I am in the market for a pickup, really anything 2000 and older that's at least an extended cab 4x4 (all the way back to a '73). I want a truck that can tow, that I can supe up a little bit. I could get a 460 cheaper, I think performance parts would be cheaper, and I could do a whole lot more to the motor than a 7.3. I went to school for automotive so I would feel more comfortable working on a gas engine than a diesel. But the 7.3 is beast of a motor, you can't kill the thing! I love the sound of a diesel, but I like the rumble of a big gasser just as much. Fuel would most likely be cheaper in the 7.3, and I think it would be more reliable. Any thoughts? I know that you guys will say powerstroke, but I'd like some two sided discussions on it.

 

I have a '95 F250 w/ a 460ci and a '97 F30 w/ a 7.3l... Both are beasts. Both have towed large fifth wheels.

My gasser is fine towing. It could do it. It is harsh on fuel. I can find fuel in remote on-the-beaten path kind of places. It doesn't care as much about the quality of fuel. But it drinks lot's of fuel. It's torque is higher when the rpm is higher. It has that whiplash kind of power and power band. It pulls better as it accelerates... not as much as you are trying to stay at a steady pace... such as a steady grade. Being such, it shifts down a lot to try to keep a steady pace.

My diesel, if I'm off the beaten path, I have to keep fuel supply in mind. My mileage is over twice that of my gasser. The torque band is higher and lower. Pulling the same weight, is isn't continually shifting down. It just digs in a pulls steadily. It has a lower, wider torque band... and handles a steady grade better.

The gasser is less for parts, but I end up working on it more to keep it running like it should. The price of parts of my diesel is higher per part... but comparably, is almost maintenance free (besides routine maintenance that is associated with both). The gasser I wore out and had to rebuild. The diesel is still pulling like it is fresh at 275k.

 

My old pickup was an 85 with a 400m and a 4sp. I loved that pickup but it was slow and got terrible fuel mileage. My pickup now is a 95 and I love it, she is my baby. It gets pretty consistent mileage and I have a ton of power, more then I would ever be able to use. I personally never buy a gas pickup especially if I was going to tow with it

 

That was a great reply MAFoElffen, thanks... And joebob, if I went with the gasser, I'd be sure it wasn't slow... I would be more eager to modify it than I would a diesel

 

I'm just the opposite. I mod my diesels and not the gasser. You get a 7.3 with chip, intake, exhaust and some stage ones and you will never tow with a gas rig again.

 

I just bought a 95 CCLB 7.3, intake, 6 position chip, injectors, exhaust brake and it is a beast it has spent most of its life haulin sprint cars around 28' trailer and I say no comparison to my 92 SCLB big block truck. Diesel is the only way to pull and it is fast enough for me.