Red 1998 SMB 4x4

[buckkiller]

O

Originally Posted by BroncoHauler

More power and a better transmission.

Lol more power "if" she can stay on the road!
Better tranny does ya no good when she's in the shop!
Besides last I checked I didn't build a 10,000 lb rig to race it, makes more sense to bulletproof the 4R100 than the 6.0.
The 6.0 cost ford MILLIONS of dollars in warranty repairs and buy backs, ford repurchased over 500 trucks in its 1st year of production. I was the GM of Kelleher Ford from 2004-2008 and was involved in over 19 factory buy backs not to mention about a 100 lemon law disputes. Over 2 million 7.3L PSD are still in operation....that's more than Chevy/GMC duramax and Dodge Cummins combined!
You can imagine how many of my fleet sale accounts were jeopardized during those years, lost a few big accounts due to all the problems. My experience with the 6.0 is a lot greater than most due to the fact that I sold over 1,200 6.0's to construction companies, logging outfits,city utility companies,fire and rescue, heating and ac co, asphalt co, list goes on so you can say I have a lot of real world experience on a large scale.

Buck

[gbail]

Hey ya'all......just so you know, the big class action suit against Ford regarding that 6.0 mess has been settled recently and if you are a 6.0 owner, the DEADLINE to file a claim for compensation is end of this month (if I recall correctly).

[BroncoHauler]

Understand, but I don't think anyone should automatically rule out a 6.0L conversion especially as there are so many more of them than there are 7.3L conversions.

Personally I have an Excursion with an 'improved' power 7.3L, and a beefed up 4R100 from one of the best 4r100 builders in the country and am very happy, even if it isn't an SMB.


Herb

[jage]

My 6.0L has had slightly fewer problems than my 7.3L, and all the 6.0L problems were covered by Ford while I ate the 7.3L costs. Also remember these are not up-tuned like the 6.0L in the pickups, so in a sense it's not the same engine. I agree with Herb, if you find the right van, right 4x4 system, and right layout I can't imagine why you'd pass on it just over having the 6.0L but that's me, I bought "the" van despite the 6.0L and I wouldn't straight trade it for a 7.3L

I don't know, I've only ever heard of people hearing other people having serious 6.0L woes, I don't think I know anyone who has actually had problems- at least not problems worse than I had with my 7.3L anyway.

[REF]

I may be biased, as I own a 7.3, which I specifically sought out years ago and prob would again if purchasing today. That being said, I'm not sure I would pass on a good deal, but I would be very diligent about finding out what's been done and what still needs to be done and any associated costs and down time to make a 6.0 reliable, even with reimbursements and getting a great deal, it's a big PITA if the thing is constantly in the shop!
Plenty here on the forum to back up issues they have had with their 6.0's or "bulletproofing" kits they have had to install, sometimes not covered by any warrantee.
Also, for those that make the power argument, the 7.3 takes to power enhancements very well, I put a DP- tuner in with several of their E-series specific tunes, 80hp daily and the pull is amazing, and I don't overheat....but as mentioned before, harder to find a 7.3 than a 6.0, partly because their weren't that many of them put in the vans, but mainly because 7.3 owners don't give them up as easily....I know I won't

[Ocsmb]

DaveB 6.0 woes?

[jage]

Originally Posted by Ocsmb

DaveB 6.0 woes?

OK, well, there's that.

[buckkiller]

I never made the trip to check this rig out, just been real busy with all the holiday honey do's my wife's had me doing.
Buck

[daveb]

Yeah, but some was my fault. EGR and the injector issue was because of my long idle times plus not using additive.

Two sensor problems got me though. But the 7.3 I drove for several years had the cam sensor fail along with idler pulley issues about every 2 years.

The wire harness killed me but how can attribute that to an engineering issue when I stuck this huge bumper up front with lights restricting air flow? I did order some louvers to hopefully help with that. And I'd like to get that tranny cooler upgraded.

I really think some of the problems with the 6.0 point to what we do to these vans. And some of the problems deal with what year it was built. I have yet to have a turbo problem which was the biggest problem reported on the earlier years. Not sure but I think the bed plate gasket was similar.
Then again maybe it is the 6.0 and I'm just a lucky guy
I do think there is less to go wrong with the 7.3 though

[jage]

Not sure but I think the bed plate gasket was similar.

Which on mine turned out not to be the bed plate gasket, but only the dealer trying to cash in...