7.3 Vs 6.0 vs. 6.4 WHAT TO GET
 

Hey gents. I've been in the market for a new truck, have a tacoma now after selling my 12V dodge and need to go back before my tacoma breaks in half. So heres the thing, i've owned a 6.0L ford bought it back. I am looking at the 6.4L but the MPG is awful. I don't know much about the 7.3 but they seem to RUN FOREVER, Ive seen them on ebay with 125K for $12K.....

It will be my daily driver, will be Crew cab, 4wd with the 8ft bed. It WILL be he last truck i buy for the next 10 years (wife said so) so That's why i am leaning towards the 6.4 mid next year.

So heres the thing, is it worth paying 40 grand for a new one, when for 25% of that i can get the o'reliable 7.3?

the old 7.3 will run great on home heating oil, just like my 12v did, and which means i can get fuel for 1.15/g but the long term comfort and other issues might steer me clear. So let me know what you guys think.

the 6.4's seem to be pretty darn good IMO. they have there little issues like all the trucks do, and the mileage problem can be remedied with a few modifications to the exhaust:w2:...so if you got the bank get the 6.4

My thinking when I bought mine? For that extra 75% price difference I can rebuild mine to better then new ( 3 times! ). That is IF I have to rebuild it. My 02 7.3 may run great for 10 more years. :D

If you're going to buy an 08 or newer, price shop....the market is flat right now and great deals are to be had on any of the big 3 diesel trucks.

Myself I won't buy an 08 or newer because of the DPF......granted they can go bye bye and such but you're always going to be stuck with a truck that requires one, and depending on how "green" the government becomes, it might end up being as much of a requirement as working headlights in the near future.

Best of luck to ya!

I'm glad you asked this qusetion. I'm in the market for my 1st diesel and it appears it will be the F250, 4x4 crew cab as well.

I"m not sure what you're talking about here?

I have a friend that has an 03 and absolutely loves it!

And not only was it cheaper to purchase, but cheaper to lift due to the leaf spring configuration up front:)

He's a fire fighter (Lt) and a fairly sharp guy when it comes to 4x4 trucks and the like.
He did his research before he bought and came to the conclusion that this was the way to go.

He has the Lariat edition and man is that thing Caddi-comfortable. All the comforts of home and a view out the windshield that can't be beat!

It seems that every few years or design change, there always something "newer or better" added that can ultimately break.

At least with an 03 (+/-) your that much ahead of the emissions curve;)

His is a great DD and hauler too. Fuel comonmy is not bad at all with a lift and 37's and the power is just fine.

Help me with the "long term comfort" part please?

Even if you bought a base model truck, there's nothing in the higher end models that you can't bolt or wire into yours

An interior swap is a piece o' cake for the most part, especially the seats and such. If I could find a base truck I could afford right now, I'd buy it and swap over the full Lariet interior on piece at a time if I had to:)

I'm going to watch this thread closely for the responses.

Good luck with your purchase.

the comfort I mean. after it already has 130K on it, then I buy it, its going to get saggy, and have odors, and just little things that will go wrong. And If i am buying a new truck, it's worth going as new as i can.

I have looked into it, and the 7.3 can be rebuilt pretty cheap. The two main things it will need are a set of injecters, and a HUEI pump. And the motor will be like new again. All the other stuff, can be an easy swap.

the 6.0 will need an EGR delete, and it SHOULD be ok to go, but they had issues with the VVT and its a more complicated system, that's more expensive to fix but is a more powerful motor then then 7.3


For me, I like the 7.3 because I used home heating oil as fuel a lot in the summer. On the 6.4 It will mess up the DPF, but mine wont have one, and im not sure how sensitive the motor is with its fuel. The 6.0 will take it ok too, but the problem there is that with the VVT cheaper fuel quality can mean less qualty running.


The last few years of the 7.3's were nice, and with the lariat edition in good shape you're 03 can be super comfy and new feeling.

I just don't want to buy a truck that needs lots of front end work, and i will admit the soild sprung front axel is SIMPLE to work on, but has NO TURNING RADIAS compared to the 6.0L trucks


The thing is, even if I can get a new 6.4 all loaded up for 40K, I would have a nice new truck, but it is running the DPF, and thats a lot of money. for half that I can get a later model 6.0L that is in good shape, but you're still dealing with the 6.0L which isnt bad, but see above, they have some issues. for half that I can get an 03/04 7.3 Fully loaded, and still have 35K to work on it....

im lost

get a cummins, or a duramax if you don't want to deal with engine issues, and chevy has the most comfortable interior in my opinion and dodge has the simplest interior so it's all about what you like, if you must go ford you're always going to have some issue with an engine, the HEUI injection system found on the 7.3 and 6.0 is way to complex and not very reliable upon being modified, you have my 2 cents, probably not going to care what I have to say but if you want something more reliable and I'd like to see ford guys argue it go with the cummins with a 6 speed manual and you've got the best drivetrain the market has to offer

I love the cummins with a manual, thats what I had prior, given it was an old 12V. It was great. The reason I am going with ford, or possibly a chevy is the back seat is much bigger. I have a daugter and will have another soon and on longer trips it would be nice to have the much bigger back seats then what the dodge offers.

I don't know much about the chevy's, the different engine codes, ect. they have the LLM LYM this and that, not sure what they all mean. But should take a look.

The Huei system is a pain but not if it's maintained. I figure if i get a 125K-150K 7.3 I will factor in the cost of right off the bat going with a set of 50HP Dynomite Injectors and a new pump with the 2x output, that alone will give me a nice shot of power and reliablilty for another 150K. That with total fluid changes, new filters, possibly a new clutch ( not buying an auto trans with 125K on it)

I just don't know if it's really worth buying a new rig for 40 grand when for 15K i can have one that will run with out emissions, will run on much cheaper fuel with now issues, gets much better mpg, and on top of it all, I haul, and load the truck a lot, so it won't really stay new for ever.

You can get a 6.0 with less miles for cheaper then a 7.3, I did. The 6.0 problems, factory headbolts, EGR cooler and valve, VGT sometimes, and Injectors like on any new truck. The 6.0 had leaf springs till 04. I have a Lariet, and man do I love the interior, its a huge difference from my 05 cummins.

I'm not saying Ford is junk but the powerstroke is, the 6.4 is the best so far in my opinion as far as power goes and it's going to have a warranty most likely whereas the 7.3 won't and the 6.0 most likely won't anymore either, and if you have to have the pickup for 10 years i'd want something that had a warranty for at least half of that time