So I'm new to automatics and looking at buying my first one. Its a 97 F.250 with the turbo 7.3 diesel 4x4 with 280,000 miles. My main concern is the transmission, I've owned 4 7.3's prior to this one, 2 super duties, 1 idi, and another early Powerstroke and love the engines and know them well, however this is the first time I've own an auto.
My mom has an 01 7.3 Excursion that has 193,000 miles and has burnt up 2 transmissions hauling a bumper pull 28' horse trailer, so my concern is how dependable are the auto's and is it worth buying the truck since it will be to haul my new 32' steel stock trailer?
The truck has everything I've been looking for and is in my price range, he wants $4500 but I've got him down to $3600, its just it has an auto and i don't know how much I'll have to put into it so I don't kill it?
I've also already priced out a set up like what I had done to my moms Excursion cause its lasted ok so far (6 Months). Is a BD electric cooler, BD extra deep trans pan, BD trans filter kit, Bully Dog shift kit, and AutoMeter Trans gauge, does anyone know of anymore things that would help? I was told the truck already has a newer ford heavy duty torque converter put in 10,000 miles ago and was flushed last week.

Thank You for any input. This is an awesome site.

 

i have an auto in mine and havent had to rebuild it yet and i have hotshoted a couple time with it and as far as mods my friends dad had his trans rebuilt and the guy that did it freezes all the internals and said its supposed to last a lifetime. He pulls his 5th wheel camper 32' trailer and tractor and all sorts of stuff

 

Cool, have had a lot of people tell me I need to get a rebuild and need to get a new performance transmission if I want to up my ponies in any way. All I plan on doing right now is a AFE intake, TS chip, and dual 4" exhaust. I should I worry about the transmission any, I'm putting gauges on first thing?

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Oh girlfriends father and a mechanic friend checked out the truck for me today, said its in good shape and the transmission is awesome and should be fine.

 

i got an intake on mine wit the superchip programmer and i know that dont up my power by much but still like i said i havent had any problems out of mine.