Have an EGT gauge to fit yet too
Tranny should be cool, had it reco'd in Tamworth last year, with a heap of billet parts, machining & a lock up convertor. I specified what the truck was to be used for, so he built it to tow our 25' Traveller.

The tranny will be okay with the work you've had done. :-X22
Good idea with the egt gauge , have you a trans temp , fuel pressure and boost gauge?

F/P is a handy gauge to have in the post side of the fuel bowl port , you can monitor the F/P at your injectors, you'll need one of these, you can get one from an hydraulic shop or here.
1/8" NPT straight pressure port adapter.

Some nice looking vans!The 20" wheels are a bit of a PITA, but worth keeping as they give you a heavier axle rating, they also noticeably reduce sway. The wheels are forged, and some of the beefiest (and heaviest!) I have encountered. Problem with our trucks is the brakes are that big, anything smaller than 17" won't fit, which means the most common size available (16) isn't available anyway. I looked down the route of changing the wheels on mine too for the same reason - but only the OEM 18" wheels have the stock backspacing, and it is an expensive exercise (wheels and tyres), only to have 18" wheels where tyres are just as uncommon (and almost as expensive) as the 20" wheels.

I just decided to order a spare 20" tire/rim from the states to mount in place of the spare which I will rotate thru and carry RACV total care if I tear through 2 sidewalls. I've put over 100k now on my truck, a lot of it offroad and still have the original tyres and haven't had a puncture yet. YMMV

Tyres
 

Thanks for the info Adrian.
I think I may go the same way and order a tyre and rim from USA.
Finding an 18" as a spare was a bit of an eye opener.
Any vendors in USA you can let me know about?

www.tirerack.com are probably the best/cheapest to source tires. If you want to buy another rim, either ebay or order through fordparts.com and select Autonation White Lake as your ordering dealer.
To get it shipped, someone like USAtoAUS | Locating American Cars for import (although I personally use Foytt Shipping and Auto Australia - Cars, Motorbikes and Boats shipped from USA to Australia and New Zealand )

What about the standard muffler? Gave it a bootfull the other day & popped the muffler out of its join :( Might need to change it for a free flow type or ditch it for a straight piece of pipe.

At the moment i have just the straight pipe , but I've also got a straight through muffler sitting in the workshop just in case the straight through pipe drums too much when I'm towing.
A straight pipe will lower your egt's a little, but do nothing to the performance , just be a little louder.:-jammin

On two previous turbo Patrols, one had the muffler removed & sounded like a Steiger tractor till the turbo spooled up. The second Patrol had a main muffler removed but the small rear resonator retained, which kept noise levels lower.
With the intensions of towing the van & early departures, some form of muffler/resonator would be neccessary to keep the handbrake (Mrs) & neighbors smiling. ;)

muffler/resonator would be neccessary to keep the handbrake Yeah i get the picture.:-X04

The straight pipe on the 7.3 is not over loud but just maybe a little over the top when towing.:'(

The Patrols sounded like crap with or without a muffler :-arrgh compared to the F-Series (sorry).

Don't own Patrols anymore, so I'm not offended :-X0A6
The original exhaust on 7.3 V8's sound more like a whistling fart ;)
Hopefully some changes will improve the whole deal :-X22

Yeah you'll be pleasantly surprised in the sound when you fit up a good straight piped exhaust and lower your egt's at the same time too.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...2aa8cdbb1f.jpg


I used a 4'' mandrel bend from the 4' 'down pipe.


https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...bfa5b41315.jpg


I ran the exhaust along the outside of the chassis rail because of the LR fuel tank on that side.


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...6fd53bbd63.jpg


That's the finished product with no muffler.

Thanks for posting your photo's of your custom system up. :-X22
Going up to a mates workshop shortly, he has a 6 ton capacity hoist for an underside inspection. Will see what clearance is available, as I still have the ambo body with low slung integrated boxes fitted. :-wink

I had a 4" straight pipe from the turbo back on my 7.3
It dumped just behind the cabin (in front of the rear wheels).

It was loud, but inside the cabin it was pretty good unless it was under load (steep inclines or towing) - then conversation was a bit strained. I saw that as a positive. The Mrs didn't.


I think if you ran the pipe to the back of the truck, noise inside the cabin would be reduced a lot. My current 6.7 (quieter engine/cabin) has a 4" straight pipe from the turbo back, and dumps behind the rear wheels and it is not much louder than stock inside the cabin.


Your exhaust looks good blue.