Gotta question for everyone... I recently got a 89 F250 7.3 Diesel kinda for a second beat up work truck for my landscape company. I was really hoping for a good hauler but ive been nothin but disappointed pulling a load. feel like the truck has no power at all for loads and i sure cant pull stumps for anything. any suggestions on what would be the best bang for the buck on power would be helpful. dont wanna spend lots of money on this thing but do need the power. heard that a propane kit really puts in the power...any thoughts on those??
Thanks

 

I have a 90 and pull about 6500# most of the time with no trouble. I don't go as fast as a PSD but I get there. A lot depends on rear ratio.You can change the intake and exhaust and make them larger. Cut the restrictions out of the air cleaner. And you can turn up the IP. Go to www.members.shaw.ca/k2pilot/ for instructions and other tips. Also do a search and you will get more good info. And you could also find a turbo if you want to spend the money. Don't know about the propane kits so I can't comment on it. Good luck with it.

 

No power compared to what?

Propane will not do a lot on a non turbo truck and will cost several hundred to install a home made version.
A turbo is the most bang for the buck.
A non turbo diesel is not fast, but it will pull more than you should have on the truck.
I have grossed over 20,000 pounds with my 6.9 for many years in the WV mountains.
I was never the first one there, but I always got there.

 

Check over on dieselstop.com They have a TON of great diesel tech over there. If you do any of the mods relating to fuel increases, get a pyrometer first.

 

I guess we don't have enough "diesel tech" here.

 

I bet we have at least two tons of great "diesel tech here", maybe three.

 

Nah. Looks like we've got 3/4 - 1 ton of diesel tech. (lol)

 

Now that we got that outta the way...
The first and cheapest thing to do is to remove the stock muffler in favor of something straight thru. The factory unit is very restrictive. If you want to spend a little more than that, go for the 3 inch upgraded pipe.

 

well the first thing i would look into, would be to have a diesel "tune up" done. ever in N AZ? well bring it around. do a fuel filter, oil filter, check lift pump pressure, run a compression check, and check the pump timing. most people who bring them into my shop complain as you do, after a good check out, and the required services, i run a comp test and pump timing check. 99% are fine in the compression range, as the run and start, just not well. the comes the pump timing... know what i find?? alot of shops have pure morons working there!! well they install the pump after a rebuild, well the line was there, so it should go back there..(this is called static timing BTW) well, no it wont. most will be in the range of 4.5-6.0' timing. international specs the A motor in at 9.5' +or- 1.5' . ford says 8.5' +or- 2' . i like to set mine in the area of 9.0' (this is called dynamic timing). and boy oh boy will 2 or 3' really bring the grunt out of a 7.3l. yeah, its a bit louder, but now it sounds like a diesel truck instead of a chevy with a noisy lifter. a good diesel shop will have a lumi-mag or Feret adaptor, and can adjust the pump timing for you. ask before you take it there, dont assume. there are alot of shops that do diesel work that have never dynamicly timed an injector pump. detroits-big cummins(and some small like the p series Bosch)-cats run off the injectors for time not a pump. find a good shop, and i am sure you will be impressed.. Kurt owner-operator Four Husky Investments Inc. dba All Seasons Service and Repair AZ

 

I had no problem at all hauling 26 of these over 100 miles apeice. round trip my truck did about 200 miles per building from LA area to Bakersfield: