95 PSD roughly 17 mpg with a bunch of construction crap in the back like 600-700 pounds easily. Look foward too seeing what it'll do light.

 

Depends on your budget but heard good things about Diamond Eye Exhaust, cheap. If you don't believe me price it against a Banks exhaust you'll have a heart attack over there price.

 

here's how to do a custom single for n/a:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...e-exhaust.html

here is the only way to chip an idi truck,because it doesn't have a computer:


if your looking for performance and economy gains from the idi,you need to make sure it's tuned up every 100k and have it's timing checked regularly.for the real gain you'll need to get greasy with this classic:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...o-install.html

 

My 7.3 PSD in my sig gets around 14-15 mpg on average, thats mostly city with some hwy. The 4.10's don't help on the hwy and the bigger rims and tires don't help around town. Gonna be swapping gears for 3.55's and going to stock size tires. The Falkens (my least favorite tire brand) have no grip whatsoever in the rain.... or any other surface for that matter. "All terrains" my ( )( )

 

Hi New here on FTE. Name's Rich i'm form jefferson WI. I have 1997 7.3 a 5 speed manual 4x4 crew cab short box with 4.10 gear's and 265/75/16 tire's I rececntly put a after market down pipe on and used an edge chip And with 18' car trailer loaded 4 atv's and truck full of people an riding gear.I still got 12 MPG

 

I almost went for a PS 7.3 for the mileage claims.. It really will NOT be cheaper to do it unless you will be doing lots and LOTS OF HEAVY TOWING. I work in the auto industry light mechanic-ing while attending the local college here and have seen many many $1k plus repair bills on diesels. Believe me I have the diesel bug, but it won't be cheaper unless you are using it to make money.
That 460 in your truck is an awesome motor. It may get 10 mpg empty, but it also gets 10 mpg towing. They are reliable and stout. My dad has a 460 in his truck, and has seen 8 mpg towing.. but that was a 26 ft camper fully loaded.. and hilly.. and going 75mph the ENTIRE time. when we towed the same camper with a f150 and 4.6 v8, it got 6 mpg while trying to reach 60 mph downhill! haha!
If you have money to spend, what the hell! Go for it! Diesels are sweet, but prob wont save money unless you are making money with it-best advice ever given to me (about diesels.. )

 

idi is a wondeful engine.

 

That's what I've been told, over and over again. Makes sense to me.

On another note, those 4.6L are HORRIBLE at altitude!! I drove my grandpa's 02' 4.6L around CO foot to the floor up the passes where my 5.8L just chugs right up the passes with OD off. That 4.6 wanted to be 2nd at 50mph. I can't imagine towing with one.

 

I'm considering switching from my 01 f150 with the 5.4 to a 97 f350 with 7.3 I found. Your argument is interesting as I have mulled this over and over. The cost of an oil change is much higher on the diesels and the fuel more expensive. BUT, the 5.4 has 257k and is burning some oil, with numerous other repairs having been addressed over the last 3 years. The 7.3 is supposed to be bullet proof and last 500k - so how would that factor into a comparison of gas to diesel? In the end, its a crap shoot in many ways as sometimes mechanical things just break - no guarantees gas or diesel is going to last. But if the "average" diesel lasts twice as long as the "average" gasser, then that should be factored into the analysis.

 

You nailed it.. it all depends. I have a photo of an odometer from a superduty 7.3 with 930k miles on it. The engine was unopened, but running poorly. He was a contracted delivery driver. OTR but in a pickup. I think the thing needed a couple of injectors and whatnot, but very impressive.

Regardless, you need to sell your 5.4. Great motor, but that thing has served its purpose. Some highschooler would love it! haha. The one way of really making "mileage" with a diesel is running alternative fuels. That opens a whole new can of goodness.

The 7.3 is an awesome motor, you can really make it a good DD and tower. of the ford motors, they are the ones to get. hands down! In the OBS ford like that 97, replace the downpipe and do some exhaust and that thing will just rock! Look up tony wildman chips, he does good work and I believe has lifetime re-tuning for future upgrades.
I buy the argument that the truck lasts longer (not just because it's a ford ) but also a diesel is just fun! They are powerhouses and there is just something about them that is just awesome. Guy stuff I guess. You will save on mileage, but probably not overall expense-I would argue it could be made to be about the same as a gasser-and you get the benefits of a diesel.

 

i wish i could get my IDI to run off of dead hookers and hobos.

 

My 6.9 idi went 674,000 with just a couple of rebuilds on the C6 and a 3 injection pumps

 

6.9 idi... 'nuff said

 

That would be interesting.. Wonder what the tank would look like.. haha. How much of that is really up in AK??

 

My 03 F250 super duty 4 door 4x4 7.3 powerstroke turbo gets 20mpg highway 18 city. But I've added some extras. Advanced air intake, oversized exhaust, 6 position power programmer with up to a 140 hp boost and a bulletproof tranny. I drive from Alaska to Texas and back every year. Spend summers in Alaska and winters on the gulf coast of southeast Texas. I've 140k on it and it runs like new. I seem to get the best performance at 70 hp boost. I just change the oil every 3k miles except when I'm driving between Alaska and Texas since its 4500 miles so I'm going to try Royal Purple oil next time since you can go 5k between oil changes this is the best truck I've ever owned