Ether way you go is fine. The early 6.5 and 7.3 run the same db2 injection pump. I'm would not be scared to run bio through a ds4 pump but then you have to deal with one of the most problematic parts on a 6.5 the pmd but that problem can be solved easy. I don't look to much in to the towing capacity ratings. I think they rated them low to cover there self. The 6.5 makes as much if not more than any of the early 90's diesels. In fact in 93 it was the most powerful diesel you could get from the factory in a small truck. How much are you planing to tow? My stock 3/4 ton light duty tows 10k-15k on a trailer fine.

As far as the manual getting better fuel mileage than the auto I would think that has more to do with how you drive.

Ether way you go 7.3 or 6.5 I think you would be fine.

 

Ive driven a 6.5 manual And its pretty much like a regular gas pickup truck (don't know if that helps.) Ive also driven a 2001 7.3 di (i know i know probably not even close to a 7.3idi) with a 6 speed. this is an interesting trans. it has 5 gears plus an overdrive (6 for those counting). in addition to that it has a low gear which is so low you are not able to shift into first straight from it. you either have to stop completely and restart in first or you have to double clutch and rev match which takes forever if its your first time doing it.

 

You will find quite a few of the IDI trucks already have aftermarket turbo kits on them, so just keep looking until you find one or if you find a really nice N/A truck you may as well jump on it. Used turbo kits can usually be had for around $500 on CL.

As far as auto vs stick, if you do a lot of freeway driving, the auto seems to get better mpg, I think it has a taller OD gear but I cant say for sure. The stock E4OD will last a long time if maintained and not abused. Some have gone past 200k miles before failing and others barely make it to 100k miles. The C6 was available, but only 3 gears in a diesel really sucks. If you aren't great with a gas clutch, you may not want to go with a manual behind a diesel.

 

have never owned a 6.5 or a 7.3 only a 5.9 12v but I have pulled wiht all three in stock form.

1st. 12v 4:10 helped a lot I'll bet AUTO
2nd 7.3L ford pre-superduty AUTO
3rd. 6.5 chevy. 5 SPEED!

While the 6.5 wasnt bad i could only get a bobcat to about 60mph in 4th gear wiht alot of RPM to go and I had to be going down hill where as my dodge nad the 7.3 i have used cold gain speed up hill past 60 on the same hills. now I feel i wold love a 6.5 to DD its not bad to jsut drive unloaded I liked it way better then any gas 350.

 

2muchjunk- From what I've heard, the tow capacity is only 5kish on the 6.5, while the 7.3 should be able to manage 10k+. I wouldn't be towing all the time, probably pretty rarely, unless I actually get a tow company off the ground, but I'd like to be able to tow a large truck behind my large truck, and not have to worry about anything.


bullrunner777- Sounds tricky, I'll keep this in mind.

Sycostang67- I don't know if this is area exclusive or not, but I have a hard time finding any of these older 7.3s in the ATL area. Last autotrader search, with all my criteria (4x4, 4 door, non-dually) got me 5 results in 500 miles. I see trucks similar to what I want all the time, but unfortunately for me, they aren't for sale. I don't see many on CL either, but I have only been looking for a few weeks. Maybe patience will prevail here. Also, when I see a modded truck, I am almost a little leery of it, because it means (to me) that the owner pushed it hard.

As far as the tranny goes, I've probably driven a manual around an hour total in my life, so it's understandable I might not be that great at it. I'm not sure which I would prefer, I just think a heavy cluth would be a pain in the *** after a while. I do umm... "suburban" driving most of the time, if that makes any sense. It's not stop and go, but I can't maintain speed for 20 minutes either.

If there is a reliability difference between them, that's what I'm most concerned about, but I haven't found anything pointing me in one direction or another.

And thanks for your input throughout this thread.

cummins freak- Thanks for your input, that's pretty much what I thought. So how much does a bobcat weigh anyway? Approx weight is fine...




Thanks again guys for all your input. I don't mean to be a pain in the ***, but I just want to make sure I get the exact right truck for my needs.

 

Jizzle.

Congrats on deciding to get a diesel!!

I would REALLY hold out for something nice. NOT a GM 6.5 or 6.2. Any 99-03 Ford PowerStroke would be a great truck. There's also some nice Dodges out there... I just haven't ever seen one.

Just kidding!

But good luck on your search. Don't get in too much of a hurry.

 

6.5 chevy is a total pos and the trannys are to my freind has one and he hates the ****** thing and wants to put a cummins in it i own a 1993 12v single cab and a 1998 12v bolth 5 speed the dodge autos do suck i stay away from them like the plauge id recomend you hold out for a 5speed 1994 -1998 p pump 12v just cause they make more power eaisier but i also love my 1993 12v witch has 300000 miles and they still have plety of power to but id recomend a ex cab im 6foot and the single cab gets a little tight at times by the way i bought my 93 for 2,000 with 220000miles and i bought my 1998 for 2,000 as a reck and put 3k in it with 168k

 

The towing capacity might be rated at 5,000 but it is just a rating thrown out there by gm. I know that they can tow a lot more than that. The most I have towed behind mine is a 2010 John Deere on tracks with a back hoe attachment. I have no idea what it weighed. The most I have towed a know what it weight was a 16k fork truck and I occasional tow one that weighs 12k. During any of these I never have had a problem with the engine having enough power it has always been that I run out of truck it just a light duty 3/4.
As far as the 6.5 being a total pos is not true especially in the years you are looking at. Sure some of the years had problems. Most of the problems came from the first electronic ds4 pumps. After mid 96 they had main web cracking problems when they installed oil cooled pistons in them. The only other problem they had was with breaking cranks. The problem is not from the crank but from outside problems. The ones that suffer broken cranks usually have bad harmonic balancers or bad dual mass fly wheels. These problems are so bad that out of the 2 6.2's and 4 6.5's I have had none of these problems have ever happened to me. I'm not out here to talk up the 6.5 but there is a lot of not truths or over exaggerated truths on the 6.5 out there. Any which way you go is fine.
The early 90's 6.5's made more power and will out pull all of them when they are sitting stock.
The 7.3 is a very good engine. It is simple, reliable and makes good power especially for a N/A diesel.
The 5.9 Cummins is good and if you are planing to turn one way up this would be the way to go. Any thing you can buy after market is made for them.

 

You dont really have to worry about an IDI being pushed to hard. These motors will ride the rev limiter all day long and come back for more. I am the 3rd owner of my truck and one of the other owners used it for a 5th wheel all the time. My truck has no problems pulling my 3200lb flatbed with an 8000lb truck on it.

Isn't it funny how the moment you are ready to buy the truck you want, the market dries up. I went through the same thing, seeing ton's of diesels for decent prices on CL, I finally get a wad of cash and all the trucks vanish.

 

I would complain I like the truck you got. I think the idi Fords are still out there. What seams to get them is the owner of the truck buys a new one but for some reason and I have no idea why the idi's just don't bring much. So instead of selling a good running truck for next to nothing they just keep it.