Stage 1 vs. Stage 2
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Stage 1 vs. Stage 2
Needing to replace the injectors in my truck, was thing of going with stage 2 injectors but I'm not sure if they are too much for my truck. My main concern is EGT and power, I do a lot of hauling with my truck I plan on upgrading the turbo in the future for sure. But I also don't want to get stage 1 and then want stage 2 later down the line. Any help would be much appreciated
1995 7.3l
Mods:
TS-6 Pos
3 inch down to 5 inch straight
S&B Cold Air Intake
Wicked Wheel II (stock turbo)
Glow shift Fuel pressure, Pyro, Boost
1995 7.3l
Mods:
TS-6 Pos
3 inch down to 5 inch straight
S&B Cold Air Intake
Wicked Wheel II (stock turbo)
Glow shift Fuel pressure, Pyro, Boost
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
I don't plan on making a lot of power just around 400ish
I use the truck as a daily as well as pulling trailers hauling cattle, hay, etc.
I've heard that the KC38r is a good upgrade
My elevation is about 2,300 ft above sea level
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
I don't plan on making a lot of power just around 400ish
I use the truck as a daily as well as pulling trailers hauling cattle, hay, etc.
I've heard that the KC38r is a good upgrade
My elevation is about 2,300 ft above sea level
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 20,419
Likes: 197
From: AZ
You can see what I haul, 20K. With stage ll's I was always backing out of it because of EGT's. I had them converted to stage I's and am much happier. I still have EGT problems but what can I expect going across county with that load?
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 10,590
Likes: 382
From: Texas
What Glenn said. If your truck is a dedicated hauler, stay away from Stage 2 unless you plan on dropping a LOT of coin. I had Stage 1 in my 97 in my sig. It had plenty of power to haul 11k with power to spare.
Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 14,376
Likes: 605
From: evansville in
The only way it would be a good idea to do stage 2's is if you upgrade turbo. A correctly sized t-4 unit would tow fine. I know of a build that will have stage 2's and big air. I believe it will be a beast of a towing machine. I can't wait to get the data after its done on how it performs. I tow just great with decent size stixs but I'm not on any semblence of anything stock turbo related. If you think any drop in charger is going to support 2's then I think you will be disappointed.
Trending Topics
PREMIUM SPONSOR
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,630
Likes: 217
From: North East Ohio
The smaller the nozzle, the easier it is to tune for towing. Period
If you plan on towing a lot, then go with the Stage-1's and be happy at 325 hp. You'll hate the Stage-2's.
On the other hand, if you have the ability to get your truck LIVE tuned by one of the 4 or 5 good tuners in the country, then you can go with a larger injector, take the truck and a loaded trailer to them for some good live tuning, then you can do what you want.
Otherwise they are taking a best guess as to what will make your truck run well (not a knock to the tuning guys, that's just how it is) because every truck responds differently to tuning and you'll never like towing with the Stage-2's.
I've run all different sizes and kinds of turbos and nothing towed well until I had my truck live tuned.
If you plan on towing a lot, then go with the Stage-1's and be happy at 325 hp. You'll hate the Stage-2's.
On the other hand, if you have the ability to get your truck LIVE tuned by one of the 4 or 5 good tuners in the country, then you can go with a larger injector, take the truck and a loaded trailer to them for some good live tuning, then you can do what you want.
Otherwise they are taking a best guess as to what will make your truck run well (not a knock to the tuning guys, that's just how it is) because every truck responds differently to tuning and you'll never like towing with the Stage-2's.
I've run all different sizes and kinds of turbos and nothing towed well until I had my truck live tuned.
__________________
'96 7.3 F-350 Reg Cab 4x4 - bought new.
'04 6.0 E-350 custom 4x4
'08 6.4 F-550 Reg Cab 6 spd 4x4
'17 6.7 F-250 KR ccsb 4x4
'96 7.3 F-350 Reg Cab 4x4 - bought new.
'04 6.0 E-350 custom 4x4
'08 6.4 F-550 Reg Cab 6 spd 4x4
'17 6.7 F-250 KR ccsb 4x4
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 10,590
Likes: 382
From: Texas
The only way it would be a good idea to do stage 2's is if you upgrade turbo. A correctly sized t-4 unit would tow fine. I know of a build that will have stage 2's and big air. I believe it will be a beast of a towing machine. I can't wait to get the data after its done on how it performs. I tow just great with decent size stixs but I'm not on any semblence of anything stock turbo related. If you think any drop in charger is going to support 2's then I think you will be disappointed.
The smaller the nozzle, the easier it is to tune for towing. Period
If you plan on towing a lot, then go with the Stage-1's and be happy at 325 hp. You'll hate the Stage-2's.
On the other hand, if you have the ability to get your truck LIVE tuned by one of the 4 or 5 good tuners in the country, then you can go with a larger injector, take the truck and a loaded trailer to them for some good live tuning, then you can do what you want.
Otherwise they are taking a best guess as to what will make your truck run well (not a knock to the tuning guys, that's just how it is) because every truck responds differently to tuning and you'll never like towing with the Stage-2's.
I've run all different sizes and kinds of turbos and nothing towed well until I had my truck live tuned.
If you plan on towing a lot, then go with the Stage-1's and be happy at 325 hp. You'll hate the Stage-2's.
On the other hand, if you have the ability to get your truck LIVE tuned by one of the 4 or 5 good tuners in the country, then you can go with a larger injector, take the truck and a loaded trailer to them for some good live tuning, then you can do what you want.
Otherwise they are taking a best guess as to what will make your truck run well (not a knock to the tuning guys, that's just how it is) because every truck responds differently to tuning and you'll never like towing with the Stage-2's.
I've run all different sizes and kinds of turbos and nothing towed well until I had my truck live tuned.
I towed my horse trailers and my travel trailers MANY miles with Stage 1s, an Intercooler, STOCK turbo, and tuned. 30 pounds of boost and hauling up a 6% grade at 65 mph was plenty good for me. I am not sure what more someone wants out of a diesel truck. 70 mph? 75 mph? Anyways, I was very happy with performance. I had no EGT issues and power to spare with 11k pounds.
It just gets into "want" vs. "need". If you "want" it, spend away with your time and money, because it takes a lot of both to get it right. If you are talking "need", Stage 1s will serve you well.
Butt-Head
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 9,453
Likes: 2,936
From: Reed Point, MT
Without an air-to-air, don't do anything to it. Stock injectors with tuning can exceed safe limits on EGT. Once that is on the list, you can get away with a little more but you're not going to put 400 horsepower through it while towing for very long until the rest of the drive line melts down.
PREMIUM SPONSOR
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,630
Likes: 217
From: North East Ohio
Any of the popular name tuners can do Live tuning: PHP, DP Tuner, DynoProven, PowerStruck, Gearhead, Swamps, Innovative, etc. (Ok, there are more than 4 or 5, but I personally only like 4 or 5 of the ones I listed. 
)
Very, very true, and good point.
However...I had 238/200% Hybrids with a 38R that Bill LIVE tuned for me way back when, in my '96 that has never had an inter-cooler, and that truck towed great! But only after live tuning.
)Without an air-to-air, don't do anything to it. Stock injectors with tuning can exceed safe limits on EGT. Once that is on the list, you can get away with a little more but you're not going to put 400 horsepower through it while towing for very long until the rest of the drive line melts down.
However...I had 238/200% Hybrids with a 38R that Bill LIVE tuned for me way back when, in my '96 that has never had an inter-cooler, and that truck towed great! But only after live tuning.
__________________
'96 7.3 F-350 Reg Cab 4x4 - bought new.
'04 6.0 E-350 custom 4x4
'08 6.4 F-550 Reg Cab 6 spd 4x4
'17 6.7 F-250 KR ccsb 4x4
'96 7.3 F-350 Reg Cab 4x4 - bought new.
'04 6.0 E-350 custom 4x4
'08 6.4 F-550 Reg Cab 6 spd 4x4
'17 6.7 F-250 KR ccsb 4x4
PREMIUM SPONSOR
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,630
Likes: 217
From: North East Ohio
The 160/30% Stage-1.5 have been growing every year, and I think we might be building more of those than Stage-1's now. They are a good in between injector and a good compromise vs the Stage-2's.
But it really comes down to what other mods you have. If the truck is pretty much all stock, the Stage-1's do great. But if you have a larger turbo, HPOP, fuel system, intercooler, AND you tow, then the 160/30% Stage-1.5's will be a better choice than the 160/80% Stage-2's. The 160/30% also can be more easily (but maybe not perfectly) tuned back if you think you want to upgrade all of this stuff and want a little more power later on, which is why they are kicking Stage-1's from the top spot.
If you want safe safe safe across the board you can't loose with Stage-1's.
But it really comes down to what other mods you have. If the truck is pretty much all stock, the Stage-1's do great. But if you have a larger turbo, HPOP, fuel system, intercooler, AND you tow, then the 160/30% Stage-1.5's will be a better choice than the 160/80% Stage-2's. The 160/30% also can be more easily (but maybe not perfectly) tuned back if you think you want to upgrade all of this stuff and want a little more power later on, which is why they are kicking Stage-1's from the top spot.
If you want safe safe safe across the board you can't loose with Stage-1's.
__________________
'96 7.3 F-350 Reg Cab 4x4 - bought new.
'04 6.0 E-350 custom 4x4
'08 6.4 F-550 Reg Cab 6 spd 4x4
'17 6.7 F-250 KR ccsb 4x4
'96 7.3 F-350 Reg Cab 4x4 - bought new.
'04 6.0 E-350 custom 4x4
'08 6.4 F-550 Reg Cab 6 spd 4x4
'17 6.7 F-250 KR ccsb 4x4
FOREIGN GURU
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 7,655
Likes: 7
From: Celaya, Gto. MX
The 160/30% Stage-1.5 have been growing every year, and I think we might be building more of those than Stage-1's now. They are a good in between injector and a good compromise vs the Stage-2's.
But it really comes down to what other mods you have. If the truck is pretty much all stock, the Stage-1's do great. But if you have a larger turbo, HPOP, fuel system, intercooler, AND you tow, then the 160/30% Stage-1.5's will be a better choice than the 160/80% Stage-2's. The 160/30% also can be more easily (but maybe not perfectly) tuned back if you think you want to upgrade all of this stuff and want a little more power later on, which is why they are kicking Stage-1's from the top spot.
If you want safe safe safe across the board you can't loose with Stage-1's.
But it really comes down to what other mods you have. If the truck is pretty much all stock, the Stage-1's do great. But if you have a larger turbo, HPOP, fuel system, intercooler, AND you tow, then the 160/30% Stage-1.5's will be a better choice than the 160/80% Stage-2's. The 160/30% also can be more easily (but maybe not perfectly) tuned back if you think you want to upgrade all of this stuff and want a little more power later on, which is why they are kicking Stage-1's from the top spot.
If you want safe safe safe across the board you can't loose with Stage-1's.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Sous
1999 - 2003 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel
2133
May 12, 2021 04:33 PM
spdmpo
1999 - 2003 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel
91
Feb 23, 2011 03:22 PM
97REDPSD
1994.5 - 1997 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel
8
Apr 10, 2007 04:07 PM