• 2003 was an interesting year for the Ford Power Stoke engine. This was the year in which the 7.3-liter Power Stroke was being eliminated, due to more stringent emissions regulations, and replaced by the 6.0-liter Power Stroke. The 7.3-liter engine was placed in four vehicles in 2003: the F-250, the F-350, the E-350 and the Excursion. The more powerful and cleaner-running 6.0-liter Power Stroke replaced this engine midway through the model-year.
  
  

Horsepower

• Pickups, SUVs and vans equipped with Power Stroke engines are designed to haul heavy loads long distances. Because of this, maximum torque and horsepower output are both necessary. When placed in the Excursion, the F-250 and the F-350, the 7.3-liter produced 250 horsepower at 2,600 rpm. The 2003 7.3-liter was detuned to 215 hp at 2,600 rpm when installed in the E-350.
  
  

Torque

• Torque is the twisting power that an engine produces. This rating directly affects a vehicle's ability to accelerate from a complete stop while hauling a load. The 7.3-liter produced 525 foot-pounds of torque at 1,600 rpm when installed in the 2003 Excursion. It produced 505 foot-pounds of torque at 1,600 rpm in the F-250 and F-350. Torque for the Power Stroke for E-350 vans was decreased to 425 foot-pounds at 1,800 rpm.
  
  

Configuration

• The 7.3-liter Power Stroke was a V-8 engine. It had a total of 16 valves, which means there were two valves per cylinder. It was an overhead-valve (OHV) engine.
  
  

Internals

• The 2003 7.3-liter Power Stroke had a bore -- cylinder width -- of 4.11 inches and a stroke -- piston travel inside the cylinder -- of 4.18 inches. Its total displacement was 7,276cc. The compression rating varied from each application; the Excursion had 17.5 to 1 compression, the F-250 and F-350 had 17.1 to 1 compression and the E-350 had 17.3 to 1 compression.