Well, this thread took a turn. I would hope anyone in the position to purchase a 4x4 van is capable of extrapolating basic math for initial buy in vs mpg costs, especially as that varies hugely by region, but that wasn't really my question. My question was more geared towards 'is the 7.3 still a relevant choice'. I.e. with some TLC (being a 20+ yr old motor), is it still a contender with modern options if you're about to sink good money on a van. Most PSD 7.3 vans and 05+ v10 vans with the 5r110, in roughly equivalent miles and condition, aren't priced too far apart from each other (with the occasional nut job that thinks their 7.3 is worth $60k) - and those were really the only drivetrains I was considering from Ford. As a comparison, coming from the Land Cruiser world, there are people that say to get the 2F, 3FE, etc. but while they are reliable and long lived...they're vastly underpowered by modern standards with no real means to improve, and I say that as someone with a 90 hp vanagon (but tdi). So my point wasn't to argue mpg and buy in price, it was more to ask 'can this engine run with modern vehicles on the highway, and acknowledging the need for the occasional repair given its age, have some amount of aftermarket support for repairs and modifications, and be expected to run for another ~10+ years with reasonable odds it won't die in the middle of a trail/forest/desert/etc'. To that end, the answer appears to me to be 'yes', as long as you accept the need to address the transmission, and turn wrenches on it when need be.
