Im getting ready to buy a 1999 F-350 7.3L Turbo Diesel...And I was just wondering about a few things...I know that you folks probably have gone rounf and round about thsese questions but here goes..

1. What Chip do you prefer
2. Are 315's too big of tires to tow a camper with and do they diminish the MPG?
3. Muffler/Exhaust is it nessessary to get away from the stock??
4. Cold Air Intake ...Your thoughts?
5. Please give your inputs on how I can improve gas milage, increase horse power, etc...

I know this is asking alot for a first post..

oh and the truck has 100,000 miles

Thanks in advance

Tom

 

Welcome!

1. DP-Tuner chip
2. not sure
3. You will want to open up the intake and exhaust. A 4-5" exhaust is the best choice, you can get by with a Walker BTM (big truck muffler) or muffler delete.
4. A lot of us are using an open element filter system like the 6637 filter (do a search for lot a of info). It is very cheap, about $18 for the filter and that's about it. One drawback is that you suck more hot air from under the hood. That's only really an issue at slow speeds or idle as the temp difference is marginal at speed, I did some temp tests. Another issue is increased noise, some like it some don't and some used to like it, now don't. Now, a lot of the 6637 guys are going to the AIS intake. I think that's the way I will go eventually. Still can't beat the 6637 for price and effectiveness. You will find a lot of us went one way with tuners, chips, intakes, exhasts, etc., only to change later. Do some searching and reading here and learn from our mistakes!
5. The mods you are talking about will give you more HP and sometimes better fuel economy. The mods may also cause you to get worse mpg. You will have your foot in it all the time, so mpg goes in the toilet! A lot of guys say this mod gets a couple mpg's, that one get's a few more ect.. If that were all true, we'd be getting 40 mpg. I have an Excursion and get about 16 mpg unloaded at highway speed. I have a lot of mods and a heavy foot.

I hope this helps some. Stick around, you will learn a lot as most of us have. You won't find a better group of guys and gals anywhere else!

Steve

edit: I didn't see you wanted expert help, oops! Also, check the read now thread at the top of the page. It has a great section with common mods and how to do them.

 

Hink is pretty much on it. Larger tires diminish fuel economy. Hard for me to accept thinking about it too much, but that extra mass overcomes the benefit of the tire covering more ground per rev somehow. Perhaps a skinnier tire would offset that. Don't see anyone doing that. Of course it would, but it also comes at the expense of acceleration. All that nasty gear ratio stuff and all. As for towing, I don't know.

 

I have a 4 inch lift with 315's on 17 inch wheels. I tow a 21 foot toy hauler loaded with toys and I don't have a problem. The mileage stinks for sure, I've never enjoyed the mileage other members claim to get.

 

Don't feel like the lone ranger. I feel like I get pretty good mileage for a truck this size, and it gets up and goes. Some of the claims here though make me want to throw up the flag.

 

I tow a big 4 horse gooseneck trailer all the time with 35x12.50's amd it does just fine but i quite looking at the mileage cuz it makes me sad lol

 

Also guys remember that when you are calculating your fuel mileage with bigger tires that, unless your speedo and odometer has been adjusted for the bigger meats, this count is not accurate and will throw off your MPG calculations, big time.

Think about it this way - bigger tires are turning at a slower revolution, but actually covering more ground every time they go around...but the odo is still reading what it thinks to be a revolution of a stock size tire, and covering the ground of a smaller foot. Guys with bigger tires have tested this...there was a thread about it a while back. One guy said that with 35" tires, he went 20 or so miles on his odometer but had actually traveled 23 or 24 miles or something like that. An extra 4 miles out of 20 is a big deal with calculating MPG.

Just thought id throw that in there, as I have 35" tires and I get excellent mileage. (about 18 in town if I keep away from racing ricers and 22-23 on the highway depending on headwind and whatnot). This goes down a few numbers when I am hauling anything.

 

Can you describe your set up Smokin...Sounds like a smokin one



I would just hate to throw away a grand only to find out Im loosing more money with diminishing fuel economy...The whole reason Im getting this truck is ecause my 1500 only gets about 16-18 mpg and about 10 mpg or less towing


Now dont get me wrong...I do want to upgrade and fix this baby up...but I want to do it smartly...Thats why I wanted to get your folks advise...

Thabks again looking forward to learning from you all

Tom

 

I tow with my 315's and don't have any problems, but I have a six speed so I can pick the gear I need and keep it there for optimum performance.As for fuel economy, like Smokin' says you have to adjust your calculations for tire size, and I am running about 17.5 and towing 5k about 14-15 mpg. I just have stock exhaust with the muffler removed and that helped lower my egt's. Brought two horses home this week and climing a 6% grade for two miles with 6k behind me egt's only got to 1000* and that was pushing pretty hard to see how high they would go.

 

Hey, who said anything about spending money to figure out your actual mileage? Check this out: http://www.onlineconversion.com/bigger_tires.htm


My setup, hmm. Well I can't take credit for all of the mods n stuff on my truck, as I purchased it from a fellow stroker who knew his shiznit and had already done a lot of modifications. But here's the list of modifications: Turbo back 4" exhaust, 4" Pro Comp Suspension Lift, aluminumn alloy wheels, 35" BFG AT's, Airaid Intake, Hypermax Pyro/EGT guage, chrome bedrail anchors, 360 degree tinted windows, and 50 HP chip. Since she is an early '99 I guess you can say she's got the WW mod because, well, she sorta came with it.

 

1. Banks Big Hoss
2. larger tires are cool, but will reduce mileage in most cases.
3. Get a good quality 4" exhaust turbo back.
4. Cold air intake, Ford AIS is the best.
5. MIleage and hp really depend on what you are looking for and how you drive, but the above mentioned items will help. Also the Blue CPS and Turbo Air Guides (TAG) have helped my towing mileage as well.

 

Anyone reccomend a good place to purchace these items

Thanks

 

I'm sure car_nut57 knows someone who can sell the whole package.
My opinion:
There is better programming out there than the Big Hoss, the consensus of this site seems to be that DP tuners/chips are the best.
Four Inch exhaust and AIS is all good.
Save your money on the blue CPS and TAG, Some people report a benefit from them, but it seems just as many people have bad results with them.
JMO.

 

any more ideas

 

We can put together packages with exhaust, gauges, AIS, CPS, TAGs, chips etc. We do not currently have any tuners or chips other than Banks and Edge products, but we will be happy to help out with any of the parts we do have.