I'm Back

[bigb]

Hi everyone,

I used to frequent the 6.9 forum when I had my 83, then I sold it and been wanting a 7.3 ever since. I looked at and drove a lot of them and today found an 02 F 350 4x4 crew cab with 133K on it. Truck drives and looks great. Owner (original) said tranny was replaced, other than that all stock cept for a K&N. He said when they built the tranny they used a better torque converter, beefier or something. I'll know more when I see the paperwork.

Anyway I'll be around with questions now and then, for now I'll make sure it's got the right coolant and the new CPS.

Anything I need to be aware of on the 02?

I plan on driving into Mexico, any suggestions on what spare parts to bring?

I will also be looking for the factory service manuals, saw some on ebay on DVD for about $30! I remember paying over $100 for the 6.9 manuals!

Will be looking forward to being back, any tips or suggestions welcome!

Thanks, Brian

[SmokeyWren]

Originally Posted by bigb

I plan on driving into Mexico, any suggestions on what spare parts to bring?

If it doesn't already have a good-looking spare fan belt (serpentine belt) behind or under the back seat, then I would change it now and put the old one under the back seat as a spare. And while you're at it, I would replace the upper radiator hose that goes through the serpentine belt with the one for trucks with dual altenators, so the new upper radiator hose goes around the fan belt instead of through it.

Then if you have to change the belt in the middle of nowhere, you can do it without having to drain the radiator.

I replaced mine at about the 5-year point, then again last week at the 10-year point. $68.73 for the new belt, plus 9 minutes labor charge. Of course I have the upper radiator hose that goes around the belt instead of through it, so the tech was grateful that I had planned ahead, except he got paid for only 9 minutes (0.15 hour) labor.

I will also be looking for the factory service manuals, saw some on ebay on DVD for about $30! I remember paying over $100 for the 6.9 manuals!

Be aware that any service manual on DVD is probably going to be an expired DVD with the Ford logo still on the DVD. It's illegal for anyone to sell those, but they are good stuff so some Ford techs illegally sell their expired DVDs instead of trashing them as Ford requires. Since they are expired, you'll have to set your computer clock to the year/month on the DVD in order to install or read the service manual.

Any legal service manual on DVD will not have the Ford logo on the DVD. Instead it will have the Helm logo. Or you can buy new service manuals direct from Helm, in paper, CD, or subscription for online access.
Click here for Helm Incorporated: 2002 workshop manual

[bigb]

thanks Smokey! I'll get that upper hose along with a new T stat and install them both when I change the coolant. The coolant that's in it doesn't look like the right one, it looks sorta green. I plan to go to IH and buy some heavy duty ELC coolant per Gooch's recommendation on the "Coolant & SCA additives!!" sticky. With 133K on the clock, I can only hope thatr the original gold coolant was in there for a long time, reducing the amount of time my engine has been unprotected from cavitation issues.

Good tip on the spare belt, I always carry one on all me vehicles.

I thought to carry a CPS with me too.

So far I discovered when stopping and starting something moves on the front end, ball joints you think?

Also, the tranny was rebuilt at 112K using a Billet converter. I noticed there is quite a delay when shifting to reverse. I have a real good tranny guy I will take it to, plus I will install a bigger cooler for sure.

I picked it up in Phoenix, AZ and drove it home to Tucson today, truck drives great at 80MPH, AC got so cold I had to turn it to warmer. (100+ outside)

Thanks again and looking forward to enjoying my new toy.

[boomboom]

Good job getting rid of the K&N for the AIS