Ford Reman Turbo 7.3, what's it worth?

[6 Nebraska IDIs]

A friend of mine on my camaro forum has a new, still on the crate, Ford factory reman turbo 7.3 IDI engine that he's offered me but hasn't said what he wants for it. It doesnt come with the turbo, and its original application was intended to be an E series van, so the oil pan, oil cooler headers, timing cover, and probably a few other parts that Im not sure of would need to be changed for our trucks. I know, just because its a Ford reman doesnt mean it'll be a good engine either, but figured it'd be better than allot of the other current reman engines out there.
We're not looking into it for my brown truck, more for my dads 94 CC project truck. Would be a nice quick fix for the blown engine in that thing.

 

[icanfixall]

Its a tuff question to answer. First of all was it bored when it was rebuild? Then what did they do to the heads about milling.. Then you need to know what parts were used. Then finally you need to really tear it down just to see if it really is a turbo built block with turbo rods and pistons and inconel exhaust valves. For everything it doesn'y have turns it into another 7.3 non turbo build. So... Saying its "worth" any amount is up in the air. I personally would not buy it if its been bored because we all know what that means in the long run. Ever try to sell a set of 20 over 7.3 pistons...

 

[6 Nebraska IDIs]

Yea, being bored would be bad. I thought that was the point of Ford remans was that they didnt bore them they re sleeved them like they were supposed to be. Would there be any markings on it telling what was done to it?

 

[discbrks]

The oil pan will work fine. I put a van motor in my truck and the only things I had to swap were the exhaust manifolds, oil cooler, and fuel filter location.

 

[david85]

I would sooner find a 6.9 to build up, but since you have so many other IDIs, couldn't you just drive a different truck while you overhaul the engine in the brown truck?

 

[towcat]

sean-
if it wasn't for the post-morteum I did on the 50k/mi factory rebuild, I'd still be reccomending them today.
I can't anymore after seeing what I did see.
these "factory" rebuilds are done in a high-volume manner with little regard for genuine quality control. the moment you pull apart the intake and heads, the glaring marks of surfaces cleaned and prepped by a belt sander is very obvious. the valves were obviously mismatched and lastly, the lifter spider was missing.
if the price is dirt cheap, do it.

 

[6 Nebraska IDIs]

^^^ David, the engine wouldnt be for my brown truck. I like my 6.9 too much to swap it for a 7.3. The 7.3 would be for my dads 94 CC project truck that needs an engine.
The problem with just driving another truck is we dont have any other trucks. Out of all 7 that we have, both of my 83's are done (red one had something happen to it from some of diesel powers injectors, and the brown one has valve issues), my brothers 94 the clutch went out of a month ago and the only way to drive it is float gears, grandpas 83 is literally just a frame being restored yet, my moms 94 CC keeps blowing out main seals and leaks so much oil its not worth driving plus it started bleeding fuel off and wont start without priming injectors every time, my dads 94 CC is a project needing an engine (we bought it that way), the only truck running is my dads old work truck 90 that my mom's driving. We're down to driving the eclipse, mustang or camaro. The eclipse needs tires rotated this weekend before it can be driven and its raining all weekend, the 79 camaro is stuck in the yard behind the building pad we started working on last fall, and my brothers mustang runs on 100 octain fuel and literally costs $75/day to drive.
We's screwed in short. lol
Im going to have to suck it up and go out into the rain here soon and rotate the tires on the eclipse so we have something to drive.

 

[dakotajeep]

I think you should sell one and build up the others to dependable status.....lol...mine is almost there.

Thad

 

[typ4]

I know where there is a studded cryo'ed balanced 7.3 that I saw go together. I respect the shop that did it, the guy either had the block sleeved or sonic tested. Pan to pump 2500.00. If I had the coins I would buy it.

 

[david85]

^^^ David, the engine wouldnt be for my brown truck. I like my 6.9 too much to swap it for a 7.3. The 7.3 would be for my dads 94 CC project truck that needs an engine.
The problem with just driving another truck is we dont have any other trucks. Out of all 7 that we have, both of my 83's are done (red one had something happen to it from some of diesel powers injectors, and the brown one has valve issues), my brothers 94 the clutch went out of a month ago and the only way to drive it is float gears, grandpas 83 is literally just a frame being restored yet, my moms 94 CC keeps blowing out main seals and leaks so much oil its not worth driving plus it started bleeding fuel off and wont start without priming injectors every time, my dads 94 CC is a project needing an engine (we bought it that way), the only truck running is my dads old work truck 90 that my mom's driving. We're down to driving the eclipse, mustang or camaro. The eclipse needs tires rotated this weekend before it can be driven and its raining all weekend, the 79 camaro is stuck in the yard behind the building pad we started working on last fall, and my brothers mustang runs on 100 octain fuel and literally costs $75/day to drive.
We's screwed in short. lol
Im going to have to suck it up and go out into the rain here soon and rotate the tires on the eclipse so we have something to drive.

And I thought I had problems . Worst I ever had was 2 vehicles down at the same time for about a week. Lesson learned, so I decided to keep the F150 as a spare instead of sell it. Gutless bloody wonder compared to the diesels, but its never let me down and the parts are simple/cheap.

Even with a newer 7.3 IDI I would still go to a built up 6.9 if it were me. Even if you have a good quality sleeve job in the 7.3L block, it will never be as strong as a one piece casting for the factory 6.9. The sad truth is the older 6.9s are out living the 7.3 IDIs dispite the mileage and age disadvantage. I would never use a 7.3 IDI for a build up even if it were a brand new block casting.

At this point I think a clutch job would be the easiest way to get a truck up and running again (unless there's something else wrong with your brother's truck). I did a DMF conversion by myself with nothing more than a big floor jack in 2 days. You have more man power and could pull it off sooner.

Once you have one good truck, start planning an engine rebuild for the next one. Worst case senario, you are looking at one month to get it done. Buying a drop in engine rarely has a happy ending since no one seems to know how to build them properly or even care. Rebuilding one of your own engines would also be cheaper and in the end you would know what you have.

 

[Dsl_Dog_Treat]

OK dumb question. Did they make a turbo power plant for the E series?

Our swat team has a 94 E series ambulance and it's N/A.

 

[6 Nebraska IDIs]

It was an option, just like the turbo IDI trucks were. Except the vans are extremely rare. When I used to work for the university they had one.

 

[RLDSL]

Buying a drop in engine rarely has a happy ending since no one seems to know how to build them properly or even care. Rebuilding one of your own engines would also be cheaper and in the end you would know what you have.

Can I get an Amen here !
If you don't personally know the shop that did the rebuild, about all you can count on is that engine being a temporary powerplant while you are rebuilding yours the right way, and hopefully it will last that long. Too many variables unknown ( or as Towcat has pointed out, known workmanship) , unknown storage time, internal surface rust, gasket/seal degradation from being dry over an extended time period.

 

[Dsl_Dog_Treat]

Can I get an Amen here !
If you don't personally know the shop that did the rebuild, about all you can count on is that engine being a temporary powerplant while you are rebuilding yours the right way, and hopefully it will last that long. Too many variables unknown ( or as Towcat has pointed out, known workmanship) , unknown storage time, internal surface rust, gasket/seal degradation from being dry over an extended time period.

I'll second that.

Experiencing a 50k rebuilt that set for 5 years with issues myself.