[Buying 7.3, What to look for]

The only problem any 7.3's ever had was the cam position sensor. But that's not a big deal and even if you have one starting to go out any Ford dealer will replace it for free under recall. It'll only take them about 10 minutes to swap it for you. Even that problem was pretty rare and there were no other problems with the 7.3L Power Stroke. The 94-97 and 02-03 7.3L Power Strokes are the best trucks ever made.

 

If you're getting an 02 or 03 you won't have to worry about the front ends. Those years they went back to the dana 60 front end. The only trucks that really had any front axle issues are the '99-01s. The hubs on the '99-04s are kind of weak if you 4-wheel the truck too hard. The hub can break and crack the outer axle shaft when it does. I've seen several do that but it's not something I would worry about.

 

Finally, if you're getting an automatic transmission, definitely stay away from the '01s because they had a lot of problems.

My 01 went through 2 transmissions. I put an ATS trans and torque converter in it. ATS give 3 yrs. 150,000 mile warranty. Other than that, and some rust issues, my 01 has been a great truck. My 7.3 has 187,000 mile on it and it runs like brand new.

[2000-2002 RUST problems]

Are you talking about rust forming right above the fender wells? If so, what kind of trim ring do you have there??

 

Forgot I posted this. I have no trim ring. It rusted from the inside out.

[Cops in Toyotas.......]

In 1978 when I started at Ford I was warned the first day by fellow tradesmen not to drive a foreign vehicle into the parking lot. A guy who was hired at the same time did not heed the warning and his toyota was overturned in the lot. Needless to say no other foreign vehicles were brought into the lot. This impressed upon me the solidarity of the workforce to stand by the products they produced. I guess that now that some toyotas are built in the US along with the other Foreign manufacturers times and opinions have changed. But I stll cannot see driving something different than a Ford after you have worked there a while. What does that say to your neighbors and the car buying public if you drive something else purchased after you started working for Ford? Sad state of affairs. There is no loyalty left. government is not loyal to its citizens, companies are not loyal to their workers and vice versa. It looks like it is every man for himself.

There are to many spy cams posted around the outside of the plant (A few inside as well) so there will be no car flipping these days. They seem to catch people doing things they shouldn't be doing in the parking lot, but they never catch the people that are breaking into cars or stealing wheels. Must be RCA Selectivision cameras. They did catch the guy who stole around a million dollars worth of new and used carbide and sold it to a scrap yard out of state. I guess them indoor cameras worked that time. The Fed's got him.

[Cops in Toyotas.......]

As a member of UAW Local 1111 in Indianapolis, I don't agree with the city's purchase of the Toyota Hybrids. We build the steering gear and pump for the Crown Vic at the Indy plant. I also don't agree with all the Toyota's, Hondas, Kia's, BMW's, Hyundai's and all the other foreign cars that litter our parking lot, that our UAW brother's and sister's drive to work while collecting their pay check from Ford Motor Company. It makes me sick! Now how can we tell the mayor that he can't buy Toyotas, but we can? BUY WHAT YOU BUILD PEOPLE!!! This includes all the members that are appointed to different union committees. How can you preach to us and drive non-Ford products to work every single day, and park them in the handicap spots at the union hall? What a hypocritical union we have. The Toyotas are Detective and public safety cars and will not be used in pursuits. Not that it makes a difference, they should be buying the Impala's.

[indy lkocal contract]

We have a COA, why do we need a local contract? Dosen't the COA handle all labor issue's?

 

We have a COA??? That's what they have been telling us forever. Has anyone ever seen the COA? The company does what ever the hell they want to do, then they tell us "It's in the COA" The Union does the same thing! There are still a lot of Ford employees here at Indy, but it is not like working for Ford anymore. Seniority means nothing! ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!! I can't remember who it was that stood up at one of the Union meetings a few years ago when we were voting on this COA, and said "This is my U.S.S. Indianapolis" They obviously didn't know their history. The U.S.S. Indianapolis was sunk by the Japs and most of the crew died. The survivors were left floating in the ocean with out life boats, food, and water, while being surrounded and eaten by sharks. Well I guess they got their wish. This is their U.S.S. Indianapolis now.

[2000-2002 RUST problems]

I have a question for anyone in the paint shop. I have a 2001 Super Duty that has a bad case of rust on the left(drivers side) rear fender. It started out last year as a little bubble in the paint. Now I can put my finger through it. Now I have bubbles showing up on the right side as well. I took it to a friends body shop and his jaw about hit the floor. He said I need a whole new bed. He said he could put new sides on the bed, but a new bed would be cheaper and he was right about that. He had just fixed another Super Duty with the same problem that week. I work at the Indy Plant and we have a lot of Super Duty's in the parking lot. I have spotted several more with the exact same rust. Left side being the worst on all of them. I have talked to a few people about their rust and asked what year their Super Duty is. Looks like it is 2000-2002's. Was there a problem with the e-coat those years? I also ran into a Doctor who was an Engineer in the paint shop at KTP during those years. He seemed like he didn't want to talk about it. Also the new bed has a plate that says "GAS" on it. My Super Duty is a Diesel. Is the only difference between the two beds the filler neck? My brother bought a new Superduty in 99 and it had the "gas" filler neck in it. It was his first diesel and he didn't realize the difference. He hard a hard time filling the tank up. LOL. He still loves the Super Duty's. He had a 99,02,05, and a bought an 08 King Ranch a few months ago. I would buy a new one if I knew what our future was here in Indy. Keep up the good work Brothers and Sisters! You make a great truck!

[RUMORS AT KTP]

I have a question for anyone in the paint shop. I have a 2001 Super Duty that has a bad case of rust on the left(drivers side) rear fender. It started out last year as a little bubble in the paint. Now I can put my finger through it. Now I have bubbles showing up on the right side as well. I took it to a friends body shop and his jaw about hit the floor. He said I need a whole new bed. He said he could put new sides on the bed, but a new bed would be cheaper and he was right about that. He had just fixed another Super Duty with the same problem that week. I work at the Indy Plant and we have a lot of Super Duty's in the parking lot. I have spotted several more with the exact same rust. Left side being the worst on all of them. I have talked to a few people about their rust and asked what year their Super Duty is. Looks like it is 2000-2002's. Was there a problem with the e-coat those years? I also ran into a Doctor who was an Engineer in the paint shop at KTP during those years. He seemed like he didn't want to talk about it. Also the new bed has a plate that says "GAS" on it. My Super Duty is a Diesel. Is the only difference between the two beds the filler neck? My brother bought a new Superduty in 99 and it had the "gas" filler neck in it. It was his first diesel and he didn't realize the difference. He hard a hard time filling the tank up. LOL. He still loves the Super Duty's. He had a 99,02,05, and a bought an 08 King Ranch a few months ago. I would buy a new one if I knew what our future was here in Indy. Keep up the good work Brothers and Sisters! You make a great truck!