7.3 non-turbo diesel

[RipnRun]

I'm really enjoying my 6.5 turbo since I moved the heat sync/pmd to the bumper hole. Thanks to all again for advising me through the needed upgrades.

Now I need a second work vehicle and I'm looking at a good price on a Ford box truck with a 7.3 non-turbo diesel. Anybody familiar with these motors care to comment as to their good or bad points? Thanks.

[rooferwill]

I have had limited experience with the 7.3 idi but had quite a bit of exp on a 6.9 which is the same engine to a point. you would enjoy that 7.3 alot more with a banks turbo kit on it. They are good, durable, easy to work on, cheap diesels. The downside would be them being just underpowered stock. it actually has less power THAN A STOCK 6.5!!!But a nice turbo kit fixes that problem in a hurry. i would just about bet my OLD 6.9 with the banks on it would out pull my 6.5 with all my goodies on it. It was noisy and leaked oil but when the boost gauge hit 12psi it pulled hard. Memories.......:rolleyes: I'd love to build another one.:D

[RipnRun]

When you say "less power" do you mean just slower acceleration or also that it can't carry and tow as much?

How much would you guess it would cost to get the turbo kit and have it installed?

[chessie6.5]

Some of that model suffered from lenghtwise crack in driver side rear cylinder wall. Using coolant with no leaks and glow plug from that cylinder smaller in diameter than normal. Fix was to sleeve cylinder.

[RipnRun]

Thanks for the info.

[rooferwill]

I would say less speed not less pulling power. You have to remember this motor was in 26000 lbs uhaul trucks and such and hauled alot of weight. they were just slow. I know on a stock 92 f350 hp was 176 and torque was 360. With a banks turbo the hp was 260 and torque was 503. These numbers are straight from banks. My old 6.9 also had the fuel turned up and the timing adjusted so it may have been a little better than this.

[RipnRun]

The one I am thinking of looking at appears to be a former U Haul. It's a 1989 7.3 non-turbo with less than 175,000 miles. It's cheap, rust-free and looks very nice inside and out for its age. I just need something reliable to move equipment around.

Any way I could tell about a possible crack in driver side rear cylinder wall when I test drive it?

What's a good guesstimate for the labor hours needed to install a banks turbo kit?

Thanks

[chessie6.5]

look for bubbles in coolant bottle when hot and idling. If you find them, remove rear glow plug and look for reduction in diameter ( if it has been in place for a few thousand miles and not recently replaced. Bubbles in bottle, otherwise mostly indicates leaking head gaskets.

[RipnRun]

OK, thanks.

[rooferwill]

By a skilled mech I would say 8- 10 hrs. A shadetree mech probable a weekend job. I'm not sure the price, you just need to go on their web site and call em. They could give you more info anyways than i can

[trukdoc]

...is an old u-haul,you'll find that it is geared for power to pull its' full gvw with decent fuel economy...u-haul does know how to spec truks...also in 89 that's probably a 180-185hp engine...I personally would not put a turbo kit on anything but a new engine...that rig has run in a rental fleet,so you'll probably have fewer problems with it stock...if it's toooooo slooooo then turn up fuel screw @ 1/4 turn...I think you are going to be surprised what it will do loaded...big or small I work on them all...jd

[RipnRun]

Very helpful information; thanks to all of you. I'll post what I find out when I go look at it.