I had this ame dilemna when i chose my truck. In the end I chose the tried tested and true 7.3 over the 6 liter. I actually paid more for a lower mileaged 7.3 then similiar 6 liter trucks.
Things to watch for on 7.3 trucks is the cps, and the STOCK autos are weak. All in all they have been proven to be the more reliable of the two. Less power and speed with generally better fuel economy.
The things to watch for in a 6 liter truck can be the head gaskets, turbo's and i believe they are notorious for the oil leak. (or have they got that figured?? im not sure)
The torqueshift isnt bulletproof by any means either. Our one shop truck was a 03 6 liter with the torqueshift. It went through a few trannies in less then 150,000 kms on it. I have a buddy at work that has a 05 king ranch and he took out his head gaskets, turbo, and the tranny all while towing a 30 foot 5th wheel travel trailer.
Both trucks have their problems, ya just gotta decide which problems ya want I really recomend checking out the 6 liter forums, and the 7.3 liter forums and do some checking into the major problems that both trucks have.
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$Sheldon$
2003 F-250 supercab shortbox 4x4 lariat
~Everythings legal man as long as ya dont get caught~
Thanks for for all the input. Im going to test drive the 04 6.0 today after work. I doubt I will sell my current truck to get it, I just want to see what a diesel feels like compared to my 93 351W before I put any more money in it. 4.88 gears ($1000)
Man once you drive a diesel you will be hooked! It doesnt matter if its an old 6.9, an older 7.3, a newer 7.3, a 6 liter or a 6.4. Theres just something about them that is a different kind of cool then a gasser!
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$Sheldon$
2003 F-250 supercab shortbox 4x4 lariat
~Everythings legal man as long as ya dont get caught~
Man once you drive a diesel you will be hooked! It doesnt matter if its an old 6.9, an older 7.3, a newer 7.3, a 6 liter or a 6.4. Theres just something about them that is a different kind of cool then a gasser!
Anit that the truth! well said
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Chris
2003 F350 7.3 Auto CC LB SRW FX4 35's, 6637, Foil delete, 4" straight pipe, DP-tuner 40Tow, 80Econ, 120Race, 140Smoke, Fully Built Trans, Autometer sport comp gauges.
2002 V10 Ex "work" truck, rebuit trans with shift kit.
They say the early 6.0's from 03 and 04 were bad. I have a buddy who just bought an 04 f250 with 44k on it. Runs like a top. I have an 06 and haven't had any trouble. If your looking at the 6.0 diesel, I would look for the 05-07 model. What out on the 7.3's, as the oil pans sometimes rust on them.
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Joe
2006 F250 4x4 Reg cab 6.0 PSD.
7.3 vs 6.0 only, 7.3 hands down. Reliability, fuel economy, and can be upgraded to stock 6.0 HP an 700Ft/lbs no problem.
But pretty much everything with a 6.0 truck is going to be better, especially after the 05 update. Sadly, the 7.3 equiped trucks are getting old.
The 4R100 tranny with the 7.3 sucks bigtime, but the Torqshift is the most bulletproof stock auto I've ever driven. We have about 150,000 miles combined ambulance duty with 3 trucks and have never had a problem with the Torqshift. The 6.0 engines in the two 04s have been total nightmares though.
Thanks for for all the input. Im going to test drive the 04 6.0 today after work. I doubt I will sell my current truck to get it, I just want to see what a diesel feels like compared to my 93 351W before I put any more money in it. 4.88 gears ($1000)
oh let me tell you, you'll never look back. i swapped out my 95 351 on the 04 and have NOT looked back one bit. that 351 hated to pull anything (3.55 gears didn't help anything) and really didn't get all that good of mileage. compared to that thing, i'll never look back.
__________________ Ryan
2004 F-250 6spd Crew Cab 4x4 3.73, 235/85R16
K&N Cold Air Intake
Magnaflow 4" Cat Back
I stopped buy the dealer and looked at again. It looks real nice, inside and out. The bed looks like its normally used. Then I looked under the hood. Thats when reallity set in. I realized I couldnt afford to get it repaired if it broke down. Nothing looked familier. For now im sticking with my old 93. Thanks for all the info.
I stopped buy the dealer and looked at again. It looks real nice, inside and out. The bed looks like its normally used. Then I looked under the hood. Thats when reallity set in. I realized I couldnt afford to get it repaired if it broke down. Nothing looked familier. For now im sticking with my old 93. Thanks for all the info.
Shoot, man -- I had a '91 F250 4x4 reg cab Lb with a 460 and 4.10s and I wouldn't trade it for your truck! That thing was a total BEAST for a gasser. Then again, my '99 PSD would eat it's lunch. And my '07 6.0 would eat the 7.3's lunch. I've owned all 3 and my '99 (that was mildly tuned) can't hold a candle to my stock '07 -- I don't care if it's towing, mileage, comfort, turning, capacity, whatever you want to compare, not a candle...
No hard feelings, just my $.02 worth...
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'07 F350 SRW SC/LB, 6.0 PSD/Auto, 4x4 -- SuperHitch w/ custom 16" SuperTruss, Tork Lift Camper Tie-Downs, Rancho RS 9000X Shocks, Air Lift Air Springs, BFG A/Ts 305/65/18E, GO Industries Mud Flaps.
7.3 all the way. I got the last run of 7.3 in 03 and then the 6.0 engine came out and talked to alot of people including my father in law that had one, injector problems are big in the 03-04 models, wiring harness problems right from the get go.
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Mike 2003 f-250 XLT Superduty CC 7.3 SRW, SB, auto, 4x4 373 gears S-B cold air intake w snorkel, WW, CCV Mod, SC programmer, Isspro 3 pillar, foil delete, mbrp 4 in T409 duals, stock 16s 285 Yoko,s A-T, Bilsteins, Zoodad Mod, ARE cap, Running lights, CrimeStopper Alarm w remote start, Cobra 29 cb peaked,tuned with dual firesticks. PAA MEMBER 26#
7.3 all the way. I got the last run of 7.3 in 03 and then the 6.0 engine came out and talked to alot of people including my father in law that had one, injector problems are big in the 03-04 models, wiring harness problems right from the get go.
"Right from the get go" is going on 6 model years ago. That hasn't been anyone's problem in many years. As of 2006 the 6.0 motor had the lowest rate of warrantly claims across ALL ford models. Anyone that I know that had the early model issues and had them fixed right doesn't have issues anymore, unlike the 7.3 owners who's trucks are getting OLD. Even an 03 7.3 has a weak transmission if left stock. Transmissions are very expensive.
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03 F250 4x4 CC LB 6.0 XLT Sport
Prodigy brake controller
High Idle Mod
Isspro boost gauge
4" Magnaflow Cat-Back
Ride-Rite Air Springs
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I really recomend checking out the 6 liter forums, and the 7.3 liter forums and do some checking into the major problems that both trucks have.
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