I'm new to the forum but there seems to be a lot of knowledge around the 6.0. I've read all the forum material but it just doesn't answer my question. I have an Excursion with obviously a 6.0 with about 55,000. I've already had to take it in to have the gaskets replaced(bed plate,front and rear cover gaskets,etc.)and the y pipe. I've always had Cummins but the need for more seating left me with only one option with a diesel. I know that the conversions are getting popular so when I'm ready they will probably have it down. I thought about just pulling out the 6.0 and taking off the heads, having everything surfaced,changing injectors, having the heads ported with fire rings, add head studs,a new turbo, deleting the egr cooler, adding high pressure oil pumps, FASS fuel systems etc, to prevent the headache of a conversion. The more I read the less confident I become at having all that done and still have blown head gaskets, etc. Do you think doing all that will pay off and leave me with a dependable 6.0 or is the conversion worth the headache? Ofcourse I would probably have to do a lot of upgrades to a new Cummins and I know it would cost a bunch. Nothing seems clear cut.  

im traveling down the same road you are omar between trying to make a dependable 6.0 or just swap for a 24v or a common rail. i do know the head studs are pretty much mandatory for upgrades of any kind. the fire ring head gaskets would just be more icing on the cake. the only problem with firering head gaskets is you need to get the head milled. (this may not be a bad thing its just more money). i did find the other day on elitediesel.com they make a new up pipe for 03-07 6.0s it was a lot better than some of the other egr deletes ive been looking at because its simply a new uppipe without the branch off for the egr cooler to hook up. this way you dont yank all the egr crap off its just eliminated so if yuo ever have to get an emission check yuo just have to switch back to factory uppipe then take it back off after test. as for the FASS i know a lot of the cummins guys run it but never heard much of the ford guys runin one. if you got some good info on it id like to hear what ya got. as for the injectors im kinda mixed on that one i know guys that have chipped and modded the hell out of 6.0s ran the crap out of them and never had any injector trouble at all, however i have heard a lot of bad things about the injectors so im not to sure i just figure if mine ever go out ill replace them. i read on elitediesel website about the fs-2500 and it sounded like that is almost a necessity for the injectors,mainly because if yuo bought the fs-2500 with a set of injectors they add an extra 6months of waranty to the injectors. i have already got rid of the cat on my truck i really am looking forward to deleting the EGR as well just to see how much of a difference it will make with all the emissions crap off of it. if i come up with any more stuff ill post it.  

<strong>Do you think doing all that will pay off and leave me with a dependable 6.0 or is the conversion worth the headache? </strong>

The money you would spend "to prevent the headache of a conversion." would be more than just dropping the truck off at a shop and picking it up with a Cummins. If your going to pull the 6.0, sell it, put the money toward the conversion and be the envy of the neighbourhood! I saw an ad( I think it was from Painless) in last months DP for a complete wiring kit to put a Cummins in anything.  

lol that would work 2.  

the only problem is finding a shop to get it done ive been researching all the websites destroked and fordcummins.com but am still looking to find a place to get it done not to mention find a good common rail every palce ive found one has atleast a 2000$ core for the engine and i dont have a core so thats 2grand out the window right there.  

HI OMAR23, YOU DIDN'T SAY WHAT YEAR 6.0 YOU HAVE, BUT MY COUSIN HAS A 2006, AND HE'S HAD NO PROBLEMS!! IF YOU HAVE AN EARLY 6.0 AND DON'T TRUST IT, IT WOULD BE CHEAPER JUST TO SELL YOUR SUV, AND BUY A NEWER ONE!!!  

but if its almost or paid for like bcram said if you were to get a cummins into that thing youd be the envy of the neighborhood. i guess it just all boils down to how much you like your excursion as which way to go with it  

The Excursion is an 05 and I'll probably end up keeping for a long time because of the seating and I don't like all of the smog crap on the new trucks and would like to do some upgrades without worrying about that. I do like the Cummins a lot and that was my initial thought, but talking to a couple friends, the wiring and tranny adapters are a pain but I'm hoping they will have it all dialed in soon. I'm used to the cummins torque, simplicity  and dependability and building a nice Cummins with all the HP/TQ stuff and dropping in it would be ideal especially with the weight of the truck and a 9000lb trailer. It's not what I'm used to but like I said, I need the seating.As far as emmisions, that year truck shouldn't need it right? The new restrictions really deal with 07 and above, so putting in a cummins wouldn't matter on 06 and before, correct? By the way, thanks for all your quick and helpful feedback.  

6.0 excursions are badass. there is a green/tan one running around here, and it sounds mean. but anyway you should keep the 6.0, once you get past a few roadblocks they are just as dependable as any other engine. i have an 04 and there was a wiring harness issue, but after that, i regularly pull a 1964 allis chalmers d17 loader that weighs about 9000lbs to shows and it never skips a beat  

It's funny, but the answer (at least in my opinion) is pretty simple.  A fully built 6.0 can get you at least 450-550hp at the wheels with no nitrous and still be pretty dependable.  There's a guy here in so-cal making 450rwhp on the stock gaskets still with an excursion.  If you want over that number you'll have to either go Cummins or stick a lot of nitrous on it.  My understanding is that 6.0s can be reliable if the people that work on em know what they're doing, so find a good shop!  

I'm in Socal too. Is there someone here that your friend uses to work on the 6.0? That would probably be a start.  

there is a guy in edmonton ab with a 6.0 that competed in the diesel truck challenge nadp did his work.  

ya its a bad ass 6.0  

Be careful about the 6.0L.  My 03 was trouble-free with the exception of a turbo.  Four months after warranty experation, I was told $14,000 to fix it. I'm planning my Cummins install as we speak.  

Go Cummins ! im puttin a 12ver in an 03 dodge that was a gasser. cant beat that motor. i love a p-pumped anything weather its a 12ver or 24v cant beat that fuel system for simplisity or reliability and 0 computer related stuff. sorry popped a chubby thinkin bout it.