Ford 6.0 diesel; the good, the bad, the ugly?

[countrybumpkin]

There's probably a reason why the price is only 6900 after all.

Probably because it’s a regular cab, 2WD, manual windows locks and rubber floor mat, 14 year old truck.

 

[Jstpssng]

^^^^^
That may be the case, but how many decent ton trucks do you know of in that price range? Not meant to be snarly, if they are out there I would like to know about them. As stated before my criteria is below the rust belt on the eastern seaboard; clean, manual shift, payload of at least 2 tons, towing capacity of 12000. I'm leaning toward gas, as they are less apt to have been molested. I don't want to deal with somebody's mickey mouse lift kit or tuner.

 

[4570Man]

^^^^^
That may be the case, but how many decent ton trucks do you know of in that price range? Not meant to be snarly, if they are out there I would like to know about them. As stated before my criteria is below the rust belt on the eastern seaboard; clean, manual shift, payload of at least 2 tons, towing capacity of 12000. I'm leaning toward gas, as they are less apt to have been molested. I don't want to deal with somebody's mickey mouse lift kit or tuner.

Not many. A pretty decent Duramax or 2000s body 7.3 will cost $10,000. It’s really probably not worth that much but I wouldn’t sell my 1992 dump truck for $6900.

 

[Jstpssng]

^^^^
I expect that it will take me around 8-10K to get what I want, before adding a dump kit. When something like this comes up though, I do stop and think about it.

 

[4570Man]

I’d recommend paying up to get a factory dump. Adding one later isn’t quick or cheap.

 

[5030]

Still have my '97 F 350 7.3 4x4 long bed 4 door with forged rods and no emissions crap. Runs like a top (use Archoil additive in the oil and fuel). Starts just fine in the winter and summer, no cab rattles, no cracked dash. Rides like a lumber wagon unloaded but it usually has a truck camper in the bed anyway. Might be a bit down on power compared to the new ones but being an OBS truck, no need to pull the cab to work on the motor, if it needs motor work, which it never has and I bought it new in 1997.

I'll take the solid axles (high portal front, corporate full floater rear) any day over IFS. Simple as a rock and durable as one as well.

Just saw a 97 just like mine for sale at a Ford dealer. 32 grand. Mine is mint just like that and no tuner crap, all stock, straight pipe and coolant filter. Thats it. Manual hubs, Alcoa forged wheels, XLT and everything works and has worked since new. It's a head turner and it's not for sale either.

I prefer the OBS body over all of them.

 

[Btown]

The 7.3 is the most overrated engine in history IMO. They run forever without exploding which is a pretty high standard for a Ford diesel, but the cab noise is awful, shakes and rattles awful, the cold starting is awful, the power is just ok, and they’re heavy. Give me a Duramax or a Cummins without the Dodge over a 7.3 anytime. As to owing a 6.0 if 100 people jumped off a bridge and 30 lived would you have to try it or learn from observation?

The Duramax was the quietest of the group, but the Cummins from those days made the 7.3 sound like a Prius. My 7.3 starts fine at 10F without plugging it in. She is a little noisy till it warms up, but it’s a diesel. New ones are nice and quiet, but will they still be running in 20 years?

 

[Btown]

The problem with the 6.0 when it first came out, was it was Fords first electronically controlled diesel. The Ford techs really didn't have an idea on how to fix them. They did a lot of trial and error and a fair amount of early models were guinea pigs for the techs. A lot of trucks were ruined by guys that just didn't know how to fix them, although they will blame the tuck. International and Ford tried to quickly train up everyone and right the ship. They did eventually.

With this being the first electronically controlled diesel, the turner world really exploded because now with a tune, one could get 150 extra horsepower with just uploading a tune. There was not a real knowledge base on knowing what injection duration was and how it can blow an engine, they just turned up the fuel and lots of problems happened. Now most turners know how to keep the engine safe, back in 2004 it was the wild wild west.

The other thing I like about the Ford 6.0, every fix can be done with Ford Motorcraft parts. A person doesn't need to know a lot about the after market companies to fix their truck. They are also pretty easy to work on. Most guys can work on them in their garage without a lot of specially tools.

Ya Ford has tons issues with the 6.0, but didn’t International state they didn’t have many issues with their trucks with the 6.0, but Internationals were lower horsepower. I believe that was the key. They didn’t have the right tech to make the hp and keep it happy. I still see quite a few 6.0 around. They can’t all be that bad, since they stopped making them in Ford trucks some 12 years ago. They were put in Econoline vans for a few years after that.

 

[spitter]

I have a 99 v10 extended cab and a 01 crew cab dually 7.3 the crew cab is a much better ride than the extended cab . I have driven my buddies 18 ram dually quiet a lot and it is definitely a lot more refined truck but for 80 g's it aint worth it for me. You could buy 4 7.3 in good shape for that . All I think of when I drive his truck those extra creature comfort things are nice but it's just another thing to break. Now I sound like the old timers who wouldn't buy a truck with power windows locks or automatics. Maybe they were on to something . It is just a truck not a caddo or a Lincoln . V10 has 400,000 7.3 has 300,000 both are daily drivers.:drink:

 

[grsthegreat]

I have a 04 f350 with the 6.0 and I have had very very few issues. I did have the egr workaround done, but that’s it. Have 139k miles on it. Lots of power to tow my Gooseneck horse trailer. Have no intention to sell it.