Hey All,

First - Merry Christmas - Important stuff first.

Now, my question. My F-450 w/7.3 is getting a little long in the tooth (184+K on the clock) and it is starting to rattle a bit, it is low on power, has the start up romp romp's, etc. Given all I have read here, I figure it is ready for a set of sticks, at least all of the symptoms point to it. I want to do these my self, as I am a fairly good wrench turner, I just have never done it before. I am thinking I am going to do the following:

Injectors
Glow Plugs (while I am in there)
REALLY good check of the UVC harness (replace if necessary)
New up pipes (the bellowed ones this time)
All new boots on the IC pipes and into the heads

Is there anything else I should be looking for or at with that many miles on the truck?

Also - can somebody tell me the difference between split shots (stock?) and single shots? Can I put single shots in without changing the programming, or do I need to give Jody a call and get a DP. Also, new or reman? I have heard that the best way to go is new, but injectors are pricey to start with, and new are even worse. Why is it that reman stock injectors are so much, but reman single shots can be found so much less expensive? Given the prices, I could do reman single shots and a DP, and still be less then the cost of reman or new stock sticks.

Also, this is a WORK TRUCK, it has an 11' long enclosed work body on the back, and weighs about 14,800 # sitting in my driveway right now. I am not looking for a race truck, or spinning the tires, just back to "close to original" performance, and better mileage.

BTW - as you see from my sig, I have an AE, and doing things like buzz tests and cylinder contribution tests is why I feel I am in the injector neighborhood. Would failing or worn injectors cause ICP to blip the SES light? I get an occasional blip of the SES and the AE tells me it is ICP hi/low. I have not had it out with the laptop to check if it is high or low, so I may be adding an IPR to the list of to-do's.

Thanks all for the help

 

First off, let me know if you need any help. I'm right over the hill...Or if you don't have a place to work in, i'm sure dad will let me have space for a weekend job if that would work. I'd go with the remanufactured single shots. You're right they can't be used with stock programming. They sound different, if you have ever heard a 94-97 powerstroke, it will sound just like them, they use single shot (smaller) injectors as well. If i were you i'd get the injectors, and a 40hp or 60hp tow flash on the PCM considering how much you tow, if at all. The single shots will also increase mileage due to their nature in they are more efficient than split shots. They are different from split shots, as in the side of the barrel assembly in the injector, there is a passage that is uncovered for a quick moment. In that time, all oil pressure is just dumped out of the side of the injector, nothing happens. This is the time where the injector pauses, and then once the plunger strokes down far enough, it covers the port, and then injects the second shot of fuel. The singles don't have this, so it's just one full stroke and that's it.

 

Yep.... 100% agree... Singles will give better millage...

I would look at a set of AC code injectors... these are 160CC single shots with stock nozzles...

These are the same as stage 1 injectors, which you can have from Beans Diesel for $1355 remans or $1750 new....

I believe you can have jody install just one tune directly into your computer for $75 IIRC... or you can just get a chip....

I dont see any mods in your signature, do you have any??

 

Kris - Thanks for the offer. I may take you up on that. Also, if you end up doing Greedy's up pipes, more then happy to help if needed.

Mr. Bob - no real mods to speak of. Up until about a year ago, it belonged to the company I worked for. Now it is mine, as I have started my own company and my old company sold it to me. I have added a small trans cooler, just to keep the temp in check. It does have all of the goodies a service truck should have - 9Kw generator, gas powered, and run from a second fuel tank purchased from Ford and hung under the truck in the stock location, MIG, TIG & Stick welders, Plasma Cutter, Hose Crimper up to 1-1/4" 4000PSI Hose, Air Compressor, lots of scene lights and strobe lights, and Grover Stutter Tone (fire truck) air horns.

But now the real question - If single shots are better and more economical, why did they change to split shots? It is not that I am terribly worried about the "not stock" issue of single shots, but I travel a fair bit, and I don't want to be in some far off place and get stuck with a dealer who screws something up because the PCM has been reflashed.

Thanks

 

mainly the sound. Split shots are quieter.

 

Split shots are quieter, that is correct.

If you are worried about the PCM, then it might be worth the extra $$$ to get a chip from Jody then... that way the files are safe...

Because AC code injectors were offered in this engine in IH applications, you could get a replacement from IH in a pinch...

Just thinking with those injectors and a mild tune.... with the amount of weight that truck has on it, a 6637 intake, muffler delete at min, 4" exhaust pref... and gauges, but I think every truck should have gauges....

 

Sorry it has been a while for my reply - xmas kept me rather busy - none the less.

Mr. Bob - I do have a trans temp gauge, actually a leftover from a Chelsea PTO kit for these trucks, but no boost or pyro gauges.

I am torn - I would not mind improving the performance of the truck, but I currently don't have PMS. I also don't want alot of extra noise out of the motor - I like the sound level I have now, especially given the fact that on any given morning I may jump in the truck and run it 100 miles one way to a service job. Also, given that this is a "company" truck, I probably only have another year or so on it. There is more life in the truck, but my accountant tells me that as the company starts to do better, a truck payment isn't a "bad" thing, nor is a warranty.

Essentially what I am saying is that I am leaning toward stock sticks - but this all may change after I talk to the accountant at the end of the year.

Thanks for the help guys

 

Good luck!!!

Stock and AC injectors run the same price tag... If noise is a concern run a CCK and HPX line with them:

http://www.dinofuelalternatives.com/...9903CCK&cat=54

It just seems like such a waste to not upgrade for the same price...

Hmmm... I will send you a PM....

 

Bold and underline added to point out what I am talking about here.
If you are going to be in the market for a new truck next year and it's running on all eight right now, why spend any more money on this one? That's a lot of money that could be used elsewhere if you don't have to spend it on the current truck.

 

Kwik,

I agree, I don't want to spend any more money then I need to, but I am figuring I will be putting another 40K - 50K miles on the truck in the next 12 months. I don't want it to get bad enough to need a tow at some point, and quite honestly I would much rather plan down time then have to work around it.

 

Hey again,

Anybody ever dealt with Rochester Fuel Injection Service? I know they are not a sponsor, I am just looking for input. See the attached link - looks like a good price for new sticks. Thanks.

http://www.rochesterfuel.com/product...ode-p-100.html

 

That's a good price. Diesel Innovations has them for $284.

 

I also like the core charge policy - you have 30 days to get them the cores back BEFORE you have to pay the core charge. that makes the credit card bill a little easier to swallow.

 

Hey Kris,

Look at that - you broke 10,000 posts

 

Got my own thread too.