7.3 or 6.0

[spence13e]

Originally Posted by BLK94F150

If they were a lot cheaper then I'd be all over it, but most people must think thier 7.3s are made of solid gold. The problem is that I don't care how awesome the engine is, the truck is still 6 years old minimum.

I'm big on manuals as well, but they are hard to find and I've heard that with the 6.0 that there is a lot of turbo lag.

Mike

uh, nope. i don't seem to suffer any turbo lag, but then again i ain't drove an auto, either. other than pulling one out of the shed... it does have oodles more power than my bro's 95 stroker does, though. and you couldn't pay him to drive an auto.

[preppypyro]

Originally Posted by BLK94F150

If they were a lot cheaper then I'd be all over it, but most people must think thier 7.3s are made of solid gold. The problem is that I don't care how awesome the engine is, the truck is still 6 years old minimum.

I'm big on manuals as well, but they are hard to find and I've heard that with the 6.0 that there is a lot of turbo lag.

Mike

You can get a 03 7.3 liter truck for way cheaper then a 07 6.0 truck. Sure you get the FOUR years older truck with it, but theres not that many differences in the trucks as far as options go. And with the purchase of the cheaper truck you could always add options.

Not quite sure where your getting the 6 year difference from either.

My dad told me that the 6 liter trucks werent very good with 6 speeds, but i kinda thought it was just him yapping.

There must be some reason the 7.3's still hold their value really well.

[BLK94F150]

Last year of the 7.3-03. The 09 SD is just around the bend. That's how I look at it. They are coming up on 6 model years old.

The differences between an 03 and 07 are fairly large. Newer, nicer interior, bigger brakes, better frame, towcommand, coil front suspension, just to name a few.

7.3s hold thier value because they are 7.3s, the last and only I guess PSD to have a solid reputation. If you look at 6.0 powered trucks, they are pretty cheap as late model trucks go and I'd blame that on sky high fuel prices combined with the bad rep of the 6.0 engine.

As far as manuals go in a stock 6.0, I've heard you have to slip them a lot like a gasser because of turbo lag. I've never driven a manual 6.0, so all I have is what I hear. I've heard that the 5R110 masks the turbo lag.

Mike

[preppypyro]

Originally Posted by BLK94F150

Last year of the 7.3-03. The 09 SD is just around the bend. That's how I look at it. They are coming up on 6 model years old.

The differences between an 03 and 07 are fairly large. Newer, nicer interior, bigger brakes, better frame, towcommand, coil front suspension, just to name a few.

If your talking like that, then we might as well be comparing the 6.4 vs the 7.3, or the 6.4 vs the 6.0. I mean why buy a truck that is two years old and is going to be outdated, right?

I guess i need to look closer at an 07. I guess most of my comparisons are done to the 05's, which i have a few friends that have them.

[BLK94F150]

If I had the money to throw away, I'd be driving a 6.4. It's by far the best diesel I have ever driven.

You could compare the physical age of the truck, but you never know when it was actually built. Even then, the engine may be older than the truck. I think some of the 03 6.0s were actually made in early 02.

05 SDs should be about the same as 07s. 05 was when they did the update with the new sheet metal, interior, frame, brakes, towcommand, etc. The 03 and 04 MY were basicly the same as before, except with the 6.0 and 5R110 starting in 03.5.

Mike

[tex25025]

Originally Posted by preppypyro

You can get a 03 7.3 liter truck for way cheaper then a 07 6.0 truck. Sure you get the FOUR years older truck with it, but theres not that many differences in the trucks as far as options go. And with the purchase of the cheaper truck you could always add options.

There are alot of options that come with the 6.0 that you don't have with the 7.3 and some of those options that you just can't add on aftermarket wise and have the same effect(ie tow/haul mode because that requires the torqshift and you can't mate the two(7.3 and the tranny) without shelling big bucks). Next heavier vehicle due to beefier parts. Then you have the TBC system and trust me there isn't an aftermarket brake system that is as good as the TBC I have been towing for far too long and have too much experiance on that in order to have confidence in that statement. Might be some that are wonderful compared to other aftermarkets, but not really when it comes to the TBC. Automakers are going to make it to where you have to upgrade your vehicle if you want some of the stuff, otherwise no one would be getting a new(er) vehicle.

As to the turbo lag(and I do drive an auto) there is a direct correlation between how fast and hard you mesh down on the peddle and the resulting lag that you feel. I have had my stock 06 turbo, the stock 03 turbo(which is bigger) and my current aftermarket turbo and the only one that I had lag on a consistant basis is with my aftermarket turbo and even that is barely noticable at half throttle(you have to do a little less the half throttle to not get lag on the stockers).

[BLK94F150]

The 04s that we have at work have some serious lag, but they are so screwed up that they're probably not good comparison.

The 03 F550 is pretty cool to drive as it only has just over 2000 miles on it. When I do get the change to drive it, I drive it pretty hard to get it heated up and hopefully keep the turbo from sticking.

Mike

[That_Guy]

Well its obviose that everyone one has the own opion on each engine and transmission and they are goin to stick to it. So are we just goin to go back and forth for 10pages? Ikno my fist post was a little biased but that was all just in good fun. Yes the 4r100 isnt a good transmission but thats because it was taken out of the light duty trucks and made to work for a diesel...the 5r100 (or whatrever it is) was MADE specificly for diesels after they saw what needed to be improved, I actually just recently towed with my 4r100 and yes not haveing the tow haul mode and more gears wasnt the best thing, and I have noticed that the shifting on it isnt the best at times but I got it fully rebuilt and fully upgraded because I love my engine and the truck its around.

Look at it this way, when buying a truck its like finding a wife. sure one might have more accesories ( Bigger breasts, better looks)6.0) and one might have more power( women being more wild and "fun") 6.0) but whats goin to come down to is who would you want to marry? the one that will be fun while you got it and you never know when its goin to end/blow up. or one that you know will be there for you always no matter what, and as long as you treat it right it will be there forever( 7.3)... thats the way I look at it, its not cost effective to keep having to buy a new truck every 6 yrs to keep up with the power, and accersories. when mine blows its getting another 7.3, but that shouldnt be for another 400,000

[diesel_dan]

Originally Posted by That_Guy

when buying a truck its like finding a wife. sure one might have more accesories ( Bigger breasts, better looks)6.0) and one might have more power( women being more wild and "fun") 6.0) but whats goin to come down to is who would you want to marry?

I think you are talking about the same woman here: big boobs, wild, more fun... Heck I'd marry her too, if only for a while...

But you are right about us being able to fill up countless pages of which truck is the best; and really it's the one that best fits YOUR needs and pocket book, or reliablity, or percieved reliability, or whatever it is YOU are looking for in a truck (or wife)...

Crap, we have these same discussions when a Chevy or Dodge guy jumps in here, for criminy sakes...

[BLK94F150]

I'm not going to argue that if you have something that you like and it's been good to you, then it's a good idea to stick with it. It's a plus if you bought a 7.3 new and you know exactly what has been done with it. Upgrading just for more gadgets and HP (torque hasn't advanced nearly as far as HP) really doesn't make sense.

But if someone is just buying a truck and have to pick between a 05+ 6.0 and a 7.3, it would be hard for me to recommend the 7.3 trucks as they are getting older. Now 03-04 6.0s, no Fing way. You're only getting more problems.

This is a pretty big departure from my norm, as I usually say avoid the 6.0 at all costs. (If you can afford the 6.4, definitely get it over the 6.0) But at some point, I can't hold on to older trucks as far as recommendations go for the 7.3 alone.

We can go back and forth for 100 pages as long as it's a discussion and not a flame fest. That's kind of what a forum is all about. Actually this has been a rather tame 6.0 vs 7.3 thread.

Mike

[big poppa pump]

Originally Posted by That_Guy

Well its obviose that everyone one has the own opion on each engine and transmission and they are goin to stick to it. So are we just goin to go back and forth for 10pages? Ikno my fist post was a little biased but that was all just in good fun. Yes the 4r100 isnt a good transmission but thats because it was taken out of the light duty trucks and made to work for a diesel...the 5r100 (or whatrever it is) was MADE specificly for diesels after they saw what needed to be improved, I actually just recently towed with my 4r100 and yes not haveing the tow haul mode and more gears wasnt the best thing, and I have noticed that the shifting on it isnt the best at times but I got it fully rebuilt and fully upgraded because I love my engine and the truck its around.

Look at it this way, when buying a truck its like finding a wife. sure one might have more accesories ( Bigger breasts, better looks)6.0) and one might have more power( women being more wild and "fun") 6.0) but whats goin to come down to is who would you want to marry? the one that will be fun while you got it and you never know when its goin to end/blow up. or one that you know will be there for you always no matter what, and as long as you treat it right it will be there forever( 7.3)... thats the way I look at it, its not cost effective to keep having to buy a new truck every 6 yrs to keep up with the power, and accersories. when mine blows its getting another 7.3, but that shouldnt be for another 400,000

Amen brother, amen. It,s all personal choice. Depending on the last breath my truck makes at 400,000 or 500,000 i,m rebuilding. Brand new motor.

[preppypyro]

Chris, that was a awesome post lol. I never thought of it like that either! I cant give ya reps cause i just gave ya some awhile ago, but that was worth them!

[Nitrous]

Originally Posted by BLK94F150

I'm not going to argue that if you have something that you like and it's been good to you, then it's a good idea to stick with it. It's a plus if you bought a 7.3 new and you know exactly what has been done with it. Upgrading just for more gadgets and HP (torque hasn't advanced nearly as far as HP) really doesn't make sense.

But if someone is just buying a truck and have to pick between a 05+ 6.0 and a 7.3, it would be hard for me to recommend the 7.3 trucks as they are getting older. Now 03-04 6.0s, no Fing way. You're only getting more problems.

This is a pretty big departure from my norm, as I usually say avoid the 6.0 at all costs. (If you can afford the 6.4, definitely get it over the 6.0) But at some point, I can't hold on to older trucks as far as recommendations go for the 7.3 alone.

We can go back and forth for 100 pages as long as it's a discussion and not a flame fest. That's kind of what a forum is all about. Actually this has been a rather tame 6.0 vs 7.3 thread.

Mike

I notice from your signature you drive an F150. Do you also have powerstroke that's not listed in your signature or are all your opinions based on your computer forum experience. Please enlighten me. Maybe I've missed something but I also don't spend all that much time on the internet. To me it looks ridiculous to see people dragging out old issues about 03-04 trucks when I see people I personally know with these models having no issues whatsoever and people with 05's and people with 7.3's having more issues than I ever had. Like I said before, Ford sold about 250,000 of these trucks per year and the majority had few if any problems. It's funny to see so many negative opinions and most of them probably from people who have never turned a wrench on a diesel!

[diesel_dan]

Originally Posted by Nitrous

I notice from your signature you drive an F150. Do you also have powerstroke that's not listed in your signature or are all your opinions based on your computer forum experience. Please enlighten me. Maybe I've missed something but I also don't spend all that much time on the internet. To me it looks ridiculous to see people dragging out old issues about 03-04 trucks when I see people I personally know with these models having no issues whatsoever and people with 05's and people with 7.3's having more issues than I ever had. Like I said before, Ford sold about 250,000 of these trucks per year and the majority had few if any problems. It's funny to see so many negative opinions and most of them probably from people who have never turned a wrench on a diesel!

I think if you read post #56 in this thread you'll see while he doesn't own one, he gets plenty of experience in them...

[preppypyro]

Originally Posted by Nitrous

I notice from your signature you drive an F150. Do you also have powerstroke that's not listed in your signature or are all your opinions based on your computer forum experience. Please enlighten me. Maybe I've missed something but I also don't spend all that much time on the internet. To me it looks ridiculous to see people dragging out old issues about 03-04 trucks when I see people I personally know with these models having no issues whatsoever and people with 05's and people with 7.3's having more issues than I ever had. Like I said before, Ford sold about 250,000 of these trucks per year and the majority had few if any problems. It's funny to see so many negative opinions and most of them probably from people who have never turned a wrench on a diesel!

Go read through the 6 liter forums, and the 7.3 liter forums. These arent old issues with the 6 liter trucks. There are issues with both, and the 6 liter is notorious for having them in the earlier years, but it still happens in the later years. The 7.3 is notorious for being bulletproof, and the 6 liter is not.
The majority of that 250,000 may not have had many problems, but alot of them did. And the problems were worse then a cps.
The 6 liter got its bad rep for a reason, the 7.3 got its rep for a reason.
I havent turned a wrench on my 7.3 yet. I have two close uncles that are diesel mechanics. I have personally talked to quite a few ford diesel techs when i was researching for myself on whether I was going to get a 6 liter or 7.3. Through all of those reasons, and from what ive read on here, and from what I have heard from friends is where i get my knowledge (or lack of ) on the subject!

IF you dont believe the guys that say that, do some reading and research!

Do lots of research on fte here too, its a great ford source, much better then wikipedia.