I think I would tend to agree on that one. I Know of 2 people who had 460 powered trucks, one was a 96 F250 4x4 supercab longbed, and another was a 94 f350 4X4 crew cab long bed,neither of which got more than 10mpg loaded or unloaded.
Having that said, I think a 5.8L may be enough to move the truck decently, but it wont be fast for sure. With that kind of mileage, it is going to be pretty tired. Weight wise, they are not as heavy as the current superduties, heck, my cousin's 92 F350 dually diesel 2wd weighs 6200lbs scaled at a yard, which is about as much as my gas 2003 superduty.

 

the 5.8 does make for a pretty quick truck really probably very very close to 7.5 maybe faster maybe slower just doesn't have that torque to pull or haul

 

Say what you want, but I'm not lying. Going 65 mph on the highway it would get 14 consistently. It had 3.55 gears too which probably helped. It's not that unheard of to get mpgs like that when EMPTY with a 460, you just have to drive it nice. Go to the 87-96 forum, there was a post a few weeks back about mpgs and several of the 460 owners were reporting mid teens consistently.

 

low rpms i can get 12 long highway trips low wind i imaging 14 is possible if conditions are right

 

That is quite believable. I also have the 3:55's but I also have the C6, so no overdrive. On the interstate, if I hold it at about 62 mph, I get 13. So if you have the overdrive, 15 doesn't seem out of line. Keep those rpms at 1800, that's where milage is best.

Also on topic, anyone that I've talked to didn't like the 5.8 in anything bigger then a half ton, so I vote that you hold out for the 7.5.

 

Thanks for all the input guys. It really helps to hear other peoples experiences and knowledge. I think I will wait until I find a 460 or maybe a 7.3 with lower mileage. I hadn't thought about the tranny. I won't be using it daily but I do want the power when I do haul. The F250 with the 302 just doesn't do it so I don't want to make that mistake again.
Thanks again for the advice.

 

To answer the original question : Yes, a 5.8L does make sense in a F-350. However, a 7.5L(460) makes even more sense in a F-350. I've had both engines...in F-250HDs, not F-350s, but both had 4.10:1s and E4OD trannies, and the 460 would out pull the 351, and was quicker when unloaded. We also had a 351 in a Bronco. It couldn't out run our 460 pickup.

 

I have a 95 F 350 4x4 regular cab with the 5.8, E4OD, 3.55's, and 265/75-16's(same height but a little wider than stock 235/85-16's). I have never gotten better than 13 with this truck, ever. It gets about 10 in the winter and 11-12 in the summer on average. I have had this truck for about 5 years, and have put about 30k on it. I would trade this thing for a 460 anyday. It is not bad to just drive around, but if I tow it is a slug. Had an 03 F 150 4x4 5.4 with 3.55's that was rated to towabout 1300lbs more than my F 350 according to the manuals. If I was to do it over again I would look for a 460 or a Power Stroke.

Steve

 

Well one thing we all agree on is that a powerstroke especially an obs one is the ultimate choice. you would get great mileage with it..

Personally my 5.8 with a 5 speed and 4:10 was able to move 20'000 all day everyday for a couple years.... All I know is I would never get a 460 again. I sold the truck I was so disgusted with it. Over $80 a day in fuel to do my deliveries (sometimes closer to $100) Doing the same with the 5.8 I was just over $50...... $30 a dayX 22 working day a month i COULDN'T AFFORD THAT THIRSTY PIG. anyway a powerstroke would have made it under $40. But was worth $5000 more

 

I think the 4.10's would give mine a little more get up and go, but I haven't been able to justify the cost to do the gear swap. I have heard from more than one person with the 5 speed in the 5.8 equipped trucks that they get better mileage than the E4OD one like mine.

Steve

 

My OBS gets in the neighborhood of 18-19MPG. Can't really beat that. My Super Duty however pulls 13-14. Maybe I should unlock the hubs LOL

 

I would look for a 95-97 psd. They are hard to find with low miles, but I would think they arent too much more money than a gasser in the same vintage. Saw a nice 97 250 supercab last week for $9k with 110k miles.

 

My 96 F250 has a 5.8 l and it has 230k on it. It runs just fine, down shifts on steep hills but is good. My mpg is around 5-8. I have a lead foot

 

I had a '90 F150 with the 5.8l E4OD and it was just OK at best. Power was decent but it was a PIG. 9-10 mpg all city driving.

I would not get it in anything bigger than an F150.

 

i have a 94 F150 with the 5.8 and it will tow 8 tons of hay with no problem and get better mileage than the 460 I would take it before anything with those gas hogs in them.