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My name is Ed and and I'm the proud new owner of a 2006 F-350. I started my search about 18 months ago beginning with reading everything I could about the various diesel offerings by Ford. I joined a few forums, joined a few groups on Facebook and read all I could and asked a lot of silly newb questions. Not being able (or willing) to really stretch my funds for a 6.7 (unless it was a base model, which I didn't want), I restricted my search to the 6.0 and the 6.4. As I was getting close to purchase, I decided to pay a visit to the local diesel shop in town and the service manager was very willing to talk to me. I talked to him about a few 6.4 and he warned me off of them (not the 6.4 in general, just the ones I was looking at). His final suggestion to me was that since I like working on my own truck and wanted to learn that I might be better off buying a 6.0. I found one about and hour and a half from me with a recent rebuilt (with receipts). The truck was studded and deleted with a tuner. The truck was solid on the test drive. I negotiated the price and drove the truck home. It has the typical Illinois rust on the body (cab corners and rockers). I have a friend who is local mechanic who is going to cut out the rusted rockers and weld new ones in. The body has 159k miles and the engine has 7k miles on it. The truck has a 6" lift and 35's on it. The only thing I have had to do is new batteries (killed by a bad alternator), and a new alternator. I know I have only had it for a few weeks, but I'm very happy with my purchase. The lift and tires were done less than a year ago so I'm getting axle wrap. I plan on installing traction bars over the winter.
Here she is: Ole' Black Betty. 2006 Ford F-350
Nice truck! I still think the 05-07 is the best looking super-duty that Ford has made up to this point. The 99-04 look dated, the 08-10's look weird, the 11+ just have way too much chrome and grille for my tastes.
Post up what work was done and we can help you figure out if anything else is required...
Studded
Deleted
Larger turbo
Bigger injectors
O-ringed heads
New radiator
New alternator
New Diehard batteries
6" lift
Mishimoto coolant filtration
New oil cooler at rebuild
FASS fuel system
I loved it when I saw it. To be honest, I like the looks of all of them. I did look at and drive a few 6.4's that I really liked, but upon recommendation I decided on a 6.0 so I drove a few of those. I really wanted a rust free truck, but I do live in Illinois (besides, a rust free, sorted truck in this state would command a premium).
Nice looking truck. Dont mind me, I'm always critical, but if I was a newbie again, I'd still do the same thing - go with a stock truck. I would want to learn from a baseline I was (kinda) sure about rather than discover on the fly all of the previous owner's deviations from the baseline.
Now that I've been here awhile, and from seeing my own trucks, i also dont trust half the shops out there. Too many take shortcuts. It's just about the money, not much obsession over details, and there are important details in an o-rings, studded rebuild, details that may not show up for 30k miles..
Basically, some are no better than me - boneheads. The more work done, the faster I'd run. Worse, the seller expects a premium for that work when I'm deducting.
I wonder what the average life expectancy is of rebuilt engines? Why do all that work and only get 7k miles out of it?
The problem is that when I was doing my research, opinions are all over the place. When i was looking a 6.4 I got opinions all over the map, same with the 6.0. Unless buying new the only thing a new buyer can do is jump in. I have only had the truck for a few weeks but it is a blast. I spent a lot of time and saw a lot of documentation before handing over my money. Admittedly, I wanted something beyond stock. It is a used truck and comes with the risk of buying a used vehicle. Since I have an allergy to car payments, buying used it what I do. I'm sure as things happen, I'll learn to handle them. I also have a few guys I know that are diesel techs if I need them.
I understand. You did sound like you did your research and know what you're getting into. I was really including my opinion for others who might search the site and find this thread. I haven't made a car payment since - heck, I can't even remember. I'd recommend that you network within your local FTE chapter to find more compadres. And the guys in this forum are fantastic - can't even add up all the money they saved me.
I really tried my best to not go into this blind-folded. I remember at one point (on another forum) asking if I would be better off buying a stock truck and got folks poo-pooing on that idea. My research and forum advice helped me to walk away from some trucks that weren't right. The one things I'm good at is making use of my resources to get things done. When I showed off my truck on one of the Powerstroke groups on Facebook, 2 local guys came forward and introduced themselves as 6.0 techs and offered me help if I needed it. I started this journey out and gained information from the generosity of the Powerstroke community. I'll continue to do so, and as I learn things, I'll pass those along to keep the community going. The one thing I've noticed is that folks are always joining the Powerstroke family. I hope one day to be a resource.
Not buying a stock truck?? Strange. All these trucks were stock at one time. Sounds like you have a great attitude. I'll never learn enough to be a great resource - just not technically inclined. But, I've been taught hard lessons, enough to recognize the same symptoms from others. I try to contribute for some of those basic or common questions, just to give the real experts here a break. They work so hard, for so many people.
I think you're smarter than you let on . I'm mechanically inclined and have worked on gas engines for most of my adult life. I see diesel as something else to learn. My truck is not a daily driver (more of a toy and hauling my wife's garage sale finds). If something happens and it has to sit for a while, it's not real problem for me. I tried to return to stock with the tuner and the program failed, leaving the truck disabled. I panicked a bit, came in the house and did an internet search. Found out that the batteries were low. Put a booster on the battery and everything was fine. I'm almost sure I can't have a problem that someone here hasn't had and can tell me how to fix (whether I like the answer or not). The Powerstorke community is what makes this possible.
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. I'm mechanically inclined and have worked on gas engines for most of my adult life. I see diesel as something else to learn. My truck is not a daily driver (more of a toy and hauling my wife's garage sale finds). If something happens and it has to sit for a while, it's not real problem for me. I tried to return to stock with the tuner and the program failed, leaving the truck disabled. I panicked a bit, came in the house and did an internet search. Found out that the batteries were low. Put a booster on the battery and everything was fine. I'm almost sure I can't have a problem that someone here hasn't had and can tell me how to fix (whether I like the answer or not). The Powerstorke community is what makes this possible.
