I am currently looking at these two trucks to replace my 95 GMC 3/4 ton suburban with 7.4 l big block. The 1999 model is a two wheel drive and they're asking 4995 for it the 2005 model unknown if it is four wheel drive or two wheel drive they're asking 2999 for it. The earlier model has 244000 miles on it the newer model only has 120,000 miles on it. My biggest concern is I have never owned a diesel before I don't know which engine is better or if the price is match the truck. Obviously to me the 2005 model seems awful cheap for the new year in low mileage. Any help in this area would be greatly appreciated thank you.the new trailer we purchased is a 1996 Jayco 38 foot with a dry weight of 10200 pounds

My gut tells me you should keep looking, but of those 2 I'd go with the 7.3L (the 99).My main reason is the potential for expensive repairs on the 2005; some get great service from them but the 6.0L was plagued with issues that can be addressed but not inexpensively.Please make sure neither has a salvage title; at those prices it's worth checking on.Not to be a downer but do yourself a favor & have a healthy repair budget set aside, or be willing to whip out a credit card if the need arises.

The 6.0 Powerstroke through 2005 model was the Achilles heel for Ford. That is why it is so cheap. Starting in 2006 there was a little improvement in reliability but not much. Some were very good, MOST were garage queens that Ford paid tens of thousands of dollars to repair and they still were not reliable. On the other hand, the 7.3 was the best diesel Ford ever installed in their trucks. Other than being old school technology, it is still an awesome engine and will run forever. The big problem in that era was the transmission, but a $2000 rebuild with HD upgrade parts will make that a non issue.

Price is too low for the 2005, something is wrong with it. I think I would keep looking. The 7.3 was a good engine and there were many problems with the 6.0. Repair is expensive.

Even though I owned two 6.0 Ford diesels and never had a problem, I would recommend passing on the 2005 6.0 with 120,000 miles. The 6.0, especially the earlier models, had a history of problems.The 7.3 is the best engine Ford ever built. But that is a lot of miles for it also.A lot depends on the maintenance history and previous repair history. If you can find out about those things, that would help make your decision easier. I think given a choice between those two, I would continue looking.

zell66 wrote:I am currently looking at these two trucks to replace my 95 GMC 3/4 ton suburban with 7.4 l big block. The 1999 model is a two wheel drive and they're asking 4995 for it the 2005 model unknown if it is four wheel drive or two wheel drive they're asking 2999 for it. The earlier model has 244000 miles on it the newer model only has 120,000 miles on it. My biggest concern is I have never owned a diesel before I don't know which engine is better or if the price is match the truck. Obviously to me the 2005 model seems awful cheap for the new year in low mileage. Any help in this area would be greatly appreciated thank you.the new trailer we purchased is a 1996 Jayco 38 foot with a dry weight of 10200 poundsIs this correct a 2005 F250 Diesel for $2,999. What is the condition of the body? Do you wonder why a truck six years newer with half as many miles and is $2,000 less then the 99?The 6.0 CAN be a good engine, but requires Bullet Proofing, and ROCK SOLID maintenance. At that price if the engine is still running you could fully Bullet proof for around less than $5,000, and have a nice $8,000 truck. The 1999 7.3 can take some mods and be a good TV, that engine is right there with the Cummins for reliability.If I were you I would keep looking, and I would be looking a both Cummins/Dodge and GM Duramax. JMHO

1999 7.3l vs. 2005 6.0l F250 | Good Sam Community

Andymon
Explorer
Sep 13, 2013
I have a 99 F250 with the 7.3. I paid $9900. Had it checked out and the shop said it was basically like new with 170K on it. Whoever had it before me knew how to take care of it. Heavy duty tranny cooler, new tires, brakes, shocks, wheel bearing...you name it. I love it!
ib516
Explorer II
Sep 13, 2013
Airstreamer67 wrote:
If you get a Cummins, make sure it's not the "53" block, which can crack, and make sure the dowel pin has been fixed, which otherwise can move and ruin the engine.

The dowel pin issue was what model year 1998 and older? And the 53 block was up to 2001? Both are older units than the OP is considering, though they are issues to look out for is shopping for a much older rig.
BigToe
Explorer
Sep 13, 2013
The 2005 coil springs, integrated brake controller, upgraded transmission, tighter turning radius, a more modern looking front grille, etc, won't matter one bit when you're stuck on the side of the road with a catastrophic five figure, cab off, three week repair to have to finance.

The cost of having to pay for two tows at once to pull you off of the side of the road... one for your truck, and another for your trailer, plus the nights at the local motel and the rental car, will likely far exceed the cost difference between the two trucks you are considering.

I take it back... the tighter turning radius might come in handy for the tow truck driver to steer your disabled truck in line with his flatbed.

If you are just now trading up from a 95, it doesn't sound like you are looking to waste an extra gallon of fuel to be the first guy to the top of the mountain pass. So unless you have an extra $8,000 to $15,000 in cash handy to cover the well known, well documented repairs needed to either fix or "bullet proof" a motor whose history you have no idea about, I'd take a pass on the 2005.

The 7.3L may be bit slower (although I've seen highly modified 7.3L's pull 11 something second 1/4 miles at the track), a bit older, and turn around in a bigger circle, but at least it manages to do so on it's own power. There was an article two years ago about an RV delivery guy reporting over 1.2 million documented miles on his 7.3L. And many more mileage reports exceeding half a million miles and still running strong.

The 6.7L from Ford looks promising. But that remains to be seen long term, and remains an order of magnitude more expensive to get into.
Dave_H_M
Explorer II
Sep 13, 2013
I recommend you ask google. :W
bucky
Explorer II
Sep 16, 2013
The 7.3 was not built by Ford, but still the best engine for reliability ever put in a Ford truck.
Grit_dog
Navigator
Sep 16, 2013
$8-15k to bulletproof a 6.0 may be a bit of a fetch, but you are still looking at $5k+ or alot of bustin wrenches and a decent shop to work out of. Personally I wouldn't get a 6.0 unless I KNEW it's maintenance history (and had the $ to spend for EGR delete, head studs, etc). They are much more susceptible to damage due to un timely maintenance than pretty much any other light duty diesel save for the old GM 6.5TD.
BigToe
Explorer
Sep 17, 2013
It may be a bit of a stretch in Arkansas, but $8K-$15K is what folks are paying on the left coast. (Literally, to a retrofit company actually called "left coast diesel"). If going the keep it stock route, the Ford dealer often hits 6.0 and 6.4 owners with five digit repair bills between $10,000 up to $18,000.

On the other hand, in 13 years, I paid a total of $15 for a cam shaft position sensor that I installed... in the glove box. That's it as far as engine repair. And truth be told, I haven't even needed it yet on the motor. I'm still on the original camshaft position sensor. Furthermore, I didn't even have to spend that $15, because Ford issued a recall beyond the original 5 year warranty. It just wasn't worth it to me to find the receipt and submit the paperwork for the reimbursement.

So, which do you choose?
An older engine with a well known $15. potential repair?
Or a newer engine with a well known $15,000. potential repair?

Even if it is only a $5,000. repair in states with a lower cost of living, the economics of potential risk is clear.
The_Texan
Explorer
Sep 17, 2013
Here is a Craigslist ad for a 2002 low mileage 7.3. Remember, everything is negotiable.
Twain
Explorer
Sep 22, 2013
Funny, I was just given an offer of a 06 F350 DRW 6.0 w/lots of extras my 99 F350 7.3 doesn't have; Lariat trim, 4x4, FX4... Anyway we got the 99 from him two years ago and a few months back he went to trade in the 06 for a new F550. He never heard of the 6.0 issues, never had them, but the dealer explained that they have repaired a lot of 6.0 and didn't really want his trade. So he kept it and kinda offered us a trade; he's the original owner of both trucks. Told us he didn't want to give us a bad truck, but thought it was worth more than the dealer wanted to give. Right now I'm, sticking with old, loud 7.3, but a 7 year newer truck is tempting...
jasult
Explorer
Sep 22, 2013
Stick with the 7.3
I just bought a 99 F350 DRW to add to my fleet of 7.3 trucks. This one will be dedicated to my 5ver