1st Powerstroke. Which Mods First?


<HR style="COLOR: #666666" SIZE=1><!-- / icon and title --><!-- message -->Hello,

I just perchased my first Powerstroke. It is a 2002 7.3 liter Excursion, and I love it, but being a hot rodder at heart, I cannot leave it stock.
I was wondering which mods everyone would do first to gain more power?
Imagine that you had $1000 dollars to spend, and a stock motor. What would give the most bang for the buck?
My friend recommends an airfilter upgrade, a down pipe, and a programmer. What do you guys think? Which air filter, pipe, and programmer?
Anyone else have ideas? What about the Racor crank case breather? Seems to be a lot of oil in the intercooler.
Which mods have you been best pleased with?
Any advice appreciated.
Regards,
Paul Low

 

Welcome to FTE , you'll find everything you need for your new ride and more. Please take the time to read the guidelines and the "read first" threads at the top of a forum.

Before you decide to do any type of performance mods, you'll need some gagues. The gauges are merely a safety precaution. A pyrometer (exhaust temp. VERY important), boost gauge (for the turbo), and transmission temp gauge. (although you have one built in on your X, people have said that they aren't always accurate) These three gauges will give you fair warning when and if something gets a little too hot.

From there, you can either start with an exhaust system, intake, or both.

Dale Isley (I think thats his name ) over at Tymar performance (www.tymarperformance.com), makes a great intake system that uses a gigantic paper filter; as opposed to the K&N type filters that "shread" the turbo. It allows the engine to breath better and put out way more power.

As far as exhaust systems are concerned, it's all about preference and how much bread you have to spend. Hog, Magnaflow, Bullydog, and especially Banks, make good exhuast systems with a variety of options. Installation typically is a 2 or sometimes 3 man job and may take about 3-4 hours to do. But when it's done and you crank up the engine for the first time, it'll bring a BIG smile to your face.

Lastly, the Diablo Predator or the Superchips Microtuner will give you the power that you crave. Again, personal preference applies here. Excursion and Superduty owners on this forum swear by their Preadator. With the preadator, you not only get a tuner, you get a code reader as well. So if the "Service Engine Soon" (SES) light ever comes on, you can pull the code(s). Either programmer/tuner will increase hp and torque as well as improve the shift points on your transmission.

Enjoy!

 

$1000 can get you a turbo back exhaust and a diablo predator!
With installation included (since I'd rather be out driving than installing)

this combination has proven NOT to create any issues with your truck as far as EGT's extremes..... (As long as you are NOT towing !)
Only issue I know of is the enjoyment factor is too high which causes right foot twitching and much grinnin !!!

 

1. pyro, boost and tranny temp gauges
2. TYMAR intake
3. Straight pipe or free flow muffler
4. Performance chip or SCMT
5. Turbo upgrade
6. intercooler upgrade
7. injector rework by swamps performance
8. transmission will now be dust so send it to BTS for an overhaul
9. how much you want to spend?

 

If you are a Hot Rodder, then you won't be happy till you add Propane Injection....

 

And lastly, go to your local "sign" shop. Have some small vinyl vehicle graphics made in the shape of Mustangs, Camaros, etc. Mine are almost 2 inces long by about 3/4 inch tall. Then reach out of your cockpit and slap another one on your door after you dust each one with your 8k lb behemoth. Of course, those could be incriminating should you get stopped by a law enforcement officer and you've got about 3 rows of stickers under your window.

 

Built in trans temp? Where's that?

 

Its one of about 2 or 3 gauges in the uppper right hand corner of the dash.
To be more specifc, to the right of your speedo somewhere between 60 and maybe 80 mph. I'm not sure, but I know it's there.

 

That's the wife's "car". But i never saw it . maybe an option? '01 X Limited?

 

It was never an option on any of the '01 models. Not even the Super Duty. The trans temp gauge came in the 2002 model year with the dash upgrades.

 

I've been real happy with my Tony Wildman 4pos chip, I can switch from a CARB program ( economy ) to a full out race program. I've dyno'd 330+ with this chip. I would definitely get a pyro and exhaust first. Oh Ya, this is my wife's truck.

Later,

AlanB