As far as I’ve read about it, it was an early model materials issue with motors that had excessive idle. LS and Mopar had the same issue. The lifters were galling. Again, this was an early model issue that only showed itself on motors that had excessive idle time. Airport shuttle type vehicles.
www.designengineering.com
I know this was especially a problem on the E-series cutaway vans.My work group has a few F550's and another friend has a F350 Godzilla that have had spark plug issues (broken insulators) and burned spark plug wires that have created misfires when the truck is loaded heavy and pushed hard. I've used spark plug boot protectors on other engines in the past, sounds like they're a needed addition for a Godzilla.
Titanium Protect-A-Boot™ XL Ringless - 8" 6-Pack
Protect-A-Boots are made from a high temperature resistant basalt fiber material and treated with a proprietary coating, Protect-A-Boots provide spark plug boot and wire protection from extreme under hood heat and helps prevent burn-through, hardening and cracking of boots.
So you’re responsible for the rail dust. I see how it is.
The truck looks great. I'm curious how it will work out for you as a daily. I probably only have 3 years left with my 6.0 and I'll be looking at a tow pig to daily and consolidate vehicles down by at least 1.First mods! Nothing crazy, just a stubby antennae (stock one hit garage) and 15% tint all the way around and over the top of the windshield. The tint really changed how the truck looks and we don't feel so exposed, like we did with untinted windows. It'll help preserve the interior and keep us cool, too.
This thread has made me think about vehicle consolidation. I have the Raptor, which I love, but is not really good for towing much. I have the 02 Duramax I bought from @Bart that serves it's purpose of towing a trailer when I need it. Combine that with the Jeep, Van, wife's Audi and my KIA I use as a work car and I have a bunch of vehicles that sit around. Since we have been looking at boats, I almost entertaining the idea of selling the Raptor and Chevy for one of these.
I see one of these in my very near future. The wife isn’t exactly happy about seeing the Raptor go, but for what we will be doing in the future, the Raptor just isn’t the right truck. There isn’t anything out there on a lot that I have been able find, so I will probably order something before they cut off 2024 production.With 3,000 miles on the truck, it was time for the first tow! Hauled the TJ from Grand Jct to Ephriam and back, which is around 500 miles round trip. The drive across 70 has some pretty long climbs and descents, as many of you know. The truck tows as you'd expect, like a modern & powerful big block coupled with a impressive 10 speed transmission. I know this won't make sense if you haven't experienced it, but the torque and HP of the 7.3 make the truck feel very capable hauling the Jeep. The TJ & trailer is about 6,200#'s, a fair amount of weight.
When the 10 speed transmission downshifts on the hills and the 7.3 starts spinning higher RPM, it pulls hard and sounds incredible, for a stock truck! It has no issue accelerating up hill with the trailer hooked up either.
I reset the MPG when I left and watched it thru the trip... lowest I saw was 9 MPG on the long climbs and highest was 11, average for the trip after 500 miles was 10.5 MPG. Overall, I'm very happy with the truck and towing the trailer on the freeway. It feels very planted, rides great with the trailer in tow and has more than enough power at speed.
