7.3L diesel advice

[ZOSO]

I believe the diesel crowd favors semi stacks to side pipes! If you see me with a set of stacks on my truck, I would encourage you to kick me in the nuts....


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Gladly. I HATE stacks!!!!

[ZOSO]

So, it turns out a Power Stroke Diesel is akin to having a crack habit. I might as well have bought a fourth bronco! I now have my gauges installed and am very happy with them. I also need to replace the glow plugs in mine but with summer upon us, I was going to put that off for a month or so. I also have been shopping for the pieces to add an intercooler to my OBS 7.3. I have a 6.0 intercooler but still need the early 99 intake spider and pipes. If I don't find the parts soon, I may bight the bullet and get the Banks Intercooler. Currently at the top of the Power Stroke To Do list is the dreaded up pipe replacement. I believe I'll be going with the Riff Raff up pipes and I figure while I'm in there I may as well upgrade the down pipe since I'm still running the restrictive stock down pipe. Doing the up pipes looks like it will require removal of the turbo so I'm also considering a compressor wheel upgrade while its apart. I'm currently justifying all sorts of parts and upgrades because in addition to my new car trailer, I have also recently inherited a 5th wheel to pull.

As you know I just went through the up-pipe turbo wheel stuff right before moab. It was a pain in the ribs and arms and shoulders and back. But well worth it. Im not sure but IIRC you already have a "wicked wheel" in your truck. In 99 they changed them out to the crappy one that has surge issues. Only way to go is either a 38r or the billet compressor wheel. You will cuss a lot when dealing with getting the y off the back of the turbo. Get a full set of new orings from dieselorings.

[casadejohnson]

As you know I just went through the up-pipe turbo wheel stuff right before moab. It was a pain in the ribs and arms and shoulders and back. But well worth it. Im not sure but IIRC you already have a "wicked wheel" in your truck. In 99 they changed them out to the crappy one that has surge issues. Only way to go is either a 38r or the billet compressor wheel. You will cuss a lot when dealing with getting the y off the back of the turbo. Get a full set of new orings from dieselorings.

I don't have a wicked wheel but It was / is on my list of possible upgrades. Riff Raff has their own wheel that I was looking at, not sure how that compares to the others. You can buy the early 99 spider and intercooler tubes on ebay for about $600 but I was thinking about the options today and I was wondering if it is possible to use the later turbo, pedestal, intake spider , etc on the OBS trucks? I assume that there is something about that combo that does not work or it would be a more popular swap because it would allow you to use the larger "Super Duty" turbo. What am I missing? Also why is the riff raff wheel almost $200 while you can get the wicked wheel for about 1/3 of that price?

[akaFrankCastle]

Because the Riff Raff wheel is CNC'd from billet aluminum where the wicked wheel is likely cast.

[Jesus_man]

Wait. Those are exhaust pipes? I've been throwing my fast food trash in those because I thought they were garbage cans.

Indeed they are. Carry on!

[ZOSO]

As you know I just went through the up-pipe turbo wheel stuff right before moab. It was a pain in the ribs and arms and shoulders and back. But well worth it. Im not sure but IIRC you already have a "wicked wheel" in your truck. In 99 they changed them out to the crappy one that has surge issues. Only way to go is either a 38r or the billet compressor wheel. You will cuss a lot when dealing with getting the y off the back of the turbo. Get a full set of new orings from dieselorings.

I don't have a wicked wheel but It was / is on my list of possible upgrades. Riff Raff has their own wheel that I was looking at, not sure how that compares to the others. You can buy the early 99 spider and intercooler tubes on ebay for about $600 but I was thinking about the options today and I was wondering if it is possible to use the later turbo, pedestal, intake spider , etc on the OBS trucks? I assume that there is something about that combo that does not work or it would be a more popular swap because it would allow you to use the larger "Super Duty" turbo. What am I missing? Also why is the riff raff wheel almost $200 while you can get the wicked wheel for about 1/3 of that price?

Yes the riffraff wheel is billet aluminum. I just installed it right before moab and couldnt be happier. What Im saying is all a wicked wheel is, is a pre 99 turbo wheel. They are factory for early PSD's. They changed out to a new wheel later due to complaints of poor gas mileage and noise. I did a WW in mine right after I got it cause once I opened up the exhaust I had bad surge issues. The ww cured the surge but my mpg tanked as it doesnt flow as much air. I went with the riffraff billet wheel and it made a huge difference. My mpg's are back up and now it boosts harder/more with very little smoke if any on a hot tune once it spools.

[casadejohnson]

Sooo. If Im going to tear into the turbo, the riff raft wheel is the way to go. For my intercooler, either I bite the bullet on the early 99 parts or go aftermarket. Up pipes from Riff Raff and down pipe from? I keep hearing about Diamond Eye for that. How big of down pipe can get wedged into the OBS? I think you need to use a BFH to get anything bigger than stock in there. Damn You IH 7.3 !! I still have post Moab Bronco repairs to make!

[Jesus_man]

How does the Riff Raff wheel compare to WW2?

[ZOSO]

The billet wheel made a huge difference over the ww. with the ww in my 100hp tune I could only see a max of 22psi. Now I see 28-29 with spikes to 32-33 on shifts. EGT's went down by 150* or so.


Jeremy, from what I hear on the OBS trucks you can only go as big as 3" down pipe without beating the crap out of the firewall. I have MBRP and it is nice n quiet with zero drone which is what I wanted. I've heard good things about diamond eye too.

[akaFrankCastle]

You can buy the early 99 spider and intercooler tubes on ebay for about $600 but I was thinking about the options today and I was wondering if it is possible to use the later turbo, pedestal, intake spider , etc on the OBS trucks? I assume that there is something about that combo that does not work or it would be a more popular swap because it would allow you to use the larger "Super Duty" turbo. What am I missing? Also why is the riff raff wheel almost $200 while you can get the wicked wheel for about 1/3 of that price?

I'm wondering, could you just install all superduty turbo parts starting with the pedestal and turbo?

[Jesus_man]

The billet wheel made a huge difference over the ww. with the ww in my 100hp tune I could only see a max of 22psi. Now I see 28-29 with spikes to 32-33 on shifts. EGT's went down by 150* or so.

Ahh, but have you seen version 2.0?
http://www.dieselsite.com/ww2_gtp38.aspx

[ZOSO]

The billet wheel made a huge difference over the ww. with the ww in my 100hp tune I could only see a max of 22psi. Now I see 28-29 with spikes to 32-33 on shifts. EGT's went down by 150* or so.

Ahh, but have you seen version 2.0?
http://www.dieselsite.com/ww2_gtp38.aspx

The riffraff wheel is kinda a copy of that wheel. Did a bunch of reading about them both and they are both nearly identical.

[Gunnibronco]

What Im saying is all a wicked wheel is, is a pre 99 turbo wheel. They are factory for early PSD's. They changed out to a new wheel later due to complaints of poor gas mileage and noise. I did a WW in mine right after I got it cause once I opened up the exhaust I had bad surge issues. The ww cured the surge but my mpg tanked as it doesnt flow as much air. I went with the riffraff billet wheel and it made a huge difference. My mpg's are back up and now it boosts harder/more with very little smoke if any on a hot tune once it spools.

So you wouldn't upgrade the to a WW or other wheel without upgrading other stuff?

Just wondering, I did a little reading on compressor wheels. I read about the WW/pre-99 wheel helping with turbo surge, but don't seem to have any. Since I don't have any plans to upgrade/chip stuff yet, I didn't know if the WW would be worth it. Sounds like it might be a step backwards on a stocker.

[ZOSO]

I never had surge issues until I put on a 4" down pipe. And that was pre tunes. A ww is a step backwards for flow/performance on post 99 trucks.

[Gunnibronco]

Cool, good to know.

[ZOSO]

I would recommend doing a billet wheel if you have to pull the turbo for any reason. I see it as a well worth it upgrade.

[casadejohnson]

I'm wondering, could you just install all superduty turbo parts starting with the pedestal and turbo?

That is what I was wondering. I did a little searching on the diesel forums without any definitive answer. My thinking is that its still a 7.3 power stroke so it "should bolt right up. What I don't know is if there are clearance issues or some other reason why it would not work. It seems like there would be some info out there on making the swap since finding early 99 parts is much harder than the late 99-2003 parts.

[Viperwolf1]

There are lots of different plumbing configurations on those engines. I see them everyday in the FedEx trucks.

[casadejohnson]

There are lots of different plumbing configurations on those engines. I see them everyday in the FedEx trucks.

We run them in a lot of our Mid Size trucks as well. I wonder if UPS would be OK with me snagging parts from my work truck to use on my personal truck?
I did do some more reading on the subject and the Super Duty turbo and pedestal will bolt up to my truck. I have been trying to find some comparisons between the various turbos and wheels to see what the best " Bang for the Buck " is.

[Jesus_man]

I would recommend doing a billet wheel if you have to pull the turbo for any reason. I see it as a well worth it upgrade.

Agreed! WW1 is what I put in, but this was long before anything else was out there. Once you open up your intake and exhaust then you might get some turbo surge. Then you might want a new intake housing with billet compressor wheel!

For me I was barking up the wrong tree. Turned out the whoosh I was hearing was the serp belt slipping when the AC engaged. So I never had Turbo Surge either, but I did like the whistle of the turbo after all that!

Jeremy, I can see the conversation now:

Jeremy - Whatcha got under the hood?

UPS driver - deer in headlight look

Jeremy - It's OK, I wear brown too. Pop the hood! You might want to call your boss and say your truck is broke down.

[kbank6]

I still had to use a BFH for the 3" down pipe I used in my OBS. I'll also come over and drink some beer while you get that installed.

[casadejohnson]

Jeremy, I can see the conversation now:

Jeremy - Whatcha got under the hood?

UPS driver - deer in headlight look

Jeremy - It's OK, I wear brown too. Pop the hood! You might want to call your boss and say your truck is broke down.

Its actually easier than that, I just happen to know where our Mechanic keeps the keys to the parts cabinets. Or at the end of the day I can fill out my DVIR ( Driver Vehicle Inspection Report ) as follows:


Vehicle Requires Non Safety Related Work- " My Turbo, and related parts all fell off when I went over the rail road tracks. Please replace."

[Jesus_man]

Its actually easier than that, I just happen to know where our Mechanic keeps the keys to the parts cabinets. Or at the end of the day I can fill out my DVIR ( Driver Vehicle Inspection Report ) as follows:


Vehicle Requires Non Safety Related Work- " My Turbo, and related parts all fell off when I went over the rail road tracks. Please replace."[/quote]

There ya go! Sounds like a winner!

[casadejohnson]

I spotted a freshly rebuilt international in our mechanics shop this evening. I tried to slip it out the back door but they started giving me the stink eye.


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[kbank6]

I can sneak in with the crane if you distract him wih a delivey.

[casadejohnson]

So, it had been a little while since we had made the traditional saturday junkyard run so today we made the trip without plans to find anything in particular. Todays run yielded not one but two 7.3L power strokes ! I have never seen anything but an IDI diesel in the yard up here before. Anyway, Look what followed me home. I think I have everything needed to put an intercooler in my truck and the best part is that I got it all for $66! I even got the oil cooler since mine has a little leak.

[EFI Guy]

That's a helluva score!

[casadejohnson]

That's a helluva score!

I have spent my morning reading on the diesel forums and there is a bunch of info on using the early 99 intake spider with the later super duty intercooler but I know that I read about using the early 99 intercooler as well. Just not finding the tech article so far. I would expect that the early intercooler would be easier because the pipes should be correct. I could also go the 6.0 intercooler route as I have one of those on the shelf in the garage as well. The 6.0 cooler is a bit larger but I like the 7.3 a little better because its all welded where the 6.0 has the plastic ends. If it was not for work, I would have a lot more time to figure this stuff out!

[Jesus_man]

6.0 coolers are known to be a fair bit more efficient. I was shocked when I saw my first one too with the plastic ends, but it did help the EGT's over the stocker.

[ZOSO]

Im interested in the 6.0 IC