So I am looking at a 6.0 . it has everything seemingly done to bulletprrof it EXCEPT the head gaskets and studs. How mandatory is this? Thru my research the other items req'd to call it bulletproof has been done except this. He said mainly folks runnign lotsa boost do this. true..put off...??

PLEASE do not turn this into a debate on 7.3 6.4 etc which is better, I would avoid 6.0's like the plague etc.

I know my risks I amnjust trying to minimize them...and i believe they should be studded and new gaskets but asking for opinions on this item

 

I drive a 2007 F-250 4x4 CCSB 6.0L with over 120,000 miles (200,000 kms.). Let's see, I still have all eight original injectors, original FICM, original oil cooler, original EGR cooler, original EGR valve and original turbo. I change my oil every 3,000 miles (5,000 kms.) and my fuel filters every other oil change. I've owned my truck since September of 2011 when it had 62,000 miles (100,000 kms.).

 

This one is sitting at 150k miles. The current owner has spent a lot of cash on it already, the current asking price is fair/low. and I am seriously thinking about buying it this sunday.
Thanks for your input.

 

How do you plan on employing the rig that your in the market for? If your really looking to get its keep out of it and pulling a load bigger then your average camper, I'd probably try and negotiate the cost of a stud job.
If it's just a daily driver/weekend camping rig, or pulling a sideXside with a wheeler in the bed, I'd say it'll be fine, but if you plan on pulling a bobcat and or ehm over loaded dump trailer, I'd have the studs done.
Ask me why, do ya? Well the difference of that little and or cost me over 8k not counting lost time. Still drove it to an from bout 2 weeks, but she certainly wasn't working.
Was a completely stock 03 had about a buck an half on it at the time.

 

I plan on pulling about 5k of trailer and quads. Not a daily driver just a weekend tow vehicle and the occasional snow day where I need 4wd.
My next question is how much does a stud/gasket job run ? I plan on calling a few local diesel shops in town and ask this question so I know what to expect to pay before putting her into circulation pulling. I have made no commitments to buy I simply want to do my due diligence before pulling the trigger...what could I expect to pay to get it reliable and remove the known flaws.

 

You shouldn't own a 6.0L unless you can afford a $5,000 breakdown. Period. I don't care how bulletproof you think it is. You also should pay more than $5,000 less for a Ford with a 6.0L than another brand of the same diesel truck. That's about how blue book goes.

 

229K on mine and I've yet to put $5K into repairs on it. But I've only had it eleven years. I'm sure it'll break today. Or tomorrow. Or Monday. Monday for sure.

 

A BIG amen!
FAR more 6.0's have expensive break downs than not.
It would be silly to say otherwise.

 

If headstuds are the only thing your worried about you need to go too the 6.0 forum and read the tech folders the buying guide. You need to have a way to read live data to check on the health of the truck. I have almost 180k on mine. I have no intentions of pulling the heads until the gaskets fail. It's my DD and tow rig. Stock except egr update. They can be great trucks. Contrary to what allot of people think they usually don't just break. If you have gauges do the maintenance and pay attention to your truck you can usually see a problem happening. There are some things that just fail but usually there are warnings. Also at 150k you are nearing needing ball joints, wheel bearings, tire rods,u joints, etc. Unless the owner has a stack of receipts showing work done you can't assume anything. What does he say has been done to bullet proof? Upgraded egr cooler or delete? Stand pipes and dummy plugs? Bullet proof oil cooler upgrade? The 03_04' have a hpop pump that is known to fail around the 150k-200k Mark. Has that been changed or upgraded? Fuel pressure reg. Upgraded to the blue spring update? ficm rebuilt with a upgraded and warrantied unit? Updated water pump? Only oem fuel and oil filters and caps? Updated turbo oil feed and drain tube? CAC boots replaced by 150k the hot side will be oil soaked and getting weak if they have never been changed. I'm sure I'm forgetting something.