As a mechanic, this is the reason I bought one. Fairly reliable and easy to work on when it breaks.

@A-A-ron-aka-big-big

Ай бұрын

Ive been told by several that the 6.7 power stroke is easier to work on than the 7.3

@M_A_R_I_N_E785

27 күн бұрын

@@A-A-ron-aka-big-big7.3 is a pain to work on, just really damn time consuming

@DonziGT230

27 күн бұрын

@@A-A-ron-aka-big-big Whoever said that is crazy.

@A-A-ron-aka-big-big

27 күн бұрын

@@DonziGT230 so far mine is real easy to work on ive done preventive maintenance replaced a few things that didnt need to be but everything so far has been easy

Still one of the best diesel pickups ever made. Repairs costs and no emmisions is always better than the payments, repair costs, and emissions systems of new.

those front leaf springs have really had it

@Setboy6673

5 ай бұрын

They definitely need to be replaced.

@FromLandVegemiteSamich

5 ай бұрын

@@Setboy6673I thought they were just custom bent 😂😂😂

@motoboss5250069qew

4 ай бұрын

And they're fairly inexpensive when shop around 😊

@repairmanjoe8081

4 ай бұрын

Got that right! Those things are NASTY! 😮

@rustysdirtworks8398

4 ай бұрын

That is rust between those front leaf springs, you need new springs

You worked more on your truck in this video than I have on my 2002 7.3L in over 8 years. lol.

Don't know about this guy but I love all 4 of my 7.3 trucks.

2001, F250, 7.3, 542k miles. Learning as I go as a non-mechanic. I've replaced most everything on this truck over the years. Worst thing I encountered were the Ball Joints, but I had no help, and that's a job I wouldn't do again without a helper! I'm 72 y/o, that almost killed me ! In the past 6 months, replaced the HOPO, IPR, fuel bowl, Injectors, complete wiring harness and more stuff. This truck will probably out live me. Every time my spouse complains, I just ask her if she wants me to spend my retirement on a new truck ?? :)

@quentonmillstid850

4 ай бұрын

80k retirement is wild

@active2attractive75

4 ай бұрын

That’s impressive sir!! Wish I was there to help! 😂

@FoolPullDiesel

4 ай бұрын

Man ain’t that the truth! A new truck these days….. forget about it. We need to start a huge 7.3 Club, nationwide, we can video chat and help with each others questions, share parts info, help others out that live near each other labor and smarts for labor and smarts!!!

At least this guy is honest! I have been in the auto repair industry for almost 50 years, and I too have made many mistakes! The thing about mistakes is laugh at them and learn from them!

Dude i would replace those front leaf spring s before they break. There is rust building up in between the springs that may cause them to break while your driving 😮

@hustleeveryday5852

4 ай бұрын

Yup, my one of my rear leafsprings snapped.

@luckyred1818

4 ай бұрын

Or they’ll last another 20 years. Never know w springs

Yup! I had to redo my whole suspension, coil springs and leaf springs, pitman arm and inner and outer tie rods, ball joints, bearings, wheel hubs, calipers and pads, shocks, steering stabilizer, transmission accumulator body spring repair, with new transmission pan gasket and fluid, diff fluid change with a new diff seal and cover, fuel tank straps and lines, fuel lines under the hood, fuel pump, fuel filter housing, 2 new batteries, so many sensors around the motor, boost couplers, boost selinoid, wastegate actuator, starter, carrier bearing, drive shaft u-joints, and so much more. Crazy thing is, it all really needed to be done before safe driving! I also did it all from Oreillys, except the springs and fluids! Oh, and Harbor Freight became my best friend! LOL The one thing I would recommend is if you are changing the tranny fluid use the Motorcraft from ford. you can get the 17 quarts for a around $150 and it truly is best for your tanny. The great thing about this truck is that everything is really pretty easy to work on. It's a great vehicle for people to learn to wrench. Great truck brother!

Those front springs are scary. I bought my 7.3 Excursion with over 400k miles for under $4k and I'm still loving it, one of the best vehicle purchases I've made.

@M_A_R_I_N_E785

27 күн бұрын

HOW DO YOU FIND ONE

@DonziGT230

27 күн бұрын

@@M_A_R_I_N_E785 I was searching craigslist for "ford 7.3." when I ran into it. I had previously been searching for an F-250 or 350, but that search is a pain. I needed a cheap vehicle that could tow my 13k lb. boat and I've wanted a 7.3 PS for a long time so that's where I put my searching.

@xfrostyresonance8614

18 күн бұрын

​@@M_A_R_I_N_E785They're everywhere, it just depends on where you live. There's a ton out here in Colorado, especially the western part. I see a new 7.3 Excursion for sale every other day it feels like.

@M_A_R_I_N_E785

18 күн бұрын

@@xfrostyresonance8614 i live on the east coast and most are the 5.4s or 6.8s

@xfrostyresonance8614

18 күн бұрын

@@M_A_R_I_N_E785 Yeah I mostly see 7.3s and 6.7s

Ive owned a f150 for 29 years in the rust belt , anti sieze is your best friend when it comes repairs. Zerks are second, if you cant grease it ,it will fail. Always remember if one side crappy, the other side will be too. Good knuckle busting fun.

You have a very good Dad, Trust me when I say that going up to him and saying "Thank you for being my Dad" will go a long way.

I like how the first statement says his issues have "NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ENGINE". I have an 02 F350 with the 7.3 but no issues like him, mine has 94,000 mi. Mines the 6 speed manual, i hate automatics.

@landonhillyard

4 ай бұрын

Man, that is a gem of a setup. I just found one with 210k and am counting myself lucky. But at 9k, I have some room to repair things.

@jesusramos6443

4 ай бұрын

I would like to have that truck, is it for sale?? Hehe.

@smigletat9634

4 ай бұрын

@@landonhillyardbought an 03 350 manual 6spd with 171k on it for 6k & 4 brand new tires.. 31’s & Mickey Thompson at that!

@tronalddump8776

4 ай бұрын

As someone who owns both a 6 speed and an auto I can say the auto is quicker to get to its top speed than anyone can shift that 6 speed

@goodtimevids6754

4 ай бұрын

I've got a 2000 with a 7.3 I wish mine had a manual in it I bought it new made the mistake of not getting it with a manual

I get the KZread drama for views, but you got to take it down a notch. It’s all basic maintenance for any 20+ year old vehicle. And being in salty New England, that’s a great rig. Your still putting out some good videos! 👍🏻

You are hilarious... 😂 the drama and suspense for common maintenance items of a 20yr + old truck... Good job learning and problem solving.

Sounds like the long story of my 1993 F250 7.3. I’ve replaced my whole power steering system, wheel bearings, both calipers, master cylinder, oil cooler reseal, clutch, & abt to do u-joints soon. Vacuum pump, complete low side fuel system overhaul, new injectors, & probably bushings next.

Brother please blow it all back apart and replace those front leafs! If you’re going to work that truck like you want too for your safety and everyone on the highway with you please replace those leafs we’d all love to watch you rip it all apart and deal with some of the frame rust while you’re in there! Also throw some hubs too! While you’re in there

2002 here. 575,000 miles. Original motor but new injectors and HPOP. Third transmission but it hauled 18,000 lbs around most of its life, Texas, Montana Colorado and everywhere inbetween. I removed the leaf springs and did a coil over conversion a couple years ago. If i knew the difference in ride wouldve never bought a new truck.

@fergusonhobbyfarm4567

3 ай бұрын

So the coil overs ride better?

@donovanchilton5817

3 ай бұрын

@@fergusonhobbyfarm4567than old, tired leaf springs? Absolutely.

@jaygcsinc

2 ай бұрын

Yes! If I had known the difference I would've never bought a new truck. Rides better than my 19'. Except for the sloppy steering box.

With your steering problems, replace all your rubber gromets in all your steering tie rods and connections. Replace the pitman arm and check your steering box o the end of your steering column. If it is loose get a good after marked heavy duty steering box. Your truck is a heavy duty and needs this. My son had to do all of these things on his 2001 Dodge 1 ton dually, Cummins powered 4X4. It just turned over 500K miles this past January. We do all our own work except for alignments. My Dodge is a 3/4 T Cummins powered 4X4 of the same year as his but with only 235K miles. No power chips or soup-ups. Just clean air, fuel and oil and they last seemingly forever.

Your production quality has really gone way up good job

when your seatbelt light and dinger is going off press the seatbelt button it will shut it up until you turn off the truck .. at least it does in mine... unless the electric switch is bad or unhooked under the seat .. or not getting power

Im subscribing just because of all you had to go through. Thanks for sharing your experience. learned alot.

I recently did the u joints on both sides of my 04 6.0 f350, they were making a clacking noise when going on a uneven terrain. The snap rings and the caps were so rusty and stuck that i dropped them off at a friend's shop who has a big press. New seals and thrust washers also installed. A new steering box is the next thing and also nice shocks

When you first slid those axels out I would have pressed in new U joints while I was there other than that loving the vids man keep it up.

Reminds me of my 1999 F250 7.3 only no dad and some good mechanics and lots of dough spent to get the truck steering right and still occasionally getting towed. But it’s been 18 years driving this old truck, I’m not ready to junk it yet.

I have the same truck and color Long Box. 200K excellent condition throughout, driver's seat showing wear. Plan to keep it forever.

Back in 2002 I think it was I walked into a local Ford dealer here in North Texas to buy an F250 7.3L pickup and they had a back lot full of them, all the same truck, all were 4 door, 2WD short bed XLT trucks with the 7.3L engine with automatics. They all listed for $36K window stickers and were all $6k off, all I had to do was pick my color I wanted. I picked the blue with tan interior like you have, man I loved that truck so much but we built a new house and it would not fit in the garage by like 2 inches too long so I traded it in on an Excursion with the 7.3 but ended up selling it a couple years later. About 6 years ago I wasn't even looking but came across a 2003 F250 Lariat, long bed 2WD extended cab with 84k miles on it and snagged it for $13.5K and have loved it ever since. I pull a 36ft 5th wheel with it. Its crazy what a great deal those trucks were back then. My truck now has 125k on it. I don't daily drive it. Its has all original paint in great shape (white) but I've replaced all the badges with 2005 -2008 as I like the look better and they are blacked out, put the 2015ish mirrors on it as well as tail lights with the reverse lights on top and they bulge out more as well as a raptor grill and blacked out side steps, tinted the windows, alarm, touchscreen with back up camera. Its a great truck. It has coil springs on the front but still drives like a school bus to me, no slop just a beast of a truck to drive. I also put on spin on filters for the transmission and fuel by Driven Diesel, it has air bags on the rear, a 6 position chip and I replaced the factory filter with a cold air intake setup. I had to pull the tank and do the harpoon mod and install a new pickup foot sender unit which was fun but worth it, also had to replace the cables for the rear doors which also was a beast of a job. The steering linkage was also replaced a while back. Other then that the truck has been super reliable.

Love your commentary, it keeps me laughing and interested. Great job young man !!!

Welcome back, Happy New Year!

Bought my 7.3 10 years ago and it's 28 now and it's still running like a new truck. This is the longest I have ever had a used vehicle and no plans of getting rid of it

I was running down interstate 75 at about 70 mph in my old YJ wrangler and the castle nut came off my pitman arm and lost steering. Luckily my jeep was headed out of a curve at that time and was headed straight for the gaurd rail. Hit said gaurd rail with my tires and it spun me looking at oncoming traffic. It was 4am though so not much traffic. I sped across the hwy and locked on the breaks. Got some tie wire hooked up to the pitman arm and continued to work.

There was alot of great info in this video. Thanks for sharing!

I live in the rust belt, something i learned early on, use fluid film on your frame and undercarriage. I spray everything in the spring and in the fall just before winter. Zero rust ever and when you need to work on it the bolts come right off.😮

Respect for your endurance 🎉🎉

First car I did any mechanical work on was a 1973 Ford Pinto. Even back then Ford was clueless about standardization of bolts and nuts. I remember replacing the oil pump and some bolts/nuts were ASE and some metric. I also recall driving to a parts store to get some special tool too

Glad it all worked out good video

Holly Smokes those leaf springs are shot

The reason it would jolt is because the front shaft would rotate just enough that when you turned the steering wheel you would be fighting that seized u joint and then the front shaft would spin a little again to a spot where it was fine

Well mine is sitting at 484k miles. Those problems you have are just normal tear and wear problems. When I bought my truck i took care of all my front suspension and replaced all the tear and wear easy to replace parts. Haven’t had a single issue what so ever, make sure you keep a crank position sensor in your glove box also a serpentine pulley and belt trust me 😉 btw truck coming along nice

The rust jacking on that leaf pack had me nervous !

One thing I’ve noticed from having these old Fords, my brother had the 7.3 as well in a 99, had all kinds of mods, had the wheel spacers and different tires and whatnot, he had these same issues. I have a 95 f150 with the 5.0. I haven’t modified it any farther than cutting my exhaust off, never had any of these issues.

That is some powerful rust jacking between the leaves on that front spring pack. It’s so thick it’s spreading the leaves apart.

Those front leafs are jacked man. You need to change those asap before they snap

Great video. I wish I could get the list of deleted cuss words so I can compare yours and your dads to mine. I do my own wrenching too and I think I have expressed them all over the years. Gotta love the big hammers and long cheater bars.

Wow I guess I'm not alone I to put dust shield on backwards & I had a knew Hub bearing job was all happy had put all four H - B bolts & than snapped snapped what I did

I've had AAA for a few years now. Have yet to use it. Picked up a 7.3 F250 recently.. I have a feeling this truck will be the first thing I use it for. Thanks for all the 7.3 content. Been good seeing potential issues, ways to deal with them, what things may need removed to get to other things.

@2003-2fitty

3 ай бұрын

Had a 7.3 2003 200k miles for around a year and 3 months. All stock no issues. Most of the issues start from being altered from original (how it was meant to be) don’t be scared!

@gen157

3 ай бұрын

@@2003-2fitty about to hit 300k on this one. Runs great, all stock. Worked it's whole life in a tree service business. Hope it lasts another 200k.

@2003-2fitty

3 ай бұрын

@@gen157 good amount of miles’ it should go another 300k

Had this issue no shop would even try and diagnose the u joint (i didnt have the time at that time to fix it)

Those front leaf springs look like my rear passenger spring on my 03 duramax

Man U got a great Dad! New England Mechanic Neighbor is freaking Awesome! Nice truck man, don’t let the repairs bother you, they will go like another 200k!!!! I was thinking while deleting the entire factory fuel system…. It is time for us in the 99.5-2003 7.3 world to look at these trucks a different way. Just look at it as you need to restore the truck when you get it but it’s going to last a lifetime. They are just getting old but I will not trade mine for any vehicle! Just wanted to reassure you that almost everything you have done to yours in the video I have done as well plus some other modz😊. Keep going man, I don’t even know how old this video is but I just seen it. I will say this: All 4 Riff Raff Banjo Bolts, 4 Way Fuel, complete fuel system delete, EBPV butterfly valve crap GONE! Air Dog II 5 G, Adjusted the waste gate to open at 23 psi! The truck got snappy like a 6.0! Hooked up the camper for a test run. Up hill on the interstate, 70 mph, was at 15 psi boost and EGTs never peak 1050. The truck was hitting 1200 degrees and I would have to back out to cool things down.

This is quality content

If your power steering pump ever goes out psc makes a full kit with new lines pump cooler and all and it was a better upgrade then a rebuilt pump

I will support all of your videos … but I’m ready for Corvette season 😉❤️👍

Wait until your dipstick tube mount on the side of the oil pan falls apart. GREAT design!!!

I have a 2000 Ford F350 4wd powerstroke diesel I've had all those issues plus some other my truck turned into a plow truck calipers and brakes have been replaced several times over the years I don't mess with the brake pads I think the brake issues got worse when it sits so much the easiest thing I've ever replaced was the locking hubs

Great video!

1st- the body on that thing is very well kept. 2nd my 2002 if amazing all the repairs I do are way cheaper than buying a new one for the same price as a trailer house lmao.

What did you expect? It’s a 20 plus year old truck! There will be things to address!

I just replaced my axle seals, and I feel your pain on that dust shield. First i put it on backwards, then upside down. Soooo yeah. By the third time I was inventing curse words. lol

nice neighbor mechanic, those leafs on the front need attention before they break looks like rust separating them

There is something about driving a truck that you work on yourself you feel more connected to it than you would driving a brand new one that you barely touch other than putting fuel in the tank.

I'm sure you could get rebuild kits for those fancy calipers if you cared. Also your coolant needs to be topped off by the looks of it. I have a 7.3l as well. Your rims make me want to grab some late model rims for my truck.

Battery cables get corrosion from the inside and create a lot of resistance and it gets worse in the winter. And another thing spacer mess with the suspension specially wheel bearings

those rust jacked leaf springs will adversely affect the camber and caster causing drivability issues

wow look at that spring pack on the front that look like crap i have never seen a set that bad -- get A set of x code (what i like) or v code light springs for a f350 also look at the pass side spring mount mine rotted out and slid back 1 in

Sorry for ur troubles guy ! What Comes to mind is ford ,fix or repair & replace Dayly 😮 ". Funny i was thinking about getting a f-350 after Ur video I'am going with the GMC 2500 Denali 😅

@brada1997

4 ай бұрын

Any truck 20+years old will require extensive maintenance. Just wait until all those electronics on that fancy Denali go wacky and then the interior falls apart. A buddy of mine has both. He'll take his Ford any day.

Most people don't know to grease those front u-joints on HD Ford trucks. There is a zirc fitting on each one.

That’s more work than I’ve done on my 04 Jeep Cherokee with the iron head inline 4L 6cyl with full time 4WD since I purchased it new and have 245k miles on it now. Many new vehicles including jeeps are trash compared to how they used to be built. My buddy’s wife’s 2009 Jeep that’s never even been off road dropped a valve into the cylinder at 68k miles and destroyed the motor. I’m keeping my old stuff unless I hit the lottery and money doesn’t matter so I never have to fix anything.

Also sometimes your 4 wheel drive can be locked in need to check that

@waynejones5239

4 ай бұрын

I have had people lock one of the hubs when parked in a hotel or store parking lot check the hubs first

I have a 2002 F-350 crew cab dually 7.3. 240,000, never had the problem you got. But no modifications either. All factory except cold air intake, 5" straight pipe. You need a better maintenance program .

Brakes regularly get up to 3 to 400°F. Medal of that hardness typically doesn’t start glowing until 8 to 900° so something getting up to 300° is like saying you had to use your brakes yeah monkey mine to say touch metal, but don’t do it, or at least if you’re going to make the Joe Pesci reference say that it was 14,000,000°

Lost that same PS line, but it just came apart, wasn't chaffed.

First off. Good video informative… It’s funny the first thing I was gonna say, is no wonder why it’s writing so bad. I’m surprised the leaf springs haven’t given out yet. They look like the laminated plywood…lol… 😂😂

Oh my, look at those front springs.....I was worried about my 1976 original springs......not any more. Did you add chafing protection to the new power steering line?

Going to need a oil pan soon

How do you get away with being an inspection sticker behind the current one is yellow right moving into red?

You should buy chrome HD mirrors they look cool!

Those are all wear items over time for all vehicles but the wheel spacers excels the wear and than shock tower ate your hose You should have went ahead and done the other ball joints and u joint on other side also

I'm still looking for one of these either 250 or 350, exactly how this one is styled with the cabin/bed size. They're impossible to find for a price that makes sense.

Now we know why Toyota is selling record numbers of Tundra trucks. here in the Dallas Tx area you see new Toyota trucks everywhere.

Sounds like death wobble on a jeep. Look to those forums. Check out all steering linkage for wear and tight ness. Good work so far

@TJ-qz6hr

4 ай бұрын

Did you watch the video? It was a frozen axle joint.

I hope you clean those starter terminals

Aside from the drive/steering issues....the biggest issue youve not addressed is the "rust jacking" going on in the front leaf springs. Look it up, itsva real desl issue. Look at the front springs "clamped" in place THEN look at the spacing inbetween the individual leafs.( closer to front and rear of said springs)Pretty dang scsry if you ask me.

My Dually, F350 does not have those calipers and they appear to be aftermarket so I think I would get rid of 7:28 those and get what you’re supposed to have. That’s a nice truck. It just really wasn’t maintained by a truck guy. Also, you shouldn’t have had to undo the caliper to open it up.

😍😍7.3🤤I have an 04 f350 7.3 five speed🤗🤤

still seems to crank slow mine is prolly twice that fast maybe batterys to small ?

I did not see someone had replied on front springs untill i sent my reply so good job to you however at least we both see a problem maybe however i am not bragging on us because i think RAY CHARLES would have seen it also.

Did you ONLY change ball joints on 1 side??

need to get that NH oil undercoated.

Those leaf springs are whooped the swelling is real bad.

return that and get a gear reduction starter like a ultra duty or a 6.0 starter

The steering wheel issue is most likely the u-joints on front axle

I have the same truck but stock lift and it rides like crack I can imagine how bad that thing rides with all those Leafs in the front 😂

Dont fix the leaf springs just do a 6.0 front end swap if you olan on having the truck arohnd for awhile. 10x better ride quality

Good thinking, buying a Ford Starter. O'Reilly's and Auto Zone's parts like that are rebuilds and not all that dependable. They claim a life-time warranty and will replace the part only about three times before say, "That's enough". They depend on people trading their vehicles off more often that I do. It's very little comfort to have to get under your car to replace the same part over and over again, even if it is a free replacement. If you plan on driving your vehicle a very long time spend that little extra and get a quality replacement part that will last several years, not just two or less.

Did the lift kit change the axle camber?

I wish you had done rust prevention while you had everything open.

I would have taken that hise to Industrial Rubber and they would build a flexible braided stainless steel line.

I had the same problem on my excursion. Spent 2800.00 then found out it was the u joint on the passenger side. 20.00 fix

@jasonsheldon1604

2 ай бұрын

I'm thinking on buying a 1999 excursion 7.3 4x4 with 266 on the clock how do you like yours steering seems ok new shocks but weird if ya hit a pot hole.

@007.3l

Ай бұрын

​@@jasonsheldon1604buy it, i have a 00ex 7.3 best truck/ suv out there 320k currently

Why not do the 6.7 starter upgrade?

Did you heard about vd-40?