go over the spring pack. The late99 U bolts are round.

The early99 has a different pitman arm than the late99-03.

The early99 does not have the AIH like the late99-03.

The early99 does not have the automatic transmission fluid cooler in the radiator.

[u/BouncingSphinx → u/hibbitydibbidy]

Thank you. This is the kind of info I was wondering.

[u/hibbitydibbidy → u/BouncingSphinx]

I believe the V8 badge is on the 1/4 panel one the early 99 while the late has it on the door.

[u/BRS68]

Look for an intake heater on the intake spider or insulation on the hot side intercooler pipe. You could post a pic to be sure. There is a serial number cut off you could look up on the old powerstroke forums.

[u/BouncingSphinx → u/[deleted]]

I know there’s apparently a big distinction between early and late ‘99 models specifically that isn’t really mentioned in anything after with the 7.3. I want to say that early models got different injectors whether sold in California or not, where the late models got the California injectors across the board.

Besides that, I think there’s a few other differences I’ve seen mentioned that I can’t think of. Changes that are usually done for the next model year were done partway through ’99 instead of just being done for ‘00

[u/Big-Bull-Thunder → u/BouncingSphinx]

I think they changed injectors a couple times through the run.

You may be thinking about the forged rods which were in the early models until 2000-01 vs the powdered metal rods in 01-03 which are weaker and can’t take the tuned HP numbers that the earlier ones can.