Need more power
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Need more power
Hello,
New to the Ford Truck Diesel scene. I bought a 5th wheel and then researched what truck to tow it with. I settled on a 99 F-350 crew cab with a lift kit and 16" tires. Got the 5th wheel out on her maiden voyage and found out quickly I need more power. I realize now I need to invest more money in a chip, air intake and exhaust system. So I came here for advise.
Being a nubie I read all the posts first, as not to **** you guys off with stupid questions but here it goes:
What is a DP chip?
Does anybody have any expeirence with a Van Aaken 4 position Chip?
What air intake do you recomend?
What Exhaust do you recomend.
All I am looking for here is on the cheap. i just don't have the money to spend right now but I don't want to damage the truck I just bought.
I need more power to tow and better gas milage. I am not looking for speed.
I live in Denver and need to tow up in the mountains.
Thanks for any help!
oakMeister
btw I am a new believer in diesel! I used to drive diesel trucksat work for aliving but now as a personal truck it is awsome.
New to the Ford Truck Diesel scene. I bought a 5th wheel and then researched what truck to tow it with. I settled on a 99 F-350 crew cab with a lift kit and 16" tires. Got the 5th wheel out on her maiden voyage and found out quickly I need more power. I realize now I need to invest more money in a chip, air intake and exhaust system. So I came here for advise.
Being a nubie I read all the posts first, as not to **** you guys off with stupid questions but here it goes:
What is a DP chip?
Does anybody have any expeirence with a Van Aaken 4 position Chip?
What air intake do you recomend?
What Exhaust do you recomend.
All I am looking for here is on the cheap. i just don't have the money to spend right now but I don't want to damage the truck I just bought.
I need more power to tow and better gas milage. I am not looking for speed.
I live in Denver and need to tow up in the mountains.
Thanks for any help!
oakMeister
btw I am a new believer in diesel! I used to drive diesel trucksat work for aliving but now as a personal truck it is awsome.
Thread Starter
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New User
Joined: Aug 2006
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Ok, despite my efforts i must have pissed you guys off.
40 reads on this thread and no advise, no opinion, no telling me to jump in a lake you idiot read the 100 other posts on this subject.
I just had specifics I wanted to discuss.
ok
one question.
I can figure the other stuff out by buying it and returning it if it is wrong.
But do I need tornado air excelerator?
40 reads on this thread and no advise, no opinion, no telling me to jump in a lake you idiot read the 100 other posts on this subject.
I just had specifics I wanted to discuss.
ok
one question.
I can figure the other stuff out by buying it and returning it if it is wrong.
But do I need tornado air excelerator?
Last edited by OakMeister; Aug 8, 2006 at 05:47 PM.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,372
Likes: 14
From: West Cornwall, CT
With your truck's lift kit, you probably have a set of larger diameter tires. Big tires are OK for normal driving but hurt towing performance - basically the large tires give you taller gears.
If you intend to do a lot of towing, I'd look at getting a set of gears appropriate to the tires you have installed and the load that you intend to pull. 4.30's would be a decent choice.
Lou Braun
If you intend to do a lot of towing, I'd look at getting a set of gears appropriate to the tires you have installed and the load that you intend to pull. 4.30's would be a decent choice.
Lou Braun
Of the next Riffraff East
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 8,679
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From: Concord NC
Welcome to FTE, and no I don't think anyone is pissed off. The site was having some problems earlier and I don't think your post showed up till later. Here is a link to the 7.3 forum https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/forum31/ I think you will find all the information you need and can afford there. If you want to copy and repost on the 7.3 forum you will be up all night reading the replies. I'll see you over there.
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Well thank you for the warm welcome. Tell you the truth i ws a bit worried there.
This is such an important issue for me, as we are living in the 5th wheel on a freinds farm and I HAVE to be able to move it when i need to.
Thank you so mcuh for the imput.
Lou thanks for the heads up on the gear issue.
Wow gear ratio ... I hadn't even considered that.
I was considering droping down in tire size. It rubs against the mudflaps when i turn hard.
Well I think my plan of action is to address first:
the air intake cooling unit
Then the exhaust
then the chip
then the tire/ratio issue
and then mabe the fuel injectors if I need to.
Does that sound like a good plan?
This is such an important issue for me, as we are living in the 5th wheel on a freinds farm and I HAVE to be able to move it when i need to.
Thank you so mcuh for the imput.
Lou thanks for the heads up on the gear issue.
Wow gear ratio ... I hadn't even considered that.
I was considering droping down in tire size. It rubs against the mudflaps when i turn hard.
Well I think my plan of action is to address first:
the air intake cooling unit
Then the exhaust
then the chip
then the tire/ratio issue
and then mabe the fuel injectors if I need to.
Does that sound like a good plan?
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Sounds good to me, even in the gas engine world those would be good choices. I'll still bet tires will get you the most towing performance. It may still have stock gears in it because diesels have so much bottom end tourque, check the tag on the diff cover to see what MAY be in it. I'd guess stock though. If you have 35's, 33's would be a good move and still look good with your lift while giving you a little better towing stability.
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Joined: Jul 2006
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I think they are refering to the gear set in your rear differential. I'm assuming it's a 4x4 being you are in Colorado and if that's the case, you'll need to make sure the front-end gear set matches the rear so things don't go haywire when you put it in 4-wheel drive.
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Yes it is a 4x4 I just bought the truck a month or so ago from a dealer. I will see if I can puswade the sales person to hook me up with their macanic and go through these things with him.
I am a weekend mechanic at best.
I don't even have a manual.
does anybody know of mauals on line I can download?
I am a weekend mechanic at best.
I don't even have a manual.
does anybody know of mauals on line I can download?
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,677
Likes: 999
From: Near Yosemite CA
You should have a 4 Wheel Parts there in Denver, go check them out, you can get front and rear ring and pinion sets for a decent price, AND have them done profesionally, which is most important. I would stay WAY WAY AWAY from the dealer, for cost. I am a fairly decent wrench, and I would not attempt a gear change, leave that one to the people who do it every day. You should be able to do the rest on your own. Most exhaust systems are very simple, same with air intakes, I would start with Exhaust first, then to intake, then to gear change, then chip it or programmer.