I am new to this forum. Just joined today. I had always wanted to replace our company's Chevy one ton with a ford w/ a Power Stroke. I had no idea that they had replaced the 7.3 with the 6.0. It was a disaster. Since I learned the timeline of the different versions I wanted to have one in a truck. Never bought a truck,so I want one in the Chinook.
I have a 1996 Chinook motor home chassis that was totaled. The 7.3 Power Stroke and drive train were not damaged and runs fine. I want to get a later model ('05 or newer) Chinook. The problem is that you can hardly find one with a Power Stroke. Even I f I could, I really don't want one of the newer versions. Everyone of the newer Chinooks that I have found has a V-10. I absolutely am not going to feed one of those. If I could find a diesel model, I assume the 7.3 would bolt in place. Yes? Does anyone know if the 7.3 would bolt up to replace a V-10? I really don't care to chop on motor mounts.
Yes I know it would be a crossbreed but I truly don't care. It would make it a much better vehicle to operate. It would have much better mileage, torque and engine life. I've never heard anything good about the V-10 in a Chinook, only bad. Our old one got 15 mpg and 17 if I only went 65 or less. If anybody knows the answer, I'd love to know it.

 

That would be a significant amount of work either way. All the electronics are different between the 7.3 and 6.0. If you are wanting a newer model with the 7.3 then you may want to consider a 2002 or 2003 model with the 7.3. Granted you have a donor vehicle which is great but you will have to gut it all to make it work and I am not sure how you would make the gauges/dash work

 

The 7.3L is not a direct bolt in replacement for the V10. You'll need to take the trans that came with the 7.3L because the V10 trans won't bolt to the 7.3L. I don't know about motor mounts, but I'd bet they are different. You would also need all the wiring and the computer that came with the 7.3L. The 7.3L weighs quite a bit more than the V10 so you would need to change the front springs, too.