Sometimes i get on here and think what a great truck these Ford diesels are. Other times I think what the hell is going on with all these problems?! Is the Ford product itself...is it poor engineering...or is it poor owner upkeep on average? Haven't read the Shevy sites so not sure what the karma is there.

OR...is it that there's just so many Fords out there the odds are the numbers by per-capita gives false sense of what is...and what ain't?

 

To be completly honest with you I was never a ford guy... At all... I fell in love with a truck that happened to be a ford... Who cares as long as its American.

 

All my forums are like this. From the Dodge to the Triumph motorcycle forums. Its here for a reason, and thats to help. Most people dont go looking for a forum just to talk, they usually have problems they want answeres to. And the number of people here are usually a small number of the ford trucks on the road, so seeing problem after problem, doesnt count all the people that never joined a forum because they have no problems. If that makes any sense.

I came here to learn everything I need to know so if I cant fix it myself. If I cant I want to know I dont get taken for a ride by a shop.

May not make any sense because im half asleep reading. Haha.

 

not to mention in this section with the exception of our brothers down under the newest 7.3 is 10 years old, and a lot of the problems that occure are "owner induced"

 

Well my nextdoor neighbor is a chevy (gmc) guy. I hooked him up with our S. African member Brad Rolston to help collect motors, trans, and parts for Brad's efforts. Neighbor thinks 7.3 is a POS but that is of course a matter of perspective.

He is pre-disposed to think this and must be proven wrong. He had visited scrap yards and resellers all over the state to pick up parts and sees nothing but junk parted trucks and carnage.

I observe that my truck runs great and he says but you're always working on it. Pointing out that it is usually to do modifications, maintenance, or upgrades is futile because he doesn't want to hear it and doesn't understand what that means.

Many people maintain a strong and unwavering brand loyalty in the face of reason. The other day he was citing as a big Ford problem that front end from the F-150s from 25 years ago, can't argue with that kind of logic.

So a chevy guy will think the Ford is a POS regardless, though the % of people with blind brand loyalty is ever-decreasing.

Additionally many people come to forums to solve problems. As trucks age the proportion of problem posts to other posts will increase with the age and fact that ownerships transfer to low $ owners more interested in fixing problems than exploring the nuances and improving the truck.

 

It's already been stated above, but this forum is mostly 11-14 year old trucks with anywhere from 100k-400k miles on them. And most of them work hard their entire life. That's what they're designed and built to do. I am quite sure if you looked on a GM diesel truck forum with similar age and mileage, you will likely find at least as many issues there.

 

LB7 01-02 Chevy duramax for instance.... We've all heard the story's of guys going threw 6 set of injectors before 200K miles... Chevy extended the warantees on them from 100k to 200k miles for that reason. Ask me if I would take one if I got a good deal on it... In a heart beat! Because I know I can join a chebbie forum or do searches and find the right fix

Cummins B53 block... Ask if I'd take one of them.....













You'd find me ruuuunnnniiiinnnngggg awwwwaaayyyy Hahahahaha
But an old 12v.... Also in a Heartbeat

In other words they all have pros and cons and when someone is blind to see that then there not helping. I was a diehard chevy guy until around 2003 when they got worse and worse looking


IMHO.... Who gives a flyin fudge sickle what anyone thinks

 

I guess your Chevy guy never owned a 6.2 disel. I bought two of them in 1982 and couldn't keep the heads on them from new. Even had the crank freeze up on one. Don't want to go back to the 5.7 diesel either. I'll say here, learn and drive the wheels off by 7.3L and never look back.

Chet

 

I've talked to a 7.3 owner at a gas station who also owns a new Chevy Diesel. I guess you can't really compare the drive and power of a decades apart in age vehicles but he did and it was in three words: Chevy, hands down. I'm not a huge Chevy fan like I was growing up but I do like their gas engines. Who doesn't?


I've seen enough 6.7's on the road that I would love to have one but for affordability reasoning alone I'll be driving my 7.3 for some time.

 

I've had 2 Chevy's, one was a 1979 Silverado diesel.... blew 4 heads in less than 50k, dropped in a gas motor but since everyone was swapping them could only get a crappy undersized used one. Lasted a year, dropped in a new 350 lasted a year before it burned a valve. Then I got a 1986 or so s-10 with the 2.8 v6 broke three crankshafts in 108k. Guy at the dealership said they had a guy that had a full time job replacing cranks in 2.8's. Been driving Fords since.

 

They all have their problems. They all have their **** poor engineering fails and they all have their good times as well.

I like fords because they are more solid while driving down the road. Chevies feel like you are trying to drive a canoe down the road. Dodges just feel cheap and rattly.

In all honesty we would have hondas if they built a heavy truck. American vehicles are way behind the imports. Americans are always trying to keep up and copy the import vehicles. Just imagine what kind of monstrosity we would be driving if they didn't have imports to copy.

 

I grew up with Ford trucks. Had a '76 1/2 ton in high school with a 390. Had a few problems, but mostly owner-induced (except for that stupid power steering pump - how come Ford STILL can't make one)? My dad had a '69 1/2 ton when I was in high school. I have also had a '77 and a '79 1/2 ton. I love that era.

I also currently own a '69 Ford Bronco. I recently "finished" a frame-up on it (still have work to do, but can drive it around now). I am actually toying with the idea of selling it, though.

Right out of grad school, I bought an '02 Dodge 2500 with a V10. Loved the way that truck looked and when it was running, it ran great. That was the problem, though. I had that truck for about 3 years. It was in the dealer shop for almost 1 year of that time for warranty issues. Huge POS.

Anyway, back on topic. I just purchased my 2000 F350 last December. By the description and photos, it seemed like the perfect truck. Only 106,000 miles and the PO said that he had a good maintenance schedule. Even when I went to look at it, everything seemed great. I made the mistake of not telling the owner to not start it in the morning. I also noticed a rolling noise sound, which I thought was just interstate road noise. Well, since getting the truck home, I have had to replace the batteries and alternator. In trying to diagnose this stupid noise, I ended up replacing the front wheel bearing assemblies (one was making a bit of noise when spun by hand), and since I was in there I replaced the ball joints and axle ujoints and seals. I also replaced the front pads and rotors since one rotor had a small through-crack near the outer diameter. All that crap didn't fix the sound, and I have since found out that I have some bad glow plugs and a bad ICP sensor, and it appears that there is a problem with the rear brakes. So far, I am not sold on the "legendary" 7.3 trucks.

One other thing. A previous poster mentioned the foreign truck idea. I think he is dead on. I considered getting a Tundra, but they just aren't big enough (I am 6'8"). However, I bought my wife a 2005 4Runner brand new. I just replaced the timing belt for the 90,000 mile service this past spring. It currently has about 96,000 miles on it. That vehicle has given me no problems whatsoever. None. I really would like to stick to American, but if Toyota made a truck big enough, I would buy it.

Sorry for the long rant. Kind of had to vent.

 

the rest of your truck may or may not fall apart but in another 200k miles from now your motor will definitely still be running.

it's the motor that's legendary and for good reason, not the ball joints. in time you'll see, they (we) all do.

here's a quick and good read. http://www.leftlanenews.com/2002-f-3...-counting.html

 

I have owned Fords since I could legally drive.
I have also had my share of Chevys, Dodges and a couple of imports.
There are probably some other brands that I would buy...but not for the money they want.
I traded in my 2002 F150 for my 99 F350. Why? Because I needed more towing power and capacity. I was killing my 1/2 ton. I was looking for a diesel without getting raped.
I bought my F350 6 or 7 yrs ago with 80K on the clock for $14k. It was misprinted in the add so the dealer had to take the hit. I now have 286K on the truck and only replaced 1 major item. The rest is all maintainence. But when you look at a truck this age and miles, I am way ahead. There is no way I can see spending 60 to 70K for a truck that will be worked hard.
I work with a few guys that drive trucks and they are always giving me issues about mine being old, and the work that I do on it. But I look at it as, they have 3yr old truck or newer. Yes they don't break down....now. They see them as disposable. One guy is shopping now for a new truck cause his has 85K miles on it. He wont drive one past 100K. But that is him.
Another bought a new Dodge with a Hemi. Looks nice, great power, comfortable... but he has already had to replace the rear differential. Under warranty yes, but just the same, it did fail. But the other Dodge guy....same truck... no issues.

I see it as what is better for me and my pocket. My truck is my daily driver @ 50 miles day. It hauls my horses on the weekends. I have used it as a patrol vehical when on duty with the local PD, (volunteer), so it has ran lights and sirens. I have used it as a rescue vehical during bad weather. And all I have done is bought it and replaced a tranny. To this day it still gets used when the wife and I go out on the town. Give it a bath and it shines like the new ones. But I still dont have a problem getting it dirty when it has to work. I see it as 2 vehicals in one.

I would probably go with something newer but why? I don't need to. I have a 14yr old truck that can still keep up with the newer ones, still looks good and still gets me to and from work every day. Plus.... Anything that does fail or has in the recent past....Its about time! This truck had been around the block a few times but still keeps coming back for more. I have yet to find a Chevy or Dodge out there that can keep pace with me and what i do. I am sure they are out there but I just haven't found them. I go with what works. I am at almost 50yrs old and the Ford trucks have been the best for me.
I am willing to try something different but I wont pay for it if it won't survive me.

 

The 7.3 outsold GM and Dodge diesel engines combined for most of the years it was offered. Of course you're going to see more of them in the junkyard and on used lots.