I have a 99.5 F350 CCLB 6 speed. I just passed 400K recently and the engine has blow by. I haven't done a compression test but in all reality its going to tell me what I already know. My 3rd gear sychros are gone and it is difficult to shift into OD. So that alone is around 1000 to 1750 for a rebuild. The engine is going to cost (guestimate) 2 to 4K, by the time all is said and done. Worse case scenario 6K all together. The body is starting rust and the bed is in rough shape as well. 2K for a new take off bed on CL.


OR


Do I throw in the towel and buy a newer truck?


Is it worth sinking the money into a 15 yo truck?

 

I think that if a truck is in good condition, it is worth the investment. But from your description, your truck is starting to show it's age. If you are determined to stay with the 7.3, there are a lot of nicer ones on the west coast or the south where salt is not used. My 99.5 does not have any rust. But that does involve travelling to look at trucks for sale. Ford did not do us any favors with the 6.0. That takes out some years of slightly newer trucks that would otherwise be worth looking at.
Another thought, look at RV storage facilities and on websites that have RV's for sale. Those trucks often don't see any road salt and will have mostly highway miles. Tough decision.

 

It sounds like time for another truck.
Do you a new one or anther 7.3. I think that is the real question

 

One thing to throw out when looking around, if you go with a newer truck, what other issues will present themselves.

Maybe looked for a newer 7.3 as suggested by Snakedoc from the West Coast. Keep in mind, the difference in prices. A good 7.3 will run you about $15K. How much will something in the 6.4 or 6.7 cost ya?

Oh can you work on your out of warranty 6.4 or 6.7 the same way you can your 7.3?

I by-pass the 6.0 just because they are in the middle of the pack and be either great or horrible.

 

Well, in all honesty, I was looking at an 07 CCLB black on black with 57K miles for 28K.. I just don't know if I want to finance another vehicle. The NADA value of my truck is only 10K, and in all reality only worth 7.5, 8 tops....

 

Wow, 28K for an 07 seems high but the mileage seems good at 57K miles. I know there have been some 08-10's in my region for the 24-28K with a few more miles.

I have to admit I've thought about selling my 7.3 Excursion and looking for an 05 Excursion so I could have a newer model.

It's a hard decision and I wish you all the best as you work through your options. In all honesty, if you can sell your truck for 7,500 or 8,000... I'd do it and start looking. A truck payment sucks, but if you are in that situation, I'd pass on a rebuild.

The only reason I'm looking to rebuild my 7.3 is because the body is great and the transmission is strong. My motor has blow-by as well, but everything else is really good.

Trucks have more options, but us Excursion owners are very limited in upgrade options.

 

Rust... that's the one I trip over. I don't have rust issues here, so I factored everything else into the equation and shot for restoration. Rusted foundation of a truck limits your returns.

 

Don't be afraid of the 6.0. Do some reading in the 6.0 board and you will find a LOT of info on them.

That 07 is priced high, even with the low miles on it. I've seen a lot of 08-10 trucks in that price range with slightly higher miles.

 

1 repair bill on a 6.7 can run 6k....

 

I'm in somewhat of the boat with my truck. I want to upgrade but need to sell mine for close to enough to buy something different.

My truck has 187K on it, drivetrain is perfect, body not so much.

 

I'm in somewhat of the boat with my truck. I want to upgrade but need to sell mine for close to enough to buy something different.

My truck has 187K on it, drivetrain is perfect, body not so much.

 

I agree with Tugly, rust is the deal breaker. I'm fortunate that mine was from Texas when I got it and there is none. The rubber parts and such is what suffers mainly in the south and west.

IMO: The 6.0 is a great powertrain with some $$$ thrown at it. And they're just as dependable as the 7.3. By now, most I've seen for sale already have the big $$$ work done like studs and deletes. The big difference is the pre and post 04 MY and those are minor changes (a bunch) like Dummy Plugs, Fuel Rails, VGT programming, and things like that.

Sounds as though you've gotten your money from your current vehicle.

If you're not into spending money...... Stay away from the 6.4 and 6.7!

The 6.4 is almost impossible to work on without spending a bunch of $$$. Cooling, EGR, Heads (Valves), and DFP cost $$$$ in both parts and labor.

The 6.7 is much easier to work on but is still having several major issues with about twice the $$$ as the 6.4 for repairs.

 

The 6.4 6.7 are WAY out of my budget. I don't want to spend more than 25K and even that's pushing it. I've worked on my neighbors 6.0 not too terrible. The one im looking at already has a lift kit, studs, exhaust and EGR delete.

 

Then you are ahead on that one

 

Stop the bleeding.
Start looking in a state where they use salt for tequila shots, not to melt snow and ice.

18-20k will buy the cleanest 7.3 you ever saw.
You already know how to work on it. Probably know most of the symptoms and cures for common issues. It only costs 8-900 to ship a truck across the country.

Go with what you know, and keep it clean. When the roads dry two days after a snow -- Wash It. Once the cancer starts, there's not much you can do. That's my vote.