7.3 role call

[Soundguy]

They rot out here in the north east

they don't have paint up there in salt country?

 

[Tomtint]

they don't have paint up there in salt country?

Paint yes. But ford makes the oil pan out of metal so thin, as soon as the paint flakes or wears off from road salt/sand. The rust is instant. Up here, all the 7.3s need or have a replacement pan that is on its way to being replaced again. Pulling the motor and replacing the pan is a 1500.00 + job. Every few years.

 

[Soundguy]

put REAL piant on it.. like rubberized or bed liner.. or epoxy based.

there ARE soloutions...

 

[Tomtint]

put REAL piant on it.. like rubberized or bed liner.. or epoxy based.

there ARE soloutions...

All those paints succumb to heat/ oil/ salt. They may look like they are working because the rust is not visible... But sooner or later... Out comes the motor.

 

[Loadstar]

Paint yes. But ford makes the oil pan out of metal so thin, as soon as the paint flakes or wears off from road salt/sand. The rust is instant. Up here, all the 7.3s need or have a replacement pan that is on its way to being replaced again. Pulling the motor and replacing the pan is a 1500.00 + job. Every few years.

You guys go through $1500 worth of beer to pull a motor!

 

[Tomtint]

You guys go through $1500 worth of beer to pull a motor!

We're professionals.. 1000 in Beer and 500 in cigars.

 

[Soundguy]

All those paints succumb to heat/ oil/ salt. They may look like they are working because the rust is not visible... But sooner or later... Out comes the motor.

i guarantee you epoxy is resistant to heat, oil and salt... heck.. powder coat it....

 

[CJONE]

DMax's last a lot longer than 200k.

Even the 5.9 has a rec'd overhaul interval of around 300k.

The 7.3 is certainly the most reliable diesel that Ford has ever installed in it's light duty trucks.

I was only stating what GM advertised for life of the engine. I know they run longer. Most around here are the 250-300 range. Most of the local companies that run GM are switching to gas engines. CJ

 

[CJONE]

i guarantee you epoxy is resistant to heat, oil and salt... heck.. powder coat it....

I blasted and epoxy painted my engine oil pan at about 50k for miles. The rust was just starting, a couple of touchups and it is still like new 10 years later. I have fixed a few drain plugs by welding a nut with a gasketed bolt to the pan, saved pulling the engine. Powder coat does not last up here, one break in the coating and the salt leaches under it and destroyes the metal. CJ

 

[dieselcrawler]

All 3 of our 7.3's have over 200k miles and my buddy has 2, both also over 200k. His f250 and our Excursion are around 267k. So collectively we have well over a million miles between 5 trucks.

Great motors... and I just like the superduty looks.

 

[Loadstar]

Glad to see so many high milers on here I'm under 130 on mine and want to run it until the chassis is completely worn out. I plan on adding another to the family for the wife. We both love the sound look and feel. (were dorks lol) I would really like to build a dedicated puller but it probably would not be the best decision to bankroll a 500+ hp 7.3 for a young family. On the flipside might be good experience for the kids to grow up with.

 

[hunterridgefarm]

2002 with around 65,000 miles.

 

[Peacock]

2002 with around 65,000 miles.

Beautiful truck!

That's the best color scheme Ford used on those trucks.

 

[Bigfoot62]

'97 F-250 Crew cab, short bed. No mods. Bought it used from a friend.

'03 F-350 Crew cab, long bed, dually. Hypertech Stage 1 programmer. Bought this truck brand new Dec. '02.

Both are great trucks, and NO, they are not for sale.

 

[Whitnel]

2002 with around 65,000 miles.

Do you ever drive it? That's really low milage for a 11 year old truck.

 

[hunterridgefarm]

Almost always driven on the weekend. I drive a company car so I don't put many miles on the truck. It has a goose-neck hitch for the 5th wheel camper we had.

I used it to pull the tractor to this property when I was clearing for the house. Also pull the tractor to our other farm a couple of times a year.

I have the oil changed and everything check out yearly, great truck and runs great.

I think it should last me several more years

 

[2458n]

Have a couple 7.3's. Seems like international did not paint the oil pans to well or maybe the contract called for them without paint. Ford never put any on. Mine have a protective coating of J-B weld smeared all over after sandblasting. Then a coating of real epoxy 2 part paint. The 89 and 96 both have original pans. The bodies not so much. I had a roomate from Cleveland and back in the early 80's 4 years was considered great for anything.

 

[Soundguy]

I blasted and epoxy painted my engine oil pan at about 50k for miles. The rust was just starting, a couple of touchups and it is still like new 10 years later. I have fixed a few drain plugs by welding a nut with a gasketed bolt to the pan, saved pulling the engine. Powder coat does not last up here, one break in the coating and the salt leaches under it and destroyes the metal. CJ

IMHO.. the epoxy paint is the way to go. very tough.. seals.. etc.

 

[Soundguy]

Have a couple 7.3's. Seems like international did not paint the oil pans to well or maybe the contract called for them without paint. Ford never put any on. Mine have a protective coating of J-B weld smeared all over after sandblasting. Then a coating of real epoxy 2 part paint. The 89 and 96 both have original pans. The bodies not so much. I had a roomate from Cleveland and back in the early 80's 4 years was considered great for anything.

bothmy 99's have black painted oil pans.. I didn't paint them. the paint is intact and i see no signs of rust on them last time i was under .. which was a couple weeks ago for their oil change.

 

[Tomtint]

bothmy 99's have black painted oil pans.. I didn't paint them. the paint is intact and i see no signs of rust on them last time i was under .. which was a couple weeks ago for their oil change.

Does anything rust in central FLA ?