just spent the better part of an hour reading this thread, definitely subscribed. best of luck to you and the mule adam!

 

The guy backed out on the build giving all these excuses, guess I was lucky not having him puting it together he might of fak something up. Sucks but nobody ones to put together the short block, the ones that do want an arm and a leg for it. Ahhgg its frustrating and I don't trust myself enough to do it. Man how I wish some of you better mechanics from FTE lived closer. I might end up taking it to my personal machinest and friend in Juarez Mexico to have him put it together, god wonder how much it will cost to export this heavy engine to mexico, hopefully cheaper than these drugged fools that hear the word diesel and instantly the price triples.

 

There's a guy in Palestine, tx that rebuilds 7.3s for $600+ parts

http://easttexas.craigslist.org/cto/5846542855.html

 

Adam, sorry to hear that. It will work out for you. I think it's better to have patience and someone local will turn up to do the work. Better to have it in town where you can keep track of progress and see what's going on than ship it off somewhere.

 

Adam get a book, it's not that hard. We can walk you threw it. Main thing is getting the machining done right. Then you clean it up and check the rest. It's all on here some where. Good luck.

 

I think you got this Adam. You will probably have more time into finding someone than doing it over a few days with the help here.

 

Yeah man, just do it yourself and save that dough. It cant be any different than a gas shortblock and it only revs to 3500rpm, LOL. Not like it has to be blueprinted to rev to 6500rpm.

 

Adam,

I've looked for books before with no luck, but I found this one. Don't know if it's any good. Don't know why there is a long blank area at the bottom of this post, tried to get rid of it and failed.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/322245484862?lpid=82&chn=ps&ul_ref=http%253A%252F%252Frover.ebay.com%252Frover%252F1%252F711-117182-37290-0%252F2%253Fmtid%253D1588%2526kwid%253D1%2526crlp%253D145795696709_324272%2526itemid%253D322245484862%2526targetid%253D261119002203%2526rpc%253D0.22%2526rpc_upld_id%253D88941%2526device%253Dt%2526mpre%253Dhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.ebay.com%25252Fulk%25252Fitm%25252Flike%25252F322245484862%25253Flpid%25253D82%252526chn%25253Dps%2526adtype%253Dpla%2526googleloc%253D9031939%2526poi%253D%2526campaignid%253D672333784%2526adgroupid%253D29658622530%2526rlsatarget%253Dpla-261119002203%2526gclid%253DCN7djumjitACFUiXfgodmpYOpQ%2526srcrot%253D711-117182-37290-0%2526rvr_id%253D1117994181041&ul_noapp=true

 

Thanks for the support fellas, any special tools needed other than your basic torque wrench? A good ol list of specialty tools will be great. I'm been busy so work time on the engine will be slow.

 

You'll need, torque wrench and piston ring compressor for sure, prob some locktite, printed torque specs etc. Plasti-gauge if you want to check your clearances. I dont know about any other specifics.

 

I would think this would cover it. I would plasti-gauge it for piece of mind.

 

Bob T's post +1. It's got a lot of good info in there.. And you can find service manuals on Ebay here and there, you just have to look.

 

How about this one
http://m.ebay.com/itm/1994-1999-Ford-7-3L-DIT-Power-Stroke-Engine-Color-Service-Manual-Pump-Guide-More-/291917621690?hash=item43f7a569ba%3Ag%3A8YAAAOSwcLxYCSRR&_trkparms=pageci%253A77e365f0-a230-11e6-9d92-74dbd1807f27%257Cparentrq%253A2d03cc591580a357eba9ef3dfff887f2%257Ciid%253A3

 

Whoops wrong link here's the one
http://m.ebay.com/itm/2002-Ford-F350-Truck-Shop-Service-Repair-Manual-CD-7-3L-Power-Stroke-Diesel-/371760192686?hash=item568ea25cae%3Ag%3A3JwAAOSwQaJXRb6E&_trkparms=pageci%253A77e365f0-a230-11e6-9d92-74dbd1807f27%257Cparentrq%253A2d03cc591580a357eba9ef3dfff887f2%257Ciid%253A2

 

I have rebuilt a dozen engines and would try one a 7.3


most of the principals are the same, keep it clean and lubed when you assemble it
oh and take your time doing it too and take many pics and use some sammich bags marked with a sharpy so you don't loose anything