Hi All I'm looking to puchase a 1994-1996 F250 crew cab with a 7.3. I'm trying to get information about what to look for and what to stay away from. I have about $10k-13K to put towards the purchase of the truck. From what I have read the 7.3 is one of the better engines but whenever I find them online they are very expensive. Would I be better with a different type of engine?

Thanks for your time and your knowledge, have a great day.

-Miller

 

Hey Miller, welcome to the forum!

To be more precise in what you're looking for, you need to find a 94.5 to 1997 truck, as those will be the ones with powerstroke motors, which is what it sounds like you're looking for, and if you need a crew cab, you could open up your options to f250s and f350s. Be sure that you're not looking at the IDI 7.3L which has no relation to the powerstroke motor aside from the displacement.

These trucks with the 7.3L Powerstroke motor are typically very pricey. I'm not a diesel expert at all, so hopefully someone else will chime in on the things to look out for with the motor.

And if you're already questioning if a different engine would suit you, why exactly do you need a diesel? It's always a long debate, but if you don't pull trailers often, it isn't worth paying the premium price for the diesel over a gas truck.

 

I don't know a whole bunch about diesels but I'll try and help to the best of my ability. First off, to answer your question yes the 7.3s are an excellent engine and many consider them the best diesel engine ever put in a Ford truck (or any truck for that matter.) They're reliable, have the ability to make a lot of power, and not terribly hard to work on. However like you pointed out, a crate 7.3 is very expensive. So if you ever kill a 7.3 and need a new block it will be costly. But you'd have to work hard to kill beyond repair. With that said they might not be the best choice for you still, depending on what you're looking for. Do you want a diesel or are you open to gas? Do you plan to haul loads a lot in this truck? Would you off road in it (not likely but still)? If you drive and tow a lot a 7.3 can't be beat. They get decent mileage and can pull a house down. But they do have a higher operating cost then a gas engine (maintenance, fuel, ect) however that is the case with all diesels. If you can afford one I would strongly recommend going for it. With that said, I do know to look at the turbo and check to see the finish on it- odds are if its really blued or bronze in finish then that is a sign of a hard used engine and it's likely the engine will need rebuilt. Besides that I can't really help you for things to look for in diesels sorry.

As for what to look for on the truck in general, check for rust of course. Usually in the wheel wells, the underside of the body and the bed areas are the most common. Low miles are better, I personally would hesitate to buy one with over 250k on it- even if the engine is in good shape then the rest of the truck will still be worn obviously, and you may need to replace parts. Plus if the trans hasn't rebuilt in the life of the truck, you will probably need to do that soon after purchase. Check it over for any obviously worn components, any major dents or things like that. Test drive it and make sure it drives how you want it to. Also make sure that you have a chance to start the truck when it's cold- any problems will usually reveal themselves when the truck is still cold. Lastly check for frame rust, along with repair records, vin check, and any paperwork.
I hope this helps for what it's worth