Yes, original head gaskets. 10 psi occasionally seeing 12. Truck will be up for sale soon with 7 to 9 PSI dialed in to account for a new owner who might not be as mindful or conservative as I.
7.3 IDI is a turbo worth it?
- Thread starter faaiish
- Start date
FWIW the new truck, a factory turbo 94 is now studded and running a Max of 15 psi. Soon to get a intercooler. I really believe that staying conservative with the EGT is one of the keys two head gasket longevity.
79jasper
Chickenhawk
Again, to each their own.
Neither engine went over 12psi, nor 1k. Banks sidewinder. Second engine was from my 88, which I had drove for about a year na.
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Hence, YMMV. I guess it's kind of a crapshoot one way or the other unless you know the complete history of the truck. And then of course you could always get a lemon...
I’ve got dozens of customer trucks I have tuned with stock pumps or my own pumps that are running 12 psi on stock hg. Haven’t had a single issue, even with the guys requesting a “Hail Mary” setup running 15 psi. Never had a hg blow from that much boost. Now you overheat it and warp a head....
Black dawg
Registered User
I have yet to see a 7.3 idi with a blown headgasket. Some have been tortured. High sustained boost (20ish psi) and scary egts. 6.9s though, I have done lots of gaskets turbo or not. I personally would not feel comfortable with a 6.9 in my truck (the way I have used it) regardless of studs or gaskets used.
Heat is the killer.
When I figured out I could buy running cummins trucks for less than an IDI turbo kit....
You think?When I figured out I could buy running cummins trucks for less than an IDI turbo kit....
Man not down here, we call it the 5.9 tax. People want 2k for a locked up ve block.
genscripter
Full Access Member
Just to throw my experience into the hive....
I put a hypermax kit on my IDI van (max design boost is 11psi, but i usually only got up to 7-9) I didn't run studs. Drove it for about 25K (heavy loading, 1-2 tons in the back, long road trips, etc), when I noticed oil in the coolant. Did the oil cooler, Waterpump, t-stat, HG's, and replaced the heads, and put in studs. Nothing fixed the oil problem. I ended up pulling the engine, and swapping it with my 6.9 with no studs. Drove that for over 20K while I rebuilt a different 7.3 block. While running the 6.9 and rebuilt 7.3, the oil in coolant disappeared.
The only thing I can think of is my block got a pin hole leak in the oil galleys or something. I don't think my engine failure was because of the turbo install.
I put over 15K on the new rebuild, and I put a WW2 in . Now I can get passed the design boost pressure of the Hypermax kit, but EGT's are still approach 1100 deg F under extreme load and steep grades. The new rebuild 7.3 has studs torqued to 140 ft-lbs. So far, no HG failures or signs of issues.
I put a hypermax kit on my IDI van (max design boost is 11psi, but i usually only got up to 7-9) I didn't run studs. Drove it for about 25K (heavy loading, 1-2 tons in the back, long road trips, etc), when I noticed oil in the coolant. Did the oil cooler, Waterpump, t-stat, HG's, and replaced the heads, and put in studs. Nothing fixed the oil problem. I ended up pulling the engine, and swapping it with my 6.9 with no studs. Drove that for over 20K while I rebuilt a different 7.3 block. While running the 6.9 and rebuilt 7.3, the oil in coolant disappeared.
The only thing I can think of is my block got a pin hole leak in the oil galleys or something. I don't think my engine failure was because of the turbo install.
I put over 15K on the new rebuild, and I put a WW2 in . Now I can get passed the design boost pressure of the Hypermax kit, but EGT's are still approach 1100 deg F under extreme load and steep grades. The new rebuild 7.3 has studs torqued to 140 ft-lbs. So far, no HG failures or signs of issues.
Black dawg
Registered User
It is the same way here, sold a 388k p pump motor for 2700 a couple months ago. Idi turbo kits go anywhere from 500-1000.
Oledirtypearl86
Full Access Member
So I run an 86 with a 6.9 with a hypermax turbo I put on it before I ever sold my 6.0 powerstroke I drove it a bit while it was n/a and it was a decent truck but now that it is my pull rig I am so glad I have the turbo especially when I'm crossing the continental divide with my 9k camper but I will tell you this you won't win any races but the truck will pull it with little complaining and be very reliable while doing it my wife laughs that I keep a 100 dollar bill and a tool set as a repair kit because that's all you need when I had my 6.0 it was a credit line at the local carquest and hoping I wasn't over my limit
IDIBRONCO
IDIBRONCO
Don't forget "lift a head". That happens too. I think it's much more common with bolts than with studs.
