{cracking knuckles}

Don't get "sucked into"? Sous covered that. Chipping adds fuel. The stock intake is total garbage, and more people have problems with the seals than not. On top of that, the flow is dismal - it barely keeps up with stock boost. Adding fuel asks for more air, and once the engine and you turn to look at the stock box for air, that stock box is akin to a shaking chihuahua looking at an Iditarod sled and pissing itself.

There is nothing wrong with the S&B. The only issue I would have with that upgrade is it's more for the bigger mods like turbo and injectors, and it's not the quietest. Saying that... I have the S&B because I have bigger sticks and turbo, and I don't like the noise of the other big breathers.

My absolute favorite intake is the AIS... I had that for years, and I could go 20K miles between filter changes. I had air mods and a chip, but going to the bigger injectors and turbo just outgrew the AIS - and I had to sell it to another member here in the forum. My S&B goes about 10K miles before needing to be swapped, but at least it breathes - even if it does snore.

OK... once that anemic intake is addressed, then you can focus on gauges. What's that you say? You never brought up gauges? Well... you said the magic word - "programmer". If you are looking to add more oomph than the Ford engineers had intended, then you are leaving behind the protections they put in place. Since you are going to re-engineer the truck, you'll need some feedback from it to let you know if you went too far. OBDII gauges cover almost everything you need - almost. There is no sensor for your exhaust gas temperatures, and you really need that info - plus there is no fuel pressure sensor on the truck. Fuel pressure was not a big concern 20 years ago when this platform was introduced, but it is now on our jurassic vehicles... particularly since you are asking for more fuel.

Intake and gauges crossed off the list, 4" turbo-back exhaust and red line mod is next. Here's the fun part - before you even chip up, you will now see more boost. You might even hit the defueling wall like I did. To avoid defueling, you can install a boost fooler - or wait for the chip.

Chip - I now lean toward 1023 Diesel Tuning on a Hydra, but I hear Gearhead is making a comeback after cleaning house

Since I'm a huge fan of yellow tape (Clay at Riffraff Diesel), you can do your one-stop shopping for everything on the list there - except for the OBDII gauge hardware and apps. I visit the jungle (Amazon) for my OBDII adapter, then Google Play or iTunes takes care of the apps. Bear in mind - Apple doesn't play nice with bluetooth adapters, so WiFi is the call here.

 

I have gauges, I bought the Edge CS2 Insight when I had the transmission rebuilt so I can keep an eye on temp when towing. Also bought the EGT probe as well. Diesel is brand new to me, I just came over from a Toyota Tundra and have only had gassers in my past.

 

Here it is...

 

Don't be. I have one and it works great. It just takes up everything between the headlight and the master cylinder. I can't remove the power steering reservoir cap unless I remove the intake tube but that might not happen to everyone.

While Banks makes good products, they do not have the bang for the buck with the 7.3L as they do with others. I'm not steering you away but some of the cost comes from making their products CA emissions compliant for guys like me to pass my smog test with the gear.

If you are not concerned about getting past Johnny Law every year or two like some of us there are more cost-effective options out there.

I have not run any of 1023's tunes (although I hear good things) but I can attest to Gearhead. The last 3 months have been a night and day swing with them. They are now my go-to tunes for day-to-day driving.

 

Sharp looking Ex you have there!

As for tuning, you cannot go wrong with GearHead or 1023 Tuning. Read their descriptions of the tunes and make a decision that you feel comfortable with.

 

What are your opinions of more cost effective options? I live in Oregon and diesels are exempt from going to DEQ and having to worry about smog.

 

Cost effective and Banks are rarely used in the same sentence. If you are exempt, there are many, many options available to you and the options are only stipulated by how far down the rabbit hole you want to go...

There is an acronym used around here and it is PMS. It stands for Powerstroke Modification Syndrome...

I think over the 4+ years I have owned my truck I have kept the PMS at bay. I have recently just jumped on the T4 and Borg Warner SX-E turbo bandwagon. I think this is the right call for my use of the truck and sustaining low EGT's while towing our 5th wheel cross country many, many times to see our beautiful nation.

Sit back, grab a cool beverage of your choice and start jotting down things to look into further as you read, read and read more. Don't jump to any decision until you are sure that is the correct path for you. Take advice lightly because a modification or a change of parts may be the right call for one person, but completely wrong for you.

Welcome to the club, the 7.3 is a beast and should last a long time if taken care of.

 

For exhausts some names I see thrown around are MBRP, Diamond Eye, Magnaflow, Silverline, and aFe.

For intakes you can go low budget with the "6637" modification to the OEM intake and rise through the price ranks to aFe, S&B, Volant, and Airaid.

That is a non-inclusive list and just some of the brands I hear metioned cruising around the web.

So true!

Sous, just noticed the link in your signature. Nice collection, thanks.

 

I liked the banks CAI but replacement filters I believe are $90.oo each. There exhaust is good, little heavier then most, but I went magnaflow. If you go S&B go with the dry filter. You will love the truck for towing. I've had my problems, but most in the transmission. Good luck and let us know what you do!

 

I have the same intake. Can you get your power steering reservoir cap off or is it just me?

 

Since the OP was specific about the Banks parts he was inquiring about, and you were generalizing regarding Banks parts being CARB approved, I wanna add info for clarification.

To the OP, Banks is not the only approved exhaust and intake parts you can put on your vehicles, if you lived in California. I know you've subsequently advised you live on Oregon, but just for info sake, any and all exhaust and intake filters are approved for use in California by CARB. Other parts maybe not so much, so Banks has the corner market on other parts OK'd by CARB, like Brian was stating.

Stewart

 

 

I don't have it on mine, just stating what my friends have said about there's. When I see one of them I will check. I think they have said know problem but don't want to mislead. What about Rich's, does he have that problem. He never mentioned it. You should PM him.

 

I only mentioned Banks because to my understanding they are of good quality and good quality parts usually means more expensive. I am a firm believer in, you get what you pay for, so that is why I never really looked at anything else.
Every person I talk to has a different opinion, imagine that, so I am just trying to get some guidance/opinions from some guys that have already done it.

 

Banks is overpriced and generally speaking, far from the best on the market in my opinion.

Stewart