Buying a 7.3

[mazsecond]

I posted this in the 7.3 forums also but I'm more familiar with you guys and don't know if you all have may experience with 7.3s

And advice is appreciated!
My friend is making the upgrade from a Dodge to a Ford

He found a truck that looks pretty good and isn't too sure as to what to check on the truck before he buys it. The only thing were really worried about is the fast that the truck has 200k miles on it. I know it's a 7.3 and they have a very good reputation but how many miles is too much

Basically what should we check for when we go to look at the truck?
I know it doesn't have a tailgate but I have one off my 06 (I upgraded to a 08 gate). He would also buy a new back bumper and headlights.

Here is the Craigslist ad:
http://miami.craigslist.org/brw/cto/3031832942.html

What do you all think??
Thanks!



Sent from my Autoguide iPhone app


Sent from my Autoguide iPhone app

[PGreenSVT]

Looks like it was rode hard and put up wet way too often. Tell him to keep looking.

[Shockley6.0]

Lots of nice ones out there waiting.

[Gui272]

yeah, i agree. i'd keep looking. She looks like she was rode pretty hard...keep looking!

[mazsecond]

That's what I thought. I guess what I'm really after knowing is how many miles is too many for a 7.3. I know the older granny's were not as strong ad the 05+ trany's.

But what about the engine itself? If we do find a nice looking 7.3 with let's say 200K+ miles hat kinds of problems might I expect (if any). These engines are supposed to be pretty strong and reliable from why I've herd (at least compared to the 6.0). I'm new to the 7.3 and unfortunately haven't done much reading up on them. My friends budget is $10k max and he really wants a diesel!


Sent from my Autoguide iPhone app

[Banshee365]

That thing is a POS. AC vent hanging out of the dash? No tailgate, rear bumper, left rear window, left from marker housing and the bed looks to be sitting about an inch too high for whatever reason.

"(it does have some dings here and there but nothing major)" my fanny, that thing is pure junk.

[strokedoutlaw]

actually the strong part is the other way around, the 7.3 is i think and not for sure but rated as the number 1 medium duty diesel engine! 200k is a far cry from what that thing is capable, theres guys with 750k and up and the engines internals are comparable to brand new! not that i agree with the guy but the powerstrokehelp.com guy had blown up his mule 7.3 at almost 800k and thats what he found, that the insides looked brand new and had the honing marks still. id say try and find something with under 150k if possible. kind of food for thought in a diesel power mag theres a guy pulling 5th wheel campers with over 1.25 million miles on his 7.3

[niftytwofifty]

the asking price is only $5,900.

If you could negotiate $5K put another $1,500 (swag) in the finishes touches, you would have a 7.3 for $6,500 with 200K on the odometer. It might make someone a really great work truck.

My neighbor's 7.3 has 400,000 on the clock, with 40" tires. Bone stock engine, tranny went out at 175K, water pump, fuel pump, cam shaft sensor, but the engine fires up and rides out every morning.

[PGreenSVT]

Originally Posted by strokedoutlaw

actually the strong part is the other way around, the 7.3 is i think and not for sure but rated as the number 1 medium duty diesel engine! 200k is a far cry from what that thing is capable, theres guys with 750k and up and the engines internals are comparable to brand new! not that i agree with the guy but the powerstrokehelp.com guy had blown up his mule 7.3 at almost 800k and thats what he found, that the insides looked brand new and had the honing marks still. id say try and find something with under 150k if possible. kind of food for thought in a diesel power mag theres a guy pulling 5th wheel campers with over 1.25 million miles on his 7.3

Nobody here is going to take you seriously if you go around using Bill Hewitt at Powerstrokehelp as your source of information. The guy's a clown.

[f350powerstroke]

No more that $4800. It's gonna cost money just cosmetic wise alone