Drivetrain swap from '01 to '04 Super Duty... possible?
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Jan 2020
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Drivetrain swap from '01 to '04 Super Duty... possible?
I messed up the title...it's an '01, not a '99. Moving on...I purchased a 2001 Ford F350, 2WD with a good running 7.3 and a 2004 F350 4WD with a junk 6.0. The '01 is rusted to death and the '04 is pristine and I want to yank the cabs and do a power train swap. I have a good 4r100 and transfer case to put behind the 7.3L as I know the trans behind the 6.0 is not the same. I am aware that I may have to do electrical harness swaps since engines are different and there will be some weirdness with that transition. What I am looking for is any guidance on if I am going to have dash display issues or other items that don't translate between power trains? I don't know a lot about the key differences between the 2003 and 2004 chassis since they stopped putting the 7.3 in at the end of the 2003 run? Seems simple to me but before I have a pile of truck parts laying around, trying to educate myself an the adventure I might be embarking on.
Last edited by The Guru Of Nothing; May 23, 2026 at 08:49 PM. Reason: Added information
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2011
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So what is wrong with the 6.0? The 6.0 platform is superior to to the 7.3 (the 5r110 is really what i would want to keep) and it might be better for you to fix the 6.0 and part out the 7.3 or save it for another build.
4wd Low
Joined: Dec 2024
Posts: 10
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Anything is possible
It’s my understanding that you could have had either a 7.3 or a 6.0 in ‘03. That being said, I don’t think the instrument cluster would care what PCM it’s taking data from. I suspect you can disconnect the engine bay harness from the 7.3 and plug it directly into the 6.0 plugs. There may be a connector body that you have to swap over because it has a different shape, but I believe all of the wires would be the same. If it’s a problem you could just take everything from behind the dash as well if you had to.
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Jan 2020
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The 6.0 has a whackload of miles on it and it sounds like a connecting rod is on the verge of taking leave. Big time knock and a major miss. I have a brand new 4R100 with the full tow build upgrades and the 7.3 runs solid. Getting rid of the rotted out cab would be nicer but the other cab is a full crew so not swappable onto the running chassis. Kind of why I am toying with just doing a power plant swap into the pristine crew cab truck. Well, not perfect but it is quite clean
4wd Low
Joined: Dec 2024
Posts: 10
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Go for it
I’d do it, but I also built my ‘03 6.0 CC from no less than 6 trucks starting with a junk engine, a cooked transmission, and a rotten cab and bed. It’s been a challenge, but I’ve got about 20k miles on the truck now and am generally happy with it. In retrospect I should have just spent the money on someone else’s truck, but this pile
of junk was sitting in front of me so it’s what I had access to. Yours sounds like a much more financially responsible project.
of junk was sitting in front of me so it’s what I had access to. Yours sounds like a much more financially responsible project.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 1,583
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Anything is possible with enough time, effort and money.
That said, I wouldn't go through the effort (or spend the money and time) to swap a 7.3 into anything. The 7.3 is the best diesel Ford ever offered in a pickup sure, but that doesn't mean its actually that good objectively (like it may be fastest kid at the special Olympics, but yeah, you get the point).
If you're swapping a different engine than what came in the truck from the factory,,,, IMHO, pick a better engine. Plenty of better engine options out there, even from International (like the DT360) if you want to keep it "all Ford".
As for transmissions, the 5R110 is fantastic, they're the only thing that make a 6.0 tolerable. If you're good with doing some standalone transmission control (there are few companies that make hardware & support tuning just for this), then keep the 5r110, its a WAY, WAY better trans than the 4R that came behind the 7.3.
...
That said, I wouldn't go through the effort (or spend the money and time) to swap a 7.3 into anything. The 7.3 is the best diesel Ford ever offered in a pickup sure, but that doesn't mean its actually that good objectively (like it may be fastest kid at the special Olympics, but yeah, you get the point).
If you're swapping a different engine than what came in the truck from the factory,,,, IMHO, pick a better engine. Plenty of better engine options out there, even from International (like the DT360) if you want to keep it "all Ford".
As for transmissions, the 5R110 is fantastic, they're the only thing that make a 6.0 tolerable. If you're good with doing some standalone transmission control (there are few companies that make hardware & support tuning just for this), then keep the 5r110, its a WAY, WAY better trans than the 4R that came behind the 7.3.
...
Frmr Ford Trans Engr
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From: SE Florida
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2007
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I have done may odd ball swaps , and yours is pretty ordinary per say .
pull both dashes , remove the 7.3 dash harness, intrall it in the desired cab . Barring no frame and motor mount perch modifications , it should be bearable with a few adult beverages and time .
pull both dashes , remove the 7.3 dash harness, intrall it in the desired cab . Barring no frame and motor mount perch modifications , it should be bearable with a few adult beverages and time .
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 952
Likes: 101
I have done may odd ball swaps , and yours is pretty ordinary per say .
pull both dashes , remove the 7.3 dash harness, intrall it in the desired cab . Barring no frame and motor mount perch modifications , it should be bearable with a few adult beverages and time .
pull both dashes , remove the 7.3 dash harness, intrall it in the desired cab . Barring no frame and motor mount perch modifications , it should be bearable with a few adult beverages and time .
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