7.3 or 6.0 - Diesel Forum

aberach61 · 03-16-2008, 04:55 PM

I have a 96 with a 7.3. I was thinking of upgrading to a newer 7.3. My Dad offered to sell me his '06 6.0. I plan on towing a camper quite a bit. Probably a larger toy hauler. I'm just wondering what peoples opinions are on towing with a 7.3 vs 6.0. Is there any benefit versus the larger displacement to the smaller displacement. Or is the more power with a smaller package a better deal? Thanks for all info.

GO

!

drainman · 03-17-2008, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aberach61

I have a 96 with a 7.3. I was thinking of upgrading to a newer 7.3. My Dad offered to sell me his '06 6.0. I plan on towing a camper quite a bit. Probably a larger toy hauler. I'm just wondering what peoples opinions are on towing with a 7.3 vs 6.0. Is there any benefit versus the larger displacement to the smaller displacement. Or is the more power with a smaller package a better deal? Thanks for all info.

GO

!

I think most will want more information. How much have you been quoted for the engine replacement? How much does your dad want for his 06? How much to you like your truck? How much do you like your dad's truck? Are they the same F250/350, CC or EC or SC, SB or LB? It's your money so remember that too.

TonkaThunder · 03-17-2008, 09:43 PM

The 6.0 IMHO is not reliable enough for me to own. Since its your dads truck I would assume that you know what all has been done to the vehicle since he bought the truck. If the truck has been in the shop alot I would avoid it. If he has had really good "luck" with the truck that would be the only 6.0 that I would consider buying. I'm personally a big fan of the 7.3. Its a more reliable motor, Ford didn't keep it around for 10 years for no reason.

bogg · 03-18-2008, 12:11 PM

If the 6.0 is checked out to be in good condition, I would go for it. On my 2nd one now and all I do is tow with the big boys...

aberach61 · 03-18-2008, 02:43 PM

My truck is a regular cab L/B, my Dads truck is a C/C S/B. The S/B is the only draw back to the truck. It runs fine, and he's had no problems with it. I should have been more clear on upgrading. I was going to move to a newer year truck. So I guess there isn't much difference between using a 7.3 or a 6.0 engine to pull with? Both do a good job? My old 7.3 did a heckuva job pulling a 15k fifth wheel camper. I don't have much experience pulling with a 6.0, so that's why I'm asking.

lincster · 03-19-2008, 10:31 AM

The 6.0 will tow MUCH better than the 7.3.
I had a 02 F250 and moved to a 04 F350. Hands down the motor had much more pulling power.

OMCUSNR · 03-19-2008, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aberach61

My truck is a regular cab L/B, my Dads truck is a C/C S/B. The S/B is the only draw back to the truck. It runs fine, and he's had no problems with it. I should have been more clear on upgrading. I was going to move to a newer year truck. So I guess there isn't much difference between using a 7.3 or a 6.0 engine to pull with? Both do a good job? My old 7.3 did a heckuva job pulling a 15k fifth wheel camper. I don't have much experience pulling with a 6.0, so that's why I'm asking.

If the truck has had no problems, the 6.0 & Torqueshift are a good towing combination. The trans has a much better cooling system than the 7.3s did and the tow/haul works well.

If coming from a 7.3, it will take a second or two longer to start, and will NOT need any additional power mods to make it better. If you feel the need to mod, gauges, and a 4" cat back are best. No new intake, no tuner needed.

I love my 03 & its fine stock.

OMC

86GLHS · 03-23-2008, 11:39 AM

The 6.0 will be fine until the warranty is gone. You can of course buy a 200K mile warranty. All the people I know with 6.0's have had trouble. One 04 is on it's third motor, another 04 had it's head gaskets fail at 15K miles and an 05 had a motor fail at 35K miles. My Uncle bought a used 04 and by 50K miles it had been in the shop 4 times. The past 30K miles have been trouble free though.

Most 6.0's bet better fuel mileage than the 7.3's and have more power so it's a win win. Diesel fuel at $4 a gallon with gas at $3 a gallon makes you wonder if a V10 would be a good buy.

Charcoal_02 · 03-23-2008, 11:37 PM

What if you kept the money you'd spend on the new truck and put half of that into mods for your old 7.3? $5000 would have your old truck running laps around the new 6.0 and you'll be spending a whole lot less and turning heads while your doing it...not to mention I'm a 7.3 believer.

caterpillarpower · 03-23-2008, 11:47 PM

i have had both a 95 stroker, a 96 stroker, 01 stroker , and then bought a 05 puker 6.0 liter worst mistake ever. Went out last week and found a old 7.3 and gonna sell the 05. Maybe i just got a bad on but i would be leary

MORPWRR · 03-24-2008, 01:13 AM

I used to have a 99 F250 with the 7.3. I did have a Banks Powerpack kit on it, but it towed great. I could haul 15K up the mountain passes with no problems, and it pulled strong off the line.

Now I have an 05 F350. I only have an intake and exhaust mod on it, no tuner, but it does not pull well at all. Even towing a 5K trailer, I will have my foot to the floor to go up any grade and try to maintain speed. It is totally dead off the line with or with out towing, but that is something I expected from the 6.0L. However, I did not expect it to be so gutless at freeway speed while towing. I have towed 16K with it and it handled the load OK, so long as I did not mind doing 45 MPH up the hills.

My opnion, if you have the chance to get a 7.3 powerstroke, do it. I really miss that engine. I am looking into tuner options for my 6.0 right now, so hopefully that will help as I really like the truck other than the dog engine.