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7.3 powerstroke/t444e bobbed deuce

R

res0wc18

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Everett, Wa
so ive seen cat 3208s in these things so there is no doubt a 7.3 would fit correct?

Long story here,

After years of following the rules by the book of paying my truck payments and only to have a few left before its yours and something devastating happens. My last two trucks were totaled not two months after paying them off.....no joke....and since you never get what it takes to replace them from even the best insurance ive decided its time to change the system.

Ive realized after years of telling myself, oh ill hold out and wait to do things to my truck that ive wanted to for years until its paid off doesn't work...At what point does a mans satisfaction in what he wants to drive mean more than not taking chances?

My truck is near paid off and has 150k miles on it and is one of the cleanest 97 obs strokers ive seen in a very long time. I'm considering gutting the engine, getting a 2wd zf six speed and putting it in a nice deuce with a crap engine/tranny....

My buddy thinks im nuts for even considering it, since i could sell my truck for enough to pay for a good deuce with a crap engine/tranny and a low mile running 7.3 motor/tranny


Should i seek professional mental help? lol
 
big block 88

big block 88

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Topeka/Kansas
The 7.3 would be a good reliable option to power the duece. The 7.3 will NOT make big power with out tons of money but they can make respectable power for just a few bucks, change the turbo play with the waste gate, and bigger injectors and some work on the HPOP and you'll make enough power to do anything you could want.

That being said you really don't even need to add much power if any really it will out power the multi fuel and mileage should go up some aswell, I say go for it.
 
paramedic7831

paramedic7831

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I have always wondered about the 7.3 in a deuce. Ford was retarted for letting this beast engine get replaced by the 6.0. I had a 6.0 and one word would well describe it S$%T. IMO the 5.9 cummins would be the best option tho since they are easy to get and cheap to mod. There are a few on here that have done the 5.9 swap but never heard of anyone tring the 7.3. But just like any other best thing we have read on here. You only live once DO IT and post pics and info. GL
 
Bigred77

Bigred77

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Clermont, KY
Sounds good but i wouldnt tear apart a good running stroker just for the engine. you can find a used 7.3 for $1000 or less around here. **** i got one ill sell ya...
 
mudguppy

mudguppy

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i say go for it. you will be up against a couple challenges, though. even though the 7.3 is much shorter in length than the multifuel, the zf6 is much longer than the Spicer - you're going to have to shift the motor very far forward.

now, the zf6 is a beautiful trans and will hold up to tons of power and abuse. that said, you may be in for another challenge building a jackshaft to get from the trans to deuce transfer - if i recall, the 2wd zf6 tailshaft is a slip yoke design. i'm sure it can be done, but the rest of the jackshaft will be rather short; this is ok, just be prepared for some rather high assembly costs for a small driveshaft. for example, my conversion jackshaft cost $450 and it's only 8-3/8" long.

lastly, w/out putting a bunch of money into an older 7.3 you won't have that much more power than the multifuel; it will be much more reliable, however. if you acquired a later model 7.3, your power options open up quite a bit, but then wiring and ECM comes into the equation.

please do it!!

2cents
 
patracy

patracy

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paramedic7831 said:
I have always wondered about the 7.3 in a deuce. Ford was retarted for letting this beast engine get replaced by the 6.0. I had a 6.0 and one word would well describe it S$%T. IMO the 5.9 cummins would be the best option tho since they are easy to get and cheap to mod. There are a few on here that have done the 5.9 swap but never heard of anyone tring the 7.3. But just like any other best thing we have read on here. You only live once DO IT and post pics and info. GL
Click to expand...
Don't blame Ford for the demise of the 7.3. Blame the EPA.

Same for the 5.9 cummins.
 
eldgenb

eldgenb

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Spokane WA
mudguppy said:
i say go for it. you will be up against a couple challenges, though. even though the 7.3 is much shorter in length than the multifuel, the zf6 is much longer than the Spicer - you're going to have to shift the motor very far forward.

now, the zf6 is a beautiful trans and will hold up to tons of power and abuse. that said, you may be in for another challenge building a jackshaft to get from the trans to deuce transfer - if i recall, the 2wd zf6 tailshaft is a slip yoke design. i'm sure it can be done, but the rest of the jackshaft will be rather short; this is ok, just be prepared for some rather high assembly costs for a small driveshaft. for example, my conversion jackshaft cost $450 and it's only 8-3/8" long.

lastly, w/out putting a bunch of money into an older 7.3 you won't have that much more power than the multifuel; it will be much more reliable, however. if you acquired a later model 7.3, your power options open up quite a bit, but then wiring and ECM comes into the equation.

please do it!!

2cents
Click to expand...

The powerstroke started in 95, it is completely electronic tunable:razz:
 
Josh

Josh

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Portland, Oregon
I used to dislike the 7.3L. Until I drove up a 6% grade @ 65mph grossing about 29k in an F350. If my MF ever blows and I cant find a LDS around here, Id swap in a 7.3l with out a second thought.
 
R

res0wc18

Member
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Everett, Wa
the issues with the zf6's drive shaft is no problem, as the later models and f450/f550 units had a solid yoke.

I really believe the 7.3 stroker is one of the best motors made, especially when one runs home brew bio diesel etc in it. Think about it....There is no injection pump to wear out/leak. There is no complicated anything on it. Two rails get pressurized with fuel and oil, and a solenoid tells it when to fire.....There is one main chassis/engine harness plug, and with a few wires can run...

Ive had zero problems with this old girl, and shes got more than double the power of stock deuce.

Ive got a mild turbo and intercooler on it with a live tune....its got enough power to break the tires loose and go sideways at 40mph in almost every situation, all this with a slush box auto....

I figure taking this or a similar motor and a six speed behind it and putting it in a bobbed deuce will really make one move.

If for some reason i ever feel like i need to have more power i can easily add it....but going much more than it is now will really shorten drive train life as i do intend to use it as a truck with a dump box etc. Big power and weight combined with stock rockwells=boom.....the 350hp/700 ft lbs range is a safe one to stay at.


I know alot of people have done cummins swaps etc which is great, but again for running homemade bio-d/wvo ive had less problems with this girl then my buddies 97 dodge, which is apparently the best they ever got for power and simplicity.


To all those who have done a power upgrade/motor swap in a bobber.....Whats it like driving it?
 
Last edited:
juddspaintballs

juddspaintballs

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Berkeley Springs, WV
I like the 7.3, and when I start hunting for a personal pickup truck, I'm going to hunt exclusively for a Ford with a 7.3 in it.

I see no issues with putting a 7.3 in the deuce, but you may want to consider a different transmission if using the one you have chosen will be pretty difficult to install. If I were able to do what you want to do here, I'd personally buy a perfectly good running deuce and sell the motor and transmission out of it. You should be able to sell those for about as much as it would cost you to get a take-out 7.3 and transmission to drop back into it.
 
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