Atualy I've seen a lot of the aftermarket nuts fail at all the problem is the way the shaft 5th rides on was designed the gear should have some sort of suport rings but New ventur tryd to replicate that by having part of the gear on splines and part pressed on in theory it works in practice well we all know how it turned out Now I don't know where this stuff about the ZF not standing up to the powerstroke came from even hard core dodge guys admit the ZF is a good trans that will take lots of abuse and power but say the nv4500 is stronger well the first 4 gears atleast.

Your 7.3 is garbage the block is shot the block seal will fail soon and you will be back to your origianal problem you can find used 6.9 with low millage for 600bucks or so.

I got to drive a 6.4 powerjoke today and bay was I impressed with my truck my truck will easily pull a stock 6.4 off the line the 6.4s power band feels like a 2stroke comes off the line ok the at a point all of a sudden their is a but ton of power where as my IDI pulls hard of the line and keeps on pulling yes the 6.4 would catch me at the top end but these are diesels not rice burners.

The main problem with making the same power out of a 6.9 or 7.3IDI as a cummins is that the cummins is built way stronger The IDI is capable of makeing 600HP with a heavilly modifyed stock fule system, meaning a DB2, You can also modify one fairly easily to flow the air required for that HP but the problem comes with keeping the engine together at that HP wich will be quite expensive it is possible any one who thinks it isn't is stupid The block will hold that much and everything els can be built strong for a price a high one but it can be done. Now the cummins is capable of more toeque its just simple physics gravity aids the piston in the downword motion in an inline where as in a V gravity causes increased friction. Theoretically the IDI could make more HP than the cummins as typically Vs make more HP than Inlines.

 

I'm sure the ZF would probably hold up ok, but I'm not 'easy' on manuals, and I don't know how it would hold up the motor was pumping out 750ft-lbs at the flywheel. I would rather have the ZF 6 (that right???), as I've heard its much stronger, and has no issues. Is this true?

By block seal I'm assuming your talking about the sealer I put in? If so, I'm sure it will to, it wasn't really meant for the pressures in a diesel, and thats why I'm still looking at what to do next - this thread. I'm hoping the sealer will last a few months at least, tell I get the money to start the project.

The problem I have with the 6.9L is the head bolts. If I'm going to build power, I will have to build some boost, and I don't know that it will take 18-22psi RELIABLY even with ARP head studs. I THINK the 7.3L would be able to (with studs). Fire rings don't seem easy to do with this motor thanks to the pre-chambers.

Besides, do you really think its garbage? Its possible that its the heads...

I'm trying to do it for... not extremely high amounts haha. I don't expect it to compete HP wise, but torque wise, to a STOCK newer motor. Maybe I should shoot for just 540-560ft-lbs? (Rear wheels of course) That would be EASY with a PSD...

Can anyone tell me if the PSD rods will fit on an IDI crank / piston?
How about a really detailed wiring diagram for a late model PSD?

If I can get that, maybe I'll start trying to wire up the PSD on the stand, and see about firing it up for a test!

 

From what I've heard the studs for 7.3s are junk. Yes I thik your block is junk 99.9999999999 times out of 100 when a 7.3 has coolant in the oil its due to cavitation. The studs for the 6.9 will hold 22psi of boost my buddy is running that much on stock head bolts I don't expect his head gasket o last for long and expect there to be some decking and new hwads involved when the gaskets go.

Yes block seal is what you put in my truck unknown to me had been sealed with it and traded in to where I bought it from when I bought it lasted about 6months then started leaking again.

 

The way I understand it, only a handful of people on here have lost a 7.3 due to cavitation.....I think bad head gaskets and bad oil cooler O rings are much more common....

 

Dylan how have your DCA/SCAs been maintained threw the life of the truck?

 

6.9l head studs seem to hold 22psi for dave S just fine. its more the intake gasket/valley pan that becomes the weak point with the boost. theres no head stud kits for the 7.3l idi, powerstroke only. but i hear theres a kit you can buy and with just a little bit of mods you can fit them just fine.

 

Stock 6.7 at 375 HP and 735 ft lbs of torque.

I see no cam, lifters, pistons or gaskets in you build list, so there is another 1500 dollars or so.
Probably need some machine work other than the heads, so more money there.

3208 Cat with 2100 max RPM, 45 MPH max speed is going to get old fast.
And when the torque hits the drive shaft, it will look like a wet noodle.

Over 300 HP with any of the options you have listed is not going to happen for 4000 dollars no matter which route you take.

For what it is worth, every high HP IDI I know of started as a 6.9, not a 7.3.

 

completely agree with the 6.9 statement on how the big hp fellas start. The 5.9 will kick our more hp probably in the long run and last longer. I never knew how well cummins are built till this thread. The parts are crazy huge and the fact that an inline 6 can weigh more than a V8 is crazy to me. I will have fun with my 7.3 but when it dies i will select a better option for a big hp rebuild. When it begins to die, i am going to kill it in style by cranking everything to the max! hahaha

 

That leaves head gaskets/heads for me, because I've replaced the o-rings...

Couldn't tell ya, only owned this particular truck for 2,000mi, and the last time I refilled the coolant, I poured half the bottle in (my test strips have gone bad, have to get more). Then it leaked out 3+ gallons of coolant, so now its less though haha. They are in there though. I believe 7 years ago it was owned by a mechanic, so....

True, but ARP does have the correct bolts that you can buy separately (not a kit). Or you could mod the PSD studs...

Those are the old numbers 400/800 now! Go Ford haha

Like I said, don't plan on a cam, or pistons... and if I need them, that kind of throws the build out the window and its on to another option, unless my financial status is much better than I'm hoping lol! Gaskets should be no more than $200 right? Victor Reinz Head gasket kit on ebay for $70. What other machine work might I need?

Well... right now it pulls 1800RPMS @ 65mph But I couldn't put an overdrive trans behind the CAT... (let alone the E4OD LOL) so I guess that knocks that one out... Didn't know the red line was so low.

That... is probably very true... I guess I better work on getting a 6.9L if I go with the IDI! It would probably be a little cheaper too. Or would it... Would the rods hold up to that power, or would I need to figure a way to get either PSD or turbo IDI rods in it?

I can see how it may not happen with an IDI now... but why not with a 7.3L PSD, or a Cummins? PSD = free + some minor parts ~$650 + upgrades ~$1500 (course I'd have to figure out the trans issue then...). Cummins = ~ $1200 + $750 adapter + upgrades ~$1000-2000 (???)

What am I missing? Before I dive in and go 'oh... ****' haha

This is great info guys, thanks for all of it

 

if i had $ i would get a cummins 12v, for now i like my 6.9 idi slow and reliable, i aint got nothing to prove to no one anyhow.

 

wrong. 2011 ford 6.7l 390hp 735ft-tq.
2011 GM 6.6l 397hp 765ft-tq.
2011 dodge 6.7l 350hp 650ft-tq

 

Oreo, you are incorrect sir, the reflash that all 2011 6.7's are entitled to brings them up to 400/800. I called on it and they said that it is mostly to determing the ability of the compressed graphite composit block would hold and it is fine. With a simple reflash it brings it up to power. It can go farther but that if aftermarket. scary!! haha

 

Yes oreo wreckinball is correct the reburn enabled the 6.7 to flatten the competitors with 400hp and 800ftlb of torque pretty nice to see ford back on top of course they only left with the 6 blow

 

Hmm no idea on the record of dca/sca some one just decided to sell the truck it has coolant in oil, Cavvitation! the defens rests.

 

Dylan what you are missing is that you have to install and modify parts with any of these engines to make the power you want and that costs money. How fast do you want to spen?