Need help deciding
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 117
Likes: 0
From: New Jersey
It all comes down to the previous owners care and maintenance of their truck. Most guys who own a 7.3 excursion know what they have and IMO keep up with regular maintenance on them because THEY NEVER INTEND TO SELL THEM!! But life takes unexpected turns sometimes and so maybe they need the money so they are forced to sell etc etc etc....Anyway, I also live in NJ and my search for a 7.3 EX took me up to Connecticut, is it a rusted out POS? absolutely not. Yes it has some surface rust on the frame but thats all, absolutely no body rot and the inside is so clean my buddies don't believe me when I tell them its a 2000 model year.
Clean 7.3's are out there and if you want a diesel then go buy a diesel, just do your research and know what your getting into and you'll be fine.
Clean 7.3's are out there and if you want a diesel then go buy a diesel, just do your research and know what your getting into and you'll be fine.
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 2,434
Likes: 1
From: Yakima, Wash.
ok another thing that corncers me its the diesel and cold weather factor , now i have never driven a diesel before but the main reason why i wanted an excursion was the diesel option ,here in Nj we see a lot of snow (not lately lol) so whats the deal w diesel engines and cold starts , this truck must take me to work everyday during winter so it has to start lol.
sorry for my ignorance im really trying for the diesel , the more i read about the more i like it lol
sorry for my ignorance im really trying for the diesel , the more i read about the more i like it lol
I will normally start plugging in when the temps are reaching below freezing.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,254
Likes: 120
Here is a nice v10 in Cali. A bit more than you may want to spend.
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/cto/5515014567.html
Tim M
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/cto/5515014567.html
Tim M
Super Moderator
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 29,380
Likes: 118
From: Central Coast of CA
Unless the rig you're gonna test drive is tuned, you'll probably be disappointed.
A bone stock 7.3L is very boring and plain jane.
Stewart
A bone stock 7.3L is very boring and plain jane.
Stewart
Super Moderator
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 29,380
Likes: 118
From: Central Coast of CA
Stewart
Tuned
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 296
Likes: 2
I don't find mine to be that way.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 7,460
Likes: 85
From: Kent Station, WA
Breaking point thread:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ead-heads.html
Recommended Torque:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ed-torque.html
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,678
Likes: 1
From: Central Tx.
A lot of guys hear Hot Rod there 8000 # trucks 
So the stock 7.3 is really a dog when stock. (it also has GREAT upward potential)
Mine never bothered me, TILL running 35s & needing to tow. A tuner allowed for trans correction, speed-o correction & gave me the ability to pull a 18' TT downhill to the coast W/O having to push the petal through the floorboard the entire 1hr drive.
So the stock 7.3 is really a dog when stock. (it also has GREAT upward potential) Mine never bothered me, TILL running 35s & needing to tow. A tuner allowed for trans correction, speed-o correction & gave me the ability to pull a 18' TT downhill to the coast W/O having to push the petal through the floorboard the entire 1hr drive.
Thread Starter
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New User
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
News flash guys , i just test drove the 7.3 , also first time ever driving a diesel and wow , not what i was expecting at all , im looking forward to test a v10 most likely thats the truck ama end up buying , this particualr 7.3 had some good power but up on the higher rpms, when the turbo kicked in i guess. i like to travel a lot and im the kind of person that preffers a 70mph under 1500 rpm type of ride
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 291
Likes: 0
From: Bend
News flash guys , i just test drove the 7.3 , also first time ever driving a diesel and wow , not what i was expecting at all , im looking forward to test a v10 most likely thats the truck ama end up buying , this particualr 7.3 had some good power but up on the higher rpms, when the turbo kicked in i guess. i like to travel a lot and im the kind of person that preffers a 70mph under 1500 rpm type of ride
Moderator
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 12,058
Likes: 1,565
From: Media PA
News flash guys , i just test drove the 7.3 , also first time ever driving a diesel and wow , not what i was expecting at all , im looking forward to test a v10 most likely thats the truck ama end up buying , this particualr 7.3 had some good power but up on the higher rpms, when the turbo kicked in i guess. i like to travel a lot and im the kind of person that preffers a 70mph under 1500 rpm type of ride
70 MPH @ 1500 RPM isn't going to happen with a V-10, unless you mount some very tall tires on it which would decrease the performance accordingly.
Comparing RPM operating ranges between the PSD and modular motors is far from apples to apples. The V-10 has about twice the RPM operating range as a 7.3 (or 6.0), the two families of motors make their power very differently also. The PSDs make plenty of power down low with good turbo boost helping out in their upper range, the V-10 does OK at the lower range but when needed it will drop down a gear (or 2) and really get spun up where it makes it's peak power. The 6.8 is designed to operate at these higher revs and doing so isn't going to hurt them.
I run 4.88 gears with 35.28" tall tires for an effective ratio of 4.39 on my V-10 EX, it turns 2400 RPMs at 70 MPH in OD. That EX serves as our dedicated tow rig so it does that 500 to 600 miles a day when we travel with our 41' 11,000lb travel trailer hanging off the back. It does not complain at all and only drops down a gear to spool up a bit higher on the steeper hills, it does get thirsty but otherwise no issues at that RPM for prolonged runs under load.