I real guide to tuning a 6.9/7.3idi for power.

Getting more power from a 6.9/7.3 idi. A few tips and tricks. @ziptiesnbiasplies

[@MrWill73]

Great video Nolan! Tons of great honest information from experience, the best!👍👍👍

[@RacinNdrummin]

Overall, lots of good info, you nailed a lot of it. In terms of the pump though, you're off a little bit. The "torque screw" is a low end fueling gimmick, not high end. It simply limits metering valve travel, so that fueling under high demand/low RPM is less. As RPM rises, so does transfer pressure, and that overcomes the travel restriction... The reason they are backed out from the factory on the turbo units is because the turbo benefits from the extra low end fueling and cleans the excess up pretty quick, particularly because the factory turbo calibration is pretty light anyway. The other pump adjustment isn't a fuel curve mod. Its a fine adjustment for the defuel spec on the top end. Running it in only gives you a little extra RPM on top. The governor in these pumps is a min/max unit, and all it does is regulate idle, and defuel... The rest of the curve is determined by other adjustments in the pump, and throttle input (your right foot), that's all. Your DPS pump was nothing but a turned up 7.3 stocker, and in stock form a 7.3 pump does right around 90-95cc at peak fuel.

[@wildrosegarage4208]

I know your a idi king and have been a leader in them for a long time. So I am not doubting what you know but I will say this. In my Hypermax Turbo instructions I still have somewhere it states the screw is a high rpm fuel decrease and to back it out to stop high rpm de fuel and I can say on my 93 from years ago ( 5speed factory turbo truck with a hypermax non waste gate turbo) with a factory pump at high rpm around 2800rpm it would drop around 2 psi of boost pressure (From 13psi-11psi). I backed that screw out all the way and it would not drop boost until the fuel cut right off at around 3000rpm. I am not makeing this up it did give me more fueling for a couple more 100 rpm. I had 2x factory 5 speed turbo pumps and both were like this. I just looked at the old hypermax instructions and it states to back the screw out 3 turns if fuel decreases at to low of engine speed if boost pressure drops this adjustment may be desired on 92.5 + models. I had a factory turbo auto truck (94) fuel would be full until 3300. I backed the screw out on that truck but I would be lying if I said it kept full fuel until 3300 because I never tested it first I went by the hypermax instructions and from my experience on my other truck. On the 93 I ended running a dps custom 120cc ( Ken from dps claimed) pump and stage 1 dps injectors, also sprayed a 650ml/min snowperformance water meth kit. That truck went pretty good and would say it made around the same power as my 03 7.3 powerstroke on my hottest tune it ran 16.4 @85mph on 35s. That pump was hotter than a turned up factory turbo pump for sure. Thank you for letting me know what the screw on on the back does and explaining it. Thanks for watching my stuff and keep doing what you do for these trucks. Nolan.

[@claytonstoolbox]

Cool truck

[@duncanmiller1732]

It's hard to sift through all the garbage people say about these old diesels and actually know if you're helping or hurting when you put it to practice. I'll be taking your experiential knowledge to heart and backing my metering screw back down from the 2.5 flats I was told to put it at 🙄 Thanks for all the great advice Nolan! 🤘

[@wildrosegarage4208]

Ya man if its a non turbo 1.5 flats is good there is nothing to gain at all after that other than smoke. A non turbo can only breath in so much air so you can add all the fuel in the world and it wont do nothing other than make smoke and heat. When your truck is wide open it should have a good grey haze out the pipe not pouring black soot. If it has a white/grey smoke all the time it usually needs more timing advance. Hit me up for any question and I will tell you my thoughts. Let me know how it works. Nolan.

[@EYE_SPIDER]

Nice Truck Brotha!

[@wildrosegarage4208]

Thank you.

[@drcracinggarage8047]

Nice truck Nolan

[@Austinsairplanes]

I have a turbo 7.3 idi. I turned the fuel all the way up, and barely noticed much difference in power. The real negative is that it belches tons of smoke after 1/4 throttle, i kept an an eye on the rear view mirror to see how much smoke was coming out and metered my throttle accordingly. I let a family member drive it and he was unknowingly smoking people out just driving it how he normally would. This was a problem because in my jurisdiction my truck could be reported to the county, i have since dialed back the fuel. Overall not worth it.

[@wildrosegarage4208]

Did you adjust the waste gate to 13psi? If not it is not getting enough air for the amount of fuel. Smoke should clean up once high boost is achieved. By turning up the fuel all the way and adjusting the waste gate it will make 50% more over stock. Do you have the airbox hose hooked up so it's not sucking hot air from under the hood? If it's a 5 SPD truck it will smoke when lugging do to not enough rpm to lite the turbo. A auto truck will only smoke lots off the start and before a downshift. Not enough timing can also make smoke. With the pump turned up and the turbo set to 13psi with good exhaust and air a factory turbo Idi will make the same power as 99-03 7.3 superdutys like my daily. I hope you have a pyrometer. With the junk ford down pipe and turbo outlet the egts go through the roof. Let me know how it goes.

[@D31ay3d]

Thanks for the tips! I have an '85 E350 motorhome with a 6.9, only 130k km on it, runs great! For a pyro on a 6.9, what would you be looking for as a max EGT and a comfortable sustained EGT?

[@wildrosegarage4208]

1200 max for short period 1100 all day is my thoughts.

[@wildrosegarage4208]

I would make sure it has a clean air filter or a K+n replacement that's well oiled. Make sure the ducting is proper or maybe there is a way to get more air into the ducting? Under bumper? Trim tin where it sucks from by the radiator perhaps? 3" exhaust helps with a nice Y pipe a straight through style muffler perforated core style. All this will help temps. That's a great unit they didn't make many with a idi most were 351w or 460 at that time.

[@RobertHooker-ce4vw]

Hey buddy I got a stock 92 1 owner f250 XLT 4x4 stock 7.3 idi with 480000 on her. What can I do to get a little more power. Cheap and simple. O it has a 5 speed manual

[@wildrosegarage4208]

Turn the pump up a flat, bump the timing a dimes width to the passenger side, and put on a free flowing muffler.

[@RobertHooker-ce4vw]

Thanks for the info

[@dath556]

Hello. I’m building a 425 for my Oldsmobile. Where do you recommend looking for parts?

[@wildrosegarage4208]

Depends on what you need and what your doing. Let me know what kind of power your looking for and I will give you my thoughts. Nolan.

[@dath556]

@@wildrosegarage4208 the main issue I have is the cam bank angle. It’s a 65 block and I know they have the 45 degree angle. I’m hoping to make around 500-600hp with this engine. I saw you wrote some reviews for cams on summit but I’m scared to buy one that won’t fit

[@wildrosegarage4208]

@@dath556 Howards cams will grind you a cam on a 45 no problem Part# HRS-579991. To be honest 500hp will be hard to make never mind 600hp. 425-450hp is doable with your ''A" heads. If you're keeping stock rockers use the howards rattler grind with .501lift and put a little stiffer single valve spring on it. If you plan on running pump gas 10.5:1 is really pushing it with cast heads. If you need more power hit it with a 150shot and you will have your 600hp. I would recommend rod bolts for sure and main bolts would not be a bad idea at that power. My 488 Olds stroker probably only makes 475hp-500hp. And make sure your 425 is at 45 degree. Some are at 39 I am told and use a bigger dia lifter.

[@dath556]

@@wildrosegarage4208 thank you so much. That’s super helpful. Are you in alberta? I’ll let you know if I have any other questions through the build 👍

[@wildrosegarage4208]

@@dath556 No problem sounds good. Yes I am in Edmonton Alberta.

[@markg7030]

I agree with whatever you said. I don't know shit about diesel.🙃🙃🙃

[@wildrosegarage4208]

These are not hot rod motors but there is a couple places now that make a lot of performance parts for them and there making big power. I like them because they're very reliable, tough as anything, easy and cheap to fix. They are much better on fuel than big blocks of the time and work great for a truck that gets used for work. They pull good for what they are and can be wide open at redline all day and night and wont complain. My 93.5 ran 16.4 1/4 mile on a g tech on 35'' tires with a 5spd which was good for a diesel of its type at the time. They powered tons of school busses, International S series mediom dutys trucks and Ford E and F series.

[@markg7030]

@@wildrosegarage4208 Diesel fuel was never popular in the U.S. except for trucks. Some old Mercedes and VW cars used Diesel. Oldsmobile Failed with Diesel engines.

[@wildrosegarage4208]

@@markg7030 True. Now get this these old idi's run the same on atf, hydraulic oil, used motor oil as they do on diesel. If I could find free used atf or hydraulic oil I would be set. Maybe run in through a cheese cloth type filter and let the fuel filter do the rest and just change them often.

[@MrWill73]

@@wildrosegarage4208 That’s pretty cool! I am not a diesel guy but that’s cool that you can run it on old oil. Didn’t to Square body Military Chevys from the 80’s with the Detroit Diesel also run on oil and stuff like that because they required by the military?

[@wildrosegarage4208]

@@MrWill73 Any old mechanical diesel will run just fine on oil as long as its not to cold and doesn't get thick. So 6.2, mechanical 6.5, 6.9/7.3idi, 12 valve cummins. I got a bunch of hydraulic oil and compressor oil free and I put it in my 7.3 powerstroke and it was at least 80% oil 20% diesel and even it ran fine didn't notice any difference. I think it idled quieter.

[@MrSwinger1]

I worked for Ford when the " 6 leaker" diesel came out. Back then everyone said they should have kept the 7.3 and how great it was...

[@wildrosegarage4208]

I have had 3x 7.3idi two were turbo model fords. I also had a 89 crew cab IHC S1654 with a non turbo 7.3 idi all were good. This is my only 6.9idi but it should be good being owned by a mechanic and only has 100k miles. I have a 03 7.3 Powerstroke and its been my daily for 12 years. It has almost 400k miles on it and its been a great truck. Honestly its been the best vehicle I have ever owned. I have pulled 25,000lbs with it many times and it will still do 70mph. I had the valve cover off for the first time last year and it is clean as new inside. I have always ran Rotella T6 0w40 in it and wix filters. I would drive it anywhere and not be worried. As for 6.0 junk in my opinion same with the 6.4. But I think the 6.7 is a good mill. I like these old idi because there simple and tough may not pull 25k lbs like a newer rig or even a 7.3 powerstroke or turbo idi but I am in no hurry these days I get there when I get there. This truck will look cool pulling my cars to the track.

[@leejohnson6173]

Best way,to get power out of an idi is to throw the 12v tune in it lol

[@wildrosegarage4208]

I have played with them to. They have there dowl pin issue that If not fixed can be a major. The first gen rotary pump ones turned up all the way are nothing to write home about. The P-pump can be turned up pretty good though. Honestly I have always liked the idi probably a lot is because of the sound they make. But if I had a Gasser ford I planned on keeping and using I would probably do a turned up 4bt. Close 2nd would be a Perkins 354. If I had more gears a Detroit 353t would be a option.

[@MrSwinger1]

Happy Easter Nolan! 😁

[@wildrosegarage4208]

You to buddy!