2003 F250, just under 135k miles.

Have a DP Tuner, 4" turbo back exhaust, 6637 filter, ATS ported housing, diesel site wastegate, and all the other mods in the sig.

The truck mechanically is near perfect and runs extremely solid. I can hit 30 pounds of boost with my wastegage adjusted properly, so I don't think a leaky boost is the problem. I've adjusted the gate to top out at 25 pounds though, just to play it safe.


Last week I towed a trailer that I estimate weighed 5500lbs 800 miles. A lot of the towing was through mountains. I used 80T which kepted keep my EGTs manageable and was able to maintain them under 1200 for the trip.

Amazingly, even with the stock transmission cooler, my trans temp never got above 193* according to my Aeroforce and the temp at the pan was reading about 10* less. It only spiked to 193* for a few minutes up a long slow grade.

Some of the mountains I tow in have very, very steep grades. A couple times I had to drop it into 2nd gear and crawl at 25-35mph, otherwise I my EGTs would have been danger high.

The trailer (22' enclosed hitch pull) was only 5500lbs loaded and really seemed like a heavy haul for the truck. On flat ground it wasn't too bad, I could maintain 65-70 without much problem. I don't get how the guys pull 8-10k+ pounds with these trucks, especially stock ones. Overall she ran great and never faltered for a second, but it was like driving a turtle.

I have to make the same run again in three weeks and will be about 2k lbs heavier than last time and a 300 mile longer drive.

What is the next step for some more power to get up those hills, yet still maintain reliability? The drive takes me through some very remote areas of Alaska.

Am I looking at injectors, upgraded turbo, and new tunes? And with those usually comes a new transmission....

 

Power upgrade and remote location... not a good mix. One thought is to get some new AC 160s off the shelf from the IH dealer... or from Riffraff Diesel. You would need to change your tunes to single-shot, but you would have more power and cooler EGTs. As you said, the transmission won't like it. Upgrades to the turbo might follow the bigger sticks, then the intake plenums, then you're on the ride.

 

Especially if your test run is in said remote location.

From the sound of it, the previously mentioned single shots will go with the mods you very nicely. And you shouldn't be at too risk of catastrophic failure.

 

Would any fuel upgrades be required?

My fuel pressure drops to around 50psi at WOT

What kind of gains ckuld I expect to see with the single shots?

 

Your fuel system should be fine with 160cc single shots. As long as everything is in good working order anyways. But since you have a fuel pressure gauge, just make sure it doesn't drop below.......42 PSI i think? I'll look it up to verify.

 

45 psi minimum.

 

And readjust your waste gate. 30psi should be just fine!

 

I only make those large boost numbers when the skinny pedal is mashed to the floor. Also with that comes high EGTs.

Going up the hills I was usually making 15-22 pounds of boost.

 

Your configuration can make some warm manifolds. A few changes like more air and single shots is part of the cooler EGT kit.

 

A set of 160cc injectors is around $3,000+... is that right?

Wow. Plus install, intake mods, upgraded transmission, etc. I could easily be looking at $8-10k with trans, injectors, tunes, etc etc.

I think I'd rather put that much money as a down payment on a new 6.7.

 

Before we get nutts spending your money......do you have a 40T or 60T tune available to you? 80T may have been too aggressive to maintain reasonable EGTs......just a thought....

 

It's closer to $2K, once you get your core charge back. That being said, it's not unusual to spend $7,500 to properly power up a 7.3L to about 375 RWHP (more than a 6.7L) with proper mods, and $10K - $15K is not unheard of to top 400HP with mods under the chassis to take it all.

I went way over the top - restoring Stinky to like-new condition running gear plus upgrades wherever I could. There isn't an old bearing or sensor on him, he's reinforced to prevent axle-wrap, and he's configured to tow heavy. I just got back from an 1800-mile road trip over mountain passes, and he owns the road without sooting up the pokeys. I loved passing the high-revving Suburbans, Yukons, ricers with fart tubes, and Escalades - all while cruising easily, cool, and clean (loaded to 8800 lbs.) in Overdrive. Stinky (as equipped) has all the technology in the cab that a 2015 6.7L has, but he cost half of what the 6.7L would cost me (including purchase price, repairs, and upgrades). The trade-off is ride comfort and sound level - but the 2000 Lariat trim is pretty quiet when compared to the other trucks of that year.

 

I messed up guys. I just broke out the weight by all the ammo and gear I was carrying and added it up.

I significantly underestimated how much weight I was actually hauling.

The trailer itself loaded up grossed about 8200lbs. I also had 350lbs of diesel in my aux fuel tank in my bed, along with a toolbox full of tools (~200lbs).

All said and done the truck had around an extra ~9000lbs added to it.

I feel slightly better about its power level now.

 

Makes a little more sense now......do you have another tow tune like a 40T or 60T?

I'm guessing (and someone who knows more can correct me) that your 80T might be a little heavy on the fuel compared to the air you are putting in to balance it out....

You might be better off towing 9000+ lbs in a less aggressive tune......

Again someone may say I'm nutts as well.....it wouldn't be the first time.

 

I only have 80t for a tow tune. I do have 60e and 80e