Hey all. Im in the process of buying my first diesel. Im getting one because I have an 89 Jeep Grand Wagoneer that will soon be more of a trail/rock rig than a street driver and will be needing to tow it. The Waggy will be between 5-6k pound when its done plus the weight of a flatbed trailer. I also will be getting a slide in camper to keep my family out of the elements when we are in the desert.
Id love a Dodge with a Cummins but I don't have Dodge money. Ive been looking at 7.3l Fords mostly. Ive come across a couple 6.5l Chevys and was wondering how they compare to the 7.3l. What are you opinions on the 6.5l. Please give an informed answer, no"they just suck" answers without a reason why.

Thanks
The Noobie

 

Welcome! There is no comparison between the 7.3 PSD and 6.5/6.2 diesels. The 7.3 is by far superior. If you cant get a cummins, by all means go for the 7.3. Stay away from the 6.0 PSD. It takes a butt-load of money to get them to run right. The 7.3 will be up to the task with out question, as will the cummins. The 6.2 is weak for towing, great for cruising but not towing. The 6.5 is the better of the two (6.2 & 6.5) but still has its issues. One is that pesky PMD, the other is the restrictive turbo. These engines like to eat cranks and break rocker-arms, the injector pumps arent all that great (a PITA to replace). Pretty much all diesels have their issues, but some have way more than others.
For good reliability, in my opinion, the 7.3 PSD and cummins cant be beat.

 

True that on the 6.5, my dad has a 2000 chevy 1ton with the 6.5 and has moved the pmd twice after the first 2 quit on him. They also could use more blades on the fan, and heard the rear piston can have big problems. It has been a money pit and has to keep it because of so much input.

There are good deals on dodges if you look hard enough, look in the south, I live in South Dakota and there hard to find used for a decent price. I bought mine down by Houston 08' 3500 crew cab dually 6speed manual with 4wheel drive power sliding glass 61k miles for 30k on the nose, would have paid 40k up north. Even had brand new cooper stt on it.

 

Are there any differences between the 7.3l in the 95-97(98) and the 99-2003 7.3l?

 

The first 7.3s were non intercooled. In 99 they added an intercooler. There was no 98 year. The 99 was introduced in 98.