I have been a diesel mech./fabricator for a long time and have quite a bit of experience, but I have always owned a cummins in the past. I love Cummins but I can't stand Dodge trucks. I am a Ford 6.0 rookie. I am going to purchase a 6.0 soon and need to know what the best year was for making modifications. I want to straight pipe it with cat delete, delete the EGR, stud the heads, and put a tuner on it that will have tunes to recognize the deletion of emissions equipment. What is the best year to buy out of the 03-07 6.0 for making mods? Who makes the best cat delete, egr delete, and tuners that are compatible and will eliminate check engine lights? I know there are a lot of good tuner manufactures on the market, but who offers the most reliable power without affecting truck longevity and the best fuel economy for 6.0s? Also what is the best fuel mileage some of you guys can get out of a 6.0? Sorry I am asking so many questions but I am new to the six-o's and I could spend some time searching and eventually come up with the answers to all of these, but I am in the market to purchase something soon and want to knock out the mods before I log any miles on it. Also what is a Zoodad mod? Thanks for all your help.

 

my only experience with the 6.0 is the 03 model years, and they were complete junk imo

the best year model for that engine would have to be the last couple years cause they had time to work out more of the kinks. id be sure to head stud it asap before u throw to much power at it.

good luck and hope it does ya good

o ya, and welcome to diesl bombers

 

My parents had an 05 and it sucked. constantly in the shop along with my uncles 04. However, my mom still bought an 06 before she knew about all of the problems and the 06 has been trouble free. So go with at least an 06....

MBRP makes a full turbo back exhaust w/ the cat delete, its "off road" only but thats so they stay out of trouble. As for chips/tuners get a SCT or Edge Juice Platinum.

My buddy when he got his 04 blew my 07 CR away with just the Edge juice and an exhaust.

Hopes this helps a little. Also welcome to the site

 

05 an up are better, but i love my 04. Get an SCT with custom tunes from innovative. Dont get an edge on the 6.0 it is horrible on them, less power then custom tunes, harder on the motor, and will eat the tranny quick( bad trans tuning). Full EGR delete, headstuds, exhaust, guages, and regulated return are all good things to start with. Keep the factory intake its good for 500hp, I got an a/m and it didnt make a big difference except for sound. The zoodad mod is a hole cut behind the grill in front of the intake because the only air flow is from under the truck and the engine compartment. Im getting 12 MPG, but im not a good example, 8inches of lift, 38's and a heavy foot dont help the numbers. I think i answered most your questions, but Ill be glad to answer any more.

 

Thanks for the excellent advice all you have given me. I do believe I am going to go with the 05+ trucks seeing how they upgraded suspension, steering, and the built in trailer brakes and aux switches. SCT seems to be synonymous with Powerstrokes as the MADS is the Cummins. I'm researching the zoodad mod today, but i haven't found anything about the regulated return. What is that? Is that a fuel return regulator? And do they make aftermarket fuel air/water seperator/pump systems for the 6.0s like they do with the Cummins (i.e.- FASS or AirDog) and are they worth the money? I don't plan on putting 38's but I will put 33's on my truck but I have a heavy foot myself I just want to get close to the fuel economy my 06 Dodge 2500 got. I could get 15-16 city and 18-20 highway at 75-80 depending on how aggressive I drove. If I could at least get close to that I would be happy. Also reading your sig I saw that you sold a Dodge and went to Ford. I am just curious as to why. I've always liked Ford trucks better, better vehicle longevity, better build quality inside and out, and the comfort features of a Ford are hard to ignore. My only reason for staying with Dodges was the manual trans combo, but now I am swearing off of manuals as the new autos tow better and seem to out accelerate a manual. I just wish Ford trucks had Cummins engines and life would be good.

 

My dodge was only 2wd. I sold it to my place of employment, and i drive it everyday draggin trailers. I went back to a Ford mostly cuz i hated the interior of my Dodge. I think there are 6.0s out there that break 20mpg but im sure there 2wd. With 33s im sure you could get around 16-18. The 6.0 fuel system dead heads into the heads, so any air bubble that gets through have to go through the injectors, ITP has the best kit out there IMO. Airdog and FASS both make kits for the 6.0. Also, a great mod on the 6.0 is a coolant filter, the number one cause of EGR and oil cooler failure is left over casting sand in the block.

 

look for an 07, last of the 6.0
they are less prone to problems, but if you do all the mods you want, you should be fine!
def EGR delete~!
find yourself a Lariat Outlaw!!!

 

I want an outlaw so freakin bad. At least the interior anyway. Anyone seen a totaled one around.