7.3 IDI Turbo Assembly Part 1 - Short Block! Project Brutus, Episode 21!

In this episode we finally start assembling the 7.3 IDI turbo engine! As usual, there's some carnage, and we had to take an extra trip to the machine shop as a result!!! There's also lots of tech, including measuring rod journal and crank journal clearances, measuring crankshaft endplay, installing piston rings on the pistons, and installing pistons and connecting rods.
Please hit the LIKE button if you found the video helpful or informative, and please consider subscribing to the channel.
Thanks!
Scott

[@donclaustro7937]

Great to eee you back Scott. Love your videos! I was eagerly awaiting the completion of Brutus (I have a similar build underway), but I'm glad to see Brownie has arrived in the coral!

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

Thanks, Don! I've been making progress on Brownie; hope to have Video #2 posted soon! Scott

[@royhaught9516]

Seems like you haven't posted for a while , good to see you back. That engine is going to be a monster, can't wait to hear it run!

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

Roy - it's been almost 2 months. I've been steadily working, just haven't had time to edit videos. I'll have another one next week. Thanks, Scott

[@pingwuan_works]

WOOOO WELCOME BACK!!!!! Always a good day seeing a vid coming out of The bulletproof garage!

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

Thanks, Pingwuan. Should have the next episode up next week. Scott

[@carlashton9331]

Enjoying the build. Nice to see R&D IDI parts going in it.

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

Thanks, Carl. More R&D IDI bits coming! Scott

[@mrbreeze5556]

Scott, I learn something new every time I watch one of your videos! Thanks for the great content.

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

Thanks for the comment, Mr. Breeze! Glad you find the videos informative. Scott

[@pnwthings5419]

Your making great progress and keeping it very informative!!

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

Thanks, PNW things! More content and progress on the way!!! Scott

[@TheDarkangelman]

Glad to see it coming back together Scott, can't wait to see future videos on the build!

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

Thanks, Alex! I'm excited to hear it make some noise! Scott

[@C.J.Traylor]

This is a great video, very well made and helpful. Thanks man!

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

Glad you found it helpful!

[@ptspts9175]

Excellent Work Scott!!!! Such an awesome hobby we have. LOVE the details your putting in these videos. Cant wait to see the initial start.

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

Thanks, Paul! Engine and trans are installed, so it won't be too much longer before Brutus is making noise! Scott

[@louismoench3554]

awesome vid

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

Thanks, Louis!

[@MichaelJordan-jv6ic]

I saw an interesting thing the other day. A company called Speed Of Air is manufacturing a new diesel piston design. They have a demo of a 7.3 turning out 575 hp and 1300 lbf of torque at 2200 rpm. No cat, DPF or other pollution control stuff to obtain clean exhaust as well.

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

That sounds interesting, Michael. Is that a powerstroke or IDI? Scott

[@MichaelJordan-jv6ic]

@@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE Powerstroke. I'd post the link but YT deletes comments like that. But google "speed of air pistons" and the company should be top of the page.

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

@@MichaelJordan-jv6ic - Thanks, I'll check it out. Scott

[@The73idigarage]

​@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE the most hp Justin from R&D has dunoed an idi at has been 466hp

[@KnightsOutdoorAdventures]

Definitely gonna be going through all the 7.3 you have videos. I will be rebuilding my 90 f250 7.3 idi in the next couple years

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

Plenty more content on the 7.3 IDI! Thanks for the comment, Scott

[@KnightsOutdoorAdventures]

@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE absolutely it's been a struggle finding reliable information on these old motors. This will be my first motor rebuild, so I'm gathering as much info as I can before I start it. Also thank you for your service

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

@@KnightsOutdoorAdventures - The info is out there, but it's not always easy to find! Best forum for the IDI diesels is oilburners.net - recommend you sign up there. Good luck and thanks! Scott

[@MansoyHumilde777]

I just acquired a 7.3 idi with an ats turbo on it. Looking forward to making it run

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

Excellent! These are super simple engines to work on. Scott

[@chuckfowler4754]

Loving the build. Glad to see someone finally mention how they did the gapless ring. Love the detail and the thorough explanations.Anxious to see it fire up👍. Do you have. Part number for the gapless rings? Thanks

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

Hi Chuck - I'm anxious as well! The Total Seal Gapless Rings were TS3 041100 0775 188. Thanks for your comment and question, Scott

[@The73idigarage]

I have a stage 1 R&D cam & says it must be installed on a 112* intake centerline (+/-2*)

[@st-jeanstephane7876]

😊👍👍 7.3 diesel excellent moteur Jai ue un 6.9

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

I agree! Merci, Scott

[@wereexpertstoo3795]

Enjoying this project. Curious what you paid to have the sleeve installed. I'm considering getting a 7.3 block and re-sleeving all 8 cylinders down to the 6.9 bore for even extra thickness / cavitation protection.

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

Sleeve itself was about $30, and I think I paid about $125 to have it installed. Sleeving a 7.3 down to 6.9 is a good idea. That way you get the thick walls of the 6.9 with the larger 7.3 head studs. Thanks for the question. Scott

[@wereexpertstoo3795]

@@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE Thanks for responding. I have a 6.9 that seems to be in pretty good shape, but the block is iffy . . . so I'm thinking of going this route and using the internals of the 6.9 in a re-sleeved 7.3 for the reasons you said.

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

@@wereexpertstoo3795 - If you watched the earlier episodes, you'll see the saga with the original 6.9 engine for Brutus. Block needed sleeves but I opted for a 7.3 instead. Scott

[@wereexpertstoo3795]

@@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE I've watched some of it - I'll go back and digest all of your experience.

[@spangler_angler7889]

What piston rings did you use? Very hard to find for my 94 IDI turbo. From my research, this needs keystone rings for the 1st and 2nd rings. Did you use powerstroke piston rings or non-turbo rings for the IDI?

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

It's been several months, but you're right, the rings are difficult to find. I can't recall whether or not I used keystone rings for the top ring. I used Total Seal for the second ring.

[@spangler_angler7889]

@@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE , after a lot of research and reaching out to rebuild shops they recommend Mahle s42104 ring sets for the IDI turbos. Ordering a set so we’ll see.

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

@@spangler_angler7889 - Sounds good. When I had IDI build questions that I couldn't get a good answer to, I generally checked with Justin at R&D IDI.

[@joeharvey4987]

Main caps actually should get torqued to 95 + 45degrees which comes out close to about 120 ftlbs

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

Thanks for the input, Joe, but I didn't see anything about 95 + 45 degrees when I was researching the build. Scott

[@aztecahernandez6539]

Do you have a video of injection pump install timing.

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

Azteca - I do not. I am not sure if I will have time to video this; I am running out of time to get the truck running. Thanks for the question, Scott

[@roughready7491]

Can I ask who your machine shop was. I understand this was filmed when you were living in nova. I'm in Charlottesville.

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

I used Billy Caudle in Manassas. Billy is an old friend and does great work, but he's more of a gasoline guy than diesel. Scott

[@roughready7491]

@@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE appreciate the response! Thank you

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

@@roughready7491 - happy to help. If you go see Billy, please tell him that I said hi. He'll remember the 7.3 IDI heads and block that he worked on for me. He also built a stout 428 for my '66 Fairlane.

[@roughready7491]

@@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE will do! Enjoy Texas...I miss it

[@texascottonfarmer]

You got something against using plastigauge to check bearing clearances? Measuring without the crankshaft installed looks sketchy to me.

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

Checking with a dial bore gauge is actually much more accurate than using Plastigauge.

[@texascottonfarmer]

@@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE I doubt that. Do you have any proof, or just opinion?

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

@@texascottonfarmer - Plastigauge is really for folks who don't have the correct tools. It just gives you an estimate, while a dial bore gauge and a micrometer give you actual measurements. Check with your engine builder, if he's not a hack, I really doubt he has Plastigauge in the shop.

[@mrmolasses5366]

@@texascottonfarmer lmao

[@jaewilliams1934]

What torque wrench is that?

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

Jae - Tekton. Made in U.S. I have 3/8" and 1/2". I really like them.

[@simpleman4224]

👍👍👍👍🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

Thanks Simple Man. Scott

[@ODOUCET]

Sleeve the entire motor

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

Sleeving the entire engine really wasn't necessary; only one cylinder needed it. Thanks for the comment. Scott

[@randysrestoration]

Truck running yet?

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

Getting close, Randy! Thanks, Scott

[@randysrestoration]

@@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE my R got pushed back again. Well into June now. What a total flop for Ford and Ford Performance! Takes all excitement out of order. In meantime I ordered a base 250 with new 6.7 HO the 500/1200 on April 11th VIN 2 days later and already in production.

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

@@randysrestoration - Sorry to hear about the Raptor, but 1,200 ft lbs of torque is going to be awesome!

[@randysrestoration]

@@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE sounds like it will put down in excess of 1000 tq to tire. 20,000 lb bumper pull. 22,700 gooseneck. Possible 25 mpg @ 65 mph. That’s nuts.

[@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE]

@@randysrestoration That's CRAZY! 20k bumper pull!?!?!