Hi guys, this is the 1st. time that i have posted in this forum i normaly post in the pre power stroke diesel forum. the reason that i am hear is because i have a 93 F350 with the 7.3 diesel, i bought it to tow a 30' 5th wheel that weighs #8500 loaded. After 2 years i have decided that i know absolutly nothing about diesels & that i should have bought a v10 or 460. So now i am looking for another truck but what should i buy? what year was the last 460 built? Which engine is best for towing? How many RPMs are you turning at 70 mph? Which is the most reliable? Which is the easiest to repair? I know that these are a lot of questions but i want to get it right this time. thanks for the input


sorry guys after i posted i noticed another thread asking the same question, but i don't know how to delete it

 

The Diesel.

 

after reading the other thread i think that the 460 would be the best for my needs because of the low end torque.


PS: i love my diesel because of the torque & power, i call it " the beast " but when the guys on the other forum talk about this part or that part i have no idea what they are talking about or where it's located on the engine or what it does. at least with a gas engine i know what the parts are & where the're located & have managed in the past to keep them running

 

I think if you just learn the ways of the diesel you will be happier than if you switch to a gas guzzler.

 

yeah, if you really are happy with your diesel, don't let it intimidate you. it's just a big gas engine with no spark plugs! lol But don't let that hold you back if you want to try a V10 either. I'm gonna shut up now cuz i really don't want to start another diesel/v10 debate! The only way to settle that is to come up with a diesel-powered v10.. no that still wouldn't work..

 

OH HE11 NO.....lol.

 

is that a sensitive subject here, there is really no comparison the diesel has tons of low end torque but will not rev up, my 7.3 red lines at 3500rpm, it also last a long time. the V-10 is just the opposite it gets it's power & torque on the high end of the curve, they are complete opposites but they both get the job done.

PS: what is a modular engine?

 

Are you guys on crack??? This guy is driving a non turbo 7.3L Diesel. It wouldn't matter if he buys a V10 or a 460, either or will far out perform what he has in all aspects inluding towing. The ONLY place that IDI 7.3 would excell is in the fuel mileage dept!

The 460 from what I've been told has a hair more grunt off of the line but anywhere after that the V10 will outperform it. Basically at any point above 2k RPM the V10 will have both more HP and more Torque. Figure it how you want, but your time spent below 2k rpms is probably less than 5% unless you do a lot of hwy driving and drive fairly slow.

Both are bullit proof engines and each has its quarks here and there depending on the model year. The 460 is more than likely easier to work on and definitly has better aftermarket support. The problem lies in the fact that 97' was the last year for the old school big block, where as the V10 has been in trucks since 99' (vans since 97 or 98). This puts you into a far superior truck with the superduty vs. the older F250/F350s. Even if the engines were Identical in performance (which they are not) the newer truck makes going to the V10 far outweigh the cost! Also if you can afford to do so find an 02' or newer truck with the deepest gears you can find (4.10s or 4.30s are far prefered over the 3.73s). The V10 also has proven time and time again that it gets 1-3 mpg better in most situations than the 460.

Lasltly, I tow 10k lbs regularly with an 03' V10 powered CC SB F250 with 3.73s and I have yet to find any hwy grades that I cann't run 70mph and not lose any speed! I have towed lighter loads with old IDIs that I however can not say the same for!

I'm not anti diesel but comparing and IDI to the V10 or 460 really is a no brainer unless your looking for fuel mileage.

 

SLE how many rpm's are you turning at 70mph?

 

Mickey, the V10 has more than 80% torque at 1k rpms and over 90% from 2K rpms up to 5000 rpms. That makes 365 ftlbs avalable from Idle on up. Not only do you end up more HP and Torque but you have a powerband that is nearly 2k rpms wider then that old IDI 7.3L.

Modular engines are Fords Engine family consisting of the 4.6L, the 5.4L, and the 6.8L. They are overhead cam engines that have a longer stroke than the piston diam. also known as an under square engine. Under square engines usualy devlope more torque at a lower rpm then oversuqare engines (Many GMs are over square/ short stroke). Ford developed the Mod motors primarly for part interchangeablity. the 5.4 and V10 and very similar and use many of the same parts.

 

At 70mph with 285/75/16s tires (larger then stock) and 3.73s I'm right around 2k rpms, at 75mph I'm at about 2100 rpms and this is generally my hwy speed. these of course are in OD (4th gear). In Drive (3rd) you can add about 700-800 rpms.

 

SLE--could you tow #10,000 at 70mph in 4th gear? my 7.3 turns 2,500rpm in 5th gear at 70mph

 

The v10 is a strong engine but I find that very hard to believe with your 3.73 gears. Unless, of course, your steepest hwy grades are >2%.

Poorly written statement. Reliability isn't an issue here. Both engines have downfalls but in the end the diesel has the biggest. I can replace an entire v10 engine for the price of your 7.3s (or any ford diesels)turbo, which WILL fail in time. 7.3s were good, but not as good as a new Duramax or any Cummins (that will probably spark some discussion). My v10s spark plugs could pop out all at the same time and not match the cost of one of the known problematic parts to replace on a diesel. Mileage is also not much of an issue since the diesels' initial cost and "not that much better" mileage make that issue a dead one considering current diesel prices compared to 87 octane (that the v10 runs on). Some people have figured out on paper that it would take over 20 years to match the price imbalance. sure the v10 comes a little il-equipped in the drivetrain department, but throw in a set of 4.56 or 4.88 gears and a diesel to tow heavy trailers isn't needed anymore.

Sorry about the rambling, I've owned both a v10 and 7.3 truck and very much disliked the diesel, it was laggy, loud, expensive and unreliable to me. I was more than happy to trade for the v10.

 

It would depend, I'd be on the edge depending on wind, trailer type/ trailer frontage, and of course terrain and if your willing to lose a couple mph here or there. My 3.73s and oversized tires aren't helping bit. The guys that have 4.30s and turn 2400 rpm at 70mph have reported no problems and some are actually towing more than 10k lbs. With mine I'd have to drop down to 3rd and drive 60mph or drive 85mph in 4th to see 2500 rpms. I can in no way get 70mph and 2500 rpms! I can run 3rd at 70 and run 2800 rpms and at that point it's really just starting to shine! it pulls like a frieght train at about 3300 rpms which there again with 3.73s it's hard to be at a resonable speed and that rpm, the 4.30s on the other hand put you right in the sweet spot!

 

Actually, both hills on the way to the lake are right around 7% acording Topo Maps that I have at work. My scaled weight, yes I actually scaled my entire setup more than once, it scales in at 17k lbs to 18.5k depending on how we're packed. and if I take my ATV or not.