Recconendations for older diesel

[4570Man]

I’ve seen 7.3s in school buses but never a 6.0.

 

[dwalk19]

Which ford was it that needed to have the cab removed and what the problem that needed to be repaired

 

[dwalk19]

I'm seeing ads like this and the truck has 135k, and it seems like diesels have no problems going 250k, i can probably sell my 2500 hemi (which is getting rust underneath body good just everything underneath is rusting, like they parked in wet grass its whole life) i can probably sell now with plow for close to that much before body starts rusting bad

 

[Snobdds]

I致e seen 7.3s in school buses but never a 6.0.

international put them in thousands of school busses. The busses needed no EGR and they used a ELC coolant, very few problems.

The girdle or bed plate on the 6.0 is massive, probably because of the bus application. I have never seen a piston out the side of that motor...ever. The bottom end does not go out on that motor, it can take a beating.

All late model ford trucks need the cab removed for major work, but its engineered for that. They can be off in a few hours. Most mechanics prefer it because its easier to do the repair and the job is of higher quality.

Don't buy a tuned truck and read all the material out there...there is tons of it.

 

[Btown]

Which ford was it that needed to have the cab removed and what the problem that needed to be repaired

2008-2010 with the 6.4L diesel

 

[4570Man]

Which ford was it that needed to have the cab removed and what the problem that needed to be repaired

Probably all of them. I sent my buddy this picture because he had a v10 ford and you couldn’t do anything with the back 2 cylinders. The 5.4 is no better. Really stupid design IMO. There’s plenty of room to move the motor forward. The fan shroud is a foot deep.

 

[4570Man]

international put them in thousands of school busses. The busses needed no EGR and they used a ELC coolant, very few problems.

The girdle or bed plate on the 6.0 is massive, probably because of the bus application. I have never seen a piston out the side of that motor...ever. The bottom end does not go out on that motor, it can take a beating.

All late model ford trucks need the cab removed for major work, but its engineered for that. They can be off in a few hours. Most mechanics prefer it because its easier to do the repair and the job is of higher quality.

Don't buy a tuned truck and read all the material out there...there is tons of it.

Pulling a cab regardless of of how easy isn’t work for the average individual. I’ve pulled a couple of cabs with a boom pole and a forklift but there’s no good way to strap them. You really need a 2 post lift with adjustable arms to pull a cab without risk of damage.

 

[goeduck]

Pulling a cab regardless of of how easy isn’t work for the average individual. I’ve pulled a couple of cabs with a boom pole and a forklift but there’s no good way to strap them. You really need a 2 post lift with adjustable arms to pull a cab without risk of damage.

Right, but for a mechanic set up for it as mine is, they prefer to take the cab off for significant repairs.

 

[4570Man]

Right, but for a mechanic set up for it as mine is, they prefer to take the cab off for significant repairs.

Some jobs are better left to the professionals, but I prefer to do my own wrenching. I don’t know how you’d afford to drive an old truck otherwise. And they prefer pulling the cab over what other option? I pulled the fenders and front end which you’re probably going to have to do to pull the cab anyway to for this engine swap. I can’t imagine wanting to pull the cab too. Even if you are setup for it it takes more time and room.

 

[Raspy]

I would NEVER buy a truck that had to have the cab pulled to do likely repairs. Are you serious!

The estimates I've heard reported over and over was 10-12 hours to R&R the cab. Plus the repairs. Even if it's half that, are you serious! Pull the cab off!

I do not care if the mechanic wants to pull the cab off to do the work to make his life easier. I don't want to pay shop rates for hours of work just to get to the part that needs to be replaced. And if I wanted to do the work myself, no way do I want to pull the cab to do it.

It amazes me that so many guys will make excuses for Ford engineering. It must be a cult thing.

The engines after the 7.3 caused the biggest warrantee disaster in Fords history (research this for yourself). So many guys talk about how the engines can be modified to work. So what? Why should anyone have to pay to re-design and void the warrantee and alter the emissions equipment just so the engine won't blow up? And the dealers are charging by the hour to pull cabs to fix them.

The OP, dwalk19 is asking for advice about buying a used diesel to save some money and get more pulling power. How can anybody of good conscience recommend to him to buy a 6.0 Ford? Even though some of you have apparently had excellent service from one, the problems are very well documented and a huge problem for Ford.

I know that brand loyalty knows no bounds, but look at the Cummins proven reliability and the ease of servicing them, if needed. No cab removal, one cylinder head instead of two, easily accessed turbo and injectors. Water pumps can be replaced quickly. And a reliability record that cannot be beat. The newer ones have excellent automatic transmissions and for many years they've had a Mercedes manual transmission available that is very good.

I've put 500,000 miles on three Cummins and the only engine repairs to date have been two water pumps. Two of those trucks are tuned for more power and are run hard in the mountains while towing. One of those needed a new HD torque converter to handle the power. None of them had to be re-designed to keep running an none of them have had the cabs removed to be worked on.