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Give it to me straight...6.0 Bulletproofing

3K views 14 replies 7 participants last post by  20046.0 
#1 ·
Ok guys... currently a very happy 7.3 Owner... I LOVE the sound of a 6.0, LOVE the power of a 6.0 LOVE the kick in the *** out of the hole of a 6.0.... BUT Still very apprehensive to take the leap and buy one. I know all the basic things that need to be done to make these 6.0 trucks good and reliable but how much does it actually cost to take a 6.0 that is stock otherwise, and make it something that will run trouble free in all condition for years and miles to come?....
And more importantly how much of it can be done at home without a lift? (studs)

Im a very mechanical guy who has built many many cars and trucks as well as worked as a tech before. Even with all the background im still very cautious of these 6.0s....

Put a $$ amount to this for me will ya? Thanks...
 
#2 ·
It can all be done at home....Just take your time.

If you do all the work yourself. >3500 To make it solid
 
#4 ·
Here is the thing with that, If he gets those heads off before its ever gotten hot, or had any issues....I wouldnt send them off, THATS just ME.

Its VERY Doable for 3500 bucks. A hair over 1000 shipped parts for a new Oil cooler/EGR Delete. about 500 for Studs and 200-250 for HG's all being on the high side. And can all be done in a long weekend for the shadetree mechanic
 
#5 · (Edited)
I've heard too many stories of people with no previous HG issues, installing studs without having heads checked. Then down the road they fail because of a imperfect head. Thats just me.

I would add an edge insight, sct tuner, blue fpr spring, coolant filter, stc fitting, stand pipes, turbo drain lines to that list. Also flush the ford gold coolant and throw in some elc.

From the sticky:

**And now we get to the cost of this whole package:
For what I refer to as the minimum every driver needs to do:
Edge Insight CS w/ EGT Probe ~440
Coolant Filter ~ $140
STC HPOP update and screen~$100 ('05-'07)
Replaced Turbo Lines ~ $140 - 250 (Depending on year)
Solution to EGR Cooler ~$350 (delete or Upgrade)
Intake and EGR Gaskets ~$140
Switch to ELC ~ $140
Rebuild of the Oil Cooler ~$220
Parts ~ $1320 Labor for a Oil Cooler rebuild is around 8 hrs (example $85 hr) ~$680
This portion of the job can be handled by the DIY mechanic with the right resources.

If you are talking full bullet proofing, without the Remote Oil Cooler:
ARP Studs ~$500
Ford OEM Gaskets ~$250
Intake Gaskets ~$140
Fuel Pump Regulator Upgrade ~$60
Banjo Bolts ~$14
Total Parts ~$2284 Labor on the Headstud job is around 30-38 Hrs (same rate $85 an hr) ~$3230. Plus the cost for the machinist to check and flatten the heads, replacement heads run around $1500 a piece.
 
#8 ·
#9 · (Edited)
colo_dually has a very nice thread in the link he provided.

I am not quite so against the Ford Gold coolant, but ELC is less prone to issues, so "go for it".

Some bulletproofing decisions will depend on the model year of your engine. Personally I like the 06 and above due to the gact that they have some decent Ford installed improvements in some of the components. I really like the 05 and up suspensions!

The major issues w/ the 05-07 model years will be the HPOP system (STC fitting, dummy plugs and standpipes) and a weaker EGR cooler than the earlier model years. The early year HPOP's were prone to failure, so Ford installed a better HPOP in the later years, but messed up w/ the discharge fitting!

Of course you will always get into the head stud debate and the coolant debate (which is an oil cooler debate also). Bottom line is that you do NOT need a BPD external oil cooler. The stock oil cooler is fine w/ proper coolant and proper coolant maintenance.

There were issues w/ head deck flatness early on. IMO it is wise to have the heads checked (and possibly shaved to get them flat), but you need to have a quality shop do the work. Just be sure to use OEM head gaskets w/ those ARP studs!

I am still seeing some folks get GREAT deals - like $20k for a 65k mile 2006 or 2007 truck. This is the way to go IMO - especially if you have $3.5k to $4k for bulletproofing (you really shouldn't need more than that unless you just want to go crazy).

Protect your investment w/ gauges though. You can catch problems early that way. Also, make sure that fuel pressure is one thing you watch (requires adding a sending unit also). That will help you get the most life out of your injectors (that and using good fuel, OEM filters, proper filter change intervals, etc). personally, I like a good cetane boost every tank full. Adds a few dollars to the fill-up. but not a big deal.

As long as I am on filters, use OEM oil filters and a 5k mile oil change interval. I like a 5W40 synthetic oil. Also, the external tranny filter needs changing AT LEAST every 30k miles. The tranny fluid should be changed on that interval also. The Torqhift transmission is a fantastic transmission - you just need to do the preventative maintenance.

I am now a firm believer in flushing the brake fluid every 50k miles. The fluid absorbs water and can cause rust/etc in a caliper.

On the suspension end of things, the ball joints can be a weak link. Inspect those when you look at a potential truck to purchase.
 
#10 ·
Thanks for the replies guys... I would definitely do all the work myself. I have built custom turbo F-Bodies etc. I am no stranger to digging in deep, as long as its physcially possible to do it at home I will. So if I can do studs at home cab on, I will.

Sounds like the general recomendation is to have the heads checked when off? Or actually have them taken down a bit? O-Rings?...

Doesnt actually sound like the parts cost is all that bad... its having other people do the installs?
 
#11 ·
Thanks for the replies guys... I would definitely do all the work myself. I have built custom turbo F-Bodies etc. I am no stranger to digging in deep, as long as its physcially possible to do it at home I will. So if I can do studs at home cab on, I will.

Sounds like the general recomendation is to have the heads checked when off? Or actually have them taken down a bit? O-Rings?...

Doesnt actually sound like the parts cost is all that bad... its having other people do the installs?

EXACTLY:nod:


If you can do it yourself (like me and many others) it will be a GREAT deal to get a 6oh!!!

It is just NOT a truck for a person that doen not maintain his vehicles or does not want to do the work himself:nod:



Labor prices will kill you and leave a bad taste in your mouth when working on
6oh problems IMO!

But for a shadetree mechanic it is a great cheaper truck that is AWESOME!
 
#14 ·
ANY time I have heads off I have them checked, whether there were head gasket issues or not. 6.0 heads are prone to warping so if you have them off it's better to get them checked out.

Depending on what MY engine you get then the upgrades will differ. A head stud job will run you somewhere along these lines parts wise.

Head studs, $450

OEM head gaskets, $165 a side

EGR delete, $165

Intake gaskets, $35

Rocker carrier gaskets, $35

Oil cooler, $300

Machine shop labor on the heads, roughly $300-500

Blue fuel spring, $35

So right there your at the $1800+ range in parts.

Depending on what MY engine you get, other upgrades will differ but if it's a 04 up engine then you will also have

High pressure oil rail standpipes/dummy plug kit, $135

Updated turbo feed line $95

Updated turbo drain line $35

If it's a 05-07 MY engine then you should replace the STC fitting with the updated kit, which is $50.

If it's a 06 or newer and you do an EGR delete then you will need a tuner to keep the CEL off, which will run you around the $380 range.

Also a good gauge setup is essential, along with a coolant filter.

Labor wise expect to be in the 22-30 hour range to do all of this. I charge 22 hours for head gasket replacement, but that can differ between shops.

6.4 banjo bolts are a waste of time in my book but if you feel so inclined to do them then it's not much money for them.

If you do all those upgrades then you will address about 85% of the problem areas of the 6.0.

Good luck with your decision!
 
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