Snowgap
Registered User
Hello, looking to see if y'all can help me get my 7.3 IDI running. It's been a budget build but has put me in a corner.
I bought a 1994.5 F350 with a Powerstroke for $1500 in December and got it running, but it was only running on 5 cylinders. I did the injector solenoid shims, but then an injector stuck open and cracked a piston. So I pulled out the powerstroke (good riddance lol) and put in a supposedly running 91 7.3 IDI with a Banks turbo from a donor truck I also bought. I never heard it run, but the guy had a video of it running recently
I couldn't ever get it running, but it had good even compression and would run on a gas rag. So after fooling with the injection pump and never being able to get any fuel out, I figured it was junk. And it was. Whatever fuel they were running in it put a grimy coating inside the pump and everything was sticking - no fuel output either.
I bought another pump on Facebook marketplace for $200 and the guy said it was running fine but leaking from the body of the injection pump. It's a reman pump from diesel care and performance, but it was rebuilt December of 2020 so I figured it was worth the risk. Turns out his hardline from the filter must have been leaking because the pump is staying dry. I set it a hair advanced since I don't have the cold advance and high idle hooked up yet.
At the same time as all this, while replacing the return lines and copper washers, an injector came in half due to carbon. I got the bottom out, but the injector didn't seem worth trying to reuse. I bought the cheapest set of new injectors on rockauto with the hopes of upgrading one day to a good set, but I'm just trying to get it running for now.
The truck would fire off for a few rotations while being pushed by the tractor, but wouldn't stay running. I figured what the heck, by this point let's put a new fuel pump on. So it's got a new Carter lift pump.
So new injectors, return lines, lift pump, and an injection pump that seems to be alright. Good compression on all cylinders because the truck cranks with an even sound. The lift pump has great pressure, no more air intrusion, and the filter housing actually holds fuel pressure.
Sorry for the long story but here's where I am now. The truck pours white smoke with the fuel pedal all the way down while turning over so it's getting fuel initially, but it's not firing. It's 90 degrees outside so I don't have the glow plugs hooked up, only the FSS. After a few minutes of cranking 10 sec, resting, cranking 10 sec, resting, etc. the injection pump stops putting out fuel. No more white smoke and no more fuel to injectors. I have the #2 injector line cracked open to see this. The injection pump is hot (135 degrees) but the exhaust manifolds are barely higher than outside temps.
Anyone have any ideas what to do next? Any input would be much appreciated.
I bought a 1994.5 F350 with a Powerstroke for $1500 in December and got it running, but it was only running on 5 cylinders. I did the injector solenoid shims, but then an injector stuck open and cracked a piston. So I pulled out the powerstroke (good riddance lol) and put in a supposedly running 91 7.3 IDI with a Banks turbo from a donor truck I also bought. I never heard it run, but the guy had a video of it running recently
I couldn't ever get it running, but it had good even compression and would run on a gas rag. So after fooling with the injection pump and never being able to get any fuel out, I figured it was junk. And it was. Whatever fuel they were running in it put a grimy coating inside the pump and everything was sticking - no fuel output either.
I bought another pump on Facebook marketplace for $200 and the guy said it was running fine but leaking from the body of the injection pump. It's a reman pump from diesel care and performance, but it was rebuilt December of 2020 so I figured it was worth the risk. Turns out his hardline from the filter must have been leaking because the pump is staying dry. I set it a hair advanced since I don't have the cold advance and high idle hooked up yet.
At the same time as all this, while replacing the return lines and copper washers, an injector came in half due to carbon. I got the bottom out, but the injector didn't seem worth trying to reuse. I bought the cheapest set of new injectors on rockauto with the hopes of upgrading one day to a good set, but I'm just trying to get it running for now.
The truck would fire off for a few rotations while being pushed by the tractor, but wouldn't stay running. I figured what the heck, by this point let's put a new fuel pump on. So it's got a new Carter lift pump.
So new injectors, return lines, lift pump, and an injection pump that seems to be alright. Good compression on all cylinders because the truck cranks with an even sound. The lift pump has great pressure, no more air intrusion, and the filter housing actually holds fuel pressure.
Sorry for the long story but here's where I am now. The truck pours white smoke with the fuel pedal all the way down while turning over so it's getting fuel initially, but it's not firing. It's 90 degrees outside so I don't have the glow plugs hooked up, only the FSS. After a few minutes of cranking 10 sec, resting, cranking 10 sec, resting, etc. the injection pump stops putting out fuel. No more white smoke and no more fuel to injectors. I have the #2 injector line cracked open to see this. The injection pump is hot (135 degrees) but the exhaust manifolds are barely higher than outside temps.
Anyone have any ideas what to do next? Any input would be much appreciated.