In reply to A 401 CJ :
I got to chat with one of the engineers involved at the 6.0's release. Aparently, meeting Noise Emissions Standards had as much to do with a clean sheet replacement of the 7.3, than exhaust emissions did!
Every 7.3 die hard (kinda am one, myself) that has driven this one, has been impressed.
In reply to 03Panther :
I've had mine for about 10 years but have only put about 20 k miles on it in that time.
I've never heard of any ill-effects from the coolant filter but I haven't researched it too much either.
i think the placement of most/all of them doesn't allow for much filtering but figure it can't hurt.
In reply to jfryjfry :
Hope I didn't imply any ill effects for the bypass type. They just don't capture enough to be worth the cost IMHO.
There is one company that has a full flow through, but if ya make that filter fine enough to do its job right, it doesn't flow enough. Stuff like that.
The suggestion I was given is maintain it well, when it starts to fail, replace it before it causes major problems... and update stuff while in there!
Honestly, the biggest difference I noticed between the 6.0 and my '96 7.3, was the lack of hearing the motor in the Super Duty. The "OBS" body style I have is among the worst when it comes to sound mitigation. I've done all the dampening I possible can, but single-shot injectors, a body that was designed in the late 70s, just can't be made to work. Hell, even the 7.3 in a first gen Super Duty was far more quiet from inside the cab than mine.
Based on styling alone, for me the ultimate truck would be a first gen SD with a 6.0 and 6-speed, with the front clip of the third gen SD, since it's mostly bolt on since they kept the cab styling for close to 20 years.
I have early SD with 7.3. Going down the road it's totally fine inside the cab. The problem is around town when the converter unlocks and I have to go uphill - you hear it. And my wife hates it. Says she spent enough time on her father's Case as a farm kid. As soon as the converter locks up though it quiets right down to just the turbo sound.
6.0 is noticeably quieter around town. I've heard them side by side.
In reply to 03Panther :
The noise issue was more market based than anything. At my time at cummins we used to do the "Wendy's drive through test". It was highly scientific. But we did it. If you couldn't order a drive through order without shutting off the truck it was too loud. Chevy and ford failed while the Cummins motors did ok. Still loud though.
In reply to Fueled by Caffeine :
Some of the tunes years back, tried a "drive through" tune. Never heard one, but since that didn't catch on, I doubt they did much.
In reply to Fueled by Caffeine :
I have to shut off every time I'm at the drive-through, and that's after I pass or fail the "will it fit" test. CCLB problems. I heard a contractor crank up his brand new 6.7 the other day, and that thing was QUIET, almost too quiet.
My main issue continues to the be lovely valley fuel leak, and this is after I've replaced every o'ring, hose, and even the mechanical pump with a Motorcraft unit straight from the dealer. E-fuel will be the next big project for me. After working on both side-by-side, the 7.3 and the 6.0 rank equally to me in terms of complexity and effort required. Truth be told, at nearly 358,000 miles on my 7.3, I would highly entertain a 6.0 swap, as opposed to a 12v or 24v, as much as I love those.
Azryael said:In reply to Fueled by Caffeine :
I have to shut off every time I'm at the drive-through, and that's after I pass or fail the "will it fit" test. CCLB problems. I heard a contractor crank up his brand new 6.7 the other day, and that thing was QUIET, almost too quiet.
My main issue continues to the be lovely valley fuel leak, and this is after I've replaced every o'ring, hose, and even the mechanical pump with a Motorcraft unit straight from the dealer. E-fuel will be the next big project for me. After working on both side-by-side, the 7.3 and the 6.0 rank equally to me in terms of complexity and effort required. Truth be told, at nearly 358,000 miles on my 7.3, I would highly entertain a 6.0 swap, as opposed to a 12v or 24v, as much as I love those.
I'd entertain a 6.0 swap too, but in lieu of a 12V? No way. The 12V will still run when only cats and cockroaches roam the earth. It's the antithesis of complex - and with mine being a '99 it'd be 100% by the book legal in every state.
In reply to A 401 CJ :
I don't know if I could bring myself to swap in a 6.0, but I'd buy another 03 to 07 truck, knowing I could fix it right, as long as the asking price was appropriate. Course that might be the same as saying I won't ever buy a truck... these days!
In reply to Azryael :
12V would be nice; 24V has potential for a ton of power, but I wouldn't swap one - I like simple.
Same reason I personally would not swap a 6.0 in. But as unpopular as the opinion is (and I've owned both) overall I like the 6.0 better.
For your 7.3, look into Strictly Diesel's regulated return w/fuel bowl delete. It's a fair piece of money, to do right, but Dennis is good folks. And top quality parts.
In reply to Azryael :
At 358K, as long as the bottom end is still sound, a great fuel system will really help it make the fabled 1M mark!
In reply to A 401 CJ :
Oh don't get me wrong, nothing beats a 12V, but I would want to go against the grain and keep it Ford, ya know? But I think in the end, I'd probably up going Cummins anyway, as you mentioned, due to it being the antithesis of complexity. I'd rather work on an inline than a v-motor in a pinch.
03Panther said:In reply to Azryael :
12V would be nice; 24V has potential for a ton of power, but I wouldn't swap one - I like simple.
Same reason I personally would not swap a 6.0 in. But as unpopular as the opinion is (and I've owned both) overall I like the 6.0 better.
For your 7.3, look into Strictly Diesel's regulated return w/fuel bowl delete. It's a fair piece of money, to do right, but Dennis is good folks. And top quality parts.
I'll give them a look! As much as I can piece together a kit, I'm at a point now where I just want a high-quality kit with all I need so I can get the job done in a few hours rather than spending years accumulating parts.
With regard to my motor in general, it's actually in excellent shape. I bought the truck off the original owner who made sure to keep up on it. Very little blowby, no oil leaks, but was on its third E4OD. ZF5 swap solved that problem. I think after E-fuel, it'll be a long while before this motor quits so long as I keep up on keeping it happy.
In reply to Azryael :
I'm not at all familiar with e fuel.
I did buy a few things from Dennis, when I had the hopped up 95. Was planing for the full fuel system, but sold the truck, in plans of a different direction. Was in AZ and stopped by for a visit. Dennis remembered the tech questions I had asked, ave a few hundred dollar order. Great guy.
Later had a bone stock 96; was gonna spend a few grand on it, but bought a FL50 custom hauler... and life has brought me to here!
If I do keep this one forever, like current plan, it will probably end up with some of Dennis's parts.
But not till I can afford to buy food. Oops. Can't go there!!!
In reply to Azryael :
Any fuel kit as complete as theirs, has some of their parts on it!
They were the major developer of 7.3 regulated returns.
For stock (ish) truck, I recommend the Fass fuel system, 5/8 suction kit for tank(s) (just for dependability... stock stuff flows plenty) , regulated return kit w/bowl delete.
None of this adds any power; lot of money, just for smoothness, and (supposedly) longevity.
Also remembered the best $69.00 I ever spent on that truck. Dennis sells a bent 1/4 SS line that goes from each bank, to balance oil pressure. Ten min. install.
minor, but noticeable difference in smooth idle. Liked it enough it was very first mod to the 96. Ended up being only!
well worth it.
I'm very poor right now, and would spend that, if someone gave me a 7.3!!! Now THATS an endorsement!
E-fuel meaning that it's electronically pumped, as opposed to the stock mechanical pump.
I haven't dug into it again, but I'm 98% positive it's the pump leaking already, given that the replacement was probably a NOS unit, I'm not all that surprised it didn't last that long. It's also a bit of a pain, as the piston that actuates the pump apparently has a habit of falling out straight into the oil pan. The veterans say it's no big deal, but I find that scary along with the prospect that the whole motor needs to come out and be flipped upside down for the pan to come off and be RTV'd when replaced after fishing it out. I got lucky the first time I did it and the pump came out with the piston in it. It was a little precarious, as it was hard to get off, and I followed the suggestions from the aforementioned veterans of just "bumping" the starter to get the camshaft to push the unit out.
I've never been looking for power on this truck, just reliability and ease of maintenance, so not too worried about getting a cheaper kit that gets the job done and isn't necessarily designed for 15 gallon injectors for maximum power and coal rollage.
Now back to...
Oh that right. My thread. I can get long winded, any time I want!!!!
Love my diesels. Shame the smell sets my wife's allergies off, big time.
The 6.0, as clean as it burns, is even WAY too much. 
In reply to Azryael :
I'm 100 % agreeing with ya!
I did a Fass pump on my FL50 w/cat 3126 7.2L 6L with same HUEI injection. Again, expensive stuff, but great quality.
Fass was started be Air dog son, when dad sold out to corporate. Prolly no better quality (air dog still ok) but Fass is privately owned, and good folks as well. Or was.
If you thinking that way already, and have the funds, I don't think you'll ever regret the bowl delete full kit.
In reply to 03Panther :
Apologies for derailing, I just love these diesel V8s!
First time I got that 6.0 fired up, it smoked for a good half our before it cleared up, but it definitely had less of a smell than the 7.3. Shoot me your email in a PM and I'll get you that shop manual I mentioned earlier!
In reply to Azryael :
I thought I was the one that switched rabbit holes!
was just being funny, since I can be very long winded.
most things on here, just about everyone knows more than me. Towing is a specialty, BMW Classic K bikes, and ford diesels is a minor!
Love to learn, and love to share, and love to help.
Azryael said:for me the ultimate truck would be a first gen SD with a 6.0 and 6-speed, with the front clip of the third gen SD, since it's mostly bolt on since they kept the cab styling for close to 20 years.
Completely with ya there, as well.
Also don't mind the chance to talk up a business like Strictly Diesel.
Here is the crossover:
Did go up to 75, but still a great price. It's a lot for a piece of SS tubing, couple bends, and few fittings. But I bend tubing for instruments. This was quality, and it fits!
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