2002 7.3L running bad

Marty · Jun 4, 2011

Fly me up.

bigcountrysg · Jun 4, 2011

It is only a 10 hour drive Marty

bigcountrysg · Jun 5, 2011

Ok yall I am done with it, taking it into a shop tomorrow. I will post up what is found after they do some diagnostic checks.

Marty · Jun 6, 2011

Hey sorry I missed your calls.

I will call you back in morning. I just got back from shop.

bigcountrysg · Jun 6, 2011

Well it is going to the shop at 9am. But they can't get to it til tomorrow which I expected that. I am taking it to a shop that I have been referred too by many people in my area. So let's see how this goes I will keep you all informed what they find. I am praying for an injector cup.

TheSmokinStroke2002 · Jun 6, 2011

Hoping for the best Scott

bigcountrysg · Jun 6, 2011

It ran good to the shop it smoked when I would take off. It also has a miss at idle. But running down the hwy it seemed good. Now gonna have to wait to hear from the shop. But they won't look at it til tomorrow.

bigcountrysg · Jun 7, 2011

Update, well the shop did the compression test. Cylinder 5 has 180psi for compression. The other cylinders on the same side have 325psi+. The truck has 237,000 miles on it. Tomorrow I am pulling the head in case anyone wants to come by and help. Tonight I got the pressure washer out and sprayed the engine down so it is cleaner.

Tom S · Jun 7, 2011

That sucks. I am glad the truck made it to 237K. Best of luck with the rebuild. I am betting on a cracked piston.

bigcountrysg · Jun 7, 2011

Tom S said:
That sucks. I am glad the truck made it to 237K. Best of luck with the rebuild. I am betting on a cracked piston.

Well Tom the thing with the rebuild is, I am not just gonna do the engine. Nope I am thinking off the frame restoration. Now why would I do this to a 2002 F-250. Most would probably junk the truck and start over. But this truck is worth more to me then anything else I own. I bought this truck brand new in 2002. I paid this truck off with my own money. I have owned this truck the longest out of any other vehicle I have owned. I put every single mile on it. It deserves to be rebuilt, I deserve to be the one rebuilding it.

Mean time I have found a couple prospect vehicles to become my daily driver. If all goes well with my plans, then the rebuild will happen. If not then I have a plan b. Which I found another F-250 for sale locally. So I can go that route too. But I would really like to go with plan A.

bigcountrysg · Jun 14, 2011

Well I am pulling the engine completely out of the truck. I started on it yesterday evening after work. I will have it out of the truck this evening.

HaysKSFirefighter · Jun 14, 2011

Sucks that you have to go through all that. Good luck with the rebuild, keep us updated. Not trying to hijack but where can I get a compression tester? I'm getting ready to do sticks next week and would like to get an idea of what my numbers look like with 263k on the clock.

ITUKMOR · Jun 14, 2011

All the major tool trucks will carry them as well as some cheaper ones at Advanced Auto or the Twilight Zone. There is a digital unit can get from O'Reilly's for less than $300 and it remembers all 8 cylinders numbers so you can go back to them later.

SkySki Jason · Jun 15, 2011

bigcountrysg said:
It deserves to be rebuilt, I deserve to be the one rebuilding it.

I felt the same way when my engine broke. It was very gratifying to see my boys tearing down and rebuilding the engine in the only truck they can remember their Dad driving. Not only will you have one sweeeeet ride when you are done - your confidence in it will be a worthy reward for your efforts!! Besides, doing the math I doubt you can begin to 'replace' your truck for what it costs to rebuild the engine - even if ya get a little carried away like I did (forged rods, studs, springs, chromo pushrods, new AC codes, 38R, etc....

)

Looking forward to the PICTURES!!!!

oke:

Tom S · Jun 15, 2011

The powerstroke takes a special compression adapter with a flex section in it. TU-15 kinda rings a bell for the part number.

HaysKSFirefighter · Jun 15, 2011

Tom S said:
The powerstroke takes a special compression adapter with a flex section in it. TU-15 kinda rings a bell for the part number.

Ok thanks, I'll see if I can track one down, I'd rather rent/borrow than buy...dropped 2k on parts so now I'm savin every penny :doh:

OP sorry for the thread jack...carry on.

bigcountrysg · Jun 15, 2011

Cylinder is done, grooves in the wall, piston is chewed up, yepp either need a new engine or rebuild. I will see what they say tomorrow when I talk to the company I got the injectors from.

HaysKSFirefighter · Jun 15, 2011

bigcountrysg said:
Cylinder is done, grooves in the wall, piston is chewed up, yepp either need a new engine or rebuild. I will see what they say tomorrow when I talk to the company I got the injectors from.

Where are you located?

SkySki Jason · Jun 16, 2011

bigcountrysg said:
Cylinder is done, grooves in the wall, piston is chewed up, yepp either need a new engine or rebuild. I will see what they say tomorrow when I talk to the company I got the injectors from.

BUMMER! Pictures??

oke:

There were a couple of (forged rod?) complete engines on CL here recently for like $300. I dunno why I didn't go get them - other than I'm 1k miles from home and live in a TT - but I'll see if they are still there.

I would look for a good forged-rod longblock and either rebuild it or if it has good compression just spruce it up and run it. Any 7.3 PSD can be used (my block came from a '97). Rebuild kit incl. pistons is $1050 and then machine shop + head parts ain't too bad though!

Gearhead · Jun 16, 2011

bigcountrysg said:
Cylinder is done, grooves in the wall, piston is chewed up, yepp either need a new engine or rebuild. I will see what they say tomorrow when I talk to the company I got the injectors from.

What does the injector builder have to do with your engine build? I'm coming into this story late.