7.3 HP and build

[VA Vince]

Whats the safe horsepower range for the 7.3? I am looking for something that will be a weekend haul a$$ driver 90% of the time and 10% towing. I am basically wanting to slowly build a bad beast and I have heard the 7.3's like a certain HP range? What I have heard may be BS so please school me if this is wrong.

As it sits now, rebuilt trans (stock), new intake and an old tuner that I am pulling off. My budget for now is 3K to get started and I am not sure where to begin...

 

[ToMang07]

Spend some time reading. Depends on the year, 99-00 typically have forged rods good to 500hp, the 01-03 usually have PMR rods that are good to about 400hp, just keep the torque down.

And yes, if you're going anything above 300rwhp you'll want a built transmission. I can personally attest that just having a lowered stall tranny and a shift kit/valve body makes it drive MUCH better.

Mods, best bang for your buck, get a lowered stall TC, ($600) John Woods Or BTS Valve Body, ($200-300 or a shift kit) 4" Full stainless exhaust, ($500) Hydra ($400) with tunes from your tuner of choice, 6637 DIY Intake, ($60) Gauges, ($2-400 EGT, Transmission, Boost) and maybe an adrenaline HPOP ($800) and you'll have a very reliable setup.

 

[97f350stroker]

Put that 3k in the sock drawer and keep saving.... not being a dik but 7.3's aren't cheap to play with. You need more than that 3k to get trans in shape to hold anything that will "haul a$$" unless you are referring to hauling donkeys.

 

[VA Vince]

Lol, 3K is just to start on motor. It's a'99 and 500HP is plenty. I've been looking at sun coast trans and figured that would be next. I basically want a something that I can run hard when I want, be dependable and pull a load when needed. I had a budget of 12K and have 5K left over. Figured 2-3 on motor and 2-3 on a stage 2ish trans?

 

[VA Vince]

Spend some time reading. Depends on the year, 99-00 typically have forged rods good to 500hp, the 01-03 usually have PMR rods that are good to about 400hp, just keep the torque down.

And yes, if you're going anything above 300rwhp you'll want a built transmission. I can personally attest that just having a lowered stall tranny and a shift kit/valve body makes it drive MUCH better.

Mods, best bang for your buck, get a lowered stall TC, ($600) John Woods Or BTS Valve Body, ($200-300 or a shift kit) 4" Full stainless exhaust, ($500) Hydra ($400) with tunes from your tuner of choice, 6637 DIY Intake, ($60) Gauges, ($2-400 EGT, Transmission, Boost) and maybe an adrenaline HPOP ($800) and you'll have a very reliable setup.

Thanks man. Already have gauges and ordering a 4" exhaust, just not sure which. I want a deep sound like my old cummins had. This truck is basically one I have been after for a while.

 

[ToMang07]

$5,000 will barely buy you a built transmission. Just injectors and a turbo setup will be another $4-5,000, and that doesn't include the basic support mods I mentioned (and many I left out, like fuel and a regulated return) earlier.

 

[97f350stroker]

Lol, 3K is just to start on motor. It's a'99 and 500HP is plenty. I've been looking at sun coast trans and figured that would be next. I basically want a something that I can run hard when I want, be dependable and pull a load when needed. I had a budget of 12K and have 5K left over. Figured 2-3 on motor and 2-3 on a stage 2ish trans?

Where'd the other 7 go? Like said you're looking at around 5k to hold 500hp. A 38r is a good drop in option but I personally like running a t4 set up just to have to different turbo options. That plus 250/100 sticks, bigger hpop, fuel system, regulated return, headstuds, valve springs, pushrods and some good tunes and your good to go.

 

[joe d]

1650 for 238/100
Hydra and tunes 400-600
Price for the tow after you go out and hammer on it 0-400 depending on distance.
If u wanna make loads of power.
Do the tranny first and traction bars.
Then make the power for it to be reliable. If you dont care if you make it home then do what i said in start of my post. Should make 400 maybe a littel more. Before the mechanical fuel pump runs out of fuel. Good luck.

 

[97f350stroker]

1650 for 238/100
Hydra and tunes 400-600
Price for the tow after you go out and hammer on it 0-400 depending on distance.
If u wanna make loads of power.
Do the tranny first and traction bars.
Then make the power for it to be reliable. If you dont care if you make it home then do what i said in start of my post. Should make 400 maybe a littel more. Before the mechanical fuel pump runs out of fuel. Good luck.

It's a 99 he at least has e fuel going for him

 

[VA Vince]

It's a project. I am not dropping 5K and done. I have stages which requires funding which requires more work and saving cash. I was guessing a stage 2 trans was around 3K but guess I was way off.

The other 7K bought the truck.

 

[joe d]

Ya true missed that somehow

 

[ToMang07]

It's a project. I am not dropping 5K and done. I have stages which requires funding which requires more work and saving cash. I was guessing a stage 2 trans was around 3K but guess I was way off.

The other 7K bought the truck.

Forget "Stage" BS, leave that to the dodge boys and their box math.

Read up, look at HP ratings. There is PLENTY of info on different setups and results on this site.

 

[VA Vince]

Ya true missed that somehow

What do you mean? I've had diesels before but never really did much to them as they were my work trucks. I am just asking what to start with. I've got to clean the motor up first and than go from there.

 

[VA Vince]

Forget "Stage" BS, leave that to the dodge boys and their box math.

Read up, look at HP ratings. There is PLENTY of info on different setups and results on this site.

10-4, thanks man.

 

[97f350stroker]

^agreed. That goes for injectors also. Do a little reading on nozzle size and capacity. We don't have 100 horse injectors and there's a handful of "stage 3" injectors.

 

[97f350stroker]

What do you mean? I've had diesels before but never really did much to them as they were my work trucks. I am just asking what to start with. I've got to clean the motor up first and than go from there.

He was under the impression you had an obs 7.3 which has a mechanical fuel pump in the valley. They switched to an electric fuel pump with the superduty trucks. The mechanical pumps have a hard time maintaining fuel pressure with anything more than a stock injector.

 

[joe d]

So what is your hp goal and what you Really wanna do with the truck.
Do you have a budget in mind.
Joe

 

[Powerstroker7.3]

What to start with: hydra chip with tunes. I prefer gear head but there are plenty out there that are good. You want an intake and exhaust. Then you need to work on the trans. I wold recommend bts or John woods over suncoast. A drop in 38r will hold 500hp as far as air goes and for fuel depending on what you want you will need a fuel system and regulated return. Then you need to get a bigger hpop to push the injectors. You need to make a plan because just buying stuff will hurt you later on down the road


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[VA Vince]

So what is your hp goal and what you Really wanna do with the truck.
Do you have a budget in mind.
Joe

No more than 500hp. Budget is whatever I need but at different stages. I have to get the motor checked out first and if that is good than I can start. As for what I really want to do, just have a good reliable truck that I can have fun with. It's not a daily driver and I have plenty of time to make it right.

 

[Dmstrucks02]

No more than 500hp. Budget is whatever I need but at different stages. I have to get the motor checked out first and if that is good than I can start. As for what I really want to do, just have a good reliable truck that I can have fun with. It's not a daily driver and I have plenty of time to make it right.

Fugg it, you need fuel and fuel delivery. Get some 250/80 or 100 and a fuel system and drive it nice until you mod the trans or buy a built one. And someone to tune it!
I wish I would have done injectors sooner than I did.

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