What is a BTS VB? Thanks for the advice. I'm not going to lift it a lot. I want a set of 35's on it. I'm going to be moving to the Ozarks in Alaska. I want a little bit of beef to the uncercarrieage. I'm just needing to lift enough to clear some good 35's.

I'm kind of leaning towards just buying the BTS tranny. I want to do it before I wind up in Alaska where it's ten times as hard to get anything done on a truck. Do you still think I should just beef up the cooler and add a BTS VB? Whatever that is?

Thanks again,

Matt

 

I believe he means a BTS Valve Body in the tranny you already have..

 

200,000 miles is nothing on a properly maintained 7.3. Just make sure the rest of the vehicle is in good order. There are several high mileage(400,000 to 500,000) trucks and Excursions around here still working everyday. Good luck!!!

 

Absolute no brainer! 7.3 all the way! I think your wise to lean towards the 7.3 Excursion! I'd take your time and try to find an 03 7.3 if you can wait that long?? It may be down on power a little over the 6.0 but at least it's long long long term reliable and tested! Hope you find a good one man!

 

I've got plenty of time. It gives me the ability to be picky. =0) I actually have an 03 I am going to look at tomorrow. It's a limited in really nice shape. I'll put a post up when I find a truck too.

 

And there is a 80/20 chance you dont know wtf you are talking about. You always seem quick to bash the 6.0; have you ever owned one? Or are you intimidated by an engine you dont understand? Unless you have some firsthand knowledge of both engines, your opinion has no basis. However, because of foolish opinions like this, you can pick up a 6.0 cheap, put the money u saved back into the motor to bulletproof and mod it, and crush the 7.3 fanboys racing, towing, etc.

 

That's not what I am finding here. That was my thought process at first. Get a 6.0 and put the savings back into the rig. However, all the 6.0's I find out here are pull down your pants and bend over expensive. Like double the 7.3 price. I've seen 7.3's from 10k-19k and the 6.0s start out about 17.5k and go up to 35k out here.

I do know I have talked with a couple people that have had both engines and they both told me the 7.3 was a better stump puller motor. That out of the gate it was a slower rig, but it coulcn't be slowed down in the hills. I'm looking at a budget build on the thing. So I will do whatever falls into my lap in the end. I am actually going to look at a really nice 6.0 tonight. Although they want $21000 for it. However that being said, it has all the right options for me. It's Black!!! It has a GREY interior (much harder to find than I thought it would be)! IT's a limited. It already has a 4" lift and 35's on it and is regeared. So I don't have to drop any of that money into it.

Any other helpful advice would be well appreciated.

What mods would you do to the 6.0 vs the 7.3? I already know if I get the 6.0, I need to do the ARP head lugs, and throw a new gasket onthere while I am at it, and the EGR delete.

Thanks again,

Matt

 

Matt
I am looking at selling my 05 6.0L Ex. It has 98K miles and has not had one diesel related repair. It has been one of the good 6.0's. No modfications have been made and it has been meticulously maintained. It is silver with gray interior (leather) and top notch. Fr some reason I couldn' pm you. If you would like to talk, please PM me. Thanks.

 

If you don't have gauges and know what your ECT and EOT temps are on the hi-way (70-75) you "might" be in for a surprise.

I bought mine with 99k on it. Only EGR valves in the oasis report
drove great. My t-stat was bad, thus my temps were always 175.
After replacing the t-stat and coolant flush w/vc9 my temps were
too high ECT/EOT of 190/205 (up to 190/208) thus my oil cooler
is partially plugged.

I love my Ex with the 6.0, but I suspect lots of folks w/o gauges
(not the dash gauges either, ODBII gauges) don't realize whether or not they are on the edge or not.

It seems the threads with "blew up" "spewing white smoke" are often from folks w/o ODBII gauges that don't know what their temps are.
There appears to be a growing # of newbies posting things like
just installed my guages and have 15* temp delta.
Thus it seems to me - we are seeing signs of the huge benefit of FTE!

 

That's part of what is scaring me off of the 6.0...especially when the person selling it says "no aftermarket parts at all perfect truck." While in the same ad stating that they used it regularly to tow a large boat and a camper trailer. Eh...do we know what we did to our trans? I just bought an OBDII sensor/tester. I can take it with me and plug it in to the trucks I am looking at. Hopefully it will give me a good idea of the trucks reliability. I know this isn't fool proof as well. But at least something is better than not knowing anything at all.

Matt

 

You'll need to drive about 10 minutes @ hi-way speeds once
the ECT gets to 190 to see what happens with the temps.

You'll also want to make sure you already have the scangaugeII
already programmed for ECT and the EOT since the EOT requires
you to program it in using the XGauge function. It would be nice
to test it out first too.

But, as I mentioned, a bad t-stat can keep the temps down
and you'll see "good" temps (175 to 185 or so). But, it's
a bargaining point if you like the vehicle otherwise.

That's the biggest thing, drive the truck, make sure it's in good
shape and doesn't wander/pull when braking, no hesitation on start
etc. test the CD and DVD, power pedals, seats, seat heater, 4x4,
etc.

If you plan on $1k (Ford) to $3K (bulletproof) replacements of both
OIL and EGR coolers then you are prepared.

Check Oasis @ ford for the VIN also, but if the PO didn't have
Ford do the work it won't be recorded - so it's really only a
"no go" decision on the oasis.

 

Thanks for the 411 man...I really appreciate it.

Is there a way to test hte T-stat? I know it's a PITA to take out and replace, but is there a simple way to test the thing?

I do plan on EGR delete if I get a 6.0.

What oil cooler would you recommend? I'd rather go bulletproof than stock. I'm planning on yanking the Trans and selling it and installing a BTS in the rig as well. I'm going to move to the sticks in Alaska. I want this thing as Bulletproof and reliable as is absolutely possible.

Thanks again for all the good advice.

Matt

 

If you have an ODBII gauge, if your ECT gets to 190 and
stays pretty close your t-stat is ok.
If it's -20 outside it might not be easy.

It isn't actually that tough to replace the t-stat, plus it's
a good time to flush the coolant if it's an Ex since it's older
than '05.

 

I just hate messing with anything that has any coolant in it...That stuff is nasty. I think the only thing worse is Trans fluid. lol.

Thanks for hte help.

Matt

 

Look below at my sig and those are the mods you should do to a 6.0 to attempt to make it bullet proof. My 6.0 did bankrupt me! Well not really, but it was costing just way too much way to often and I cut my losses and dumped it. Don't be tempted by a 6.0 Diesel at all! If you get one there will be a day when you spend a fortune on it! Trust me, been there done that, search all my posts since 2006 and you'll see all about my experience with the 6.0! I did everything correctly and maintained the crap outta mine and it was not reliable at all especially when towing!! Without a doubt the worst vehicle purchase ever....financially that is! I loved my Excursion, the truck that is but not that damn motor!!