Anyone Have Experience With the Ford 7.3 Gas Engine?

[chris401]

The tech department says the management for the manual transmission should be out this summer. Ball park price of $1500. Just under $10,000 would put a person in motion. With it sharing the 4.6 and all the forward modular eninge's bell housing it shouldn't be a huge chore to swap one in. What have you guys done with it?

https://performanceparts.ford.com/part/M-6007-73

[Barry_R]

I have one in my truck.  So far so good.  Factory calibration has a "hole" in the drivability curve from 1300 to 1700 RPM at light throttle - a calibration tune would likely fix it

[Falcon67]

We have a 2020 F-350 DRW 4x2 XLT with a 7.3 and the 10 speed trans - love it.  Pulls like a freight, rides nice, runs good, gets decent mileage for 6500+ lb 22' long beast.  I have not noticed what Barry describes.  It isn't flat out here and it'll run up an incline in first OD around 2400 with 12,500 lbs on the hitch.  And down the highway in 9 or 10 at 70 MPH with same load.  Only ruff spot was that our's was one of the first 25 produced in 2020 and all had to have an engine change due to a found fault in the piston oilers.  But that was like getting 3000 miles for free LOL.  I'd drive it every day - but it's the better truck so it's the wife's getter.  It handles two adults, 3 grand kids and two dogs without an issue.

[Heo]

Why do they have to make modern engines so ugly

But i think this one have some potential with some
hiding of wires and other clutter. And valvecovers out
of aluminium

[My427stang]

We have a 2020 F-350 DRW 4x2 XLT with a 7.3 and the 10 speed trans - love it.  Pulls like a freight, rides nice, runs good, gets decent mileage for 6500+ lb 22' long beast.  I have not noticed what Barry describes.  It isn't flat out here and it'll run up an incline in first OD around 2400 with 12,500 lbs on the hitch.  And down the highway in 9 or 10 at 70 MPH with same load.  Only ruff spot was that our's was one of the first 25 produced in 2020 and all had to have an engine change due to a found fault in the piston oilers.  But that was like getting 3000 miles for free LOL.  I'd drive it every day - but it's the better truck so it's the wife's getter.  It handles two adults, 3 grand kids and two dogs without an issue.

What do you see for mileage empty and loaded?  I am pretty attached to my 2013 Cummins but would love a nice quiet gas job sometimes

[chris401]

Chris and Barry, What are you guys getting for fuel mileage? Your trucks curb weight is over 2000 lbs more than my 1965 F-250 actual 4800 lbs. I take it both of you have 10 speeds, What is your rpm at 70 in drive mode?

[Falcon67]

>Why do they have to make modern engines so ugly
LOL, I think it's pretty.  And it looks small in the truck. 

Just driving locally - we have not run long distances since the pandemic started - I will average 12.5 or so.  Loaded I've seen north of 7.  We got the truck in February before all hell broke loose.  We did a run to Fort Worth and back with some stops.  Saw a high of 14 over there and the total average was around 12.5.  I would expect to see 7~7.5 with the big trailer on a longer trip.  Note that it is not flat here, lots of rolling terrain and that we pick up an entire step on the barometer (like from 28.5 station pressure to 29.5) going down Ranger Hill which will boost mileage on any vehicle LOL.  Once rolling with the load, the truck stays in between gear 8 and 10 (1st and 3rd OD) in all conditions.  Same conditions that caused the 1993 to downshift into 1:1 from OD. 

IIRC, around 2400 RPM at 75+ in top gear.  I haven't got to drive it in a while, so I forget exactly. Also, have not weighed is yet so guessing at the weight.  Should be in the 6500~6800 range for it's size and 2x drive gear.  Have no need for 4WD. For reference, the 1993 F-350 weighs 5600.  When we can safely go inside and argue with the weigh clerk at the truck stop, we'll get the whole rig on the scale.  They are always a grumpy bunch.  I wish there was a feed store with a scale closer.

This model has the 3.73 gear and is rated at 24,000 GCVW, 16,500 max trailer.  I pull with about 1800 lbs tongue weight, no air bags, 14K Equal-i-zer hitch.  Trailer is 7.5 T x 8.5w x 34'L + 54" tongue.

The 1993 F-350 DRW with a 460, 12K max trailer - 9.8 MPG average unloaded, 5.5 average loaded.  At 62 MPH, about max towing speed w/same trailer.   

[chris401]

Thank's for the responses. I am thinking about driving my old pickup across the mountains without adjusting anything. The 475 lbs doesn't hurt anything either.

[NIsaacs]

My son just ordered one in a F-250, no frills model with leather but carpet delete. Extended cab, 4x4, short bed, 4.30 gears, locker, 10 spd and cab lights. I think a supercharger is in it's future, Lol.

[TimeWarpF100]

The tech department says the management for the manual transmission should be out this summer. Ball park price of $1500. Just under $10,000 would put a person in motion. With it sharing the 4.6 and all the forward modular eninge's bell housing it shouldn't be a huge chore to swap one in. What have you guys done with it?

https://performanceparts.ford.com/part/M-6007-73

It's going to cost much closer to 20k by the time one completes a swap. Add in 8+k for a blower and you are near 30k. At that point the rods and pistons will need a upgrade.

Don't expect the "kit" to be out anytime soon. Lots of engines were sold but with no Control Pack one might see the crate engines for sale although there are aftermarket companies attempting at making kits. So far the only one near ready is 3550.00 for pcm and control wiring. Big $$ for transmission of any kind to operate it. Also issues with fuel pump control.

10R140 automatic from ford is 6800.00
Far too many people searching for a 10R80 from a 4x2 to become avail so about non existent. No controls avail for the 6R100 but I think I have it figured out how to run the 7.3 using a 6R140. 

I have a 10R80 in my '66 F100 & its MASSIVE & the 10R140 is yet another jump in overall size.

[chris401]

Not me. $10,000 is enough, I have no interest in having a tow truck running with the 1200+ lbs torque diesel's. I tore up enough drivetrains in my younger days and am satisfied with dependability.