Keiser's 7.3 + turbo noob build

[WrenchWhore]

Hey guys! I've been on here for a little while now and I thought I should start a build thread. Don't get your hopes up it's nothing special by Oilburners standards but maybe you'd like to follow along to check out some of my trials and tribulations.

Vehicle it will be going into: Willy Nelson (Old - White - smokes a lot) 1987 F-250 4X4 T19 6.9NA 3:55 gears single cab w/ harbor service bed. 35" tires

Current motor is starting to make some bottom end noises that I haven't been able to fix so it needs to come out and get refresh BEFORE I send a rod through the side of the block. Mind you this is definitely a budget build compared to others but I try not to skimp on the very important stuff. So far i've aquired a used U-Haul 7.3 NA motor with serpentine belt setup, a whole smorgasbord of RockAuto parts, and a factory turbo setup from a blown up 93 F250 IDIT. If all goes to plan i'll refresh this 7.3, install into Willy, and then build the 6.9 on my free time to possibly put into a 68 F-250 I have.

Here is the current state of affairs in my garage...

 

[WrenchWhore]

I searched high and low to see if guys are opening up these 1/8" NPT NA motor oil adapters for the factory turbo setup but can't seem to find anything. Is this a none issue? I figured they made the oil feed on factory turbos 1/4" for a reason. Would this starve the turbo of oil?

 

[IDIBRONCO]

Don't get your hopes up it's nothing special by Oilburners standards but maybe you'd like to follow along to check out some of my trials and tribulations.

Maybe, maybe not, but in this world of disposable vehicles and crate engines, ANYONE who's doing his/her own engine build is doing a special, stand up job. Don't sell yourself short.

I searched high and low to see if guys are opening up these 1/8" NPT NA motor oil adapters for the factory turbo setup but can't seem to find anything. Is this a none issue? I figured they made the oil feed on factory turbos 1/4" for a reason. Would this starve the turbo of oil?

Most aftermarket turbos use a 1/8" NPT port for oil feed so it's really a non issue. I have enlarge those holes before, but only slightly and it still made me a little bit nervous about it breaking. I have no guesses why Ford felt it necessary to make that hole a 1/4" NPT. I've seen some people say that they were thinking of drilling that one out and tapping it to 1/4" NPT on N/A block, but I really don't think that there would be much of an advantage.

 

[WrenchWhore]

Update:

I should have stated before but I did a compression test on this motor before I started tearing it down and I was getting roughly 390 - 430 PSI across all 8 cylinders.

I was able to pull the oil pan off and do a visual inspection on the bottom end. Everything looks to be in great shape. Looks like a tiny bit of water was in a cylinder the motor(seller had let it out in the rain before I picked it up) but nothing that would deter me from continuing the refurbish. Water was nice and clean not rusty. I noticed a lot of silicone inside the oil pickup. I guess that screen did it's job. It wasn't blocked but definitely nasty. I pulled out the big pieces and then sprayed the heck out of it with my turbo nozzle then back on the motor it went. Installed the new SFK rear main seal that @TahoeTom recommended and it fit perfectly. After the rear seal plate went on the oil pan followed with Motorcraft (TA-31) silicone.

 

[WrenchWhore]

Decided if i'm going to add a factory turbo to the 7.3 i'm going to make some improvements if easy. Decided to cut the turbo wastegate flange turn down off and weld on a 3" V-band. Also ordered up a full turboback exhaust for a powerstroke 7.3 (94-97) I'm going to adapt the 3" downpipe to the 4" exhaust kit like others have done. Price for the full 4" exhaust was able $131 plus $90 to ship. A full turboback stainless exhaust for $230 shipped didn't seem like a bad deal to me.

 

[WrenchWhore]

Pictures of the finished product to adapt the 7.3 Powerstroke exhaust. Hoping this will help my EGT's out here in the hot desert.

 

[WrenchWhore]

If anyone is interested it's a turbo back straight pipe (ad said catback but pictured the downpipe) kit by OBX racing. I'm sure it's made it China but i'm ball'in on a budget. Comes with a monster 5" tip if you're into that sort of thing. Everything looks Tig welded and nicely polished.

 

[WrenchWhore]

Also, opened the turbo oil feed adapter up from 1/8" to 3/16". Just enough to take the shelf off that's normally there. This probably isn't necessary but I just felt that if the factory turbo blocks were stock with 1/4" hole that it cant possibly hurt.

Pulled the rocker arm's and pushrods out to gain access the head bolts to re-torque the cylinder heads at 110 Ft.lbs.

 

[IDIBRONCO]

Hoping this will help my EGT's out here in the hot desert.

I think it will.

Comes with a monster 5" tip if you're into that sort of thing.

That's not much of a monster these days, unfortunately.

Also, opened the turbo oil feed adapter up from 1/8" to 3/16".

I've done that before. I have no idea if it actually made any difference.

 

[WrenchWhore]

I'm thinking ANYTHING is better than the factory exhaust with that god awful crimped exhaust they did. It's like everywhere in this stock system there is something smashed or very restrictive.

From what i've seen they deepen the tone. Big exhaust tips aren't really my thing. I'll be happy if it doesn't have a crazy drone while cruising on the the highway. If it does i'll address it.

From my internet flow charts they spec a 3/16" hole to flow about twice of what a 1/8" hole will flow. I don't see any harm in that for this application.

 

[WrenchWhore]

Not sure if anyone from Oilburners will be there but I entered my 1968 Camper special in the Southwest Classic Ford Truck Show here in Lake Havasu AZ. If you're in the neighborhood come say hi! Admission is free and it's 120 trucks deep as of early today. March 22 - 23. All trucks are 96 and older.

 

[Lumberjackchuck]

From my internet flow charts they spec a 3/16" hole to flow about twice of what a 1/8" hole will flow. I don't see any harm in that for this application.

My only worry would be that maybe the turbo pedestal would drain oil too fast causing it to leak out of the valley pan.

I have heard of people drilling holes in the bottom part of that drain in the valley pan to help it drain quicker.

 

[IDIBRONCO]

My only worry would be that maybe the turbo pedestal would drain oil too fast causing it to leak out of the valley pan.

I have heard of people drilling holes in the bottom part of that drain in the valley pan to help it drain quicker.

Since the factory feed has a larger hole, you're probably not going to have issues. Even though the new valley pans have holes in their bottoms, I still like to add my own just to feel better.

 

[Jesus Freak]

Not sure if anyone from Oilburners will be there but I entered my 1968 Camper special in the Southwest Classic Ford Truck Show here in Lake Havasu AZ. If you're in the neighborhood come say hi! Admission is free and it's 120 trucks deep as of early today. March 22 - 23. All trucks are 96 and older.

It's farther up I-10 than I can make it, but sure sounds cool!

 

[Old Goat]

That would have been fun to go to.
2 ways to get there, and no way going through C o m m i e Land.
95 through the Boonie,s of Nv., 2 lane and speed traps on every wide spot on the road. Still the distance is about the same. But getting through Los Vegas, yikes.
I love car and truck shows.

Gardnerville to Lake Havasu City

www.google.com

(EDIT C o m m i e another dirty word to my list. Fixed it.


Goat