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Buying a 2004 f-350 6.0 Good Idea or Bad Idea

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  #1  
Old 10-18-2010, 12:03 AM
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Default Buying a 2004 f-350 6.0 Good Idea or Bad Idea

I have found a 2004 f-350 with only 103750 miles on it. Truck is completly stock.
Used for pulling a camper in the summer time once and awhile.

So I currently have a 98 gmc 6.5 that has given me problems after problems and im sick and tired of it.


So I was wanting to go 7.3 Power Stroke or cummins 5.9

But this truck has come up and I am really interested in it.

6.0 liters reliable lots of problems?

I would be useing the truck for work pulling 12000 pound trailer every day
 
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Old 10-18-2010, 12:11 AM
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Since you're going to be pulling 12k pounds EVERY day, just wait and get either a 7.3 or 5.9. Don't even bother with this truck.

The 03-04s were the worst of the 6.0s with FICM, turbo, injector, EGR cooler, head bolt/gasket problems.

Unless you want to spend some big money up front, before putting the truck to work, to address these issues, I'd pass in a heartbeat. Don't get me wrong, unlike most people, I think the 6.0L is a great engine. But it needs upgraded before anything can be done to it performance wise and before it can be worked hard.

Just keep shopping around and good luck in your hunt!
 
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Old 10-18-2010, 12:28 AM
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Originally Posted by FordDZLMan9191
Since you're going to be pulling 12k pounds EVERY day, just wait and get either a 7.3 or 5.9. Don't even bother with this truck.

The 03-04s were the worst of the 6.0s with FICM, turbo, injector, EGR cooler, head bolt/gasket problems.

Unless you want to spend some big money up front, before putting the truck to work, to address these issues, I'd pass in a heartbeat. Don't get me wrong, unlike most people, I think the 6.0L is a great engine. But it needs upgraded before anything can be done to it performance wise and before it can be worked hard.

Just keep shopping around and good luck in your hunt!
I'm with him, you'll need head studs, and an oil cooler relocation kit, EGR delete at the very least, but with those upgrades you'll probably have a truck that'll go a hell of a long way and pull that trailer like mad, granted you're kinda trading one rotten apple for another by switching from a 6.5 to a 6.0, but if you have 4k+ to drop on the truck immediately upon purchase I wouldn't waste your time, or you could go ahead and go for it and maybe never have a problem with it and it'll serve you well for many years and miles to come, but then again the first time you hook up to the 12k lb trailer it could blow the head gaskets
 
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Old 10-18-2010, 03:03 PM
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What if I could get the truck for 11k
 
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Old 10-18-2010, 03:35 PM
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It all comes down to how reliable of a truck do you want. If you buy it for 11K, do you have the 4K+ to spend on top of that to make it reliable. If I had 15K for a new truck, I'd watch for a good condition 7.3 Super Duty or get a Cummins. Around here, 15K could get me a decent 03-04 CR Cummins and a nice 2nd gen.
 
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Old 10-18-2010, 03:37 PM
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Originally Posted by FordDZLMan9191
It all comes down to how reliable of a truck do you want. If you buy it for 11K, do you have the 4K+ to spend on top of that to make it reliable. If I had 15K for a new truck, I'd watch for a good condition 7.3 Super Duty or get a Cummins. Around here, 15K could get me a decent 03-04 CR Cummins and a nice 2nd gen.

Point taken

---AutoMerged DoublePost---

Im almost thinking about when my 6.5 takes a crap just put a new motor in it.
 

Last edited by canada204; 10-18-2010 at 03:37 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
  #7  
Old 10-19-2010, 01:14 AM
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same ball game with the 6.0 it's not a question of if it's a question of when, very few never have problems
 
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Old 10-19-2010, 01:27 AM
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Every vehicle/engine has its problems. Just try to pick one that's known for having less of them, i.e. 7.3 or 5.9.
 
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Old 10-19-2010, 08:34 AM
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How is the Duramax? I was wanting solid front end because I will be doing alot of plowing...
 
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Old 10-19-2010, 08:42 AM
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id go with the 5.9 cummins the ford sucked from 03-04 duramax is ok just check ur driveshafts an injectors once in a while an thats it man
 


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