Hi all, My name is Jeff and I recently purchased my very 1st diesel truck, A 1997 F250HD CC shortbed with the 7.3l Turbo motor and Auto Tranny.

Only mods I can tell that it has are a 4" lift with 35's, K&N intake and a superchips tuner.

I bought this thing to tow my rock buggy and trailer to the trails (about 8K #'s with gear etc.) and have to go up some pretty good inclines/grades, to get there. I don't want to dump a bunch of money into this thing, but want it to be reliable for towing.

What are the best mods for the money? I'm definitely looking to get a deeper tranny pan along with Tranny temp, Pyro and Boost gauges installed. What other mods should I be looking to do also?

How can I tell if it has an aftermarket downpipe? exhaust? Cat delete etc?

another question, I believe I have 3.55 gears, would 4.10's be better for towing the amount of weight I'm looking at with this tire size? I've towed to the trail only once so far with this truck and I don't know if I was babying it too much (since it's a new truck) or what but I wasn't that impressed with it..........definitely better than my old Chevy Tahoe tow rig, but it seemed like it could use a little more umph! (I uninstalled the tuner as I didn't want to do any damage not having gauges).......

on this note, what is the RPM range that these motors like to pull in? (Probably would help knowing that!)

thanks for any help and suggestions any of you might have, I'm totally new to these vehicles and any help is greatly appreciated!

thanks
Jeff

 

The stock DP looks like it got ran over. its flat and a piece of crap. after market DP will be round.

 

Welcome to FTE!


First thing you should do is get rid of the K+N filter and look into The Napa 6637 filter. The K+N has been known both in drop in and cone filter form to allow too much dirt to pass and hurt the turbo as well as the cylinders of the engine.

Next don't both with a deep tranny pan. Spend that money on a tru-cool tranny cooler like this one
http://www.dieselsite.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=205

Gauges are a good starting point as well.

if it has aftermarket down pipe it will be round all the way to the bottom of the truck. if its stock it will be flat and wide.

3.55's can tow but 4.10 are better. add a little power to those 3.55's and you will be fine. once you have guages you need to ditch the superchips and get a tony wildman chip. better power for the same price. just sell your superchip on ebay
http://stores.totaldieselperformance.com/Categories.bok?category=Ford+7.3L+94-97%3AChips

 

get a tranny cooler. a big one. about $75 for a new b&m

 

i'd keep the superchip for reasonable, safe power. i've ran em on 3 trucks. they dont give the biggest gain, but are safe. i run mine on 90 hp with mods listed in sig. love it. but i got 4.10's, but tow 23,000+ so, ur decision. the thing with the superchip is reading DTC's

 

you also don't have a pyrometer so how do you know its safe? superchips is far from the best option, sorry.

 

no prob so far, in bout 40,000 miles or so. but gettin gauges (a lot that accounts for) . i'm goin by 100,000 miles on one truck with super chip (it was that trucks second 100,000 miles). and no probs on the new one yet. i even talked to a vehicle tester at superchips and they said OK on 90 with my mods. basically we ran superchips on 3 trucks no prob

 

I'll definitely look at doing the tranny cooler instead of the deep pan, alot cheaper that way also!

thanks for the input so far, keep it coming!

thanks
Jeff

 

this is the only place i have heard of k&n not being good. we run them in everything. if u have a cold air intake, i'd keep it deff. if its just drop in filter, ditch it

 

It's the cold air intake version (FIPK kit) that I have on it...........

Jeff

 

i'd keep it. all you gotta do is keep it oiled. you'll eat dirt if it aint oiled. and put a prefilter on it

 

Say what you want, but no matter what that K&N will let dirt through the filter. I would definitely ditch it, especially if you tow on dirt roads much.

 

i think a 6637 would defeat the purpose of a COLD AIR INTAKE. it has no shield to keep back heat from engine.

 

Don't tow on dirt roads very often. The places I go wheeling, I can park on the ashpalt, unload and then drive the buggy to the trail from there..............

Jeff

 

k&n will do IMO. no use in argueing. just see which is most popular everywhere, not just here.