July of 2010, after a long search I finally found my EX. It is a 2003 6.0 Diesel Eddie Edition, White, 133,000 miles. Came with the chip installed. Aftermarket turbo, cold air intake., etc. Aftermarket wood dashed installed Obviously it was owned by an enthusiast. It was very clean. I paid 16,5000

Fast forward to today and I find a Black 2001 Limited 7.3 Diesel. Ok condition. I dont think it has anything aftermarket..no chip etc. 311,000 miles. $9,500 at a ford dealer.

I originally wanted black all along. Yes I could get mine painted. But I'm very interested in the 7.3l mainly

I could prob trade in my current EX and get cash back in the process and then have no payment at all. I would then of course have to put in my own cold air and chip mod.

Is the 7.3 that sought after or better then the 6.0. Give the information above would you make the trade.

Thanks

 

Is your 6.0 trouble some or one of the reliable ones?

 

You wouldn't have a payment for long. You are reaching the expected rebuild mileage on that 7.3. Can they last longer than 350-400k yes but do all 7.3's reach 400k? No.

I also believe you will be disappointed in the performance level of the 7.3 vs. 6.0. Make a pros and cons list of why you would want to trade.

I am guessing you took a loan out for let's say $15. So after 5 months you probably owe 13.5ish. You are looking to save 4000 by trading. In the whole scheme of things for 4k I would stick with what you have. 4k isn't a lot of money when you start thinking about having to repower a 7.3 that has almost double the mileage of your 6.0 and going back to the 4r100 vs. 5r100.

What was typed above and 59 cents will get you a cup of coffee at the store. Good luck with your decision.

 

No way, not me.

 

Id pass. 311,000 - possibly could be rebuilding a lot more than a motor

 

I have not had any trouble yet. The White Ex checked out clean at it's first check up. It just now getting cold in Atlanta so we shall see

 

I put down 7,000 on my current EX I owe right about 9,000 now. Depending on how I sell it I should be able to get at least 5,000 extra. Money sounds nice but I know I would put it back into the truck to bring it back up to the level of goodies on my current truck..Then there is the lift and larger tires I want.....so there goes the 5 grand.

As for performance you may be right. I cranked her up stepped on the gas and got nothing. I thought it might be that I was so used to mine with the chip or that it was cold at 7pm last night I was surprised at the low response

Don't you hate when you start talking things thru and you realize quickly that its prob not a good choice and you were acting out of emotion....real feminine of me

 

You've had the truck since July, can you answer the "troublesome" question? You probably already know all this, but the 2003 6.0 was not the most reliable out of the box engine. After time and money, they can be as good or better than the 7.3 for different reasons. So, if you're not banging your head against the wall cuz the engine is giving you fits then stick with what you have and save the money (cuz you already know it will be spent somehow).

 

LOL.......yea i know how that goes ....id stick with one u have to

 

WHAT?

7.3's are just getting broke in at 300K, 400K is a cake walk for a 7.3. Rebuild and 7.3 shouldn't really be in the same sentence ever. Unless you are talking rebuild as in replace parts on the motor? Unless factory flawed the 7.3 long block should go an easy 700K miles if maintained. It is the rest of the truck that normally can't keep up with the motor. The 7.3's that don't reach 400K are the neglected beat to death ones that have owners that don't care about them or the rare factory flawed ones.

YouTube - powerstrokehelp's Channel


However with the OP situation I would stick with the risky 6.0 in this situation because of a few reasons mileage being one of them.

 

For the OP, If the head studs were not done and u r running a chip you are living on borrowed time till your head gaskets go out.

 

If you havent had any problems then i wouldnt even think about it.. Trading up a truck that has half the mileage and is a couple years newer isnt the smartest thing to do.. And if the OP's 6.0 checked out then you have nothin to worry about..

Id take that 4 grand that youll save and put it in the bank for when your 6.0 "breaks" or use the money to make your 6.0 "relable" 4 grand will make a 6.0 more relable then a 7.3, if done right. If you go that route youll have the relability of a 7.3 with the 5R110 (5 speed) and a ton more power then a 7.3 will ever make.

And some 03 6.0s were very relable, but that is veryyy rare. But who knows, maybe the OP has a relable 03 6.0? You wont know unless he keeps the truck. Owning any truck/car without a warrenty is a gamble.. We all know that.

At 311,000 that 7.3 may be on its last leg or it may be just getting broken in. Some 7.3s last 700k and some last 300k. It all just depends on how well the rig is taken care of. But the OP will never know how that 7.3 was taken care of. But just because a properly maintained 7.3 will last 500-700k dont mean the truck will last.

In my opinion, keeping the 6.0 is alot less of a gamble then buying that 7.3


To the OP: What chip are you running?? And btw, you might wann get rid of that "aftermarket intake".. Your motor/turbo will love you. The OEM air filter is good up to 500 hp and filters alot better then any aftermarket filt. If you want your 6.0 to take care of you, you should take care of it.

 

I think you need to stop drinking so much of the 7.3 kool-aid. They are good motors but they aren't a 12v cummins either.

 

And the cummins isn't a caterpillar whats the point in that? I don't see many blown up 7.3's around here, do you?

 

Thanks for all of the replies and advice. I've calmed down a little and I figure its best to stick with what I have. It's only been five months and while its always a gamble buying used I seemed to have lucked out with my White Ex. I know whats wrong with it (nothing) and whats right. It does not make sense to spin the wheel and take another gamble on an even older EX.

Admittedly I'm still a green newbie to the EX and car mechanics in general. I am in no way versed in engines and the like as everybody else here. I'm here to learn and the info here has been fantastic. I admit I have to google a lot of stuff I don't understand.

If anybody is in the Atlanta area the Black 7.3 Ex is in Union City Gene Evans Ford Dealer. Its in great shape body wise. For 9 grand it might be worth the gamble for somebody else who want a first or even second Ex

Thanks all.... more stupid questions soon to come