Toying with the idea of trading my 7.3 for the new 6.4. I am interested in hearing only from the guys that have pulled with the 7.3 and now have the 6.4. I have already test drove the 6.4 (empty) and is really quite impressive. I am a little reserved however because ....... dang my 7.3 pulls so dang good.
later
Laudy

 

I had a 99' 7.3 as a work truck and I loved it. The new 6.4's are great, they got the power needed to get the job done. But that 7.3 was one bullet proof beast. If I had the choice to put the 7.3 in my 08' I wouldn't even hesitate, that engine had a lot of potential to produce some major power, and honestly the gas mileage was better.

I couldn't imagine what that motor would be like with a twin turbo on it.

 

I gotta tell ya, the twins in the 7.3 is pretty sweet. . . even with a weak HPOP. I'll let you know how she runs with a new HPOP though

And for the guy thinking of trading in his 7.3. . . . my advice is. . . if it aint broke. . . don't fix it. You love the way it tows. Keep it. IN my opinoin the truck looks better, even if it doesn't have all the "mercedes" luxuries in it. I've never towed with a 6.4, but it does drive nice. But I wouldn't trade it in until you know its a proven motor. Plus with a little tuning, the 7.3 with surpass the 6.4s performance and yes, have always gotten better fuel milage. No emissions crap!
Tim

 

Well here is some first hand facts;
1st- Towing is with the same 5th wheel and driving habits
2nd- 1st truck was a 1999 7.3 3:73's, auto, 4x4 cc long box, super chipped, 4" exhaust
3rd- Present truck 2008 F450 auto, w/4:88's cc, 4x4, long box

Mileage towing with 1st truck, 10 - 12 mpg towing 15 - 17 mpg empty
Mileage towing w/2nd truck (just got home from a trip, today) 8.2 towing mpg 11mpg empty

Loved the 99, but was over weight with the 5th wheel by about 2k.

Love the 08, but not overly impressed with the performance. With the 4:88's you'd think this truck would run circles around the 99 but, it is really close in the way each tow my 5th wheel.

I agree with highflyer.........if the 7.3 aint broke and isn't nickle diming ya, KEEP IT!

The ONLY reason the 08 is in the driveway is te 99 was over loaded and there very well may be a new "Heavier" 5er in our future.

 

Strut61,

Couple of things to think about, 1) The 6.4L is not broken in yet, 2) It is a DRW F450 which is alot heavier than your 99 SRW, 3) The 4.88 gears mean that the 2008 will turn higher RPM's (~600) than the 3.73 at the same speed, 4) The 7.3 was tuned, and if done correctly tuning can increase power and MPG.

So you are not really comparing apples to apples.

 

Blackhat, I understand, that is why I posted the information about the trucks......The man asked about a comparison between 7.3 and 6.4, above are my "Facts". However, If you can understand the differences in vehicles, you pointed out, someone may get some useful information. Like the mileage you'll expect to get towing 15-16k

 

Have a 2002 F350, 7.3L PSD, converted to a dually, towing 15,000# 5th wheel. I was looking at the 08 F450 and a used freightliner. I decided to keep my 7.3 but am going to up-grade the brakes to Power slot Cryo rotors and also swap out the 373 gears to either 410's or 430's. Which would be best??? Not sure of the untested 6.4 and not willing to buy til bugs are worked out. The Freightliner is a bit out of my finacial range and not a good grocery getter.

 

My 2002 7.3 CC LB 4x4 with K/N intake, Hypertech and Turbo back exhaust got about 7.5 -8.5 pulliing my 13k 5ver, and yielded a best 17mpg on a 500 mile (empty) roundtrip to the snow (up and back from sea level to 7k'). My 2006 6.0 Gets similar Gas mileage towing a 17k fver, and slightly less empty(it's a dually). I just hit 10k on the 06 and mileage seems to be creeping up a bit. One would think the 2008's would be superior....time will tell, after we see some of the 6.4's truely dialed in and broken in...

 

my dad drove an 08 from the fire dept. not sure gear ratio, He wasnt all that impressed with it. He said empty his 7.3l pulled much harder than the 6.4l (7.3 has a hypertech programmer). But with 10k pounds behind them its probably a whole different story.


P.S. 7.3 gets 20mpg empty and around 13 to 14 towing.

 

Having owned a 96,00,03 & now and 08 I have some comparisons for ya. If you currently have a 7.3 you will find the 6.4 pulls more like your current motor. The 6.0 seemed to rev more than the 6.4. And I think the linear way the 6.4 moves compared to the 6.0 makes some folks think its not as fast. However the best part about the 6.4 from my view is the NVH change. No diesel smell, its quieter, starts way better than the 6.0, even better than the 7.3. As for which model to pick? You have to decide how much trailering your seriously doing. The 450(which we currently have) deos not come into its own until you pass the 16000 pound range(and the milage is rough but if your pulling that kind of wieght your motor isn't going to make it better). Durability wise the 6.4 is doing just fine @ 7700miles.

 

I traded my06 in on a 08 what a mistake very disappointed whit performance and fuel mileage my 06 was getting 31mpg empty 25 pulling a 18500 fifth wheel and tons of *****.the 08 has 10,000 miles on it now empty the best I can get is 4.5 miles the gallon im afraid to pull my fifth wheel with it........oh well back to the dealer I go on monday,going to try and have them pull 450 software off and put the 350 software on and if that wont work give back mty 06......

 

Jeesus. You need a shovel for that load of BS.

 

HAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAH That's the most ridiculous post I've seen on here in a long time. I think the truck driving 10mph with a honda motor in it MIGHT, MIGHT get 31mpg empty. PSHHHH LMFAO

 

31 MPG?

what you do strip your truck down to the engine transmission and frame only?

 

I smell a troll!