Looking at '03 F250, school me on 6.0 PS

[Cooter]

Might as well go for the trifecta......any issues with the Chevies? Later model Duramax and an Allison trans?

You couldn't give me one. You get similarly shitty build quality of the Dodge combined with the engine complexity of the Ford. The Allison is junk at anything over factory power, and you have the POS IFS to contend with also.

Worst of the big three IMO

[streetdemon70]

I bought my 06 6.0 in February with 148k miles on it. It now has 194k miles and all i have done to it is change out the STC fittings and dummy plugs. It is bone stock and has been a great truck. I would have no problem today jumping in it and driving 3k miles. Keep up with the oil, fuel, and air filter changes and you should be good to go. Only thing i recommend is putting a monitor on it so you can watch for problems before they happen. I have the scangaugeII on my truck.

[SonicblueGT03]

Might as well go for the trifecta......any issues with the Chevies? Later model Duramax and an Allison trans?

[Sean88gt]

You will spend the money up front on a 5.9 truck. And then more when the transmission and front end go to hell

People seem to forget that the Cummins is wrapped in the gem called a Dodge. The package is garbage.

[Cooter]

You will spend the money up front on a 5.9 truck. And then more when the transmission and front end go to hell

[eric 2v gt]

3 diesel techs at my job have 6.0s and they all have egr deletes and studs, one of them is on there 3rd motor, i personally would never get a ford diesel , i work at a ford dealership and drive a cummins 5.9, you will have to spend money on your truck, good luck

[Sean88gt]

I wouldn't hesitate to own another 6.0, just be prepared to address issues before they arise.

[Cooter]

That will work, thanks! The '03 is being offered at $10k, with 121k miles. I"m sure I can get it cheaper, just wondering if it will be worth it in the end. Maybe I should just get an old Dodge and be done with it!

if it was a white lariat w/ gray interior and clean as a pin, I would consider it, but I'd still probably pass on it. The later truck is worth $2-3k more to me purely on asthetics

[Cooter]

that MTW guy seems like a knucklehead... I don't care to be high and dry for weeks/months if there's a warranty issue.

That's part of my attraction to the 6.4's. They're friggin' hot rods on 100% factory parts. So if I need a part for either of my trucks, they're WIDELY available anywhere

[SonicblueGT03]

That will work, thanks! The '03 is being offered at $10k, with 121k miles. I"m sure I can get it cheaper, just wondering if it will be worth it in the end. Maybe I should just get an old Dodge and be done with it!

[FATHERFORD]

I would do one of the Mad turbo works stage one turbo if I ever swapped a turbo.

Right now I have a billet single stage wheel in my 03 turbo and it sings and spools retarded fast.


05 up trucks are a lot nicer inside and have a more modern front end. The 05 6.0's seem to be odd ducks on some things. Not as mod friendly.

[Cooter]

dollar for dollar the 6.0 is the best of the three in the grand scheme of things (can't believe I'm saying that!)

7.3's are fucking gutless and have a shit transmission

6.4's are fucking awesome, but not the best "first diesel" IMO

my preference for later 6.0's vs. early is mostly asthetics... the front bumper and headlights look a lot better. The interior layout is nicer. The radius arm suspension rides better, has a tighter turning radius, and allows you to run factory 20" wheels (I pretty much hate all aftermarket wheels... I think they look "cheap").

Everybody says the later trucks had the kinks worked out of the engine, but I feel like it was more the fact that technicians actually knew what they were doing with them after working on them for a few years.

Whatever you do, don't get on the powerstroke forums and let them scare you into pumping $7k into "bulletproofing" the thing. If you pay attention to what the truck is telling you, it's pretty rare for a 6.0 to leave you completely stranded without a LOT of warning ahead of time.

03's do have the best sounding turbo, but I'd still rather have a later truck and swap an '03 turbo on it vs. buying an '03

[SonicblueGT03]

Are the later model 6.0's any better, or do they share the same issues. Would a 7.3 be a better choice, or should I just suck it up and go for a 6.4 in a newer truck?

[Cooter]

The early trucks have weaker high pressure pumps, straight oil rails, older interior layout, front leaf Springs, different wheel offset, etc.

An 03 would have to be an insane deal for me not to pass on it. They're good trucks, but I'd much rather have a later model.

[SonicblueGT03]

Thanks guys! After shopping for a week or so, I was wondering why the prices on the '03s were so much less compared to the other years. It's a very clean truck, just the XLT trim. I'm going over the look at it this weekend.