Im looking into a 93 F350 with a 7.3 IDI N/A. Im getting the truck for a little bit of everything (Work, Winter Truck, Driver). Im wanting to do some mods to it and my question is will i be better off putting a turbo kit on the IDI or just getting a PSD out of a wreaked F-Series and swapping it out? I want some power ratings and cost factors if possible. Thanks.
93' IDI vs PSD
- Thread starter RyanSilas
- Start date
OLDBULL8
Good Morning Ya'll.
whitehorse
Full Access Member
Another southern member...where in bama are you located?
lindstromjd
Black Sheep
The be-all, end-all question to answer your question is this: Do you want simplicity, or power? Simplicity, go with the IDI. Power, go with the Powerstroke. It's that simple. You will never get the power and speed out of an IDI that you can get out of a Powerstroke. And once you start spending money upgrading, you won't stop. But the IDI only requires one single 12volt wire and a fuel supply to run. Powerstrokes can't even come close to that. It's all up to you. The thread that OldBull referenced is a very good starting point for you. If you still have questions after going through a few other threads on here, just come back and ask.
fordf350man
Full Access Member
I have a 7.3 idi with a c6 in my truck. It runs great and has never failed me. It is a N/A 7.3 idi. My buddy let me drive his 7.3 powerstroke. Long story short I now have a 7.3 powerstroke and almost everything needed to swap out my idi and put in the powerstroke with a 5 speed 
jaluhn83
Full Access Member
If I read that right the question is whether to turbo the existing idi motor or swap for a PSD? Or are you asking whether to get a idi or psd truck?
Swapping motors will likely be a fair bit of work - I think the motor is a pretty direct bolt in, but electrical and fuel systems will likely be somewhat complex to get working right, plus lots of room for random weird faults. Also probably more expensive than turboing the idi, and you get a new bag of problems to deal with. On the flip side, a PSD will make more power easier than an idi.
Swapping motors will likely be a fair bit of work - I think the motor is a pretty direct bolt in, but electrical and fuel systems will likely be somewhat complex to get working right, plus lots of room for random weird faults. Also probably more expensive than turboing the idi, and you get a new bag of problems to deal with. On the flip side, a PSD will make more power easier than an idi.
79jasper
Chickenhawk
Try to test drive at least two of both, then decide which you like better.
Unless that 93 is real cheap, you'd be money ahead to just buy a truck that already has the powerstroke in it, if you like the powerstroke more.
Pretty much any year 7.3 powerstroke is good, but I don't like the 99+ body style. So I would say 94.5-97.
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Unless that 93 is real cheap, you'd be money ahead to just buy a truck that already has the powerstroke in it, if you like the powerstroke more.
Pretty much any year 7.3 powerstroke is good, but I don't like the 99+ body style. So I would say 94.5-97.
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IDIoit
MachinistFabricator
powerstrokes are awesome. IDI's are awesome-er lol
ive bought both my 87 and 2001 with engine problems.
th biggest factor is how much cash you want to throw at it.
hows your patience? i am in the process of installing a 97 powerstroke in a
63 ranchero, its going to be a BIG project. i opted to run everything off of a 97 on this project
including the gauge cluster. if youre going to do this swap, be prepared for headaches and rearend pain.
heres the cash i spent on both my trucks.
this is to just get it to daily driver status minus tires.
keep in mind i aquired both vehicles for free,
my 87 IDI, came with a 6.9 that had low oil pressure and a 4 speed.
i spent
600 on a 7.3 IDIT,
750 on a clutch,
250 on a ZF5,
250 on front end components.
100 on 4" exhaust
400 on other stuff like radiator etc.
total 2350$
and that was for a complete engine swap! i found a 2000 PSD long block for my next project for 3900 with 48k miles, but i went another way.
my 2001 came to me with blown headgaskets
i paid:
600 for heads
300 for new injector cups
750 for turbo center section
1800 for injectors
600 on FORD only sensors
500 for IDM and GPM.
total 4250
as you can see, the price is almost double.
my biggest problem with the powerstroke is that in the beginning, the check engine light would come on and i wouldnt know what way to go.
many many scans with a nice snap on unit, and ive got all my problems licked. luckily my neighbor had the unit,
to buy it, it would run about 2500 bucks +
ive bought both my 87 and 2001 with engine problems.
th biggest factor is how much cash you want to throw at it.
hows your patience? i am in the process of installing a 97 powerstroke in a
63 ranchero, its going to be a BIG project. i opted to run everything off of a 97 on this project
including the gauge cluster. if youre going to do this swap, be prepared for headaches and rearend pain.
heres the cash i spent on both my trucks.
this is to just get it to daily driver status minus tires.
keep in mind i aquired both vehicles for free,
my 87 IDI, came with a 6.9 that had low oil pressure and a 4 speed.
i spent
600 on a 7.3 IDIT,
750 on a clutch,
250 on a ZF5,
250 on front end components.
100 on 4" exhaust
400 on other stuff like radiator etc.
total 2350$
and that was for a complete engine swap! i found a 2000 PSD long block for my next project for 3900 with 48k miles, but i went another way.
my 2001 came to me with blown headgaskets
i paid:
600 for heads
300 for new injector cups
750 for turbo center section
1800 for injectors
600 on FORD only sensors
500 for IDM and GPM.
total 4250
as you can see, the price is almost double.
my biggest problem with the powerstroke is that in the beginning, the check engine light would come on and i wouldnt know what way to go.
many many scans with a nice snap on unit, and ive got all my problems licked. luckily my neighbor had the unit,
to buy it, it would run about 2500 bucks +
Last edited:
IDI = You can change an injector by the side of the road. PSD = You can change your credit limit by the side of the road.
I have both. Love both. As was stated, you can't beat the power of direct injection. But, I have 5 IDI's and one Powerstroke.
I have both. Love both. As was stated, you can't beat the power of direct injection. But, I have 5 IDI's and one Powerstroke.
mu2bdriver
Full Access Member
Quote of the year!
Before buying my IDI, I drove both and spoke extensively to owners of both kinds in-person. I can't justify spending 2x, 3x, 4x, or more to replace parts, troubleshoot, or otherwise tie up money or be one bad expense from putting it on blocks for lack of funds. That's not to mention the buy-in of 4-5x that amount for a similarly-equipped Lariat. I don't pull a lot and don't expect to; I don't need gobs of excess power or to be the first off the line. I needed a replacement for a firewood hauler/secondary vehicle/winter truck and this was the most logical choice for me. When my neighbor tells me he dropped $1k on this, $3k on that, etc. I don't want to throw that kind of money on what amounts to a recreational vehicle for me.
lindstromjd
Black Sheep
I'll bet you $1000 that I can change a Powerstroke injector on the side of the road, too, and do it in less than 2 hours. It's no more or less involved than the IDI if you have a standard set of tools and know what you're doing.
Granted, I understand what you're saying in that the IDI is simple and easy to work on. But so is the Powerstroke. You just have to have the knowledge of each style engine to make them easy. Neither one is easy for a mechanical idiot. Both are easy to an aptly-inclined wrench-monkey mechanic.
The computer program to deal with a Powerstroke will run you about $300. It's called AutoEnginuity, and you have to buy the Ford expanded package. Otherwise, a SnapOn MT2500 will work if you don't have a laptop. I have AE and like it just fine.
Double-S-Diesel
parts seller
I can fix my psd don the road, now dads new cummins thats a different story
middaymidnight
Registered User
12v swap best of both worlds
lindstromjd
Black Sheep
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