i dont mind a muffler, just dont want a chambered one. straight pipes are nice, especially on a CCLB but i like to keep the noise down a little. ive had great luck with those basic walker truck mufflers.
Looking at buying a 92 7.3 IDI how well will it tow?
- Thread starter Keith Krawczyk
- Start date
DrCharles
Full Access Member
I agree. A PO of my IDI thought it would be manly (or cheap) to install 3" straight pipe from the (stock) Y back to the original outlet location. I found it annoyingly loud. My local muffler shop cut out a section and installed one of those "garbage truck" round truck mufflers and it's perfect now. Could have done it myself a bit cheaper, but for $132 out the door I didn't even have to get dirty 
3 chamber steel case louvered core. after 15 years. still solid.
(no turbo and DOT bait already)
(no turbo and DOT bait already)
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Stuart Perkins
Registered User
I wish mine was a manual. The A4OD is a pita to make work right. Haven't been able to crawl under it to inspect the sensor on the back axle yet, and this morning we have a couple of inches of snow on the ground to make it more fun. I'll be having to make a road trip next Saturday to do a livestock deal, and it won't lock the torque converter up. This limits my highway speed significantly, so it is going to be an all day trip there and back. Last fall I managed to get the FIPL sensor replaced which greatly improved the shifting except for the torque converter lock up.
You will find a normally aspirated 7.3 IDI is a bit of wimp as far as Diesels go. It will be a significant upgrade from the 6 though. Treated properly, it will outlast you. What they lack in power they make up for in longevity.
You will find a normally aspirated 7.3 IDI is a bit of wimp as far as Diesels go. It will be a significant upgrade from the 6 though. Treated properly, it will outlast you. What they lack in power they make up for in longevity.
Jack Kelley
Registered User
I have a '92 7.3 that I have had from the beginning. Once I upgraded from the stock tires to 38's, Towing was not a great option. I needed to pull around a 3 horse slant, and it's wouldn't make it up the big hills. I put a Banks Turbo on it in '98, and it solved my problem. I've driven it almost every day now for 26 years, and other than routine maintenance, a radiator, and replacement of the return "O" rings, would take it over a new truck any day. They seem to be going up in value around here, I have seen Decent "Work Trucks" going for $7,500.00 for an IDI diesel crew cab, and up words of $15,000.00 for a clean truck. It seems Retro is in, and these truck were work trucks and many were beat up so not many decent trucks around.
madpogue
Full Access Member
+1; I'd say at least half of the service bodies I see around here are on long-bed pickup frames; you can tell by the wheelbase.
Um, since SD trucks are irrelevant to this section of the forum, are they relevant to this thread? :shrug:https://www.commercialtrucktrader.c...000881&make=ford|2310392&model=f250|764865616
Ahhhhhh..... the power of Google.........
I didn't even have to get up!
(BTW, did anyone notice how they managed to put a Chevy cab on one of those "2017 Ford F250s"?.....)
chicken bones
Docker
My 7.3 Turbo IDI, 4.10 rear end hauls a 9.5 ' Camper and 19' Boat , no where near as fast on the hills as the newer Trucks,but always get where I am going and home again.If your looking for a reliable truck you can fix yourself cheap .
The potentially expensive part is installation. I can do a lot (entire front ends) but somehow the thought of a turbo install scares me. I guess because I have a 6.9, so that means the engine gets torn half apart for head studs. Unless the last year 6.9 (87) got them.
pelky350
Full Access Member
Turbo instal is easier than you might think, my first time I didn't it with a couple friends and truck was driving within 3 hours on instal. One thing to always remember is check to make sure you hve all parts to instal the system, I cleaned and oreganized mine before installing. Once you see a whole kit in front of you it's not really that intimidating anymore. The instruction books are long and if you look at just a list of parts it seems confusing at first
Based on reading I’ve done, a 6.9 with head bolts can generally hold up to 10-12psi safely. Being the last year it’s possible it has 7.3 benefits like maybe better head gaskets? I think that’s a thing.
I wouldn’t expect new modern diesel performance. Just a little more for hills would be nice. I baby this thing really.
Which kit is easiest? Or are they all about the same?
What holds the 6.9 back is not the head gasket it’s the clamping force of the head bolts/studs
Right, though I doubt a better head gasket hurts.
I actually run the 6.9 head gaskets on my 7.3 builds. Check out the “7.3 idi cooling mod” thread
IDIBRONCO
IDIBRONCO
If you baby the truck, then I wouldn't worry at all about a turbo on a 6.9 with head bolts. The number one thing in making boost is your right foot. If you don't push it very far down, you won't make a lot of boost.
Macrobb
Full Access Member
Plus, it's not really the boost that lifts heads, it's combustion pressures from actually using that boost(aka burning more fuel). A "lean" 15 psi is going to be less strain than 7 psi at the smoke point... and that 7 psi will make more power, too.
