Advice on V10 vs 7.3

[Forever_frost]

My 92 E350 Ambulance has the non turbo 7.3L which is great and all but doesn't feel like it has the power I'm used to and takes a bit to warm up enough to crank. I've never liked waiting for glow plugs. My question is, would it make sense to change that 7.3 for a 6.8L V10, change out the engine, transmission and fuel tank, etc?

She's a tank and takes a while to get up to 55mph which is driving me a bit batty and I'm familiar with the 6.8 and have had it in 2 trucks before and know they have quite a bit of power. Would it make sense to do the conversion? What would have to be changed out that I'm not considering?

[BradM]

My advice is not to drive an old ambulance.

[stephen4785]

I have a v10 in my 2001 F350. Its got 300k miles on it and runs like a champ. As far as power goes, I had a 99 7.3 and my v10 blew it away. I pulled a 11,000lbs skid steer 300 miles and I was cruising at 80. Now the fuel mileage blows. I get around 8-10 with the v10 and about 11 with my F450 crane truck. Youll gain a little mpg with the 7.3 but I dont think the additional cost of the parts/maintenance is worth it. When I was looking for truck a buddy of mine told me this "you can buy 8 injectors for a 7.3 from Ford for $3500, and you can buy a long block V10 from Ford for $3700". Anyway, if it were me and I needed to get a new engine Id swap in a V10. Or a 12v cummins

[YALE]

12V Cummims if you're dead set on swapping it.

[Gasser64]

My advice is not to drive an old ambulance.

Drive a new one instead

[Forever_frost]

I'm just looking at this tank and debating what would be the best engine for it. I know it's going to be spending a lot of time sitting and when I get in it, I'm going to need it to get moving quickly.

For instance, Friday night, we got a search and rescue alert for a 4 year old in Arkansas. He'd been missing since 2 and we didn't get the alert until 830. I got half way to Sulphur Springs before we got stand down orders that he was found alive and well with his dog but when things like that happen, I'm going to need this sucker to move.

[NoClassic]

Sell it and buy one that already has the newer 7.3 or 6.0

Are you actually using any of the features the ambulance box offers? Have you considered the diesel vans?

[Torinoman]

You can probably get a turbo kit for it from Banks

[CyaNide]

Sell it and buy one that already has the newer 7.3 or 6.0

Are you actually using any of the features the ambulance box offers? Have you considered the diesel vans?

Don't get the 6.0. It is a pos.

CN

[BigBlue]

To help wake up the old 7.3 idi Cut the fish bowl off the air filter cover. Then cut the muffler off. Do these two mods and you bill be surprised how it runs.

[War Machine]

Don't get the 6.0. It is a pos.

CN

Wrong

[S_K]

With an ambulance- you have a metric shit ton of weight. I'm not sure an engine swap will gain you that much. I once was part of a VFD that had an old ambulance for a rescue support truck. It was a dog. We swapped it out for a panel van.

[Forever_frost]

The title is showing she weighs 9500 pounds empty. She's a tank

[Gasser64]

swapping to the newer 7.3, and then doing some mods to that 7.3, should get it moving plenty well.

[CyaNide]

Wrong

Yes you are.

CN