Hi all,

There is so much info on this site it's amazing.....thanks to all that post. Ok so i just bought a 97 f450 dump truck with 93000 miles. First of all, i know nothing of the history of this truck other than it was owned by a masonry contractor (lot's of cement in the dump body).

It seems in great shape. Starts every time but with a little smoke for a couple minutes when it's cold. It runs and drives great. It's a little sloppy in the front end which i'll address later. I'm really happy with the truck but have a few questions.

1. What should I have checked out, replaced, etc. with a truck of this age, miles and unknowns? Should i have the injectors and glow plugs tested? Is it possible to do that?

2. It seems like it shifts funny but i was told that these do that. I have a 2004 f250 diesel that shifts like a dream. The 450 seems like it shifts up to the next gear to soon. Maybe that's the cae with these. Can that be checked somehow?

3. It seems underpowered to me. Maybe it's because i have the newer diesel in the 250. When i'm pulling my rig (10000lb trailer with backhoe), it's doggy on the hills. The 250 can accelerate on almost any incline towing the loaded trailer.

4. After i get it all checked out i was thinking about a downpipe and cat removal as a first step to increasing HP. Does this make sense?

5. I tow this trailer and there's always a chance i could get stopped at a weigh station or by DMV. Everything is legal until I pull off the cat. Anybody have concerns about that?

Thanks for your thoughts, John

 

1. cold smoke is normal, change the oil to be safe, fuel filter, trans fluid, etc.
cant really test teh injectors without a scanner..... cylinder contribution, and injector elec test. other than that its a lost cause with no scanner.

2. i'm sure that trans is tired hauling the weight of a 450 and concrete. it probably wasnt maintained too well. you can get a valve body or shift kit to aid the sloppy shifts. the shift points are preset in the pcm, it shouldnt shift too early, how do you mean? here is some of mine-
light throttle- http://youtube.com/watch?v=XEhD5SBSGSk
part throttle- http://youtube.com/watch?v=QzF6CH5CIR4
full throttle- http://youtube.com/watch?v=PYu7bsrIsWk

3. yes i'm sure it feels underpowered, take a look at your downpipe. thats the first problem. get rid of it and in your case just gut the cat, dont remove it. get gauges and toss in a chip, you will be impressed.

4. just answered that question

5. you have a much better chance since its an F-Superduty sumptruck towing a big trailer without DOT markings. (I know you dont need them) but they only see a "comercial truck" running scales not a private truck. just gut the cat and put it back on, you will be safe that way and still gain performance and lower egt's

 

Read the blue!

 

Thanks guys, I really appreciate your knowledge. "gut the cat" that's cracking me up. Based on the gut idea, I was thinking of getting a used cat and gutting it and keeping mine for backup in case i get in trouble or want to sell it or whatever. What years are compatible does anyone know? Is it just the 94-97 yrs or will other yrs work too? I'll probably start searching at salvage yard but if anyone knows of an inexpensive source please chime in.

 

Ok so I learned from the salvage guy they can't sell used cats. How would you suggest gutting the cat? I have torches, welders, air tools etc. Has anyone done it and what do you recommend?

 

simply remove it and ram a big metal rod into the "guts" till they are all over your floor. i use a long air hammer bit to do it, its a pita to get started but after you get a piece knocked out its all over

 

I found another cat from a guy on craigs list for 25 bucks. I gutted it today, Piece of cake. I'm gonna keep my original cat just in case (probably sit in the garage until i decide to chuck it).

So, i can't get the damn cat off! Loosened, or should i say broke, the studs on the end of the downpipe. Loosened the hangers and beat on it with a hammer and 2x4. I even put heat on it....nothing. That dimple from the clamp all the way around is holding it on very nicely. I wonder if i should cut slots, with an air grinder, along the 2 sides of the pipe the cat goes into? Can i mig weld it back together afterwards? Maybe i should just get a new extension pipe and destroy the one i have? Of couse then i probably couldn't get the pipe off the muffler. I'm wishing I took it to a muffler shop now. I'm also thinking that while it's all apart i should do the downpipe. This is madness.

 

Over the weekend I did the 3" downpipe. Everything went as advertised here. The job is definitely a 9 or 10 on the swear-o-meter. I wasn't able to get to the bolt holding the tranny dipstick to the engine so i left it on. I had to be careful working around the dipstick with the sawzall. I used a porta-power to bend the firewall. No rubbing at all, everything went together nicely.

So, so far i've gutted the Cat, and done the downpipe. I even did the 10k mod coon style but don't like the way it idled so i put it back to stock.

What do people think about a muffler delete? Is it worth it? I noticed i now have a little more whistle with the downpipe and cat gut, what will the muffler delete do for me? Any more power? I've also read here that the drone with no muffler can be annoyng, thoughts? I don't really want to spend money on a 4" exhaust. Maybe a different muffler (one of those pass-thru ones)? Any opinions on best mufflers or where to get a delete pipe? Thanks!

WHere's the best place to purchase the intake filter kit. I could do it myself i'm sure but don't know where to get the piping, etc so i'll probably just buy it already made. Thoughts?

Oh, I’m definitely hooked now. What do you guys call it, powerstroke mod syndrome or something like that?<O

 

Yes you now have PMS!! for the exhuast the stock muffler is very free flowing. I unless you are looking for a louder exhuast I would leave the stock muffler on. For the intake you can get a true Tymar from tymarperformance.com but you have to call the phone number there as the website isn't operational. Just go to the website and get the phone number. The intake will run you around $150. Or it really is easy to build a setup yourself. get a short piece of 4 inch exhaust pipe, a 6637 napa filter, and a 4 1/4 inch hose clamp to fit the neck fo the filter. remove your stock air box and put the new filter in.

 

I was just thinking this right before you mentioned it. Yes you do have PMS and it is obvious.

You mentioned taking it to a muffler shop, I really doubt they would have done what you wanted with the cat and all.

Anyway the intake is SUPER easy and seeing what you have done so far you will have no problem at all. Do the CCV mod while you are in there it sure does make it alot easier.


WELCOME to FTE and post often

 

Thanks everyone.

I've searched on the CCV mod and get the idea. Besides eliminating hot air going into the intake, what is the purpose/advantage of this mod? Is there any downside? Are the oily fumes needed to lube the turbo in any way? Does the engine need the boost to pull the fumes out? Does the new rubber hose get guncked up and blocked over time?

Sorry for all the questions, just want to be clear on this mod. Thanks again!