7.3 basic upgrades

Loganwayne

Loganwayne

#BTL
Joined
Feb 15, 2013
Location
Clyde, North Carolina
I've had several 7.3s as work trucks for the family company that are plan no thrills trucks. We got another one that was a little more up scale (power windows and locks) ended up buying it for myself. I've wasn't planning on upgrading it.... But I got a chip for free and an intake so I got an exhaust and gauges as well. It's an auto so my next step was going to be bigger oil pan. Then what else should I consider? Not trying to make a ton of power just want a strong reliable truck.
 
Idm mod (or a swamps idm) , raise the fuel pressure a touch, wicked wheel, might consider having a oil crossover tube made, maybe even a fuel crossover. A pcv reroute is also also a great addition.
 
mysterync said:
Idm mod (or a swamps idm) , raise the fuel pressure a touch, wicked wheel, might consider having a oil crossover tube made, maybe even a fuel crossover. A pcv reroute is also also a great addition.
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Was planning on db billet wheel when I get the funds. I just really wanted to makes sure I can keep my trans cool
 
6.0 cooler and a good valve body made my old 7.3 tow like a dream and the tranny stayed nice and cool.
Lemme know if you need any info on them. Made a huge difference for me
 
Jody Treadway said:
6.0 cooler and a good valve body made my old 7.3 tow like a dream and the tranny stayed nice and cool.
Lemme know if you need any info on them. Made a huge difference for me
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Jody send me a message on here about the valve body. I may not be able to get one right now but that way I'll still be able to find it again later lol
 
Jody Treadway said:
6.0 cooler and a good valve body made my old 7.3 tow like a dream and the tranny stayed nice and cool.
Lemme know if you need any info on them. Made a huge difference for me
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Resurrecting an old thread. You mind dropping some of the valve body knowledge on me, Jody? Just bought an e99 7.3 auto. Already bought the 26-row 6.0 tranny cooler from Ford and installing this weekend.
 
I bought a john woods VB for the 01 I had,didnt really notice a lot of difference until I put the tuner on it.Those 4r100's have a drive granny to town tune in em.W the valve body mine shifted and went on down the road.
 
What say ye on recommended tuners? I'm not planning on doing much to it other than some of the basics (famous last words, I know).

For now, all I plan to do are the following (any and all insight and recommendations welcomed):
- 6.0 26 row tranny cooler (already ordered and sitting in garage...just gotta find a few hours to get it in)
- 4" turbo back exhaust (likely MBRP straight piped)
- some sort of intake (haven't done much research here yet)
- tuner (again, not much research on this yet)
- gauges (likely AutoMeter or Isspro with the standard EGT, tranny and boost)
- 6.4 tow mirrors
- possibly throw on the 6.0 grill and headlights down the road
 
rcalexander105 said:
What say ye on recommended tuners? I'm not planning on doing much to it other than some of the basics (famous last words, I know).

For now, all I plan to do are the following (any and all insight and recommendations welcomed):
- 6.0 26 row tranny cooler (already ordered and sitting in garage...just gotta find a few hours to get it in)
- 4" turbo back exhaust (likely MBRP straight piped)
- some sort of intake (haven't done much research here yet)
- tuner (again, not much research on this yet)
- gauges (likely AutoMeter or Isspro with the standard EGT, tranny and boost)
- 6.4 tow mirrors
- possibly throw on the 6.0 grill and headlights down the road
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Tuner: Hydra they are a better deal that any other tuner. I bought mine from CNC Fabrication, deals in a lot of Powerstroke stuff.

Intake: 6637 Riffraff diesel intake. Fawkin huge filter, get the pre-filter.

Gauges: Edge CTS II Evo(Edit: Insight, the evo is the tuner). I blew the money on the Ford match autometer's only to wish I could see more data.

Another worthwhile mod is a turbo wheel and ebpv delete if yours has it. My choice for turbo goodies is KC Turbos. It's cheaper to buy a 6.0 grille and cut it down than to buy.
 
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The turbo wheel really needs to be considered when throwing a tuner on the truck. I had most of the same mods done on my 02 that are listed and it was fine, until I put the TS chip on which was eventually reflashed with PHP tunes. Mainly did it under load when towing but on hard pulls I could get it to do it unloaded. Luckily the Wicked Wheel is cheap and the newer models offer a little better performance other than just better vane geometry to prevent surge.
 
Chris_Keziah said:
Tuner: Hydra they are a better deal that any other tuner. I bought mine from CNC Fabrication, deals in a lot of Powerstroke stuff.

Intake: 6637 Riffraff diesel intake. Fawkin huge filter, get the pre-filter.

Gauges: Edge CTS II Evo. I blew the money on the Ford match autometer's only to wish I could see more data.

Another worthwhile mod is a turbo wheel and ebpv delete if yours has it. My choice for turbo goodies is KC Turbos. It's cheaper to buy a 6.0 grille and cut it down than to buy.
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Good stuff, exactly what I was going to ask you tomorrow. Will hit you w/ some follow-ups on these then.
 
As for gauges, I would prefer the Edge CTS as well. Not much more money, expandable to add whatever you may want a gauge for, and I prefer to look at one small screen and see all my info rather than pillar gauges. But that’s a personal preference.
With that, you’ll be able to do a whole lot more than just monitor 3 things.
 
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RoosterRash said:
No need for wicked wheel early 99 had the better compressor wheel just needs a waste gate upgrade
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That's what I thought w/ the early 99's but wasn't positive...I guess maybe the one and only advantage of an e99.
77GreenMachine said:
As for gauges, I would prefer the Edge CTS as well. Not much more money, expandable to add whatever you may want a gauge for, and I prefer to look at one small screen and see all my info rather than pillar gauges. But that’s a personal preference.
With that, you’ll be able to do a whole life more than just monitor 3 things.
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See, I was thinking this exact same thing but all the things I've been reading on some of the Powerstroke forums are saying "get real gauges" b/c the OBDII isn't as accurate and you won't get the best readings.
 
rcalexander105 said:
That's what I thought w/ the early 99's but wasn't positive...I guess maybe the one and only advantage of an e99.

See, I was thinking this exact same thing but all the things I've been reading on some of the Powerstroke forums are saying "get real gauges" b/c the OBDII isn't as accurate and you won't get the best readings.
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I don’t have any experience to comment on that. But I would choose accuracy over preference any day.

I drove my buddy’s 6.0 to Harlan and back, he had the SCT Livewire TS and I think he had it setup to monitor about 8 different things. I really liked glancing at that 1 screen and seeing all that info.

I would assume the OBD2 would be plenty accurate as the computer is using the same info to make changes in split seconds. But that’s just an assumption. As I always state, I’ve never owned a diesel, I’m just a keyboard warrior who’s done a lot of reading out of curiosity. Someone here should have some experienced knowledge on mechanical gauges vs a monitor.
 
Chris_Keziah said:
Are you positive it's an e99, my truck production date wise was but it it had all the L99 parts on the motor.
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I've just been assuming it was based on 3/98 production date.
 
rcalexander105 said:
What say ye on recommended tuners? I'm not planning on doing much to it other than some of the basics (famous last words, I know).

For now, all I plan to do are the following (any and all insight and recommendations welcomed):
- 6.0 26 row tranny cooler (already ordered and sitting in garage...just gotta find a few hours to get it in)
- 4" turbo back exhaust (likely MBRP straight piped)
- some sort of intake (haven't done much research here yet)
- tuner (again, not much research on this yet)
- gauges (likely AutoMeter or Isspro with the standard EGT, tranny and boost)
- 6.4 tow mirrors
- possibly throw on the 6.0 grill and headlights down the road
Click to expand...
You need to get some gauges on that thing before you do much to it so you can make sure the engine stay's happy.The EGT's will jump up on a hard pull esp w an auto when pulling in O/D.I always turned the O/D off if it go below about 65 when pulling.It'll help drop some EGT's and keep the trans from huntin for a gear to stay in.My old CC's 4R100 was original to the truck and had 312K when I sold it.I really feel the VB swap,the 6.0 cooler and servicing is why it lasted that long.The cooler swap dropped my temp's by 20 degrees,I wouldn't even consider a pan swap until I changed the cooler.
 
I agree with him, gauges/monitoring first so you can see what each mod changes.

@1-tonmudder whats your thoughts on an Edge monitor vs mechanical gauges?
 
1-tonmudder said:
You need to get some gauges on that thing before you do much to it so you can make sure the engine stay's happy.The EGT's will jump up on a hard pull esp w an auto when pulling in O/D.I always turned the O/D off if it go below about 65 when pulling.It'll help drop some EGT's and keep the trans from huntin for a gear to stay in.My old CC's 4R100 was original to the truck and had 312K when I sold it.I really feel the VB swap,the 6.0 cooler and servicing is why it lasted that long.The cooler swap dropped my temp's by 20 degrees,I wouldn't even consider a pan swap until I changed the cooler.
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Totally agree on getting gauges. Planning on heading to Harlan next week so my A1 priority was getting a larger tranny cooler on and doing a fluid change. My next mod is definitely gauges / monitor.
 
77GreenMachine said:
I agree with him, gauges/monitoring first so you can see what each mod changes.

@1-tonmudder whats your thoughts on an Edge monitor vs mechanical gauges?
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I had autolite mech gauges and a 5 position dp tuner on mine that was 6/8 years old when I sold it.They did a good job and I never had a problem with any of it.W a mech gauge your still kinda "ball parkin" it where as a monitor will have,to the number,temp's.Tech changes daily and what was cutting edge last summer is run of the mill this summer.When the time comes Ill get some type of monitor for my 6.0 but until then Ill keep using my phone to monitor things.
 
rcalexander105 said:
Totally agree on getting gauges. Planning on heading to Harlan next week so my A1 priority was getting a larger tranny cooler on and doing a fluid change. My next mod is definitely gauges / monitor.
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Another option you have if your not ready($$$) to buy gauges or a monitor is to use the torque pro app to monitor temps.Thats what Im using on my 6.0
 
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