Hey guys, I just landed a good contract that works my truck and trailer but you know living in the rockies there is no flat road. I am really getting tired of being in the slow lane all the time on the hills, even empty.

My 97 f-350 4x4 dually has 4.10s, 5 spd, and although is a flat deck scales in at just over 8200lbs!
I have no mods on this truck other than a straight pipe exhaust and no cat.
I don't know how strong the engine is but doesn't use oil, feels good, sounds good and blows no smoke of any color.(even when matted)

I have ordered the Napa 6637 air filter to do that mod but would like to have someone walk me through a couple of other things I can do for more power without spending alot of money. I know psd power and money don't go in the same sentence!
I am wanting to go with 5" stacks as soon as I get off my butt and make an appointment.
What else can I do??? My Dodge friend says to play with the throttle body like he did on his??? I don't know what he is talking about. I am mechanically inclined but am NOT a diesel mechanic.
Because of the weight and age of truck along with gears, I only get 15-16mpg on highway. I get nearly the same with 8 55gallon drums of oil on it. I would like to keep or increase the mileage if possible.
I figure even a 50hp increase would be very noticeable to me and would make me happy.
I will make this note: When driving down the road at 100km(65mph) I rev 2300rpm and if I step on the throttle about a 1/2 inch I hear and feel the turbo wind up and I get going, BUT if I matt it I notice no difference at all.
USUALLY when a fella gives it more fuel it should pick up and go more or at least blow some black smoke,no? I see nothing beyond the 1/2" of acceleration even though I get going good. I feel fuel or air is being restricted. Both filters are new.
I was empty on this long(5km) gradual hill and had a '05 f-550 with a picker and toolboxes on deck, with a welder, pulling a 18 foot car hauller with an incinerator on the back(4500lb) blow by me so fast I was ashamed. I matted it and couldn't even close the gap.
I know the fellow and talked to him in town and he claims no mods on his company truck. His combined weight was near 18000lbs. I know those 6.0l are good but come on the 7.3 is a warhorse!
I need to at least pull the hills in 4th gear.....So give me some advice and costs if you got any!!!
Thanks Adam

 

I was looking at the dfuser 18k power module. Anyone hear of it or use it. Kinda looks like what I'm after.
Also, wondering if my cps would cause power shortage if it was acting up?????

 

HOW SERIOUS ARE YOU IS THE QUESTION?

for about 3000 bucks you can make your buddies 6.slow eat black smoke all the way up that hill.


mods you should look at.
injectors stage 1's or bigger 800+
clutch sbc con ofe to handle the power 900
i/c from 6.0/7.3 50 buck i/c and a couple hundred for pipes and boots
chip 300
intake 65
dp and cat delete at a minimum 150
gauges pyro and boost and pod 250

with those mods you will think your truck grew another engine.
i couldnt believe my truck after injectors. it was unreal. even the chip was a serious improvement when i first got it.

but bigger fuel is key and there is no substitute

if where you live is close to WA come on down i'll give ya a ride in my truck.

 

I'd love to come down but I can get to Alaska quicker than you, I'm so far north!!
I am not too serious about HUGE gains, I just need a noticeable improvement. I thought of just the chip but so many guys on here now are doing so many mods I don't know which ones would be beneficial to me.
This truck is primarily a work truck. I contract out in the oil and gas fields of BC and Alberta. The roads are rough and gravel(on a good day!) I am usually haulling oil, glycol, pipe or equipment on a 20' flatdeck trailer. I do have to make highway runs south to the next major centres which is where the mountains come in I mentioned.
I need a jump in power but I am limited in cost. I'm in the slow season now.
The intake is being done this week with one of those huge round filters(napa 6637)
The cat is gone, just straight piped out the back.(stacks are coming later)
The clutch is new along with tranny so I'd hate to have to do it again.
I priced out one of Dfuser 18k chips, they run about 100. Only one setting which is fine and they claim a 50hp increase, which is fine also.
If I could find some better injectors for my 97 I'd seriously try to but them(as long as the wife don't find out!) but they are a torquey bill to justify to her, so I may have to wait.
Any other ideas???

 

well then spend 300+ on a good chip and it will be a little more power for a while to keep you happy.

i wouldnt waste your money on some 18k mod for 100 bucks. you can make that thing for about 5 bucks with stuff from radio shack.

 

Call Tony Wildman for a badazz chip 405-818-6365

 

Badazz sounds great but the rest of the truck wouldn't handle it!!!
It seems that the air filter upgrade I'm doing is very popular in here and sounds like it makes a difference. It should be in tomorrow. Maybe that will give me the throttle response it won't show me right now.

Oh yeah another question.... What is a dp and where do I get a better one?? I'm assuming 'down pipe'???

 

Take a look at your current downpipe and you'll see why you're suffering in the power dept. Tymarperformance.com is a popular place to call and order one or you can find one on any other internet ford store. Just make sure it's a 3.5" diameter. I'll let you convert that into cm's, being from can'eh'da

 

I don't think looking at the downpipe in the truck does that piece of junk justice I have pics of it beside a tymar downpipe in my gallery. I think you would be happy with intake exhaust and a chip from any of the previous mentioned people. And I believe anyone should have gauges to monitor whats happening.

 

Trying to save some bucks for ya, do a search on having your PCM re-flashed. Something I've seen on here but don't have a lot of info to offer. Might be an idea though.

 

Any mods you make to your truck will increase your EGT's (exhaust gas temps). You really should consider adding an EGT gage, even without the mods due to the loads your pullin'
JIM

 

The most cost effective 'bang for your buck' mod is a new downpipe. No doubt. I noticed a +1 MPG and more power from this modification. Might get more MPG if I could keep my foot out of it... The 6637 is a good mod, but I noticed no extra noise/power. The 203 degree thermostat is a GREAT mod. My truck picked up 1-2 MPG with this in it. (NOTE: it is possible that this MPG gain is from winter blend to summer blend of diesel fuel as I have heard of such things but don't really know) Get gauges, you will like them. I have a Superchips tuner that adds some boost under full throttle and maybe added 1 MPG. Reading on this site I have decided that a 4 or 6 position 'flip chip' would be waaaaay better. And the injectors sound like the big ticket big improvement mod but I cannot justify it until I need new ones...

I went from 14.5 MPG stock to 18.3 MPG and a nice jump in power, thanks FTE!

 

whats a 203 t-stat do guys?

 

ih designed the t444e to run at 203*.
ford puts in a 192* or is it 193* thermostat.
it makes your truck run warmer and diesels like warm thus giving better mpg.

 

I never knew that. My truck when warm still seems cold to me on the guage. I'll check the t-stat. I would like to know where to get a better down pipe and how much work is involved installing it?
Injectors are not on my list right now...too expensive.
The chip might wait too only because I want to do the dp and t-stat, then I'll see.

Thanks for the advise.
**I did notice a difference with the 6637!! Seems like better throttle response on this last run I made, Loaded with 3300lbs.