looking at a 7.3

[oceansrealm]

I'm looking at an 03 7.3L.
How realistic do you guys think this is?
A 2003 with 55k miles? (I dont know the guy that well)

The price has some sticker shock at $70k for a 10 yr old rig.
It is quite the rig though... what do you guys think?:


2003 Ford E350 EB Super Duty 7.3 Power Stroke Turbo Diesel -- 55K miles
Quigley 4x4 conversion
Power Penthouse top
"50" setup with Removable 3rd captains seat
Sleeps 4 Seats 6

Tires/Suspension
New Bilstein HD Shocks front/rear
Rancho Steering Damper upgrade
Hellwig Sway bar
Correct track wheel spacers
Warn hubs
Toyo Open Country MT 285/75R16 E rated tires with full size spare (less than 1k miles)
Additional spring leaf added to rear (super springs)
Rear Firestone airbags

Exterior

Nerf boards
Bushwacker fender flares
Tow hitch
Billet grill
Aluminess aluminum bumpers front/rear with integrated lockable storage
Aluminess aluminum rack with integrated Kyocera solar panel mounts, removable cross bars, slats for walking, boat roller for easy rear boat loading.
Line-X protection on top under rack.
Aluminess side ladder
Aluminess rear generator box
Swing out full size spare - rear
Hella front fog lights
Hella 550 backup lights
American Racing aluminum wheels
Transfer flow 46 gallon fuel tank

Sportsmobile Conversion

2003 Sportsmobile EB50 RV conversion
Swivel passenger captains chair w lumbar
Third removable captains chair
3 person bench seat w seat belts/child seat restraints
All seats ultra leather
4 cubic foot Norcold refrigerator/freezer
All interior lights converted to LED
Xantrex 1500 Watt inverter/charger - multiple 12V and 110V outlets
30AMP shore power connector.
Suburban Model NT-12 propane furnace
Suburban propane 6 gallon water heater with Motoraid for instant hot water
40lb propane tank
Auxiliary idle control with module
Rear shower hot/cold
Power Penthouse Top
Penthouse Top bunk
Day/Night window privacy shades
Rear XL under floor storage (7.5cf)
Sink with 20 gallon fresh water tank
10 gallon grey water tank
Thetford Porta Potti w cover
Smoke and Carbon Monoxide detectors
4D AGM coach battery
2 - Kyocera 135 Watt Solar panels (KD135SX) and Blue Sky Solar Boost 2000E charge controller (270W= van is completely self contained for power needs with 2-3 hrs of sun per day)
Fiama awning with upgraded awning brackets (Eli awning brackets)
Exterior LED light
Bug screen for side doors
Table - stores under bench seat

Audio/Video/Alarm

Kenwood DVD Audio/Video head unit, DVD, Garmin Navigation
JL Audio Speakers and Subwoofer
Flip Down 20inch Monitor
1 additional DVD player with exterior cable connection
Infrared headphones for 20inch Monitor
Sirius Satellite radio
Kenwood Bluetooth hands free phone connection
Ipod connection
Kenwood backup camera
Guidepoint GPS vehicle tracking alarm
Keyless entry vehicle alarm/siren with pager and glass break sensor
Radar detector

[Ford_6L_E350]

Wow, $70K for a 10 year old SMB?

That sounds high to me. On a van of that age, those low miles would worry me more than 150-200K would. It sounds like it sits most of the time. Nothing good can happen to it while it is sitting. Seals dry out, lubricant runs off bearings, moisture condenses on parts, rust ensues.

How nice is the van? Did you have checked out by a trustworthy mechanic? Have you driven it? Are you familiar with the care and feeding of a diesel?

Sight unseen, I would think something in the $40-50K range would be more appropriate.

Mike

[BroncoHauler]

Mike,

The rig is posted here;

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=10072

I think some premium for a 7.3L is OK, and it's a well equipped, well kept rig from the pictures, but the price does seem optimistic to me as well.


Herb

[webbmac]

I would have the turbo checked out thoroughly. A worthwhile investment if you're talking that price range.

As Mike correctly stated above, low miles are a negative on a turbodiesel. I would recommend that you Google what a blown oil seal on a turbo leads to. Ironic that it's called a 'runaway.'

[Ocsmb]

Originally Posted by Ford_6L_E350

Wow, $70K for a 10 year old SMB?

That sounds high to me. On a van of that age, those low miles would worry me more than 150-200K would. It sounds like it sits most of the time. Nothing good can happen to it while it is sitting. Seals dry out, lubricant runs off bearings, moisture condenses on parts, rust ensues.

How nice is the van? Did you have checked out by a trustworthy mechanic? Have you driven it? Are you familiar with the care and feeding of a diesel?

Sight unseen, I would think something in the $40-50K range would be more appropriate.

Mike

$40k would be a steal of the year.

IMHO that's a $55-60k rig if everything is in order.

Low mile 7.3 are a rare breed. So long as the owner maintained it and drove it frequently should be good to go.

[jage]

What's it worth to you?
Will the seller take that amount?

$70K seems high for a Quigley 7.3- they're not that rare. If you can get a similar 6.0L for 55K or less, why would you pay so much for a 7.3? I mean the 7.3 is arguably better but is it 15K better?

[BroncoHauler]

Originally Posted by jage

... I mean the 7.3 is arguably better but is it 15K better?

Good point. You could even make a lot of improvements to a 6.0L for that kind of money, heck, for half that amount of money and have a better transmission too.


Herb

[Ford_6L_E350]

Here's another well equipped 7.3L 4x4 for 52K. 50 style, Aluminess F/R, winch, microwave, etc.

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/cto/3405389846.html

Mike

[OTG]

All,
The seller (me) won't take 50-60k for this van. If it doesnt sell for 70k I will keep it and put another 50k on it to bring it into someone's 40k price range.

Btw thanks for the blown turbo comments - not an issue. The vans been driven regularly and the 7.3 is hardly broken in.

Mike the 2002 in your craigslist ad has 122000 miles on it. Add power top, kyocera solar, toyos, bilsteins etc. You are getting close to 70k.

Guess you could order up a new e350 diesel from ford and have it converted......

Cheers
Daryl

[Ocsmb]

Originally Posted by jage

What's it worth to you?
Will the seller take that amount?

$70K seems high for a Quigley 7.3- they're not that rare. If you can get a similar 6.0L for 55K or less, why would you pay so much for a 7.3? I mean the 7.3 is arguably better but is it 15K better?

All things being equal I'd like to think I'd pay $5k more for a 7.3 over a 6.0.