Tuning the 7.3 in current times

[Hotrodtractor]

What where you running for ICP to need that strong of a solenoid and poppet spring? Or am I missing something?

It was ALL of the ICP. lol Less than the design target, but more than being run today in trucks.

The nice thing was with the heavy poppet spring it made it really controllable - the base ICP had to be jacked up ALOT with the stock solenoid to even get the injectors to fire, and that allowed quite a bit of control resolution for smaller volumes of fuel.

 

[Powerstroke Cowboy]

Hmm. Sounds like you need to get back on them injectors. Or atleast get one set made and have one of the top 7.3 out there give them a spin. Like Brian.

I like lots of ICP. some say it changes nothing. What pushes something harder and faster? More pressure.

 

[Hotrodtractor]

Hmm. Sounds like you need to get back on them injectors. Or atleast get one set made and have one of the top 7.3 out there give them a spin. Like Brian.

I like lots of ICP. some say it changes nothing. What pushes something harder and faster? More pressure.

Pretty sure when the 7.3 in my shop right now is complete - that will be my last 7.3 project - unless I can find a way to fund it differently.

I have discussed with a couple of people about the idea of just open sourcing all of it - the new injectors - the 32 valve head design - the new front cover - all of it. Still on the fence about that.

 

[Powerstroke Cowboy]

Pretty sure when the 7.3 in my shop right now is complete - that will be my last 7.3 project - unless I can find a way to fund it differently.

I have discussed with a couple of people about the idea of just open sourcing all of it - the new injectors - the 32 valve head design - the new front cover - all of it. Still on the fence about that.

I hear you. Dollar for dollar the 7.3s are one of the most expensive to get hp out of. Then when you hit a certain threshold they are definitely more expensive.

Would you be able to keep the 7.3 injectors with the 32 valve head? Or plans to use the 6.0 Injectors? Or would those plans delete the HEUI system and go common rail?

I have been wondering for a bit if KDD would be interested in adding an aftermarket high flow 7.3L head to their collection.

Right now, it's the lack of fuel with the HEUI system that's holding the 7.3 back. But when that took care of it will be the heads next.

If only one off parts were not so expensive......

 

[Hotrodtractor]

I hear you. Dollar for dollar the 7.3s are one of the most expensive to get hp out of. Then when you hit a certain threshold they are definitely more expensive.

Would you be able to keep the 7.3 injectors with the 32 valve head? Or plans to use the 6.0 Injectors? Or would those plans delete the HEUI system and go common rail?

I have been wondering for a bit if KDD would be interested in adding an aftermarket high flow 7.3L head to their collection.

Right now, it's the lack of fuel with the HEUI system that's holding the 7.3 back. But when that took care of it will be the heads next.

If only one off parts were not so expensive......

The 32 valve head I have designed works with LBZ style Duramax injectors, but it could work with mechanical injection as well.

Getting 1 off custom castings done these days isn't anywhere near as expensive as it once was. We 3D print directly into sand now and make the molds directly for about $0.20 per cubic inch. While that is about 5 times higher per mold than a traditional sand mold, you don't have any costs in tooling to make it - so its a perfect fit for low volume production of a highly intricate part. Getting it poured isn't too bad either in iron or aluminum. The expense starts to come in when it comes to the machining side of things.

 

[Powerstroke Cowboy]

The 32 valve head I have designed works with LBZ style Duramax injectors, but it could work with mechanical injection as well.

Getting 1 off custom castings done these days isn't anywhere near as expensive as it once was. We 3D print directly into sand now and make the molds directly for about $0.20 per cubic inch. While that is about 5 times higher per mold than a traditional sand mold, you don't have any costs in tooling to make it - so its a perfect fit for low volume production of a highly intricate part. Getting it poured isn't too bad either in iron or aluminum. The expense starts to come in when it comes to the machining side of things.

I have always admired the 7.3 common rail swamps did. Back in the day. Updates never seemed to come quick enough. Then it just petered out. It sounded so good as well. I still, just to tease my ears, go back and listen to it running. LOL.

I would take a comment rail 7.3 any day over a p-pump. Simply for a better all round setup. Big power, but still use it as a pickup.

Do your plans include useing the computer and such of the duramax? EFI could be used for tuning. Should be a simple set up.


I did not know that about castings. That's pretty cool!! I am sure it would take a few trys to get a design that works the way it should.

 

[Hotrodtractor]

I have always admired the 7.3 common rail swamps did. Back in the day. Updates never seemed to come quick enough. Then it just petered out. It sounded so good as well. I still, just to tease my ears, go back and listen to it running. LOL.

I would take a comment rail 7.3 any day over a p-pump. Simply for a better all round setup. Big power, but still use it as a pickup.

Do your plans include useing the computer and such of the duramax? EFI could be used for tuning. Should be a simple set up.


I did not know that about castings. That's pretty cool!! I am sure it would take a few trys to get a design that works the way it should.

Sure the Swamps CR7.3 sounded good, but it didn't last long in competition. 1 year I think before the only running one changed directions I think....

Yes - use the Duramax computer. It also used many off the shelf Duramax parts, valves, springs, rocker bridges, etc... front cover is designed for dual CP3 and off the shelf chevy gasser water pump, so you could go belt driven or electric and be cheap and off the shelf.

And yes casting technology has been changing at a rapid pace. It's phenomenal. The casting design itself isn't going to take many iterations at all. Design in 3D allows for checking and testing numerous scenarios. Tweaking machining some here and there perhaps off the casting is possible. Even the runner shapes can be 3d printed in plastic and flowed and tweaked before the first metal is ever poured. Not a big deal.

 

[DEEZUZ]

At what point is it no longer a 7.3 though.

 

[psduser1]

At what point is it no longer a 7.3 though.

When it starts making race-able power.....

Lol

 

[Arisley]

At what point is it no longer a 7.3 though.

When the displacement changes.

 

[Powerstroke Cowboy]

At what point is it no longer a 7.3 though.

I would agree with Andy on this. When the displacement changes. But even with oversized pistons displacement is changed. But still all within the manufactures OEM parts.

But in all honesty I do not see how it differs from guys converting the CR5.9L and even more so the CR6.7L to P-pump.

This is one area that will always be debated. I understand why to. Both sides have a point.

After a bit, all have to admit the only thing most comp engines have in common with the factory counterpart is displacement.

 

[Powerstroke Cowboy]

Sure the Swamps CR7.3 sounded good, but it didn't last long in competition. 1 year I think before the only running one changed directions I think....

Yes - use the Duramax computer. It also used many off the shelf Duramax parts, valves, springs, rocker bridges, etc... front cover is designed for dual CP3 and off the shelf chevy gasser water pump, so you could go belt driven or electric and be cheap and off the shelf.

And yes casting technology has been changing at a rapid pace. It's phenomenal. The casting design itself isn't going to take many iterations at all. Design in 3D allows for checking and testing numerous scenarios. Tweaking machining some here and there perhaps off the casting is possible. Even the runner shapes can be 3d printed in plastic and flowed and tweaked before the first metal is ever poured. Not a big deal.

I was wondering what happened to the swamps CR7.3. That's to bad.

Nice, useing as much off the shelf parrs as possible will keep it simpler and a lot cheaper. Sounds like a good plan. Useing the duramax ECM will also make doing a Allison swap simpler. With ability to have the TCM and ECM communicate, I would think it would make it easier to get the Allison to live with big hp. For the simple fact you could defuel for shifting just like the factory setup.

That's pretty sweet what you describe for casting. I like the sounds of that a lot!

 

[lincolnlocker]

What are you guys suggesting?

I have always had a 6 position chip and am currently with Tony Wildman. I dont think I'm changing but a friend wants me to build his truck.

I am not up to par with the latest and greatest.

Let's make the 7.3 great again.

Gearhead is and always has been a go to.

We need great daily driver abilities and towing. Not a race truck. It will get a turbo eventually but no more fuel than stock sticks.

Right now we're working with a high milege engine that's PMR.

Just put a good compressor wheel in it and a good tow tune and be done. Still out pull a 6blow.

Just to keep things straight. It wasn't Ford but Navistar who built the 7.3 engine

Correct. But ford cheapened up the parts. T444E from international all had forged rods..

Still using gh, on 4 trucks now.






Ts chip, tho, cause I don't give a sh...
And I have them, lol. In fact ones on its way back now.

Rock it man!! Nothing wrong with what works. Lol

Any idea what the actual years were?

Just curious about my 1995
7.3

Late 2001 to 2003 and some in the 2002s had left over stock of forged rods.

PMR was late 2000 And up

It went off serial numbers and those numbers that contained pmrs didnt even come out until after 2001.

There's some 2000 trucks with both, I think the full swap was 2001, and then from there all PMR

Way early 2001 and some late 2002s had forged.

 

[DEEZUZ]

I went with GH.

Currently working with them to see why my truck kinda driving like crap.


Exactly what I was afraid of. But we'll see.

 

[DEEZUZ]

Welp I gave up on Gearhead.

Very unclear communication, very lazy.

Got my money refunded.

I am NOT using them for my SHO either.

Back to the drawing board.

 

[dsberman94]

Jelibuilt

 

[DEEZUZ]

I unfortunately still have a ts chip

 

[JohnT24]

I unfortunately still have a ts chip

I would call jeli

I would bet a dime to a dozen donuts
That he could set up a TS board also.

 

[DEEZUZ]

I would call jeli

I would bet a dime to a dozen donuts
That he could set up a TS board also.

He said no.

 

[dsberman94]

Yea your options are probably pretty slim these days. Looks like gearhead has moved on to some other things than tuning. Might be time to upgrade chips. It’s been about a decade since php came out with the hydra now so emailing is the way to go. I wonder if he could write one if you had a chip burner?