Hello,

This is my first post, thanks for reading. I have driven 3 Rangers over the last 13 years. My Dad in CA had a 2001 F-250 7.3 with 144,000 miles. It was time to smog it and it needs a new computer to pass smog. He didn't want to pay for that as it drives just fine for what it is (completely stock). He had been complaining about it for a while to me and when he told me he wanted to trade it in, I asked if he would let me give him my 03 v6 4.0 4x4 Ranger and however much more he thought was fair for his truck. Well he said, son I have bought a car for all of your brothers and sisters and never for you (I'm the oldest) so lets just trade and call it even. Thanks Dad!

This truck is going to be strictly for family fun and my main man toy. I have a motorcycle that I have done alot of moding and upgrading on. I am discovering that working on my F-250 is going to be a bit more complex. I have never done much with a truck before. I will have to limit myself to maybe $3000.00 a year. I will never go rock crawling or drag racing and don't want a truck that is built for looks. I want a truck that will take me hunting and camping ANYWHERE in North America. I do want as much hp and mpg as possible with mpg being more important.

I know I want a 6" lift, performance computer, better fuel injectors, hpop, fuel system, intake/exhuast.

My questions are, Where should I start? What else do I want/need?

 

You can start with a good 4" turbo back exhaust (MBRP) and intake. As far as intakes go you can buy one like AFE stage II or make one like a lot of people on here have done. There are instructions on how to do it. (Ask Clay he has kits....see below) If you want a chip or tuner, you need to wait until you get the new injectors because it will need to be set up for those. Do not get a hypermax or "off the shelf chip or tuner" go with a TS chip with custom tunes or a DP tuner the people that write the tunes know our truck. You can do a chip now if you want, but you will need to get new tunes later for the new injectors. You probably dont want to go any higher than Stage one injectors if you want good MPG. the temptation to stomp it will be too much if you add too much HP. When you get a tuner you also need to get gauges to monitor the tranny temp, EGT and boost. If you dont get gauges when you get a chip you WILL end up frying your turbo, or tranny or both.

The lift will obviously cut down on MPG. Call Clay at Riffraff diesel he will help you figure out where to start.

 

See the sticky at the top of this forum for more info. That is a great place to start with a lot of great ideas to drain your bank account.

 

1ST---Welcome to FTE .....2nd, beware of PMS (powerstroke mod syndrome)....Then Intake/exhaust,depending on if you want looks or performance next.If performance. do guages,injectors,HPOP(high pressure oil pump),then your chioce of tuner,possibly turbo... Then lift, IMO, if you go larger than 35" tires you will want to regear....
Good luck with your rig and trust there is a world of great information on this site....

 

Your first investment should be AE with Enhanced Ford Bundle.

AE at Riffraff

 

PaysonPSD has a great suggestion. AE is one of the most powerful troubleshooting tools you can have for our trucks. You should do what I did not. Work all of the bugs out of the truck while it is stock, THEN start to mod it. It is waaaaay easier to keep track of what is causing what that way. Then you don't end up de-modding to figure things out like I have had to do.

 

Excellent point Mike.

Get in running as perfect as possible before you start doing performance mods.

 

Don't mean to side track your post, but can an OBDII scaner be used on our trucks???

 

First off, welcome to the 7.3 side of FTE. we are a Brotherhood here, welcome aboard.
check this link,https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/5...nfusion-2.html
start at post #18 by Powerstrokejunkie.I know its a little dated price wise but the info is still solid.
good basics will get you along way with these trucks. Never be afraid to ask a question, or post a comment. Guaranteed, some one has seen it, done it, fixed it. some of us twice. lots of smart fellas, and gals on here.
let us know where you're located. probably some other brother close by that would love to drop by and help, if'n you supply the beer that is!
Barney

 

You are getting good info and advice. I'll just say welcome to FTE. You will love it !

 

Yes but it isnt able to read all of the codes

Welcome to FTE.....AE is a good idea first, make sure its in tip top shape and get a good feel for it. Check for boost leaks! I would recommend gauges be the first thing you get, then intake a lot of guys like the 6637 then exhaust. From there if your wanting more power get a tuner and wait for the other things from driving a ranger to the power you can make with your truck mostly stock you might be amazed and happy with tat power level and still pull off some fuel mileage. Do you know if you have 3:73 or 4:10 gears? If you have 4:10s jack it up and dont worry about your mileage as the bigger tires will help off set them. I was running 3:73s and 36x14.5s with no problems I wasnt towing 10K pounds either. Soon Ill be going 38x15.5 with the 3:73s and Ill see how they do if I dont like it Ill change them to 4:30s

 

I would begin by saying why does it need a new computer. Ok, something might/could/is wrong with the truck. Just because some smog junkie from CA tells you you need a new computer dosent mean you need one. Getting AE would help you greatly in determining if you need to fix anything on your truck.

I wish I had a $3000 a year for a truck budget. Lucky if I get that every 5 yrs

 

Welcome to FTE And if you listen to these guys you will learn so much. And be careful you might catch the PMS hanging here.

I would start with good 4" turbo back exhaust and intake. Them 2 things alone will make a differents. And since you have money to spend the AE would be great to have.

 

and this thread for those days when you just want to bond with your truck
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...on-thread.html

 

Thanks for posting up that tread I love it and so does my truck. We thank you and Greg for starting that tread.
It is a must read !!!!!!