Hi, I have a really great 1997 automatic F350 dually (CA emissions) that I bought earlier this year. It is a fantastic truck with 136K miles on it. I got this truck to tow a car hauler trailer for my race car, probably will be around 12K lbs. I'm looking to improve the truck for this job with the chief goal being reliability followed by a combination of power (for getting up the hills) and fuel economy (because it makes it feel less expensive to go on trips). Right now the truck is almost completely stock save for a transfer flow, airbags and some interior improvements. I'm already planning on doing a hydroboost (put one on my 86 F250 and love it).

In the grand scheme of things, I'm fairly open on budget. The engine is in excellent condition, basically no blow-by and no oil consumption. As a result I'd like to keep this engine and I really would like to avoid anything as extreme as taking the heads off or what not (too big of a project at that point). I want to do supporting modifications first so that I've maximized the longevity of the entire system. Right now my initial thought on upgrade order is:

hydroboost
Swamps IDM
better exhaust
upgraded HPOP (not sure which)
Upgraded turbo with intercooler (not sure which) and larger intake plenum
Gauges
Programmer/chip (not sure which)
New injectors (again, not sure which)
Hardened transmission maybe?
Not sure where to go after this...

Essentially I'm thinking I want to do the things that improve the precision of fuel delivery and quality of air and only then add more fuel (since adding more fuel is when you start to add heat and danger).

So, what do you all think of this? I'm not looking for instant gratification, but instead having a low grief upgrade path without too many miss-steps.

 

Trans should be done before adding power.

Injectors should be done before the turbo. A upgraded turbo would be laggy with stock injectors.

 

Also, because I like to show off, here are some pictures of the truck:




Towing my friend's (guy in picture) 72' F250 with my F350.



At the track with my spec miata.




The night I bought the truck, drove my BRZ up to get it and towed it it back.




Interior upgrades

 

Trans - John wood or bts
Guadges - auto meter
6.0 intercooler
Injectors - rosewood
Turbo- d66
Hpop- t500
Efuel - many different company's I liked swamps diesel
Chip - ts from beans, swamps, tdp, gear head ect.

 

I wouldn't waste my money on a d66. A d66 is a stock turbo with 360* oiling, different backing plate, 66mm compressor wheel and a housing.

If you're going to do a turbo upgrade go straight to a t4 kit

 

Great setup but iirc a d66 is a fraction of the price and moves a lot more air? (I honestly could be wrong though) haven't looked into these products in a few years

 

If you can do the fab work you can do a s366 for just a couple hundred more than a d66. If you can't you can get a a full t4 kit and turbo for 2400

 

D66 won't do ANY good egt wise on a tow truck.
Step up or step out.

 

I've had a few friends sing the praises of the Honey Badger Jr. HPOP...

 

What's the price on one of those Honey badger hoops?

 

Don't do it!!

You will not find the investment a good one.

 

Already have a terminal, just curious.

 

Just suffice it to say you made a good choice.

 

Ok, I've done some research on what everyone has said and I think my immediate upgrades will be: intake, oil crossover line and exhaust. Now the question is, when I eventually do the turbo upgrade (assuming T4 style), are the inlet (from intake) and outlet (to exhaust) different sizes?

 

I've had one. Wouldn't put another on an enemy's truck. POS.