Maybe we'll see you in Yellowstone in June :-wink

This is a good plan...see more, drive less. My wife and I learned that, but the kids sort of forced it. I am happy about it though. We started limiting our days to 500 miles when we travel to see friends or go to horse/stock shows. It makes it less stressful for everyone involved.

I sort of thought and learned the same thing when I was "upgrading". If I can pull a long grade at 65 mph, why do I need more? I do stuff for longevity and better performance anymore, not necessarily to be able to go faster, though sometimes that is a nice side effect. Those injectors probably have a lot of life left,so why not use them until they start acting up?

I second this. I had been dreaming of single shots for so long that I wasn't going to reconsider them. If I had not experienced them myself I would have always pined for them and never fully enjoyed the truck after not getting them. That being said...

I should have stuck with a set of 8 new ADs. With 310K on the clock now (4K on the 160/80s) they're great but every time I smell or hear something I think "is it me?" and "do I need to pull over and give the truck a once over just to be sure?".

We've all had the "I know you told me but I have to do it and won't be happy until then" moments. I've been to a few movies that I just had to see anyway no matter how bad others tell me it is. This time I just did a REALLY expensive version of that. Now that I've pulled the trigger and drove around for awhile I can second guess my decisions and do the forensic analysis. With a clear head I can say that I should have stuck with fresh ADs (would have felt like a performance upgrade). They would have lasted me until a rebuild then I could have beefed up the guts, put single shots in, and had a good time without worrying.

Do I love my 160/80 single shots...yes. Should I have waited...yes. The 20-year-old in me (that has wanted single shots for 5 years) spoke louder than the 50-year-old (that should have waited 10 more years) that I am.

Just my .02. YMMV.

I fretted for a while on my 160/100s, but then I just got used to them being more fickle than the ADs. I either have one intermittent injector in there, or one intermittent something in there - but it doesn't effect pulling power or fuel economy. So... I drive blithely on, ignoring the wolf cries and feeling all the better for it. Waiting for something you want to enjoy is for 20-year-olds, not for 50-year-olds who have earned the right to have what they want now. Another 10 years and you might not be in a position to enjoy a souped-up 7.3L, meaning it could be too late then.

I'm owning my decision. If I stuck with ADs, I would have regretted not getting more power. Now that I have big-nozzle ACs, I regret not having the rock-stable clean and quite of the ADs - but the permagrin factor launches the corners of my mouth in an upward trajectory.

I should have been more clear.

I retired from active duty service on 1 May 2017 and started a civilian job in the same month. I am retiring from the civilian job on 25 May 2018 and we are going to try and live life to the fullest extent we can. Money will be tight, but time together and with loved ones will be much more common.

Brian, this only solidifies my recent decision to keep the AD's Alliant until I need to refresh them and upgrade to the T4/SXE kit. Once I realized that my 250K mile stock injectors get the heavy towing job done just fine and that a T4/SXE kit would put me into the "getting it done better and more efficiently" category, I think that was the ah ha moment. I was seeking more power, fuel and more boost, while I should have been seeking efficiency and reliability in the system. By leaving the AD's in place until they are ready to be removed (who knows how much longer that will be, could be 100K miles from now) and then upgrade to the T4/SXE to obtain a 1:1 ratio on MAP:EBP I will be sitting very well and on the pin head of efficiency in my opinion.


I had a 1997 Supercharged Pontiac Grand Prix that I bought brand new as a young Airman. I spent some much time and money on that car and in the end it was undrive-able without tinkering with something first. It was a blast to drive, but it always needed attention. I told myself that was the last time I would do that, and it has been.

I know that even 160/0's would be a safe bet, but I think that 140/0's (stock AD injectors) will get me to where my goals are for the truck. Then, if I have a problem with anything in the way of tuning I can simply remove the chip or swap out the PCM and go from there. Hopefully that will never happen, but that is my thought process.

You fellas posting up about your thoughts, experiences and opinions are what makes this forum a rare occurrence in the modern world. Thank you for taking time out of your day to help all of us learn from your experiences.

For me, it's the opposite. I'm more in the similar mindset as Tugly.

I have stock Alliant 160's from Ford in my old '02 F250 and that thing is a blast to drive. Rock solid in every aspect, whether daily driving, racing at NHRDA events, or pulling our 10k travel trailer or my 10k dump trailer.

My Excursion on the other hand has stock injectors with only a tune, and every single time I am in that truck, whether as a driver or passenger, I wish it has 160 singles in it. EVERY SINGLE TIME.

My old '99 F250 has a set of one-off single shots from Full Force and that beast with a 6" lift and 37's will pull like an assaulted gorilla running through the jungle.

I do not miss stock injectors in the upgraded trucks, and I want to put singles in the Excursion too, I just gotta do it when the wife isn't looking because it's her daily driver and she loves it the way it is. ;)

Stewart

Hey all, check out the NEW sticky thread that has been posted regarding items for sale! ;)

Stewart

Ok, fine, ya got me...LOL

Thanks for adding that for us Stewart, it does make shopping for miscellaneous stuff a bit easier.

Don't tell anyone, but I've been meaning to do that for a couple years, I just kept forgetting. :eek:

Stewart :-banghead

I'm sure in a year or two I'll settle down and not be so much of a Nervous Nelly. Unfortunately that will take time and money. I've not been too harsh on the go pedal as I need a driveline refresh (still on the original u-joints and carrier bearing) and I have a stock 4R100 with almost 170K miles on it. I've got traction bars and new rear leafs waiting in the garage to go in so that will add peace of mind that I won't snap or pretzel anything in the future. Once I eventually get the tranny beefed up I can stop worrying about the slushbox. Even though John Wood is 2 hours from me an HD4R100 is currently at the top of my list. Having warranty work done at a Ford dealership (I'm within 20 miles of three) is just too convenient.

My power options are very limited in CA if I want to pass smog. A T4 would be great but not an option. Mechanical wastegate controller: works great, passed last time, had to go back to stock-ish to pass this time (red/green lines, solenoid, diaphragm actuator, AND the lines hooked up). Stations continue to get trained on older diesels and key in on more stuff each time. I also learned that shops need a minimum number of fails to keep their license.

I've tried to mitigate some of the variables out of the transition to make sure I make good power (permagrin), pass smog, and still have some longevity. Hopefully my research yields some good results. I'm getting used to the single shots and am developing a comfortable driving style that the truck and I both like.

Spring is in the air in Colorado! Any other turkey hunters out there?

Filled my Spring tag last night.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...60922208ff.jpg

Not a hunter, but a little while back there were 60+ turkeys (I lost count) walking by the window I was sitting next to at our home.

Are those wild turkeys as good as a good Shady Brook turkey?