Upgrades vs reliability - F-Series & SuperDuty Diesel Forums

jflaig · 11-17-2011, 12:32 PM

Hey,

I have had my truck now for over 2 years. It is a 2000 F350 Crew 4x4 with the 7.3 and the 6sp. I have replaced the intake with a Napa 6637 mod and did the ccv delete kit. I also have the resistor mod and grandrock dual 6" stacks with a stock downpipe. Other than that, I recently replaced the glowplugs and the undervalve cover harnesses. The truck has a 2.5" Rough Country leveling kit and 35" tires.

Now I am interested in doing some upgrades, but want to maintain my reliability and driveability, or should I focus on replacing factory parts. I bought the truck completely stock from a single owner with all original parts. It now has over 220k miles and i want it to last many more years.

I currently have about $1000 to spend on the truck, but will probabily have more in the spring. What do you recommend for good upgrades that will maintain my reliability and not break my budget? I am not all about performance, but rather having a good all around truck that I can trust everyday.

I am open to any and all suggestions. I apoligize if any of this information has been talked about in another thread, I try to search before posting anything. Let me know what everyone thinks I should do. Thanks.

Joe

Bdons SD · 11-17-2011, 01:24 PM

I would start with the 3 gauges, EGT pyrometer, trans temp (the auto tranny is the weak link on these) and boost gauge. Look up dp tuner and their custom tunes and go with a 4"+ down pipe to your stacks. That will help keep the Egts down. I have almost the same truck as you except mines an auto, I have 01 7.3 4x4 with a 3.5 inch leveling kit on 35s and it was a dog driving it stock, I did all the upgrades I just mentioned, with the economy tune it drives like a stock truck would drive (referring to tire size), the towing tunes help keep the tranny alive and the race tune is just for fun when I'm feeling naughty ha ha. But it really woke my motor up and made the truck fun to drive, but not to the point where I'm going to blow stuff up.

Sent from my iThingy using Tapatalk

BIG JOE · 11-17-2011, 02:20 PM

From another Joe ?

Just take a look at the 2 signatures you see at this point. More will follow i'm sure.

ALL of the [engine] Mods on mine are Mods done for Reliability & Towing.. and are all DIY, in yer driveway or garage.... with common tools. They REALLY Woke my 7.3 up.. and have kept it awake.. for almost 12 years now.

I'd say.. look at specific mods, post up, or PM any of us with any questions you might have about'm.. and we'd be more than happy to guide you along ? You can also do searches on Each mod.. and go to the WIKI/DIY, at the top right of this page.

It's What SDD.com is all about.

Joe

Stroked68 · 11-17-2011, 03:45 PM

Ok now you have 3 sigs to look at haha. Good thing on the 7.3s is they are hard to kill. Go with a DP chip. I've heard the most and best things from them. One thing you might overlook on yer truck since its lifted and has 35's is a dynatrak hub conversion kit. The stock unit bearing assemblies dont like bigger tires and just one assembly is well over $300. The kit is more than your said budget but def something to think about. One of the many things on my list to do to mine even though I dont have a lift or big tires.

jflaig · 11-17-2011, 10:24 PM

Thanks everyone for the quick response and advise. I forgot to mention that I currently have three gauges too. I have an egt gauge, boost gauge, and a oil pressure gauge. When I bought my truck those were the first thing that everyone mentioned.

I did a little research on the dp tuner, is it worth the cost for the f6 chip with the usb reprograming or is the f5 the best option. Also what tunes do you use all the time/would recommend? Thanks guys, I always know where to go for help and one day hope to be able to give some.

Joe

11-17-2011, 12:32 PM	#1
jflaig SDD Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Holland, NY Posts: 17 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post View Photos By: jflaig	Upgrades vs reliability Hey, I have had my truck now for over 2 years. It is a 2000 F350 Crew 4x4 with the 7.3 and the 6sp. I have replaced the intake with a Napa 6637 mod and did the ccv delete kit. I also have the resistor mod and grandrock dual 6" stacks with a stock downpipe. Other than that, I recently replaced the glowplugs and the undervalve cover harnesses. The truck has a 2.5" Rough Country leveling kit and 35" tires. Now I am interested in doing some upgrades, but want to maintain my reliability and driveability, or should I focus on replacing factory parts. I bought the truck completely stock from a single owner with all original parts. It now has over 220k miles and i want it to last many more years. I currently have about $1000 to spend on the truck, but will probabily have more in the spring. What do you recommend for good upgrades that will maintain my reliability and not break my budget? I am not all about performance, but rather having a good all around truck that I can trust everyday. I am open to any and all suggestions. I apoligize if any of this information has been talked about in another thread, I try to search before posting anything. Let me know what everyone thinks I should do. Thanks. Joe

11-17-2011, 01:24 PM	#2
Bdons SD SDD Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Auburn, WA Posts: 99 Thanks: 2 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts	I would start with the 3 gauges, EGT pyrometer, trans temp (the auto tranny is the weak link on these) and boost gauge. Look up dp tuner and their custom tunes and go with a 4"+ down pipe to your stacks. That will help keep the Egts down. I have almost the same truck as you except mines an auto, I have 01 7.3 4x4 with a 3.5 inch leveling kit on 35s and it was a dog driving it stock, I did all the upgrades I just mentioned, with the economy tune it drives like a stock truck would drive (referring to tire size), the towing tunes help keep the tranny alive and the race tune is just for fun when I'm feeling naughty ha ha. But it really woke my motor up and made the truck fun to drive, but not to the point where I'm going to blow stuff up. Sent from my iThingy using Tapatalk __________________ 2001 F-350 crew cab 7.3, stock motor, 3 leveling kit, 35 inch mud terrain txrs, Glowshift 3 gauge pillar pod with egt, trans temp, and boost, DP tuner with 60 econo, 80 towing, 120 race, 4" turbo back exhaust with muffler delete, Zoodad mod, sirius stiletto II, Pioneer H/U, Alpine 600w amp, 12 inch Alpine type S shallow mount sub, weatherguard tool box, ..... more to come. 111k.... Just getting warmed up

11-17-2011, 02:20 PM	#3
BIG JOE SDD Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: CenCal Posts: 4,377 Thanks: 101 Thanked 392 Times in 381 Posts	From another Joe ? Just take a look at the 2 signatures you see at this point. More will follow i'm sure. ALL of the [engine] Mods on mine are Mods done for Reliability & Towing.. and are all DIY, in yer driveway or garage.... with common tools. They REALLY Woke my 7.3 up.. and have kept it awake.. for almost 12 years now. I'd say.. look at specific mods, post up, or PM any of us with any questions you might have about'm.. and we'd be more than happy to guide you along ? You can also do searches on Each mod.. and go to the WIKI/DIY, at the top right of this page. It's What SDD.com is all about. Joe __________________ 2K, F-350, 7.3L, DRW, XLT, XCAB, 3:73s, 6spd... LUK clutch, Adrenaline Hpop, 175/146cc Single Shots w/DP tunes to match, AIS w/Fender sleeve, Zoodad (kinda), Comp/whl, upgraded W/gate actuator, BPRV, EBPV wired as a X-brake, AIH delete, 6.0 Inter-cooler, upgraded I/C Tubes, Full 4" exhst, Aeroturbin, MagnaFlow, Heater core bypass, 203* thermo, Gold coolant w/filter, HPX mod, Raycor 3550 CCV (Mod'd), Premo by-pass oil refiner, 4 gauge "A" pillar pod, FPR shimmed @ 70 psi, 160 amp Alt, Fuel pump inlet QD fitting delete w/Dahl pre pump filter, all Tank & fill hose mods. Frozen Rotor Brake assemblies X4. Viair 20008 OBA, Mag-Hytec Dif cover, Centramatic's, Bilsteins, Ride-Rites, 960cca AGM Batts, all lights LED's. TTMs/C-Beters, Garmin 465T GPS, Door seal Mod,(((XM))), Pull a 32ft Montana 5r, LED'd. Greasable Dexter spring sets. Air Ride Hitch pin box. Last edited by BIG JOE; 11-17-2011 at 02:25 PM.

11-17-2011, 03:45 PM	#4
Stroked68 This is FORD Country Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Eudora, KS Posts: 945 Thanks: 11 Thanked 64 Times in 63 Posts View Photos By: Stroked68	Ok now you have 3 sigs to look at haha. Good thing on the 7.3s is they are hard to kill. Go with a DP chip. I've heard the most and best things from them. One thing you might overlook on yer truck since its lifted and has 35's is a dynatrak hub conversion kit. The stock unit bearing assemblies dont like bigger tires and just one assembly is well over $300. The kit is more than your said budget but def something to think about. One of the many things on my list to do to mine even though I dont have a lift or big tires. __________________ 1999 Ford F250 Superduty 4x4 sb ext cab 7.3L DIY Intake-MBRP 4" turbo back smokers kit with dual 6" Miter stacks-Autometer UltraLite Triple pillar gauge KMC HPX SS Crossover Line-Shimmed FPR 74-75psi AIH delete-ZooDad Mod-08 rear diff cover-Harpoon mod-Hutch mod-Recon LED smoked cab lights Bed liner on bottom 1/4 of truck-Fumoto drain valve 275k and counting!

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

11-17-2011, 10:24 PM	#5
jflaig SDD Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Holland, NY Posts: 17 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post View Photos By: jflaig	Thanks everyone for the quick response and advise. I forgot to mention that I currently have three gauges too. I have an egt gauge, boost gauge, and a oil pressure gauge. When I bought my truck those were the first thing that everyone mentioned. I did a little research on the dp tuner, is it worth the cost for the f6 chip with the usb reprograming or is the f5 the best option. Also what tunes do you use all the time/would recommend? Thanks guys, I always know where to go for help and one day hope to be able to give some. Joe