Help me change my mind on a 7.tree diesel

braxton357 said:
Not reading this whole thread but 20 yr old 7.3s are plagued with electrical issues that will drive even an experienced mechanic up the wall. Get rid of it while it's worth something, they aren't that great.
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Most accurate post in this thread.
All of that underhood heat is a killer for the electrical on them.

My experience: Had a 99 F250, 7.3 auto. Was adequate to bumper tow a few rigs in it's day. Added an AFE intake, exhaust and DP tuner. Made it sound better anyway. Replacing the valve body was the biggest improvement of all for towing.
You can't compare to a Cummins. Straight 6 will make more torque at a lower RPM than a V8 will (of that era). You'll feel it take off more efficiently and also tow better until you get it up in RPM.
 
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I am keeping mine that I bought new in 2002. ( F350 CC,LWB, 132K miles) I really don't care (at this point in my life) if it has the most torque, is fastest off the line or up the hill, or rides like the wife's car. It is a truck. It has pulled my Jeep, boat and anything else I put on a trailer all over the place and I never worried about any issues. I have replaced the torque converter, valve cover harness and CPS. I can get in crank it up and go when I need to use it . I guess I will address the other gremlins as they arise.
On the other hand, if this was my daily driver, work truck that I used everyday and could justify buying a newer truck with more comfort features and better (more powerful) engine, I definitely would. But I just cant justify it. Recently had it inspected and put a little over 1400 miles on it last year. I will keep in in the shed, waxed up and ready to go. Hopefully for another 20 years.,,:driver:
 
The thing is, you could sell that 7.3 for stupid money, and buy a high miles 6.7 Ford that is better in every single way and have 10-15 year newer plastic/rubber/electronics.
 
BIGWOODY said:
FIFY
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I've had both. Both are fine. I prefer the Ford. And you can actually find a decent price on the Ford, unlike the Ram.
 
jeepinmatt said:
I've had both. Both are fine. I prefer the Ford. And you can actually find a decent price on the Ford, unlike the Ram.
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I always ‘felt’ that outside the Cummings, the dodge/ram offerings ‘feel’ cheaper
 
UTfball68 said:
I always ‘felt’ that outside the Cummings, the dodge/ram offerings ‘feel’ cheaper
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Agreed. The core of the Ram love is the Cummins. There's a reason that most Ford owners refer to it as their "Ford" or "Superduty", whereas most Dodge/Ram owners refer to it as their "Cummins" or "Cummings". I think they are both great trucks. I've had 4 Fords, and my current one is a Ram because that's what I could find to suit my needs with the options I wanted in the pricepoint I had. The biggest thing that sucks on the Ram is the slow as molasses shifts and lack of manual control of the transmission. Oh, and the mirrors.
 
UTfball68 said:
I always ‘felt’ that outside the Cummings, the dodge/ram offerings ‘feel’ cheaper
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"Cummings" is great. It's just in a pickup form, every single thing that surrounds them is just utter shit
 
I’ve got an 02 7.3, when I went and test drove it I was all excited about THE 7.3 and was left disappointed with the power of it. After researching a little I decided to do the Hydra chip on it, it definitely made a difference. My only other complaints are the turn radius and the turbo lag on it, aside from that, it’s lifted 6” with 37’s and still pulls pretty good, for me at least. I’m happy with it……when the time comes to upgrade though, it’ll be a newer gasser. I’m not messing with the DPF and DEF crap
 
jeepinmatt said:
The thing is, you could sell that 7.3 for stupid money, and buy a high miles 6.7 Ford that is better in every single way and have 10-15 year newer plastic/rubber/electronics.
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I understand that, But I know who bought mine, I know all maintenance that has been done, and it has lower mileage. Just not willing to take a chance on a newer high mileage truck that I don't know history of. Plus insurance would probably go up on top of that and like I said it sits 90% of the time. Plus I get to say, yes, it is a 7.3 when asked :laughing: I wonder if I could get a personalized plate $$7.3$$
 
jeepinmatt said:
whereas most Dodge/Ram owners refer to it as their "Cummins"
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I just call mine my Mega Cab or my Flat Bed :flipoff2:

5.9, 7.3, 6.7, all off them great engines. For a long time Ford wrapped theirs in a better wrapper, but I personally think in the last few years they are pretty evenly matched. If/when Ram catches up to the 10 speed game I think they'll be tough to beat. I still wouldn't get rid of my 5.9 though lol.

Duane
 
CasterTroy said:
"Cummings" is great. It's just in a pickup form, every single thing that surrounds them is just utter shit
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Its just a shipping crate for a cummins engine.
 
UTfball68 said:
I always ‘felt’ that outside the Cummings, the dodge/ram offerings ‘feel’ cheaper
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Yes I totally agree...but I'm one of those people who cares more about long term mechanical condition. I use my ton truck as a truck, rarely is it driven without towing something. When I want "nice" I drive one of my AMG's. 470k miles on my '11 Ram 3500 and she doesn't leak a drop of anything, drives and rides like one with 50k. I couldn't say the same for the multiple Ford trucks I've owned, I do agree the interiors of the Ford and the Chevy win for "bling".
 
BIGWOODY said:
Yes I totally agree...but I'm one of those people who cares more about long term mechanical condition. I use my ton truck as a truck, rarely is it driven without towing something. When I want "nice" I drive one of my AMG's. 470k miles on my '11 Ram 3500 and she doesn't leak a drop of anything, drives and rides like one with 50k. I couldn't say the same for the multiple Ford trucks I've owned, I do agree the interiors of the Ford and the Chevy win for "bling".
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Imma have my cake and eat it too kind of guy. I’ll beat the shit out of something, but I wanna be comfortable doing it too. Obviously compromises are made when there’s a budget. A couple years ago, When I was in the market for a new one ton dually crew cab 4x4 for the landscape business, I didn’t particularly care because I wasn’t going to be the primary driver, told the Ford/Dodge/Chevy dealers they weren’t exclusive and the first one that could get me under $40k would win. Ended up being the Dodge…but every time I do get in, I curse the damn truck.

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CasterTroy said:
Sell that MF for $30k and make bank while these fools are buying up all the 7.3s
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That’s what I did last summer. Had 99k on it.

OP, a 75hp well written tow tune and a RiffRaff 4 fin wheel will really make it wake up and get better mileage as well.
 
I'm glad I don't get behind the wheel of modern diesel trucks often.

I got to tow 2 rigs on a 35ft goose with a stock 7.3, up and down mount airy and thought it was great :laughing:

My 8.1 pulls my 36ft enclosed pretty well with one single rig in it, I'd say.
 
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