ok so im sure you guys have seen my posts before ive been looking forever for a Gray 02 7.3 crew cab 4x4 automatic shortbed lariat for under 15k and its so far been an impossible thing to find and ive been pretty deadset on getting the 7.3 cause ive heard they are bulletproof but i just found a truck thats everything i want except the damn motor is a 03 6.0 gray blah blah blah everything i want and the price is right its 10,995 and i can damn near pay that cash right now but im already approved for a loan for 15k. so heres my question i dont want to mod the hell out of my truck when i get one the only thing i would think about doing is an exhaust cold air intake the nitro methane injection and a chip for economy and possibly a twin turbo setup or jsut a larger one and ive heard the 6.0 are alot more mod friendly than the 7.3 is this true and should i just go ahead and get the truck cause the price is right and it will allow me to play more since i dont initially spend more money on a 7.3??????????????

any help would be appreciated oh and btw the truck is in my hometown so since im inafghanistan i wont have to pay to ship it from another state and it will be with my 69 stang and my bike so when i get home i have access to everything right away!?

thanks guys
Patrick Achuff

 

A 6.0 more mod friendly?? Buy a 7.3 and don't look back. You're not putting all that crap on a 6.0 without issues...

 

I say get the 7.3.... the 6.0 needs too much to be reliable, (EGR, Headstudes, headgaskets, etc) esp an early year like an 03-04. The 7.3 does fine with mods, mine purrs like a kitten and hauls @$$ when I step on it. Love it, plus it has basically no emissions crap on it.

Don't get me wrong, the 6.0 is a hell of a motor.... but it needs lots of TLC and some bulletproofing before its reliable.

 

Only the early models need a lot of care. The later models had most issues resolved. Still not as solid as a 7.3. But if you have a (working) stock 6.0, it would win against an equally equip truck with a 7.3 in my opinion.

That said I love my 7.3

 

Ditto on what he said!

 

so my question to all this is why do the 6.0 have so many problems becuase my truck isnt going to be for towing its gonna be babied and justs be my daily driver and if anything the only load this thing would have on it would be my 69 fastback and my street bike! is the problems most people have due to hauling heavy loads with them or is it just 100% better to have a 7.3 just cause theyre all around better motors?

 

The 6.0 was released by International to meet new EPA regulations. They made changes and added valves and this and that and passed EPA regs.

Unfortunately, this was one of the first time the EPA really came down on diesel motors and making diesels "clean" was a newish idea and no one knew how itd work. So the EPA stuff on the motor caused it to suck.

At least to my understanding

 

how much would i have to put into the truck to make it bulletproof?

 

Im not sure exactly. I believe the major issue with the 6.0 is the EGR. Search EGR delete kit and you should get some answers.

 

so if i were to get a 7.3 is it exempt from the new regs? cause i need to majke sure my truck can be registered in california cause i will be moving there in about a year and a half???

 

The 6.0 should be worked hard and often. What's the point/advantage of having a diesel if you don't do that?

 

1. Yes, the 7.3 has almost no EPA stuff.
2. The 7.3 DOES need to get smogged. Pretty simple stuff.. for now.
3. Why the heck are you moving here..

 

He speaks the truth.

 

because im not a farm boy and i dont own a business nor do i own a boat or camper i just love the trucks and im just trying to overcompensate for a smal dick hahah jk i cant let my self succumb to normalism i have to own vehicles that are unique and i know that diesels are made for hevy duty applications but im just not the guy that has a call for towing im a mechanic and i work on diesels for the army so when i started working on M-ATV's it gave me a ****** for diesels. and the reason im moving to cali is cause im going to uti to become a diesel tech and autobody as well as basic automotive. so no one answered if i were to buy the 6.0 how muc hwould it cost me to get it "bulletproof"?

 

https://www.riffraffdiesel.com/product/ELITECED.html

https://www.riffraffdiesel.com/produ..._EGRD_6_0.html

About $300-400. Assuming those are the kits you need. Like I said, I'm not sure what the 6.0 needs, but from what I've picked up the EGR needs to go.