Well hello everyone,

I got my Early 99 7.3 about 30k miles ago. I tow with it rarely, but occasionally. It is used for "truck stuff", I have several other vehicles ranging from a modded Focus ST for a daily, a supercharged Viper GTS for fast fun, a stroked 351 CJ5 for slower, but sorta fast fun that extends past pavement, and a pretty built 5.0 95 Mustang for being a hooligan without scrapping the Viper.

My 7.3 has been excellently reliable, no complaints at all. But it's slow, the suspension lacks vs a newer truck, the brakes suck, etc.

Given 10k, what would you do to make this more competitive vs a newer truck? For a true upgrade, I'm looking at a newer 6.7, and I do NOT utilize the truck enough to warrant that. Money is not an ultimate concern, but I do not like throwing it away either. Currently I've got some nice Bilstein shocks on there, an intake, Hydra, and haven't done much else other than typical maintenance, new glow plugs and such. The body and interior are in good shape, just over 200k miles, and I'm guessing there are a ton left.

My current consideration are a brake upgrade (not real knowledgeable here), suspension improvements (not knowledgeable here, the Bilsteins are better but I'm guessing change all bushings as well), and then a turbo/injector swap which should really liven it up. I have 0% interest in making this "fast", it will never be fast compared to some of my other vehicles. Currently it seems to have good power from 2-2.5k RPMs which is quite limiting. Running it hard the shifts are rough, and I'd like more power under 2k. Whatever I do, it must still be capable of towing without getting hot. It's ultimately a mildly fun work vehicle for when my others don't make sense, and becoming impractical defeats the use.

Look forward to the responses here!

Tyler

 

If the truck is already sound, it shouldn't take that much. To me, it's a no-brainer. spruce it up. But some of those things I don't understand. I have no problems with my stock brakes (when my truck was running). A good tune makes it run good enough and you can put whatever springs on it that you want to cater to your needs.

 

My tune is fine-but it's still likely less than 300whp. Same with the brakes-they are fine, but not great.

These are compared to says pop's new F350 dually. It stops better, goes better, turns better, feels better. Understandably I'm never going to be at that level, but I bought my truck for less than 10% the price. I also don't use my truck near as heavily. But I'd like to to do all the above in a better fashion.

 

I have been doing build plans for these trucks almost daily.
10k and then more is easy to spend, especially figuring a transmission, brakes, suspension etc on top of injectors, turbo, tuning, hpop, and all the other things. Then if one is not doing the work themselves….

It really weighs down to how much you prefer to have one of these older non emissions laden trucks, the trucks overall condition and health, and your final goals, vs a newer diesel with more complicated electrical systems and emissions systems that will cause issues.
In my book, deleting a newer truck is not even a consideration, especially after the rude wake-up call coming with these clean air act items coming.

In my case I have decided a 6.7 is not an option, so instead of paying 40+k for a nice used one, that I will take my 98,000 mile cclb truck in great shape and add another 10-20 k in stuff on top of the amount I have already put into it.
All in all it will be avout the same cost as a 6.7 but the truck will be not be laden with the emissions junk, and it will be built to my spec, and not have a pmt

 

Cold spring swap it with 08-10 axles and suspension. Will ride and stop like a new one then and if you find a rolling chassis fairly cheap if you like to wrench which sounds like you do.

 

If I totaled my truck today, I'd go find another 7.3 to replace it.... enough said.

 

I did a 07 coil spring swap on mine and on top of that I added a 2015 steering gear....the steering is effortless. I didn't do the rear spring swap though. (the longer leave swap)

 

I would start with decent cold air, tuner, maybe an upgraded turbo depending on the condition of yours. This will get you more fell at the pedal and your seat.
If still on the original trans, maybe an HD upgrade to that. Brakes are pretty easy to get them to feel and work better. Decent rotors, pads and maybe new lines, (again, depending on condition). Then a complete flush n fill of the brake fluid AND the Trans fluid through the power steering. This will firm up and give you better results for stopping. Since you dont regularly haul large loads I wont suggest a higher end brake controller.
There are quite a few things you can do for the 7.3 for $10k. I have not put near that much into mine for upgrades and I still love how it pulls and drives.

 

I've got it planned to do to mine down the road also. Waiting to find a good deal on a rolling chassis so I got everything I need.

 

I agree with everything Billybob69 said and add Larger Injectors ..... replace all the intercooler and Intake Boots and Clamps with Good ones New Tunes / Intake plenums ...Upgrade the Torque Coverter / add a 4 " Turbo back exhaust and ditch the CAT... If you do not already have a good set of guages ( Pyro / Boost / Trans temp / Fuel Pressure ) get them as well .... Perhaps swap a nice set of leather seats in it as well ...Good Luck