Cruisers Forum
Main Forum => General Discussion => Topic started by: sierra1 on August 05, 2020, 08:46:23 am
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Earlier this year, before the pandemic, I spoke with PC about the new 7.3 "Godzilla" and when it would be introduced in the lineup. I know the factory was closed for a while but by now I'd expect new units going out the door have it. If you have a PC with the 7.3 please take a moment to share your feedback. Very interested in hearing and thanks in advance!
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I read somewhere, the engine is not the only change. The chassis increased it's load carrying capacity. Hopefully it's in the rear where needed most.
It is ideal to wait at least one model year on the release of a brand new engine. Ford will learn a lot on the assembly line and also from all the warranty work from so much customer use. It takes time to gather the enough examples of the problem, evaluate it and come up with a solution, then implement it on the assembly line. One infamous example with the V10 engine we all have in our PCs, is how long it took for Ford to add more threads for the spark plugs (from 4 threads to 8) so they don't self-eject. The V10 2-valve engine in the E-series was introduced in 1997 with the solution implemented in 2003 or 2004. The same thing applies to the rest of the chassis. Waiting 6 years is silly, but hold out as long as you can to get a better product.
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I tried to get an answer on which engine will be used by PC but no reply. One of the options is a highly reduced output which is cheaper but not what I’d want. The engine is already out there racking up miles. If I was in the market for a new rig I wouldn’t hesitate to go with this new engine. Yes the V 10 had a rough start but that’s one engine. There’s been engine after engine designed from ford and others with no problems. One thing that really appeals to me is how soon the high torque quicks in.
Again though they have a reduced power engine that’s cheaper and my fear is that’s what class c builders might opt for to save a couple grand.
Ron mentioned other changes and I understand they made some serious changes to the F53 chassis but I haven’t seen anywhere that they have on the E chassis
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I was at the factory 2 weeks ago and the new units had the 7.3 engine, not sure how many went out the door so far.
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When we bought our 2019 3100 at the factory in March we were told about the impending change in the 2020 and later units. We experienced the problems with the new V10 in the early 2000's and did not want to be guinea pigs again. So we opted for the well-seasoned V10.
Hank Whitney
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All good points guys....the new chassis/engine is being used throughout the RV world. When a change like this is made on something so important as the foundation of the RV I cannot understand why dealers (including PC) are not talking more about this. Things were stagnant for a long time with the old platform. It was getting long in the tooth. It was overdue for a change. I searched YouTube and found just 1 video by an RV dealer which focused on this topic. It would be nice to see the marketing team at PC do a piece on this.
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5 years from now, we will all be saying "Wow, it would be nice to have a new rig to get the latest technology." But year #1, #2, and #3 might have some gremlins to improve upon in subsequent years, hopefully none serious. In the case with the V10 when it first came out, even with it's gremlins, it was better than the previous power train which was fuel thirsty and an exhaust manifold leaker. But for the past 16 years, the V10 has been so bullet-proof that it is a hard act to follow. Hopefully Ford will have applied all their historical push-rod and fuel injection knowledge, and have come up with a winner from the get-go. If it has significant issues, it will be a very sad situation for the RV and box truck industries as well as the future of the E-series cut-away chassis. A lot is riding on this change in power plants, in every vehicle used in.
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Engineerit. Did they say which 7.3 ? There are several versions including one that’s really detuned but about 3 grand cheaper. My fear is some builders will use that lesser powered unit to save money. The econo tune has 300 hp and 425 torque vs 350 and about 468 I believe
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If I was buying new I would not want a left over with the V10. That’s now a dead horse. I would really like that new engine. Over400torque at 1500 rpm. I wouldn’t worry about gremlins. One, it’s already out there in the pickups with no issues I’ve found and second that’s what a warranty is for.
If I’m looking for a new for me rig in say 5 years I know I won’t be looking for one with the v10 even though it will be selling for less.
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If I’m looking for a new for me rig in say 5 years I know I won’t be looking for one with the V10 even though it will be selling for less.
History of the early years of the 7.3L will surely be influential. If it has a clean uneventful introduction, I would too.
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Ron , one has to consider that problems or not, no builder would say nope going back to the old engine. Ford is moving forward without the v10, it’s done and after a year or two used rigs with the v10 will take a hit in value. For people like you or me it doesn’t matter. You keep yours for many years and I drive mine till it’s not going to have a huge resale anyway.
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Ford is moving forward without the v10, it’s done and after a year or two used rigs with the v10 will take a hit in value. For people like you or me it doesn’t matter. You keep yours for many years and I drive mine till it’s not going to have a huge resale anyway.
I agree with you. With every new generation, the previous gen looses value. You and I really don't care much about "value". That is until there is a serious insurance claim to be made. But the engine inside won't matter for that. It's all about the age and miles with some consideration to "condition".
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Okay, it's been entertaining to sit around the virtual campfire and speculate how the new 7.3 Godzilla is in a new PC. I guess I should have been a little more careful about the title. It should have read "If you are an owner of a new PC with the 7.3 please please share your feedback with the forum so we can all stop guessing.
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Here is some input. Having parts problems. This is rampant in all areas due to Covid-19. Not a good time to buy new anything, in my opinion.
https://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/f3/7-3-liter-gas-engine-78354.html
Ron S
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Hmmmm makes me wonder what’s different. I read as many truck forums as I can find and this is the first. Almost makes me wonder if it’s a E series issue. Parts related is going to be an issue for anything that’s not readily in stock for a while
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Comments in that thread showed it happened on pickups to. Typically, an engine is an engine, built wherever and put in a vehicle as a whole. Yes, different models of the engine exist such as the 2 or 3 valve V10 engines, but things like plug wires wouldn't change depending on which series of vehicle it's going into.
Don
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Not just the engine itself, there is a lot that goes into the various engine systems. There are unique engineering considerations for the E-Series because of it's tight quarters to fit things in, a significant consideration given to "cooling". A really really big radiator would be really nice for any E-series coolant and trans oil, especially as the engine gets bigger and bigger. The 7.3L is "huge" so I imagine Ford is watching temps closely. They may de-tune the engine so it doesn't run hotter than the cooling system and compartment air flow can support. You don't want the dog house or plastic parts on the engine melting.
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Not just the engine itself, there is a lot that goes into the various engine systems. There are unique engineering considerations for the E-Series because of it's tight quarters to fit things in, a significant consideration given to "cooling". A really really big radiator would be really nice for any E-series coolant and trans oil, especially as the engine gets bigger and bigger. The 7.3L is "huge" so I imagine Ford is watching temps closely. They may de-tune the engine so it doesn't run hotter than the cooling system and compartment air flow can support. You don't want the dog house or plastic parts on the engine melting.
20 years ago you could buy a E350 with a 7.3 motor, with a turbo (!) so the displacement is no stranger to a van style engine compartment. Cooling should be a well worked out already. (OK, no spark plug wires... :lol )
I am impressed reading that thread linked above. If the case is spark plug wires.... REALLY? If there was any component that I would guess is well understood, it would be spark plug wires.
If they have this engine so tight to the design limit spark plug wires are failing... I wonder what else is designed so close. Same company that thought fewer spark plug threads were a good idea to save 'just that little bit' of casting cost. In an aluminum head.
TIA to the early adopters that serve as 'beta testers'. tymote May the 'sparkle of new tech' dazzle those who admire. :)(:
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I would stand clear of the Broncos for a while also.
Ron S
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I would seriously doubt there would be cooling issues, but even if there were, all the "detuning" is done by the ECM so the engine itself wouldn't change.
Spark plug wires and/or coils can easily fail if not built properly. Plug wires aren't copper and haven't been for decades. They are carbon threads (insulated of course) to provide resistance to reduce spark plug noise in radios, etc. Coils seem simple but if the wires aren't properly insulated, you'll get weak spark and mis-fires.
Sounds like a defective supplier issue. Who knows where Ford gets those parts from,especially with the covid lock downs and other stuff going on.
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Ron this engine is narrower than the V10. That’s one of the big advantages of this engine for the RV industry
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Fast lane truck just showed report on first oil change at 10,000 miles. These guys work this truck hard. Black stone came back with TBN showing life left in the oil and all good normal numbers .
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Ron this engine is narrower than the V10. That’s one of the big advantages of this engine for the RV industry
Ah! Good to hear.
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At a campground this am, a neighbor came by and was talking about our PC. He was on his way home from just picking up a coach house platinum. He had been talking to the “salesman” at PC, was told that the new motor”was going to add $15k to the new PC price”!
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Hummmm.... $15k? $1500.but $15k
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Something was or is misunderstood. A new crate engine is no where close to that. New trucks with this engine do not indicate any big increase as well. Heck even Diesel engines typically don’t cost that much more.
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Just quoting what the man said. Very knowledgeable about RV’ s. We debated that price a bit but he stuck to it. Sounded to me like someone in Elkhart either shot off at the hip, or was looking to see a great markup on a bare chassis.
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So I checked MSRP on fords web site. MSRP is $35,740 for the cut away E450 with the new engine. I don’t know what msrp was with the v10 but I’m pretty sure it wasn’t 20 grand.
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My window sticker was a little over $31k.
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There ya go, a few grand and there’s a certain amount of increase every year without a new engine design . A year from now there will be another increase.
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So I checked MSRP on fords web site. MSRP is $35,740 for the cut away E450 with the new engine. I don’t know what msrp was with the v10 but I’m pretty sure it wasn’t 20 grand.
That was before the Un ignition wire update.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8PVHqVeq9tI
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$31,210 was MSRP on the 2014 Ford E-450 for my 2015 2551 PC
So 7 model years later and a difference of $4,530 sounds like no price increase for the Godzilla, just normal yearly price increase of about $650 per year.
Don