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  1. DrCharles

    What is this ignition switch part, and where should it go?

    While pulling my steering wheel to get to the turn signal/flasher switch, I came across this dangling part. (the single black wire, just to the left of the dangling keys). I think it's supposed to attach to the ignition switch (perhaps to trigger a buzzer)? Anyway, everything works since I put...
  2. DrCharles

    Glow plugs heat at hot start

    I got the truck with several bad glow plugs 4 years ago and replaced them all with Motorcraft. The 7.3 IDI starts quickly, summer or winter, and as expected the glow time (and "Wait to Start" light) gets longer with colder temps. So far so good. But the controller has always called for a...
  3. DrCharles

    Grease gun recommendations?

    My 4WD truck has a lot of grease fittings. I have two older crappy grease guns that leak everywhere, don't prime, etc. and I've had enough. Buying another cheapo is a gamble as the reviews for every model are split, and there's a good chance it won't even work once! So, what model do you...
  4. DrCharles

    Shift boot for my '93 IDI with ZF5?

    There was a small hole in my ZF5's shift boot. Recently a rodent decided to enlarge it. Now it's about 2" across and surprisingly loud noises (gears and engine) come into the cab through that opening at highway speed. The obvious solution is to replace it :) I thought this one would fit, but...
  5. DrCharles

    Lower oil pressure with new turbo?

    A couple years ago I put a factory turbo setup on my 7.3NA and promptly was reminded that the turbo needed a rebuild. So I bought a Chinese $200 cartridge. Worked great for a year, and the oil pressure (dash gauge with resistor jumpered and a variable sender mounted on the turbo oil feed...
  6. DrCharles

    Turbo experts... where's the boost?

    As you may have seen in the "Great deal on a new turbo" thread, I elected to just buy the $209 center section (CHRA) instead of the $595 complete turbo. It's in and working, but as those old Wendy's commercials used to say, "Where's the beef boost"? ;) I have an IP and injectors of unknown age...
  7. DrCharles

    That #$%^ serpentine belt chirp again!

    I thought I'd fixed it for good about 3-4K miles ago... my '93 has the "good" (shock) tensioner installed, but both the idler and the tensioner pulleys needed new bearings so I replaced them. Also a new 111.5" belt which was difficult to put on without partially unbolting the alternator, but...
  8. DrCharles

    Power steering noise?

    My power steering is starting to make a whirring or buzzing noise when the steering wheel is turned. The fluid level is correct - that's the first thing I thought to check! The assist seems to work correctly. Is there a filter screen somewhere that needs inspection and cleaning? Or another...
  9. DrCharles

    Front "rumble" with hubs locked

    We've had some snow, ice, and rain recently, and it's about 2.5 miles on dirt & gravel (now mud) roads to get to pavement, so I locked the front hubs on my '93 IDI but stayed in 2H. I got to the highway without using 4WD and didn't bother to get out and unlock them. Transfer case stayed in 2H...
  10. DrCharles

    Low oil pressure

    When I added the factory turbo setup to my 7.3, I also converted the on-off oil pressure sender to a Duralast PS-4 (on the turbo), and jumpered out the resistor on the cluster. So I actually have a dash gauge that moves. However, now that it's really hot, the oil pressure at idle (below 700...
  11. DrCharles

    Ignition switch loose inside?

    Hi everyone... been away from home for a while. Came back to discover my ex's son, who is also my handyman, had borrowed my truck (which is fine with me) but has ham-handedly worsened an existing problem with the ignition switch rotating in its mount. I think. Read on... He says that the...
  12. DrCharles

    Disposing of old antifreeze?

    I just exchanged my one-year-old green coolant (with VC-8 additive) for Zerex G-05, by repeatedly draining and refilling with distilled water (4 gal each time is all that would come out). In doing so I accumulated 4 gals. of 50/50 which I'll use in my '65 F-350 with a coolant leak from a head...
  13. DrCharles

    Current radiator recommendations?

    I haven't found many recent threads, so I'm just wondering what the current recommendations are for IDI radiators. I don't have a visible leak on the copper/brass one that's in the truck now, but I can smell something and it's only a matter of time... In increasing order of price, the options...
  14. DrCharles

    Water pump seal & plain water coolant?

    I was just wondering, is it harmful to the water pump seal to run (only) water in the cooling system? I need to flush my old antifreeze, so during the drains and refills with distilled water, is it OK to drive the truck for half an hour or so, to get it hot? Or should i restrict running time to...
  15. DrCharles

    Zerex G-05 rebate

    Autozone has another couple weeks on a rebate program. Zerex G-05 (full strength) is normally $20 a gallon but they are offering a rebate of $7. It can be submitted online if you can scan your receipt. I bought four gallons today for my future coolant flush/change (once I find and fix the...
  16. DrCharles

    7.3 Banks turbo drivetrain in SW Missouri

    Possibly of interest? Not sure if it's still available (25 days old). No connection, etc. A complete 150k mile 7.3 IDI, Banks turbo, ZF5 (needs a clutch) for $2k in Branson, Mo. https://springfield.craigslist.org/pts/d/branson-73-idi-diesel-engine-banks/6790303752.html
  17. DrCharles

    Coolant leak from thermostat housing

    At least I HOPE that's where it's coming from, since I got it hot when the serp belt jumped off the pulleys (although the temp gauge wasn't pegged, just high end of the normal band, and the overheat light didn't come on). It's too high up to be "just" the head gasket, and it's not trickling down...
  18. DrCharles

    Where's the boost?

    I finally got a chance to drive my newly-turboed 7.3 IDI on the highway. I had been seeing 5-6 psi boost on the bumpy dirt roads, and figured once I did some fast runs it would make more. Pump turned up two flats, but it's of unknown age, as are the injectors (odometer has 189k but I think it's...
  19. DrCharles

    Firewall insulation questions

    In the engine compartment there is a black insulating pad attached to the firewall. What's it made of and can it withstand heat? Now that I added the turbo, both the up- and downpipes are quite close to it. Also it's loose in a couple of places (also causing it to be closer to hot parts) and...
  20. DrCharles

    How much boost on turbo conversion?

    I'm about finished putting a factory turbo setup on my '93 7.3 NA. I've done plenty of reading on how much boost is safe and what engine mods are required to support it, so that's not what I am asking :rolleyes: My question is, how much boost should I expect to see on the gauge before turning...
  21. DrCharles

    Need help connecting Banks pipe to 3" exhaust

    Got it all in yesterday - as I'd posted, quite a struggle since the complete turbo assembly was NOT going in there with the up-pipe bolted to the turbo. Maybe my body mounts are old... Anyhow my Banks 52103 is in place :) When I got the truck it had a straight 3" pipe welded to the Y, in...
  22. DrCharles

    Blank panel in dash

    This looks like the perfect spot (far right of the pic, to the right of the warning light panel) for a 2-1/16" gauge (pyro or boost). Does anyone know how to remove it without breaking anything? Or, if it doesn't come off, can I carefully use a hole saw in that area? Is there a couple inches...
  23. DrCharles

    Cheap pyrometer

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/Pyrometer-0-1500F-EGT-gauge-2-52mm-w-6-5-ft-2M-K-thermocouple-probe-chrome/263060308053 I'm tempted to gamble on this... $68 shipped vs. $190-up for a name brand pyro + probe. They've sold 138 of them so far. The Chinese stuff is always a crapshoot, of course, but I've...
  24. DrCharles

    Best order to install factory turbo parts?

    Now that I have all the parts, I'm wondering what the easiest installation sequence is for a factory turbo setup on my '93. I know what part goes where, but not the simplest way to put it all together. I've read that the slip joint can be difficult, likewise the band clamp on the downpipe once...
  25. DrCharles

    Wanted: Factory turbo airbox for IDI

    I have accumulated all the parts to install a factory turbo setup on my '93 7.3 IDI, except for the airbox and intake ducting. The kit I bought was supposed to be complete but wasn't... would prefer to use the factory airbox/ducts instead of cobbling one up from pipes and elbows. My shipping...

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