The price isn't that high maybe alittle but not much. 7.3s in good shape are very pricey and hard to find. FInd out what tuner it has. Look in the valley of the motor if there is oil it could have or does have a major oil leak, most are very easy to fix. Check the color of the tranny fluid.
I sold my 01 PSD CCSB with 190,000 miles for 14k last year.
Why not look for a 2500 sub. with the 8.1 and 4.1 axle? I hope yours doesn't have that now or you must have an engine problem. It would pull better.
Check out www.duraburb.com
They can make your suburban into a Duramax/Allison for the money you're talking about spending on a used Ford. They do them all the time. You can't tell it's not factory when they get done. There are some threads about them on www.dieselplace.com.
Forgot to mention the shortbed HAS been tuned. (Not that I completely understand what that means, but supposedly can be undone in 5 minutes)
No chance I'd replace the engine on the Burb. I'm just not nearly that adventurous. I enjoy the camping part, but have no interest in tweaking a truck. THAT is the part that just needs to work and work well.
About the newer model 6.0...... How does that compare to the 7.3L for performance?
And one final question - aside from MPG (which is not a huge consideration given our low usage), am I REALLY going to see a difference from the K2500 to the 7.3L or 6.0 on the hills/mountains?
Thanks all. This place is an incredible resource!
Tom
Take 30 minutes out of your life (or less) and read THIS or THIS about the 6.0L diesel engine Ford used before you decide to look at one.
Now, the 7.3L is a gem IMO. Decent power, decent reliability.
2010 Cougar 322QBS 5er
2007 Dodge 3500 SRW Megacab, 4x4, 5.9L Cummins, 3.73, 48RE auto HYPERTECH MAX ENERGY or DIABLO PREDATOR tuning MBRP 4" Turbo back Scangauge2 for Boost, Coolant temp, Rail press & Trans Temp
Torklift Stable Loads
KD4UPL wrote: Why not look for a 2500 sub. with the 8.1 and 4.1 axle? I hope yours doesn't have that now or you must have an engine problem. It would pull better.
Check out www.duraburb.com
They can make your suburban into a Duramax/Allison for the money you're talking about spending on a used Ford. They do them all the time. You can't tell it's not factory when they get done. There are some threads about them on www.dieselplace.com.
I second NewsW's question...I'd like to see a cost breakdown on how much "they" charge to drop a DMAX/ALLY AND all necessary components into a 'Burb.
And then I'd be terrified that it was done correctly, but that's just me...I prefer stock, as-designed trucks for my money...only a few "mods" I trust not to cause more harm than good.
* This post was
edited 05/15/12 01:58pm by bmanning *
BManning baking in Phoenix
2008 Ford Super Duty F250 XLT, 4x4, crew cab, 6.75' bed
5.4L V8 300hp/365ft-lb, 5sp Torqshift, 4.30 AAM gears
9400lb GVW 11200lb tow
2007 Volvo XC90 AWD V8
4.4L 311hp/325ft-lb, 6sp Aisin, loaded
6100lb GVW 5000lb tow
GrandAZ wrote: Out of a few different trucks, my 7.3 was the best truck (in my opinion) I have had so far. A nice 7.3 is a hard truck to find.
I sold my 2001 F350 Lariat 7.3 about 2 years ago with 140K miles for 13,xxx. Now I wish I never would have done that but live and learn...
We're in the same boat Grand...I sold my 2002 7.3L F250 crew cab 4x4 Lariat a few years back and though I really like my Land Cruiser, I still kick myself sometimes!
OP, if all else is equal, I'd take a closer look at the longbed that hasn't been chipped/programmed; the 7.3L can "take it" in many instances but still, it's been run at an output level that it wasn't designed for, which (IMO) takes away from reliability.
* This post was
edited 05/15/12 02:37pm by bmanning *
I was in this exact situation a few months ago. I had a 03 burban with 8.1 motor. I looked hard for a 7.3 diesel but I just wasn't satified with the interior of the ford but i knew the 7.3 was an awsome engine. To make a long story short I just bought an 05 GMC 2500 6.6ltr and I couldn't be happier. I had a budget of 18k and I went over by $600 but it has everything I want plus a reliable drivetrain.
fatony30 wrote: I was in this exact situation a few months ago. I had a 03 burban with 8.1 motor. I looked hard for a 7.3 diesel but I just wasn't satified with the interior of the ford but i knew the 7.3 was an awsome engine. To make a long story short I just bought an 05 GMC 2500 6.6ltr and I couldn't be happier. I had a budget of 18k and I went over by $600 but it has everything I want plus a reliable drivetrain.
IMO you got a very nice deal, finding an 05 DMax for 18 + change.
Glad you're enjoying your truck.
OP, I love 7.3Ls as much as anyone, but don't discount a DMax or Ram/Cummins that falls in your price range either. They are all good trucks, none are perfect, keep an open mind.
There is a guy who converted his Suburban to a Duramax and then started a company
to do those conversions.
IIRC, you supply the base 8.6K GVWR Suburban, pay him $40K and he will return your
Suburban with a Duramax conversion. That was a few years ago and maybe he has
recouped his costing and now selling them for a bit less
The issue with stuffing a Duramax/Alli into an 8.6K GVWR Suburban is that the frame
rails are too close together and there isn't enough room in the body tranny
tunnel. A body lift is needed and GM won't do this.
-Ben Picture of my rig
1996 GMC SLT Suburban 3/4 ton K3500/7.4L/4:1/+150Kmiles orig owner...
1980 Chevy Silverado C10/long bed/"BUILT" 5.7L/3:73/1 ton helper springs/+329Kmiles, bought it from dad...
1998 Mazda B2500 (1/2 ton) pickup, 2nd owner...
Praise Dyno Brake equiped and all have "nose bleed" braking!
Previous trucks/offroaders: 40's Jeep restored in mid 60's / 69 DuneBuggy (approx +1K lb: VW pan/200hpCorvair: eng, cam, dual carb'w velocity stacks'n 18" runners, 4spd transaxle) made myself from ground up / 1970 Toyota FJ40 / 1973 K5 Blazer (2dr Tahoe, 1 ton axles front/rear, +255K miles when sold it)...
Sold the boat (looking for another): Trophy with twin 150's...
51 cylinders in household, what's yours?...
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