Ford Super Duty's standard 5.4-liter V8 is rated 260 horsepower and 350 foot-pounds of torque. The 6.8-liter V10 is rated 310 hp and 425 lbs.-ft. of torque. Both Triton engines employ overhead cams for valve control. Sophisticated computer analysis has given the 5.4-liter V8 a stiffer engine block for 2003, reducing radiated noise by as much as 3.1 decibels.
A new 6.0-liter diesel engine is available for 2003 models that's cleaner, more efficient, and more powerful than the outgoing 7.3-liter diesel. Though smaller in displacement, the new 6.0-liter turbo-diesel V8 is rated 550 lbs.-ft. of torque at 2000 rpm. The outgoing 7.3-liter Power Stroke turbo-diesel, available on early 2003 models, offered 525 lbs.-ft. at just 1600 rpm. The 6.0-liter engine produces 325 hp at 3300 rpm, compared with the 7.3-liter's 275 hp at 2800.
A six-speed manual transmission is standard on all Ford Super Duty models. The new 6.0-liter diesel offers an all-new five-speed automatic as an option, which is a sweet combination. The gasoline engines and the 7.3-liter diesel can be ordered with a four-speed automatic transmission ($1095).