ford v-10 to 7.3 swap ?

Al Baker(pumpman) · Feb 15, 2015

Anyone have experience pulling a bad V-10 from a 2000 F250 and installing a 7.3 in its place? I am sure I will need a different wiring harness, but how about the motor mounts, auto tranny, radiator, stuff like that? It is FWD.

David G · Feb 15, 2015

I would expect the front springs are a lot different.

dhermesc · Feb 15, 2015

I'd stay with a V10. Between the new wiring harness, computers and everything you'll be messing with and the cost of a good 7.3 you'd be better off parking it unless you just like working on projects like that. Mileage is marginally better with the 7.3 but the higher cost of diesel goes a long ways in eating that up. Not to mention if stock the V10 has more hp and not that much less torque.

The transmission should physically bolt up if its a powerstroke 7.3.

Prawn Farmer · Feb 15, 2015

I have a very basic 2002 XLT F250 Super Duty V10 that just turned over 60,000 miles last month. When (or if) the time comes, I'll probably consider a Cummins conversion. The most practical and economical thing in my case would be to drop another gas engine back in - but what fun is that . . . .

Lazy WP · Feb 15, 2015

All you guys that say the mileage from gas to diesel isn't all the great have obviously never pulled with both.
My 97, 7.3 would consistently get over 19 mpg. I have NEVER EVER heard of a V10 getting better then 12, empty. Pulling I was getting about 12, and every V10 I have heard of at BEST gets 8 pulling. You go to a 01 02 or 03 7.3, and you should be upwards to 20 mpg all the time.

In this case, I would consider a Cummins. Better torque, and probably better mileage. The plus side is there are lots of aftermarket kits available to drop a Cummins in where the V10 came from.

DC3puller · Feb 15, 2015

I get 14 to 15 with out a trailer and 11 with trailer and 13,000lb of tractors with my 99 v10 and 373 gears

Grampy · Feb 15, 2015

Remember the rule of job estimating - unless you have done a couple of these already. 1. write down the amount of money you think you will have to spend. 2. write down the number of hours you think this will take. Double both numbers and add another 50%. (And I have done some engine swaps.) IMHO that if you want / need a diesel truck, buy or trade for one. However a Cummins in a Ford has always sounded interesting, especially if you happen to have a Ford with the 6.0.

Grampy · Feb 15, 2015

Sorry David, meant for my post to go to Al Baker. You are correct about the springs.

JMOR · Feb 15, 2015

(quoted from post at 13:37:17 02/15/15) Remember the rule of job estimating - unless you have done a couple of these already. 1. write down the amount of money you think you will have to spend. 2. write down the number of hours you think this will take. Double both numbers and add another 50%. (And I have done some engine swaps.) IMHO that if you want / need a diesel truck, buy or trade for one. However a Cummins in a Ford has always sounded interesting, especially if you happen to have a Ford with the 6.0.

know a man who put a Cummins in a Ford. He used the Dodge chassis/engine/harnesses/basically the whole thing & put his Ford cab over it. More than one way to skin a cat.

Prawn Farmer · Feb 15, 2015

Lazy WP, You're very close on the numbers that I experience. I had a 2001 F350 Powerstroke dually 4x4 6 spd manual prior to the F250. I probably got 12-14 mpg pulling 7 tons and get exactly 8 mpg with the V10 and maybe 14 mpg unloaded on the highway. I really do like the V10 on these cold days, though, and it does a really good job of pulling with only a 3:55 rear end in it.

jm. · Feb 15, 2015

I can promise you one thing right now would be a lot cheaper to sell and buy what you want. Too many little things. The ONLY way to even consider would be finding a complete truck with wrecked cab where you would have everything and that is still not the way to go.

Grampy · Feb 15, 2015

Yup, a co-worker of mine set a '54 Ford F-6 cab on a Dodge chassis. Here's mine, combination Willy's, AMC wagoner (chassis)& Chevrolet.

JayinNY · Feb 15, 2015

My brother has a 99 7.3 with a chip, he gets 12-14mpg, I have a 2000 7.3 no chip, I get 14mpg, both trucks tow trailers.

ss55 · Feb 15, 2015

Your automatic transmission shift points are probably very different between gas and diesel engines. Axle ratios and front suspensions could also be different. Check if any conversion kits are available.

That sounds like a lot of work and money to put into a fifteen year old vehicle. Myself, I'd either fix/replace the V10 or trade pickups.

ArleninOr · Feb 15, 2015

Last we did was a chev cab and nose on a dodge chassis. Flatbed sitting on 37"tires. An honest 600 hp and 23 yr old son afraid to drive it.Your truck,do what you want. I would.

dhermesc · Feb 16, 2015

My company has owned 5 of them - got about 15 without a trailer - usually got about 10-11 pulling a real load. One got 12 empty and 7 pulling a load - never could get it to do better than that. My brothers have owned several of varying years - their mileage seemed similar to what we got at work - except the one that got 12. Only one claiemd to get 18-19 on the highway - but that was with the a 6.4.

I keep hearing about these guys that get 18-22 with a 7.3 but I've never seen one.

Only know of a few people that had the V10 - all were very happy with the power - my brother had an extremely nice 2003 model years ago with a crew cab - it was like riding in a Lincoln and he drove it that way too. He actually got 15 MPG highway with that truck - but then it was an exception in every way - he drove it like a Lincoln and treated it like a Lincoln too. I don't think he even had a receiver hitch on that truck.

ford v-10 to 7.3 swap ?

Al Baker(pumpman)

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Prawn Farmer

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