Non-Turbo Diesel Questions

Lurch830

Lurch830

messin' with sasquatch
Joined
Mar 1, 2007
Location
Wilton & Albemarle, NC
I'm new to diesels, but I'm looking at getting a '90 4x4 F-350, crew cab, long bed, 120k, auto.

What's the best kit to go with to convert it to a turbo diesel?
I don't want to go through the roof on turbo size & power gain (or money spent, but I understand you have to pay to play), but I would like to have an added boost for any situation that called for it.

Are the kits safe/reliable?
Don't want to have something that if you go over 3k RPMs you run the risk of exploding in a fiery ball!

What all do you have to change/add when you switch/convert?Meaning can a shade-tree mechanic install it in a couple of days without tearing down the motor & doing a full rebuild? Is it just 'simple' bolt-on parts or do you have to swap internals?

Will a non-turbo 7.3 have the guts to pull a 20' trailer with camping gear & trail rig, gravel, etc?

PS - I'll take any other kinds of advice you got!

TIA,
Brandon
 
I'm guessing the price is right on the '90? From what I've seen, the retro-fit turbo kits are low-boost setups.
 
Hurley said:
I'm guessing the price is right on the '90? From what I've seen, the retro-fit turbo kits are low-boost setups.
Click to expand...
Most are, the non-turbo diesels were usually higher compression and not built to handle the pressures of a turbo. I would look into banks "sidwinders" as a start, I know they used to make retrofit kits for the older non turbo, 7.3s, GM 6.2 and 6.5s, and I think maybe even the 6.9 fords.

Although in stock form, alot of these old non turbo diesels would run forever and get great mileage, albeit very slow.
 
I'd look really closely at the cost/benefit before you buy the truck. Like Hurley said, the price has to be right... which... I'm thinking has got to be in the neighborhood of "I'll give you $500 to get this truck out of my sight."

Maybe not quite that bad... but for what the turbo conversion costs, it would have to be close to free to be 'worth it'.
 
So what is the beneift of a non-turbo diesel? Longevity? Reliability? Because it sure doesn't sound like they were built for speed, so can they even handle pulling a load up a hill?
 
BigClay said:
So what is the beneift of a non-turbo diesel? Longevity? Reliability? Because it sure doesn't sound like they were built for speed, so can they even handle pulling a load up a hill?
Click to expand...
No benefit, just old technology. They were usually only marginally torquier than their gas counterparts. Like stated already, I wouldn't do it unless it was practically free, and the heavy CCLB is just going to make it seem like that much more of a dog.
 
Oh, they'll still pull. They just don't compare favorably to modern turbo diesels. If it were 1990 again, I'd rather have the 7.3NA than a 460 or 351W.
 
Thanks for all the replies!

I was looking at the sidewinder turbo upgrade kit as an option, just hadn't priced it yet. The truck wasn't free by any means, so I think I'll have to pass. If anyones interested, its on craigslist in Lincolnton.

I think I'll keep my eyes open for a powerstroke. Have to go at least supercab/x-cab (6' 6", 260lbs).

Brandon
 
Well I'm a dodge man so I would say a cummins but if you have to have a powerstroke be sure not to get a 6.0L I would recommend a 7.3L just for the fact that the 6.4's have to have the cab taken off to be able to work on the heads and the 6.0s are just plain pitifull when it comes to durability, and its not a matter of if you have to work on the heads of the 6.4 but when. My gpa actually had a 90 7.3L diesel that he bought new put a banks kit on it so it would keep up with our 91 cummins that he got later and 3 months after putting the turbo on, it blew and needed a new engine. I've had lots of friends with lots of different diesels and been in it awhile if you need anymore in depth info just pm me.
 
I've got a 6.9 IDI non-turbo in my 1 ton dumptruck. The truck itself is about 8500lbs, and it has a T19 4spd. Unloaded, it is plenty of motor in 1st-3rd gear, and fine in 4th. Occasionally I'll pull an 8000lb dozer behind it on a 2000lb trailer, and it is definitely well underpowered. It gets the job done, but a lot of time is spent near redline in a lower than ideal gear. Its got plenty of torque on the bottom to get things moving, but the power never really picks up in the midrange like modern turbo diesels. One of these days I'll probably put a banks sidewinder kit on it and be glad, but right now I don't drive it enough for it to matter.
 
^^Truth^^

My old F-250 w/ 7.3L NA & 5spd did pretty dang good on flat raods towing 6500-7000#. However, once the terrain got the slightest bit "hilly" (pretty much anywhere North/West of W-S :lol:), it brought the SUCK!

  • Old Fort Mtn (I-40) wasn't too bad, as it has a few "flat" spots on the way up, but was all it could do to crest in 3rd
  • The grade on 421 just south of Boone (Callalantee/Crackers Neck) was 2nd gear and struggling
  • Pretty much everything west of Wytheville (I-81) was a struggle to make 55mph
  • Hanging Dog Rd. (Tellico).... while I never got the chance, would've been an "unload the Jeep and drive the empty truck up" deal... :rolleyes:

While the truck was cheap, adding a Sidewinder was gonna be $1500, even a takeoff ('93-'94) ATS would've been $500 (cheapest I ever saw 1 for) + rebuild cost... cheaper to sell, buy a turbo'd truck & be ahead in the long run (so I did! :D )
 
You'll be diasappointed with the sidewinder kit for the amount of $$$ it cost. I had a 93f350 with one on it and it didn't run bad, after I messed with the wastegate and put water/meth injection on it...but a stock cummins (any generation) would run off and hide from it.
 
I would take a later model gasser over a 90s erra 7.3 IDI for all around towing. If your hauling a lot in town or need something that won't need most work overall the IDI is a good motor. My 2004 6.0L chevy gasser is rated higher HP/Torque than the IDI (not as low RPM but overall) The rpm range makes it more usable for all around towing and I can hold 2nd or 3rd gear turning RPMs pulling hills np.. (just depends on your gearing/trans etc)

My old uhaul toter home had the 7.3 IDI. Had the better MDT exhaust manifolds and full roller valve train, but it ran at/near 3000 rpm, it held 65-68 on flats and rolling hills but the box on wheels slowed in the larger hills. As said even loaded it would pull a barn to get moving. You literally drove like this.. Get rolling, floor hit 3k, lift/shift, floor hit 3k, lift/shift repeat...

The late 90s onward turbos are just a different league..

Sounds like you've been sipping the diesel cool-aid and see the older trucks as a cheep pass into the diesel gang... Do your homework to understand what your getting into and what you can expect to get out/have in return.
 
As all above have said...Have an '88 Chevy K30 4x4 Crew Cab Flatbed w/ 6.2 Diesel...while strait piped, fun to drive and driven hard...it's still a dog when it comes to towing and really tucks it's tail on any significant hill.

For haulin' firewood & such , I've stacked it from the top of the headache rack to the back...no problem handling the weight...dropped down to low range to get up on the pavement before, but does fine from there on.

Got it for next to nuthin' and try & use it within it's limitations. Fine on Flatland & Interstate...but you better have it WOUND UP well before any steep hill and let the back traffic on by ya ahead a' time...Good Luck
 
I've driven and ridden in some 7.3 non-turbo trucks and was pretty surprised by their power. Being a GM fan and coming from a 6.2, it's not hard to do! However, I quickly grew tired of my 6.2 and decided it had to go and the Cummins needed to find a new home. :driver:

At any rate, I'd probably keep an eye open for a turbo diesel if that's at all possible.

Today I hauled a buddy's truck to have exhaust put on it. Wouldn't have even considered it if the truck was still underpowered by a 6.2. Even a few weeks ago, I was 15,400 lbs total hauling scrap metal at highway speeds with no problems.
 
Back
Top