I was talking to a 6.0 guy who started offering up mods that i could do on my 7.3. Supposedly according to the other guys around, he's supposed to know his stuff when it comes to ford diesel performance. I consider myself very knowledgable on the 7.3. Not an expert, but I know my way around the truck thanks to this site and an ungodly amount of reading and research. Anyway, I think he's full of it, but just in case I'm wrong, I want to ask you all. Lets face it, I was wrong once before, it's possible it happens again one day.

1: does the red line mod (pulling the red vacuum line off the turbo) do anything on a truck that is tuned? He said it would still help, but I always thought tunes took care of that.

2: he swears up and down that you can "stack chips" on a 7.3. I balked very adamantly on that. He said there is a separate computer that controls injectors called the ficm that could be programmed separate from the PCM. Isn't the ficm just the 6.0 version of the idm? And can the idm or ficm be programmed to boost hp over what tuning is done on the PCM? (This one I think he's just gravely mistaken, but maybe I just haven't read that thread.)

There was something else he said that made no sense, but I can't remember what it was... Anyway, have I been missing out or does he need to stick to 6.0s?

 

guessing here, but I dont think you can stack chips. I would think it would confuse the computer.

then I would ask "why" would you want to stack chips. they have come along way I think to provide some good things.
plus $ for a second chip you could spend it else where.

 

I've always heard you couldn't stack, and am 99.99% sure you can't. But, what he was talking almost sounded like a reprogram not really a chip, although he said chip.

 

Well you can get a swamps idm that has higher voltage so you see a little increase in power from it. But its def. Not "tuned"

 

Jeff, you've been around awhile, ficm? really? I wouldn't listen to anything this guy says. He doesn't even know component terminology when it comes to your truck, just saying.

 

That must be what he's thinking. I'll look into that.

I have been around a while, and I do think I know my stuff pretty well. But it's like that song you sing for years and know by heart, then one day realize that you have the lyrics all wrong...lol

From what I've managed to dig up, the 6.0 has an ficm (fuel injector control module) that is on the firewall. I'm thinking its just a new name and location for the idm.


Anybody have a clue on the redline though? I know it's a common mod, just always thought tuning made it obsolete.

 

Tugly talked about the red line in a thread the other day. Yes, pulling it and plugging it will allow you to get a few extra pounds of boost on a tuned truck.

 

Found it. Post#22
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ch-says-2.html

 

Thanks, I popped in to see if he could elaborate.

 

He was correct on one point. You can unplug the red line and cap it to stop the computer from opening the wastegate. You can also tighten the rod on the wastegate. Both will allow more boost on a tuned or not tuned truck. No stacked chips not on a 7.3! You can mod the IDM and it makes a bit of a difference, (I have one) but not a huge gain. I am happy with mine.

High voltage/high frequency Injection Driver Module - Swamp's Diesel Performance

 

Yes, FICM is a 6.0 term.
It is located on the DS valve cover.
It is essentially the same as the IDM in a 7.3 truck.

 

I disagree on the stacking chips thing. On a 6.0, you can get a "tune" (reflash) for the FICM, which ive heard really just decreases throttle lag. A lot of people joke around saying they have a 13 second 6.0 with just a FICM tune...so ill leave it with that

 

next time you see that guy, thank him and tell him you did everything he suggested. you unplugged the "redline" and got an extra 35 lbs boost over the stock 17 lbs for a total of 53 lbs boost, and stacked a bullydog triple dog on top of an edge juice with attitude and the truck now makes 600 hp.

then ignore everything that idiot says.
i bet he was a dodge owner before buying the 6.0, because every dodge owner knows you can stack chips on top of stacked chips for added power.

you could have 50 chips stacked up on the computer, but only one will work.