Hello Everyone, My first post. Well, I had to just sell my 06' Dodge 3500/Cummins 4x4 b/c of my work slowing...OH well, quit crying right! Anyway, I've never owned a Ford Truck (2 Cummins powered trucks actually...i know) but I am buying my buddies truck tomorrow, a 2000 F250 4x4 X-cab..7.3/Auto w/ 96K miles. Truck seems to run perfectly and shifts nice too (all stock, no bombs). I know You are all Ford guys and I am aware of lots of problems on the 6.0's but I hear good things about the 7.3 PS's...OK, enough babbling...Am I ok w/ these miles? I Mean, I am assuming this is not crazy mileage for this particular engine, see lots for sale w/ 200K plus so that makes me think positive. Any prob's that generally occur? My 96' Cummins had 180K and ran great but the truck kind of fell apart around it LOL. I know Ford builds an excellent truck, just not totally clear on the 7.3 Longevity issue...Make me feel better Thanks Guys, Look forward to reading through the posts and learning. Have a great weekend

 

Welcome to the boards. I think you will enjoy your new truck. While stock my be a little less power than you want, the folks around hear are all to happy to help you get more power. As far a the 96k goes, on these engines and trucks, that's nothing. If the engine had only basic maintance, it should go another 96k and then another 96k then probably another 96k. Plenty of the guys hear have way over 200k, some over 300k and a few way high milers. These engines don't get going good until after the first 100k. Take a look at the 7point3.com link in my signature and it will give you alot of good info about your truck, maintance, and mods you may want to do.
Please feel free to ask any questions and be welcome to the Ford family.

 

First off, welcome to FTE and to Power Stroke Diesels. This is THE BEST place to learn about your new to you truck.

The 7.3 diesel, while not a rocket in it's stock configuration, is a very reliable motor and it will pull like a mule all day long. They love to work.

The weak links off the top of my head are the Cam Position Sensor (CPS) and the fuel drain o-rings. Another pesky deal is the way that the crankcase ventilation is routed in the stock configuartion. Read up here and do the CCV mod as soon as you can.

I am sure some others will chime in soon with their experiences.

Glad to have you as part of the group.

 

Oh, I will have an F5 chip and gauges in it....give me a few weeks. My dodges were both nicely modded. One question though, I know the Dodge tranny's sucked, (Auto's) HAD to do a TC for any mod's...Same deal w/ The Ford's or is say a VB good enough? Funny thing is, this 2000 Trans shifts better than my 06' Dodge did, always hated that Trans. Thanks Guys for the warm welcome, wasn't easy downgrading from something so new to an older vehicle regardless of what the make is. Thanks Again

 

Around here we feel that you UPGRADED. Cummins are great engines, just wish they came in a better shipping create. LOL. The tranny is the weak link in these rigs. Most around here agree that BTS tranny is the best way to go for autos. I am still stock with a Sonnax shift kit and don't plan on any changes until it goes. Many here go with the BTS V B and sees huge gains. The ones with the BTS tranny are plum silly happy.
If the tranny is still good and shifting good, just do the valve body or a shift kit. If you're going for big HP the get the BTS tranny.

 

OK, Thanks...Not big HP, probably just that F5 chip on a moderate setting is all, good to hear the VB will generally hold that. Did a Bullydog in my Dodge (They work good on Cummins) and the TC slipped like nobodys business Thanks for ther info, will have to research this F5 thing, took a peek on the website and it appears You actually pick the options You want...purtty cool

 

Yep, the DP tuner is at the top of my need to get list. Don't think you'll find many around here that don't have it, or want it. Most of the programmers just don't do justice to these engine. I have the superchips and while I do see a differance over stock, I know that the DP tuner will really wake it up.

 

Welcome to FTE.


You might want to think about exhaust before the DP-TUNER, will help with your egts. MBRP makes a good exhaust, because that is what I have. I would get the BTS-VB when you do the tuner. Brian and Jody tune them for each other. Lots of good people here, You can learn lots of things that will work with your truck.

 

OK, I have....had an MBRP on my dodge and liked it....i would do the VB along with the chip anyway, been down that road w/ my dodge's putting the carriage before the horse Wow, this post got off topic quick, nice to see the Ford Guys are all about performance too

 

Man, I don't even have this truck 'till tomorrow and I am saving shortcuts to my computer for mods already....this aint good, i did this truck swap to SAVE money (just cant tell the wife ) LOL

 

To save money?



Oh man, you came to the WRONG place then.

You're finished.

 

As Barry, and Scott, and Mr. Miller have said 96K is just broke in. the 7.3 is equal to (in longevity) the 5.9l Cummins. They are the last two Medium duty diesel engines. You now have PMS (Powerstroke Mod Syndrome) get used to it. I have 246K on my stock tranny with the Bully Dog(and some other mods), Keep up with the maintenance and you will be fine for another 300K.

Now since I have said the 7.3 and 5.9 are equal (in longevity). They are not equal in the HP that can be put out, the 5.9 can be modded for 800-1000HP the 7.3 not so much, But the 7.3 is the one that is pulling all the broken trucks off the track with their tails between their legs.

Welcome To FTE, Visit often, get to know some of us, and have fun

 

96k is nothing for a 7.3! The 7.3 is the best diesel engine ever made that came in a light duty truck! I am not a big fan of auto transmissions but oh well i guess just take care of that tranny!!!! I have a 1994 f250 with a 7.3 5 speed and it has about 600,000 miles original motor tranny drivetrain etc this truck has paid for itself 10 times!!!! Well good luck on your buy!!!

 

I just bought a 01 with 169K on the clock... drives and shifts fine. No leaks or anything.


I got it last thursday/friday, and spent about 6 hours cleaning the inside/outside and engine bay. Put in a spray in bedliner, ordered a spare CPS sensor, and 2 fuel filters (because locally they are $$$). Next I will probably get a new windshield (has crack), an 07 grill, and 05 headlights to clean up the look of the front.

Then exhaust etc...



I bought it with the intentions of only driving it infrequently, and not modding it etc. I have found myself out there just randomly checking things, and looking at things to improve.

Im going to be broke...

 

I gotta ask, what's the deal with this CPS? Sounds like the Dodge 98'-2002' VP-44 injection problem...common issue? what happens if it craps? do i need a spare Burped an injection pump once on the cummins but you aint keepin that in your glovebox