Truck advice needed. What would you buy?

[HCJtractor]

i am confused. Is the 6.0 diesel in the 03 and 04 a decent engine? How does it compare to my '96 7.3 in terms of power, durability, and towing performance. (I realize other things such as gear ratios affect this but just in general) I also wondered how a SRW '04 F350 compares to the towing specifications of my '96 F250 7.3. Obviously, I have not compared the door stickers on ratings.

 

[powerstroke444e]

If it was me I would stick with the truck you have and I would agree with builder upgrade the tranny & have a pro that does lots of e40d's with the upgrades you have seen. If the truck is not a rust bucket you it will do everything you are doing just as good if not better than a newer truck with a 6.0l truck and the parts are easier to find on the old 7.3 if you have a problem (but I do bleed IH red).

 

[Harold_J]

That is the thing like powerstroke444e said, if it's not a rust bucket, then for 4000 miles a year I would keep it. If it's rusted that's a different story. I guess "upstate SC" isn't much of a rust zone unless you mean by the shore or the truck spent its younger years someplace else.

 

[Diamondpilot]

i am confused. Is the 6.0 diesel in the 03 and 04 a decent engine? How does it compare to my '96 7.3 in terms of power, durability, and towing performance. (I realize other things such as gear ratios affect this but just in general) I also wondered how a SRW '04 F350 compares to the towing specifications of my '96 F250 7.3. Obviously, I have not compared the door stickers on ratings.

The 03 and early 04 6.0's are the least desired. I have a 2004 6.0, late build date, and its been trouble free. The 05 and later 6.0's are the best.

As for the 7.3 its a good tower but does not hold a candle to the 6.0 when it comes to raw power. No matter what others say the 6.0 was a step in the right direction for Ford. There were problems with the early motors but after that they were sorted out and very dependable. I also have a 2006 F-350 SRW 6.0 and it has a tow rating of about 16,000#. I do this all the time and more without no complaints from the truck. The big differnce between my F-250 and the F-350 is the tongue weight the truck will handle, about 1,500# more.

The weak point of the 7.3 is if equipped with a auto tranny that is usually the first thing to go. Now that being said I had a 7.3 that went strong for well over 100,000 miles, was used as a marina truck and farm truck, and never gave me days problem except for the cam pos sensor. I did put a larger cooler on the tranny and changed the fluid every 25,000 miles.

Chris

 

[HCJtractor]

Thanks for the reply Powerstroke, and I agree. I do plan to keep what I have if all works out. My shop is still breaking it down and will give me some options. I called Suncoast and they quote $4675 for trans, converter, and tow package (ouch!) My local mechanic says they also sell a reconditioned trans that they have built with heavy duty components that they warranty, and I guess it boils down to whether I trust him, but they have been in business for a long time, are well thought of, and service a lot of the industrial accounts around here.

As far as wondering about the 6.0 vs the 7.3, I was just trying to get informed, as someday, I will need a newer truck, and just wanted to be able to know what to look for.

 

[powerstroke444e]

Understand the looking as I have been looking my self but I can't find something I really like that will do what I want it to do or that don't come with a payment I don't want. If the local shop gives you a warranty and upgrades to heavier components and they work on heavy duty stuff you should be good for several yrs, by then you will find a big/better one anyways.

 

[HCJtractor]

The 03 and early 04 6.0's are the least desired. I have a 2004 6.0, late build date, and its been trouble free. The 05 and later 6.0's are the best.

As for the 7.3 its a good tower but does not hold a candle to the 6.0 when it comes to raw power. No matter what others say the 6.0 was a step in the right direction for Ford. There were problems with the early motors but after that they were sorted out and very dependable. I also have a 2006 F-350 SRW 6.0 and it has a tow rating of about 16,000#. I do this all the time and more without no complaints from the truck. The big differnce between my F-250 and the F-350 is the tongue weight the truck will handle, about 1,500# more.

The weak point of the 7.3 is if equipped with a auto tranny that is usually the first thing to go. Now that being said I had a 7.3 that went strong for well over 100,000 miles, was used as a marina truck and farm truck, and never gave me days problem except for the cam pos sensor. I did put a larger cooler on the tranny and changed the fluid every 25,000 miles.

Chris

Good info Chris! That was just what I need to know. I am going to try to fix up my '97 as it is pretty good otherwise (no rust), and in the future look to get a newer one. Sounds like a '05 and up is the way to go, and the prices will drop. Besides, I have to fix my old one anyway, as I surely can't sell it if the trans is slipping. So looks like I will let my shop rebuild it, or have them place a reconditioned trans, and hope the motor lasts for several more years. Then sell it and find a later model.

 

[Builder]

Thanks for the reply Powerstroke, and I agree. I do plan to keep what I have if all works out. My shop is still breaking it down and will give me some options. I called Suncoast and they quote $4675 for trans, converter, and tow package (ouch!) My local mechanic says they also sell a reconditioned trans that they have built with heavy duty components that they warranty, and I guess it boils down to whether I trust him, but they have been in business for a long time, are well thought of, and service a lot of the industrial accounts around here.

Ask him where the converter comes from. Ask him if they'll throw a trans go jr. shift kit in there. Worlds of difference.....can't believe how cheap ford made these transmissions. It's amazing what a car company will do to save a buck. The stock converter is no better than what comes out of a car.

As far as wondering about the 6.0 vs the 7.3, I was just trying to get informed, as someday, I will need a newer truck, and just wanted to be able to know what to look for.

Do yourself a favor and just skip the whole 6L truck genre altogether. You might get lucky and get a good one, but thousands of owners had horrible problems with them. You'd be better off with a GM or Dodge product from '03-'06.

 

[Diamondpilot]

GM and Dodge have some good features but no truck is 100% The GM suffers in the chassis and suspension department plus the total package is just not built as well as the Ford offerings. While the Cummins is awsome that is about it when it comes to Dodge.

Just my $.02

Chris

 

[devildog1]

Well!!!!!!!!
I have to put my two cents in once again. If you want a real truck that can handle what it was designed to tow & haul Ford is the choice period. Every manufactor has good and bad things on them, I've tryed them all and my 2005 F350 PSD 4X4 tows and handles the weight so much better then my late GM diesel or my Dodge diesel ever could. Of course this is my opinion, but I have traveled across this great country of ours many times pulling around my 12,000 lb. RV. Just returned from an other western trip, from N.Y. to southern CA. and every state between, 8,500 miles on my 2005 Ford, not one bit of a problem.
DevilDog