Can you buy a spare or replacement 7.3 Diesel, or does the computer have to ID the motor and match up somehow... Have to change out computer as well? With fair care but hard work, how far can one expect to go with the PowerStroke? Anyone know?

 

Per above, mine is a 2003 F-250 Crew Cab, 4x4, 7.3 litre Powerstroke...

 

the computer isn't that kind of computer. it's programmed with fuel maps and things of the such. it's function is to control all of the components of the motor that create the intake. your truck is drive-by-wire, the computer uses signal from all it's sensors to adjust fuel trim and advance and retard timing to adjust for what you're asking of it, in combination with current environment. if you swap out just the block and heads and reinstall your complete, soup to nuts, intake it will run on the original computer like you never even did anything. it doesn't check for any sort of serial numbers on your motor.

-JM

 

How many miles on your current mill that would concern you about a replacement?

The 7.3 is a very solid engine, has proved itself as a major 'contender' amongst it's peers, but also had it's teething pains early on until it was refined in the later years.. But all'n all a great engine.. Being that they are a more higher revving diesel engine, 'my opinion' is that although some engines will see very high mileage service/s, that most will give 'well into' the higher 200K range at least.. Our fleet trucks are within this mileage and running strong.. Some will go beyond that, as many owners can attest too depending on care given, and type of use.. Some won’t.. The most deciding factors are services (or lack of), quality of fuel, quality of repairs done during it service life, as well as clean free flowing air through the intake (don’t trust the filter minders) , and of course how it's service/mileage life will be run.. Severe duty, moderate, light, heavy towing, hauling and such or a combination of, will 'greatly' determine how long, and how well the engine will survive..
Should at some point a replacement be needed, a reman. long block in most cases would be a more cost affective option, quicker turn around time (also not sitting in garage corner), and along with any other high mileage worn components like possibly a turbo, injectors, HPOP, or the obvious other wear parts/drives like alternator, starter, ect during the build to avoid any possible 'come back' work.. A used lower mileage mill is always an option, but swapping a 7.3 is a large task.. Not one you want keep repeating if your foot'n the bill..

The computer isn't 'really' matched or married to the engine, but is MY sensitive, as well as if an auto/manual trans, weight class (250-350 up, F or E Series) to match your trucks build, emissions ect... A replacement is usually by the OEM part number on the case tag for a correct match, and may be calibrated different for emissions for specific state requirements.. So the tag number is important.. Some PCM’s, may also be recalibrated or 'flashed' for programming enhancements/ performance improvements for specific years, and/or running changes for better drivability after its build date..
So the big question would be... How hard of work, and not only who's doing the care, but the quality of it.....as well as parts being used.....

 

as long as you just replace the motoryou should be fine, but if you replace any modules it may not start. the PCM looks at all of the modules every time you start it up, and each one has the trucks vin encoded into it. if all of the modules don't match vins it doesn't start, you would have to have someone program the vin in if you replaced one.