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7.3 differences

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Old Jan 9, 2012 | 06:59 PM
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7.3 differences

i have a 97 7.3 power stroke and i was wonderin what the difference was compared to 01 7.3 besides the turbo and the iner cooler jw thanks
 
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Old Jan 9, 2012 | 07:25 PM
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From what I hear, the 1997 is mechanically controlled engine while since 1999 the 7.3 is digital.
It is like comparing crank counter to electronic calculator.
 
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Old Jan 9, 2012 | 07:27 PM
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Originally Posted by Kajtek1
From what I hear, the 1997 is mechanically controlled engine while since 1999 the 7.3 is digital.
It is like comparing crank counter to electronic calculator.
94-97 were still electronically controlled.... Still have PCM's and IDM's.
 
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Old Jan 9, 2012 | 07:40 PM
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Originally Posted by Kajtek1
From what I hear, the 1997 is mechanically controlled engine while since 1999 the 7.3 is digital.
It is like comparing crank counter to electronic calculator.
i thinks mines electronically controlled it direct injected its not idi but it just seems to run different than the newer ones and i was just wonderin what the major difference was thnaks for the input tho
 
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Old Jan 9, 2012 | 08:02 PM
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Originally Posted by red 1997 powerstroke
i thinks mines electronically controlled it direct injected its not idi but it just seems to run different than the newer ones and i was just wonderin what the major difference was thnaks for the input tho
It's the same motor. What do you mean seems to run different? In feel? Noise? Power? In the stock form, your 97 has a mechanical fuel pump while the new ones use electric fuel. No real power advantage there until you start adding a bunch of mods.

The late 99 and up super duty's had a bigger turbo and larger injectors. Starting in 99, they started using split shot injectors instead of the single shots your 97 has. That is what makes them sound different.
 
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Old Jan 9, 2012 | 11:25 PM
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ya that what i meant when i said it sounds different, like you said there the same motor i new that i just didnt no what the main differences were. i have a dp tuner on mine and 4 inch straight pipe besides that mines totally stock. but thanks for the information on this you got any ideas to gain more performance while still keeping it a daily driver ? thanks luke
 
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Old Jan 9, 2012 | 11:29 PM
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Moved to the 1994.5 - 1997 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel forum.
 
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Old Jan 10, 2012 | 09:07 AM
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The SD trucks have bigger injectors, different HPOP, different turbo, intercooled, electric fuel system, higher voltage IDM, and a few other things.

Chris- if his 97 is a CA emissions model it will have AB splits in it. Ford went to split shots mid 96MY on CA emissions models.
 
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Old Jan 10, 2012 | 09:21 AM
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He is a good thread on it all thanks to Travis!

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...-the-7-3s.html
 
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Old Jan 10, 2012 | 06:29 PM
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Originally Posted by red 1997 powerstroke
ya that what i meant when i said it sounds different, like you said there the same motor i new that i just didnt no what the main differences were. i have a dp tuner on mine and 4 inch straight pipe besides that mines totally stock. but thanks for the information on this you got any ideas to gain more performance while still keeping it a daily driver ? thanks luke
Gauges, intake and then maybe some stage 1's to keep it as a daily driver. Also look into some transmission mods to help that out. You've come to the right place. These guys will help you get the truck just how you want it.

Originally Posted by superduty4x4
Chris- if his 97 is a CA emissions model it will have AB splits in it. Ford went to split shots mid 96MY on CA emissions models.
I always forget about the CA trucks, maybe on purpose. Besides, he's from Michigan so hopefully he didn't get stuck with a CA truck.

Now that you mention it, I don't think I've ever run across a CA OBS here. Do the AB splits idle and sound like the AD splits in the SD or is there a difference in sound? I would think splits would all sound alike, but maybe the mechanical fuel pump at lower idle pressure and a smaller cc injection does sound different.
 
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Old Jan 10, 2012 | 10:21 PM
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7.3 differences

thanks for all the feed back on this no and when u say intake is there any particular brand or just a intake off a newer truck? and i also gotta take my turbo off to reseal it cause its leakin oil whould i be better getting a turbo off a next generation? is this even possible? thanks again for all the help
 
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Old Jan 10, 2012 | 10:34 PM
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IMO it's not worth it you would have to change turbo, driver side manifold, uppipe and plenums.
 
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Old Jan 10, 2012 | 11:07 PM
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I have a Ca OBS.
 
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Old Jan 11, 2012 | 06:26 AM
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I just use the 6637 filter set up. Do a search on here and you see one or two methods of doing it.
 
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Old Jan 11, 2012 | 09:05 AM
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Originally Posted by F350-6
I always forget about the CA trucks, maybe on purpose. Besides, he's from Michigan so hopefully he didn't get stuck with a CA truck.
In an OBS, CA emissions was actually a GOOD thing. You got larger injectors with none of the other BS. All these trucks had a cat on them from the factory anyway. The 96 trucks that got AB's had a standard GPR like the 49 state trucks, the 97's had a shunt on the GPR like the E99 CA emissions trucks. As luck would have it, both my SD and Whitey were CA emissions trucks. The current bucket of bolts is not.

AB's sound just like AD's. I could never tell a difference between either of my AB fired trucks and a late model SD at least.

Lower fuel pressure at idle? I'm running a stock fuel system, and I can't recall exactly off the top of my head but I bet I can hold 50psi at idle
 
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