Considering replacing my 7.3
 

So here's a little back drop on me and what I do, what I drive, etc.

I work in the aerospace industry as a private maintenance contractor specializing in private jets (Learjets if that makes it easier for you to visualize, though no one really flys those anymore...). Anyways, what I do for a living is I drive around the country at assist companies fulfill their maintenance obligations... Sometimes it's 3 months, other times it's 12+ months... But regardless I move ALOT and I move FAR and I never have a notice as to how long I'm going to be somewhere... I make pretty decent money, right around the 6 figures mark. Maybe a little more to put my financial standing into perspective.

I've been driving a 7.3 OBS crewcab 250 for a while and despite how awesome of a truck it REALLY is. I'm not impressed with the power by modern standards or honestly how nice it is... I added leather seats and the whole 9 yards and it's just not doing it for me. I want more power, more creature comforts and just something I can truly be proud of (don't get me wrong, I wash the truck bi-weekly and detail it monthly).

I have a honda Civic that's been sitting in my dads drive way for over a year now, I have a dirtbike, a gun safe, a 2000+ lbs toolbox etc, etc, etc. I really need about a 25ft gooseneck to carry all my junk across the country decently regularly. And I just don't feel the 7.3 is up for a 25ft, 10,000 lbs gooseneck driving from California to North Carolina.

That being said, I'm considering buying a 6.7 F250 King Ranch. Used of course, the $56k price tag off the lot is a little much for me considering how they're selling for $34-40 used online with low miles... Now that the engine is a few years old, has this proven to be the 7.3 replacement everyone made it out to be? And do you think in a situation like mine where I have a perfectly fine running 7.3 PSD that the move is justifiable?

121 views and no comments? Guess I'll go back to the Nation forums, this place sucks.

I too find it frustrating on this site that hundreds of people read your post and cant say anything! However back to your question, I think the 7.3 is hands down fords best diesel. Having said that I do know some people who have the 6.7 and absolutely love it one friend upgraded about 2 years ago now he had over 400k on his 02 7.3, I believe he has almost 100K on the 6.7 and he loves it, quiet, ok on fuel and more power then any 7.3 will ever reliably make (I'm sure someone will have something to say about that). It really comes down to what you want or need, look around at trucks for sale there is a reason why the 99-02 powerstrokes are more money used then any other truck. If you really like your old truck why not just swap in a cummins best of both worlds!

I've driven both. 7.3 a lot longer than the 6.7 but I've driven multiple 6.7's two of which were king ranch. They look great, they're comfortable as you'd ever need inside and enough reliable power stock that you could be happy with a trailer behind it. If I could I'd take that plunge


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In my opinion you would be happiest with the 6.4l powerstroke tune it put exhaust and intake and that's it much more power than the 6.7l powerstroke tuned and seems to be better fuel mileage tuned and reliability is just as good if not better I've got tons of miles on all 4 of my 6.4l powerstrokes all have spartan with intake and exhaust the 6.7l with spartan and exhaust is defiantly nice but not anything like the 6.4 power wise and you can pick up nice 6.4l all day long at 30k with 25000 miles or less

Another thing I've considered is just building my 7.3 into a 400HP truck. 160CC/100% injectors, Holset H2E turbo, intercooler, H11 or ARP head studs, 910 valve springs, smithbrothers push rods, TW tunes, etc. I figure with that kinda build I can be putting out 390-430HP at the wheels with decent reliability, not stock 12 valve or stock 7.3 reliability but a decent 100k-150k. And honestly with that kinda power I'd be happy.

I'm already in process of having a shop here locally build up an E4OD for me because mine is on the edge of blowing up. Custom tq. converter with a lower stall speed (thinking like 1800RPM), Billet input, intermediate and out put shafts, billet flex plate, etc, etc. Was going to go with a BTS, but something bothers me about having one place build something and another place install it... This local shop has a great rep. for heavy duty and race application transmissions here in Colorado.

If I had the money... 6.0 king ranch with low miles. Then Spend the 5 grand to bulletproof. But yes I think your move is justifiable.