1990 F350 build

[Tippy]

Just bought a 1990 F350 XLT 4 door long box. 5 speed manual transmission w/4.10 gears. Power everything. Even has power captians chairs for the driver and front passenger, instead of the old bench seat. Gonna be my new tow rig. Body was in great condition (minor scratches and paint chips) and the interior is perfect. 114000 on the OD. The only downfall, the 7.3 is shot. Dropped a valve. The PO pulled it and it's sitting in the back of the pickup along with another compleate 7.3. Fortunatly it's under a topper. Now comes the fun part of rebuilding it.

Besides adding a turbo set up, what can I do to make the engine stronger. How else can I tune this thing to be a tow rig/camper special? Does anybody make a drop in crate motor, or should I rebuild? I don't think I want the chalenge of putting a power stroke in it.

I'll get some pics saturday when I go back to pull it home.

I prolly won't sleep tonight just thinking about it!

[tenpack]

intercooler would help with power and lower EGT's. With 4.10's my guessing is that your engine is gonna be screaming down the highway, might consider bigger tires to balance it out.

[Tippy]

Originally Posted by tenpack

might consider bigger tires to balance it out.

Yea, I was planning on running 33's or 35's, depending on budget. Don't want to get too carried away since it will be my tow rig.

[benttoy83]

Lower the compression ratio if you want to make an IDI turbo motor last . 4.10's with 33's for towing , 35's or more daily driver

[BUZZISCRAZY2]

460 is a direct swap...........

[saf-t scissors]

Originally Posted by BUZZISCRAZY2

460 is a direct swap...........

Not exactly.

Unless you mean that it's a direct swap after he replaces the core support, the engine crossmember, engine mount stands, and the transmission.

But I'm guessing you don't mean it, because that would be a stupid fawking thing to say.

[Tippy]

Originally Posted by benttoy83

Lower the compression ratio if you want to make an IDI turbo motor last .

What compression ratio do you sugest?

[afecko]

Originally Posted by tenpack

intercooler would help with power and lower EGT's.

Yeah, I've always felt that an intercooler really helps the performance of a naturally aspirated engine. My old 351 got an extra 100 hp by just adding and intercooler and a K&N.

Originally Posted by benttoy83

Lower the compression ratio if you want to make an IDI turbo motor last .

Yeah, another great suggestion. Have you ever tried to start and IDI motor with lower than 20 to 1 compression? It'll take plenty of ether or a combination of a grid heater AND glow plugs.

Now for real advice from an IDI owner and modifier:

If you rebuild it, use Malle pistons with the heat reflective coating on top, and a slightly shorter piston to account for compression gain upon head milling. If you don't mill the head, they will drop your compression from 21.6 to 1 to about 20.8 to 1.

I have had an IDI Ford motor of one sort or other for 10 years. They are quite bulletproof when maintained correctly (keep an eye on oil level, these motors use about a quart every 1200-1500 miles). My 86 has 210,000 K on it, 180,000 of that with a Hypermax turbo kit. I make 12 psi max, and it is plenty to tow my Jeep around. I run a 35 inch tire with a 4 spd (t-19) and can comfortably run 65 mph on the highway getting 18 mpg all day long (2750 RPM). The truck makes 225 HP and 440 ft lbs, about what a stock Powerstroke makes. Summary: IDI motors are an excellent, reliable motor, be happy with your purchase.

[welndmn]

Sweet truck, I love that body style.
Because the motor is blown.....
http://www.fordcummins.com/

One of the guys I know did this, and he seems to love it.

[Tippy]

Originally Posted by afecko

Yeah, I've always felt that an intercooler really helps the performance of a naturally aspirated engine. My old 351 got an extra 100 hp by just adding and intercooler and a K&N.

What's a good intercooler to use? Aftermarket such as banks, or OEM replacement from later model?

Now for real advice from an IDI owner and modifier:

If you rebuild it, use Malle pistons with the heat reflective coating on top, and a slightly shorter piston to account for compression gain upon head milling. If you don't mill the head, they will drop your compression from 21.6 to 1 to about 20.8 to 1.

I have had an IDI Ford motor of one sort or other for 10 years. They are quite bulletproof when maintained correctly (keep an eye on oil level, these motors use about a quart every 1200-1500 miles). My 86 has 210,000 K on it, 180,000 of that with a Hypermax turbo kit. I make 12 psi max, and it is plenty to tow my Jeep around. I run a 35 inch tire with a 4 spd (t-19) and can comfortably run 65 mph on the highway getting 18 mpg all day long (2750 RPM). The truck makes 225 HP and 440 ft lbs, about what a stock Powerstroke makes. Summary: IDI motors are an excellent, reliable motor, be happy with your purchase.

What if I don't need new pistons? The truck came with two compleate 7.3's, so I have enough parts to make one. I was hopeing I could re-ring it and do the heads, assuming the block doesn't need too much machining. I was pricing out rebuilt kits, and the ring/rod/bearing kit is about $600, but you add pistons and it jumps to $2100.

Keep the ideas comming. I can't wait to get some pics and get it home!!

[Jrod-13]

to make any decent power, you need the turbo.

if you don't, the biggest things are opening up the exhuast, and the pump mods.

I run a 88' F-350, identical to yours, but a reg cab.
All i have done is
cut out the soup bowl
turned the pump up about 1/2 a turn
bumped the timing up around 2 degrees
straight piped the exhuast.

With 285's on it, it pulls just fine, getting around 13mpg running at 75mph.
with 35's on it, it dropped it to about 10mpg pulling, and it ran out of power after around 70mph. I also found I was downshifting to 4rth alot on hills.
if you don't put a turbo on it, you don't want the big tires.

these motors are goverened at 3300rpm, and make peak Hp right there, and will also run it all day long. Your best pulling power is right around 2500rpm. coolant runs cooler, EGT's run cooler. motor pulls better, etc.

[afecko]

Originally Posted by Tippy

What's a good intercooler to use? Aftermarket such as banks, or OEM replacement from later model?

It's a joke, man, you can't use an intercooler on a naturally aspirated engine. Bolt on a turbo kit, and then you'll be ready for an intercooler.

The Hypermax turbo kit is very nice, doesn't pull as hard on the bottom end, as the turbo is a non-wastegated design, but it gets better mileage on the highway as NWG turbos have much less back pressure. If you don't want a turbo (trust me you really, really do) Stan's headers makes a sweet set of long tube headers that really help these engines breathe.

When you are rebuilding the 7.3, make sure you have the block checked for porosity in the cylinder walls. Coolant cavitation is notorious in 7.3's, and the bubbles eat through the cylinders after about 150k.

As I said, I have the Hypermax unit on mine, and the fuel pump turned up to maximum, and a straight 4" exhaust. I am very happy with it.

[Tippy]

Originally Posted by afecko

It's a joke, man, you can't use an intercooler on a naturally aspirated engine. Bolt on a turbo kit, and then you'll be ready for an intercooler.

OK walked into that one! I'm going to put a turbo on it, that I know. I've been looking at the ATS and Banks, but neither one of their kits comes with an intercooler.

The Hypermax turbo kit is very nice, doesn't pull as hard on the bottom end, as the turbo is a non-wastegated design, but it gets better mileage on the highway as NWG turbos have much less back pressure. If you don't want a turbo (trust me you really, really do) Stan's headers makes a sweet set of long tube headers that really help these engines breathe.

Please explain to this diesel noob the difference

When you are rebuilding the 7.3, make sure you have the block checked for porosity in the cylinder walls. Coolant cavitation is notorious in 7.3's, and the bubbles eat through the cylinders after about 150k.

Is there anything that can be done to the block at that point or are you SOL?

[Tippy]

Here's a pic after I got it home. A few more pics will be posted in the tow rig forum.

[benttoy83]

19.5 to 1 , no problems starting it yet , although it hasn't gotten below 10 here in a while . Check out hypermax as far as rebuild componets , quality chit

[afecko]

Originally Posted by Tippy

Is there anything that can be done to the block at that point or are you SOL?

Yes, you can have the block sleeved with new cylinder liners. Not cheap, but will yield a superior strength cylinder.

[wheelin66bronco]

Originally Posted by welndmn

Sweet truck, I love that body style.
Because the motor is blown.....
http://www.fordcummins.com/

One of the guys I know did this, and he seems to love it.

Don't mess with fordcummins (rippoff) but a 12V would be the way to go.
When my 7.3 goes in my 96 a 12V is going in.

[Tippy]

Originally Posted by wheelin66bronco

Don't mess with fordcummins (rippoff) but a 12V would be the way to go.
When my 7.3 goes in my 96 a 12V is going in.

Do you have another supplier/parts list for this swap?

[wheelin66bronco]

Check out www.cummins-conversion.com. There is a LOT of good info on there.