Considering an excursion to buy, help me decide which engine to get!

[Hellbender75]

Hi all,*
So I'm looking into buying a ford excursion and I'm looking into the 7.3 vs bulletproofed 6.0 debate.* I've read a ton of info on here and other sites regarding the pros and cons of both the 7.3 and 6.0 engines.* I don't want a v10 as I want the performance that comes with a diesel. I'm downsizing from a toyota work truck and a pleasure only 97' gmc yukon* into one vehicle and my new vehicle has to be both a pleasure and work truck.* For pleasure this truck has to have lots of room for camping and long road trips and it has to be capable enough for mild to moderate offroad use like fire roads and the like. It also has to be capable of lots of power to satisfy the performance guy in me although that part can come in stages. Ultimately I'd like to break 450-500 flywheel (so about 400-450 rwhp) horsepower someday and be extremely reliable and last a couple hundred thousand miles. This truck will never be taken to the track or street raced but I want to have some fun here and there on the street or out on the dirt and be able to be faster then most other vehicles out there when I need to be. For work I drive about a 20-25 mile commute thats about 80% fwy miles then I make about ten 20-30 min stops on my route (I'm a pool guy) before driving back home. I do this 4 - 5 days a week.* I was going to buy a lbz duramax before realizing that I could get an Excursion with a diesel! I prefer SUV's over pickups.* So what engine would you suggest for my situation and why? Do you guys consider a bulletproofed 6.0 as reliable as a 7.3? Should i consider all years 7.3 or just the 2000 that comes with forged rods? If looking at a bulletproofed 6.0 should I only look at the last year 2005 model for the most reliability possible with this engine?* Thanks for your input and helping me decide!

Aaron,

 

[T_W6.7]

bulletproofed is a relative term, but i'd get the newest/lowest mile deal you can find

 

[Hellbender75]

When I'm thinking of the term "bulletproofed" I am thinking that it has arp head studs, bulletproof diesel egr or ******d, new oil cooler, fuel water/air seperator and at least a coolant filter.

 

[046.ohBills]

7.3s are reliable but as we all know every engine has its issues. 7.3s with some money they can be quite astounding trucks for performance. with that being said 6.0s can be just as reliable but you cant skimp on maintenance with it. they like clean oil and fuel filters every other oil change. and with less money than a 7.3 they can be astounding performance machines as well. the arp studs ******d and a coolant filter are a must though. just my two cents. I own a 2004 F350 6.0 with a 151k on it now and its only been in the shop once on its own doing that being head gaskets because of head bolts and me not having tools with me to do said job. 2007s are supposedly the best year for the 6.0 but i have no experience with that.

 

[dsberman94]

500hp in a 7.3 is a very decent chunk of cash. Engine rebuild with machine work, Forged rods, head studs, valve springs, HPOP, fuel system, 250/200s and a t4 turbo kit to match, not a huge price difference in turbo sizes going with the borg Warner line. Not to mention the trans rebuild and torque converter to hold it and your chip and custom tunes and whatever gauge setup you want. And shop labor if you don’t do it yourself. Since axle wrap is bad any time you would actually try to use all the horsepower add in a set of traction bars. Not to mention you’ll never get any of that money back out of it when your ready to get out of a noisy clackity truck into a newer quieter one. And I wouldn’t expect it to last a couple hundred thousand miles trouble free like that either.

 

[Hellbender75]

dsberman94: I don't need 500 hp flywheel hp right away, that's more of a end goal down the road somewhere. So what do you think is more reasonable for a 7.3 that's fun to drive and will last between 100-200k miles? 300-400 rwhp? What is your build putting out?

 

[psduser1]

You specifically mention reliability in the op. That says 7.3 to me, not knowing your mechanical skills or willingness. 450 hp isn't hard to get out of a 7.3, but it'll never be as quiet as a 6.0. Not terrible, mind you, but a noticeable noise difference.
As far as years of 7.3, pick one, the rods aren't going to be an issue at the power levels you want. I'd pick the latest model year and trim you can afford, but be aware, low mileage exs can get pricey quickly! Even a "fair" ex around here is 10k.

 

[Jomax]

Skip the 7.3. Reliability is gone now. They have past the point where you’ll be doing little things here and there.

6.0 with a tune and your done. Find a clean low mileage one, do the mods needed for reliability and enjoy the quiet 6.0 with the much better trans.

Try to get a 2005


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[Hellbender75]

Thanks everyone for all of your input, I appreciate it. Now I need to make a decision and start looking.

Jomax- why do you say reliability is gone?

Psduser1- I'm a fairly experienced backyard mechanic and I was even an auto machinist for a couple years about 20 years ago (I worked for john beck at pro-machine in anaheim, ca) but I have no experience with diesels. I definitely want to drive around in a pretty fast truck but I think 300-400hp should get me that right? Faster then most 4 door sedans and suv's out there? I don't need it to beat a corvette in a stoplight race but I want it to be quick. It also needs to start everyday for work and never leave me stranded so yes, reliability is a huge deal to me.

 

[cbf9703]

I'm downsizing from a toyota work truck and a pleasure only 97' gmc yukon* into one vehicle and my new vehicle has to be both a pleasure and work truck.* For pleasure this truck has to have lots of room for camping and long road trips and it has to be capable enough for mild to moderate offroad use like fire roads and the like. It also has to be capable of lots of power to satisfy the performance guy in me although that part can come in stages. Ultimately I'd like to break 450-500 flywheel (so about 400-450 rwhp) horsepower someday and be extremely reliable and last a couple hundred thousand miles. This truck will never be taken to the track or street raced but I want to have some fun here and there on the street or out on the dirt and be able to be faster then most other vehicles out there when I need to be. For work I drive about a 20-25 mile commute thats about 80% fwy miles then I make about ten 20-30 min stops on my route (I'm a pool guy) before driving back home. I do this 4 - 5 days a week.

I've put a couple hundred thousand on my 7.3 commuting around a metropolitan area and taking it on road trips with no issues. It tows the boat or camper and 4-8 people for vacations every year. It's comfortable and turns heads, but definitely not quiet like the new trucks.

A few things to keep in mind with all excursions: they're heavy, stock suspension can leave something to be desired (especially when towing), and even the newest ones are 13+ years old so there are maintenance issues that have to be dealt with. There is a lot of good information out there about common issues with both the engine platforms and the trucks.

If you are look at leaf sprung, consider a code swap or lift to help stiffen the suspension if you're looking to do much towing and add traction bars. Air bags can help with the squat if you're towing heavy. I have a 4" SD/ 6"EX lift and run 35s.

I love mine and have taken it off-road getting back to hunting blinds and on some fire roads and the like, but I have dedicated off-road rigs that take most of the abuse. Plan that you'll be the heaviest and biggest/widest in most groups if you get stuck and know that it will sink when it's soft.

7.3s are reliable but as we all know every engine has its issues. 7.3s with some money they can be quite astounding trucks for performance. with that being said 6.0s can be just as reliable but you cant skimp on maintenance with it. they like clean oil and fuel filters every other oil change. and with less money than a 7.3 they can be astounding performance machines as well. the arp studs ******d and a coolant filter are a must though. just my two cents. I own a 2004 F350 6.0 with a 151k on it now and its only been in the shop once on its own doing that being head gaskets because of head bolts and me not having tools with me to do said job. 2007s are supposedly the best year for the 6.0 but i have no experience with that.

2007 won't help him... last year of the EX is 2005.

I agree- either motor can last with proper maintenance, fixing known issues, and respecting the truck.

As far as years of 7.3, pick one, the rods aren't going to be an issue at the power levels you want. I'd pick the latest model year and trim you can afford, but be aware, low mileage exs can get pricey quickly! Even a "fair" ex around here is 10k.

Agree that the year - or rods- isn't going to make a huge difference here.

OP- I would narrow it down by the trim level you're looking for and any other features- 4wd, etc and then look at condition and maintenance of the truck and the engine.

Rocker panels are bad for rust and the seal on the back window can go and you'll get water leaking in the back hatch- if they've had a plastic mat back there you won't have the mold issues, but some guys let the carpet stay saturated. You can check with a hose and soak the back of the truck and see if water drips in from the top of the door following the body lines. If the front windshield has leaked you may have intermittent electrical issues- try flipping down the visors and opening the mirror to trigger the lights a few times and opening the glove box. Strange as it may sound, both of these can sometimes trigger the windows/radio/interior lights cutting out. It's more of an inconvenience than anything as they come back on, but it can help negotiate price. It dropped mine significantly when I bought it 7 years ago.


Call me crazy, but my truck has almost 500k miles on it these days and I wouldn't trade it for one with 150k and questionable maintenance. I've learned to be cautious with one that has been sitting and is never driven. The low mileage is great (I saw one with 38k for the sale the other day), but once you get it out and start driving it you'll find which parts would have otherwise been replaced by now with proper maintenance or that time and lack of lubrication have not been kind to.

Skip the 7.3. Reliability is gone now. They have past the point where you’ll be doing little things here and there.

6.0 with a tune and your done. Find a clean low mileage one, do the mods needed for reliability and enjoy the quiet 6.0 with the much better trans.

Try to get a 2005


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Anything in this vintage will have plenty of things to do here and there if we want to keep it around and up to our standards. Keeps us from getting bored.

 

[Amicus]

My 7.3 has 430,000 miles with no major mechanical issues until recently. Transmission went out. I also have a 2006 6.0. It's 145,000 on it. In the last year I have had to replace oil cooler, turbo and recently #8 injector. I'm not a mechanic but I can wrench little bit. 7.3 are a lot easier to work on than a 6.0 imo. 7.3 is a work horse and can take a lot of abuse. 6.0 has more power and fun to drive but needs strict maintenance. I have seriously been thinking about trading my 6.0 for another 7.3. I love my 6.0 and the way it drives especially with tunes but it's been pricey to keep.

 

[03_PSD]

I've worked on both 7.3 and 6.0, both relatively easy to work on IMO. I'm no mechanic by no means but I'm not afraid to get dirty either.

 

[Strokersace]

Buy an optioned out 05 v10 with a bad engine. Drop a Cummins in it. The the rattle box 12 values but a 6.7. Then do an 05+ truck suspension swap.

Done!

 

[8WR_ZJ]

Or put a ford 6.7 in it!!! That would be amazing.

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[Strokersace]

Or put a ford 6.7 in it!!! That would be amazing.

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That too!

 

[co04cobra]

Or put a ford 6.7 in it!!! That would be amazing.

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My dad is in the middle of a 6.7 16 platinum excursion build right now at his shop.

It's going to be for sale when it's finshed

I'd like to buy it for my wife, but he'd sell it cheaper to one of you guys first LOL

 

[Hellbender75]

A 6.7 excursion would be amazing to say the least! Probably way out of my price range though lol

 

[79jasper]

Yeah, a 6.7 excursion with a newer front end would be sweet.
Or even a duraburb. Lol

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[powerstrokelyfe]

Yeah, a 6.7 excursion with a newer front end would be sweet.
Or even a duraburb. Lol

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^ Good looking truck.

Op, I had a 03 excursion limited 7.3. Had 350k miles. Had no major mechanical failures, and was very reliable.

Good luck in any way you go

 

[PSD POWER007]

I have a 7.3 and 6.0 Excursion and so far, the 7.3 gets my vote hands down. Still haven’t been able to work all the bugs out of the 6.0 yet.