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Hi folks, this is my first time posting here. I just recently aquired a 2002 f250 7.3 powerstroke that I traded some mechanic labor for. The thing was parked for several years before I got it due to an engine compartment fire that started from what I think was the cruise control pressure switch on the master brake cylinder. The brake fluid reservoir was melted to nearly nothing and the flaming brake fluid dripped all over the bundle of wiring harness that sits right below it and also traveled down the transmission wiring melting it as well as the park/neutral safety switch. I've repaired the wiring, installed a new master brake cylinder, safety switch, radiator, water pump, hoses, batteries, and changed all the fluids and filters bumper to bumper. The truck now runs and drives great......My question is this, the truck is a 2002 model year according to the title, Vin, and label on the door. The sticker on the passenger side valve cover says it's a 2000 model year. I've owned other 7.3s in the past and the valve cover sticker always matched the door tag as far as model year goes. Has this engine been replaced or was this possibly a "new" old stock engine installed from the factory? The truck has 370,000 mi but the engine is pretty clean....not all caked in crud like other trucks I've seen with similar milage. I've searched for hours on this subject and even called a local Ford dealer who didn't have any information. I'm very curious about this now. If anybody knows, please chime in. Thanks!
Unless someone swapped the valve covers it sounds like you have a 2000 model year engine. The driver’s side valve cover should have a sticker with a date on it as well.
If you really want to make sure the engine is a 2000. You can take off the inspection plug on the left side rear of the engine block near the oil filter. The plug is the one on the flat surface of the block right above where the oil pan bolts up. The one above it will drain the the coolant out of the block, resulting in an unwanted coolant shower. If you pull the inspection plug you can view the connecting rod bolts. A nut on the end indicates forged rods and a bolt means PMRs.
98% of 2002 model year engines came with powdered metal rods. If the engine in your truck is a true 2000, it should have forged.
I don't know where they are but engine serial numbers are stamped in the block. I'm sure someone here knows where they are. I'm thinking that one of those places is near the oil filter. I may be wrong on location but they are definitely stamped in somewhere. From that you can determine DOM.
There are a myriad of possibilities as to why the valve cover manufacture date doesn't match the door. Although, some details on when to find the definitive answer to the date of the engine are provided by the posts above and my additional comments below.
I hope this helps!
Originally Posted by Walleye Hunter
I don't know where they are but engine serial numbers are stamped in the block. I'm sure someone here knows where they are. I'm thinking that one of those places is near the oil filter. I may be wrong on location but they are definitely stamped in somewhere. From that you can determine DOM.
Mark is right! Right next to the oil filter is the engine serial number.
Additional information is below after you acquire the serial number.
Start of production thru 1425746 are Forged Rods
1425747 thru 1440712 are Powdered Rods
1446713 thru 1498318 are Forged Rods
1498319 thru final production run are all powdered
Unless someone swapped the valve covers it sounds like you have a 2000 model year engine. The driver’s side valve cover should have a sticker with a date on it as well.
If you really want to make sure the engine is a 2000. You can take off the inspection plug on the left side rear of the engine block near the oil filter. The plug is the one on the flat surface of the block right above where the oil pan bolts up. The one above it will drain the the coolant out of the block, resulting in an unwanted coolant shower. If you pull the inspection plug you can view the connecting rod bolts. A nut on the end indicates forged rods and a bolt means PMRs.
98% of 2002 model year engines came with powdered metal rods. If the engine in your truck is a true 2000, it should have forged.
That's is a great idea. I didn't even think of that. Next time I'm under there I'm definitely checking. I can't say that I've seen a sticker on the driver side valve cover but maybe I wasn't paying close enough attention. Definitely going to check that as well. Thanks
There are a myriad of possibilities as to why the valve cover manufacture date doesn't match the door. Although, some details on when to find the definitive answer to the date of the engine are provided by the posts above and my additional comments below.
I hope this helps!
Mark is right! Right next to the oil filter is the engine serial number.
Additional information is below after you acquire the serial number.
Start of production thru 1425746 are Forged Rods
1425747 thru 1440712 are Powdered Rods
1446713 thru 1498318 are Forged Rods
1498319 thru final production run are all powdered
Thank you. That's very helpful information. Do you by chance know the corresponding manufacturing dates associated with the serial number? Thanks again.....hoping I have the forged rods as this is just a spare truck I literally got for a weekend of my labor and have some money available to put some "go fast" parts on it and have some fun with it.
Thank you. That's very helpful information. Do you by chance know the corresponding manufacturing dates associated with the serial number? Thanks again.....hoping I have the forged rods as this is just a spare truck I literally got for a weekend of my labor and have some money available to put some "go fast" parts on it and have some fun with it.
You are welcome and that sounds like a great deal you happened upon!
As for the dates, a bit more information can be found at the link below. It is a post created by one of our well respected members, Y2KW57.
I know it's been a while since I started this thread, but been so busy with life (full time job, 3 kids, wife, side hustle etc.) That I haven't been able to investigate this any further until now. Back working on the old girl again doing injector cups....I believe you actually responded to my thread on that. Anyways while working on it I was able to check the serial number by the oil cooler and confirm it is a 2000 model year. Must have been replaced at one time by the previous owner.
The good thing is that it is not a bad thing. That '00 version should have forged rods, for what that's worth, and the rest of the engine is just as good as the later versions.
As Mark and Y2KW57 said, thank you for closing the loop and that is a good thing to have that engine. For 95% of the 7.3L owners, there is little to no difference between a PMR or forged rod engine. But, it doesn't hurt to have the better parts!
The good thing is that it is not a bad thing. That '00 version should have forged rods, for what that's worth, and the rest of the engine is just as good as the later versions.
Originally Posted by Sous
As Mark and Y2KW57 said, thank you for closing the loop and that is a good thing to have that engine. For 95% of the 7.3L owners, there is little to no difference between a PMR or forged rod engine. But, it doesn't hurt to have the better parts!
No problem. Yea I'm kinda happy to find out I have the forged rods as I have turned up the power on it some by upgrading the turbo (ww2, 360 thrust bearings, high flow outlet with ebpv delete), also installed a TS 6 position chip, and cold air intake. Plan on doing a bank's big head waste gate and exhaust system sometime in the near future. Also found out by a local injection and pump shop while having my injectors checked that they are stage 1 injectors. Had them checked for peace of mind while they are out for an injector cup and injector oring job I'm doing right now. Should have that job wrapped up today. Thanks again for all the useful information.
I seen this so decided to check mine because I have some doubts. It appears that I don't have a number at that location. Does anyone know where else I could look? Thanks
I seen this so decided to check mine because I have some doubts. It appears that I don't have a number at that location. Does anyone know where else I could look? Thanks
I thought the same thing as well. I had to clean the area up with a few shots of brake clean, a shop towel, and some elbow grease to find the numbers. They weren't engraved/stamped very well so the slightest bit of crud masked them pretty good. They were there tho, yours should be too. Also had to use a flash light to see them as well.
