Re-power with crate?

Greenie

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I bought the truck new in 1993 - it's still in good condition but has 280,000 miles on it. The transmission, last rebuilt in 2004 is going into limp mode and last ATF change there was a fair amount of metal in the pan. The motor has never been apart and it's naturally aspired.
A new truck is crazy expensive - rather than spend $80,000 or more on a new truck could I spend $20,000 and re-power with a pre-emission Power Stroke and an automatic transmission for that motor?
How much would be involved - engine computer, exhaust, drive shaft work? I'd like to have a shop do the work.
Thanks in advance for any suggestions....

The truck - 1993 F250 7.3 IDI 4WD standard cab, 8 foot bed, dual fuel tanks, 4.11 gearing, factory exhaust.
 

Nero

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I'd just keep running an idi, powerstrokes are more expensive to maintain, injectors are $2000 for a set easily.
 

Jesus Freak

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I'd just keep running an idi, powerstrokes are more expensive to maintain, injectors are $2000 for a set easily.
My thing is that you can work on an IDI with basic tools and mechanical knowledge. The powerstroke is a computer controlled diesel, even the valve cover gaskets have wires in them.
 

FrozenMerc

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As others have alluded too, What is the benefit of the 7.3 Powerstroke over a 7.3 IDIT? Other than increased maintenance costs and complexity.

Take your 7.3 IDI and rebuild / refurbish it. Sounds like you have a perfectly functional core. Screw $20K. I would think a competent shop could put this together for $10K to $12K, installed and running.

The recipe would look something like this:

Block - Clean and machine as required. Add Head Studs (ARP's are back in stock now).
Rotating Assembly - Clean and machine as required. New pistons if required.
Heads - Clean and machine as required. May (or may not) need new valves, guides, and reground seats at that mileage.
Cam - Send it off for a regrind to any number of cam grinders. Couple of vendors are on this message board.
Intake - Order a Classic Diesel Designs (CDD) Stage 1 Turbo Kit or Banks if you are desperate.
Fuel - CDD 90 cc Pump and injectors. Add new lines if needed.
Exhaust - New manifolds and a Banks 3.5" kit.
Add a Boost pressure and EGT gauge and you should be good to go.

This way, everything is bolt in, no dicking around with a new wiring harness, ECU, and gauges, extra filters to ensure a happy HEUI system, or the 2 dozen other things that can nickle and dime an engine swap project like this to death.
 

Greenie

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Great suggestions! Many thanks
 

IDIBRONCO

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If you're happy with normally aspirated, you'll have a huge grin with a turbo! It's literally night and day!
Plus a rebuild and turbo would still probably cost less than a 7.3PSD crate engine. Not to mention, see my post from today in the "So what did you do with your truck today?" thread.
 

Jesus Freak

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If you're not hauling heavy loads, and you have a 3-speed C6 tranny (low top speed), is it still worth going turbo?
I scored my factory turbo IDI more than a year ago and I have a ZF5 in a 86 dually 4:10. If I'm on diesel and not WMO I can bark em in second with little effort, which is no small feat for a 8000lb dually. My tow truck is NA and I'm dreading going back, as soon as I can I have all the stuff to turbo just the little bit of moving it around the yard is crazy different than the turbo 7.3. But it's gotta pay me a bit before I give it a turbo. Night and day......no doubt about it.
 

Black dawg

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My vote is also keep an idi and add turbo.

Powerstroke and transmission bolts right in, but would need donor harness and computer modules. 7.3psd is ATLEAST as dependable as the 7.3 idi, but depending on the quality of work during the swap and condition of the harness and modules, might not end up that way in a swap.
 
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