east_tn_81
Adventurer
Good luck with it. Keep us updated.
97 F-350 CCLB build:
- Thread starter Seabass
- Start date
Seabass
Idiot
Thanks Looper- I thought a taller tire might help. I even considered a 3.73 swap...but I'd have to drive a lot for my money to ever break even. The parts and labor wouldn't be very cheap.
Seabass
Idiot
So I ordered a set of bushwacker fender flares and a set of Summit bed rail caps. I'm thinking a leveling kit on the front and add-a-leaves on the rear with a set of 315's will solve my gearing issue- witch really isn't much of an issue to me anyway. Now that the topper is off I'm really wanting to find a better one. Mine is cracked on both sides in the back at the bottoms where the latch rods tie in. It's hard to find a "nice" topper that age- or one that looks modern. I love some of the Leer and ARE tops with the full glass sides and low and smooth lines. The ordered stuff should be here tomorrow. Just in time for the -35 degree wind chill temps. I'm so excited!!
jamfandango
New member
I have a 95 CCLB 4x4 Powerstroke like yours and a 2000 Excursion 4x4 PSD. I did a lot of research on the custom powerstroke tuners out there, and the 3 that come up time and time again are TW Tony Wildman, PHP Power Hungry Performance and DP-Tuner. I dont think you can wrong with any of them.
On the 95, I did a generic TS 6 position chip with Power Hungry Performance Tunes, a new Tymar intake and a larger down pipe with an inexpensive Diamond Eye cat delete exhaust. Those few items made a HUGE difference in performance for me. My EGTs can run higher under load (as expected) but normal driving is great. Jealous of your intercooler.
My Excursion also has PHP tuning and its phenomenal. I did their Hydra chip which gives me tons of available tunes (even other tuners) and they are easy to download right into the truck using a laptop and USB cable.
Seabass
Idiot
Jam- Thanks so much for the input. I've spent the last decade driving a cummins and am simply ignorant to the PSD. I have had two people suggest Tony Wildman tunes now. I'm definitely going to research each of the tunes you suggested and see which one is best for me. I'm not interested in more power- truck runs good enough. My cummins made almost 600hp at one time and there was always something broken. Now I'm after maximum dependability, and drivability. Don't get me wrong- stock hp sucks- so a little extra is good. I just want more fuel economy- and I believe a little more power won't hurt the truck. I have a 4" exhaust of some kind with no cat....but I don't know what kind it is. It's too loud to suit me. But it's got no rust holes so ill keep it for now- but it's definitely on my upgrade list for the future. What about the big down pipes? Are they worth the effort? I hear you have to beat on the firewall to get them to clear. I'd do it if it was worth the work and expense.
jamfandango
New member
Yep, the larger down pipe on the OBS (old body style) Powerstrokes is a must. It sounds like the previous owner had the truck well sorted, so its likely been done. If he went intercooler, surely he did the downpipe. Its the most restrictive part of the exhaust.
I didnt personally install it, but my diesel mechanic said it took a little "clearancing" of the firewall to get it in.
The tuners I mentioned are known to offer good "drivability" without grenading stuff. The reality on the OBS trucks is, the injectors are a big limiting factor in making BIG HP and TQ numbers. You can drive them tuned up without any major ill effects. Even the highest advertised settings are really only adding ~80hp/120 lbft torque. PHP is known to be conservative with EGTs and keeps smoke to a minimum.
I basically drive my 95 by the EGT temp, when I'm really working it (towing/mountains). The automatic e40d transmission in these trucks is a known weakpoint, but I haven't had trouble yet. When I do, they are easy to get upgraded parts for and everyone can work on them.
I didnt personally install it, but my diesel mechanic said it took a little "clearancing" of the firewall to get it in.
The tuners I mentioned are known to offer good "drivability" without grenading stuff. The reality on the OBS trucks is, the injectors are a big limiting factor in making BIG HP and TQ numbers. You can drive them tuned up without any major ill effects. Even the highest advertised settings are really only adding ~80hp/120 lbft torque. PHP is known to be conservative with EGTs and keeps smoke to a minimum.
I basically drive my 95 by the EGT temp, when I'm really working it (towing/mountains). The automatic e40d transmission in these trucks is a known weakpoint, but I haven't had trouble yet. When I do, they are easy to get upgraded parts for and everyone can work on them.
Yep, best to go with tuners that have specialist PSD knowledge, rather than one-size-fits-all canned tunes from the like of Edge, Bully Dog, Banks, etc.
Bill @ Power Hungry Performance, Jody @ DP Tuner, Tony Wildman, Jonathan @ Beans, Swamps, and Matt @ Gearhead Automotive all have extensive PSD knowledge & experience & good reputations.
I too have a '00 Excursion, and opted for the PHP Hydra (http://www.gopowerhungry.com/_hydra_chip.shtml), and would recommend it.
The nice thing about the PHP Hydra & DP Tuner F6 & Infinity solutions is that tunes can be emailed & downloaded into the programmer by the end user, so if one is unhappy with some aspect of the tune, or later does modifications necessitating updates to one's tuning, an update is only an email & quick download away.
DP Tuner now has a nice all-in-one programming, monitoring & logging solution called the Infinity (http://www.dp-tuner.com/ford-powerstroke/ford-powerstroke-7-3l/tuning/programmers.html), which though expensive may be a good way to go if you don't already have boost, EGT & trans temp, etc. gauges. The 2 downsides to the DP Tuner Infinity system is that you're limited to DP Tuner's tuning & the Infinity system can't switch programs on the fly (you need to wait a couple of minutes for the download when switching tunes).
Regardless, any one of the tuners I mentioned above should be able to give you a good set of at least 6 tunes (e.g. 1. no start, 2. low daily driver/econo, 3. high daily driver/econo, 4. light tow, 5. heavy tow, and 6. either high idle or high performance), depending in one's preference.
For me, the ideal solution (and what I went with) is:
- PHP Hydra for the tunes (up to 'stock' + 16 different modified tunes = 17 total, can potentially load encrypted tunes from other tuners besides PHP if one wants to experiment or is unhappy with PHP's tunes)
- analog gauges for real-time monitoring
- with AutoEnginuity w/ Ford Enhanced module add-on for occasional logging / troubleshooting (though can't log anything for which sensors in the vehicle don't already exist e.g. coolant temp on earlier trucks & EGTs)
The DP Tuner Infinity can accomplish the majority of the above by itself, incl. monitoring & logging coolant temp & EGTs with add-on sensors, but it's not cheap, again, you're limited to DP Tuner's tuning, the Infinity system can't switch programs on the fly, and some find it easier to monitor dedicated analog gauges with a needle that do 90 or full 270 degrees sweeps rather than digital gauges, though the Infinity can have customized skins that do digital representations of analog gauges with 90 or 180 degrees sweeps.
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Seabass
Idiot
Appreciate the input x. I'm not in a hurry- so I'll keep studying. I'm more interested in simplicity and dependability than power. I have gauges and am able to monitor what's important. To change direction a bit- I am considering a utility topper instead of a slide in camper. I can pick one up for five hundred or so and if it has shelving behind the side doors and barn doors on the back it could be really useable. I know campers are nicer and self contained- but I'm having a hard time seeing the expense of a sound unit and not getting to use it enough. I've already got cots, mattresses, and cook stoves- all the needed camping gear. I think all ill have to spend for is the utility topper. My fiberglass unit is ok- but lacks on doors and storage. Thoughts?
Seabass
Idiot
Ok...after some more thought I think I'm going to get along fine with a service topper like this one-
It just seems much more practical for me. It's low profile and low weight and low buck. Plus this one has a stout roof rack that will carry my kayaks and any other bulky gear out of my way and with no problems. I'll post pics when I find one that fits my truck- if this one doesn't. Hope to go look at it over the weekend. I'm looking for advice on an on-board air system. I'd like to go 12volt with five to ten gallons of air capacity under the body somewhere. I want to be able to run a 1/2" gun and inflate tires and maybe be able to blow out the radiator. I've been using gas powered compressors on the farm- but they are big and heavy. That won't work on this rig. I look and see some compressors- but the cfm always seems low- like 2 to 3 and that doesn't seem like it could do all that much...maybe with enough tank capacity it could. I don't know- surely somebody on the portal will have some real world experience to pass along.
It just seems much more practical for me. It's low profile and low weight and low buck. Plus this one has a stout roof rack that will carry my kayaks and any other bulky gear out of my way and with no problems. I'll post pics when I find one that fits my truck- if this one doesn't. Hope to go look at it over the weekend. I'm looking for advice on an on-board air system. I'd like to go 12volt with five to ten gallons of air capacity under the body somewhere. I want to be able to run a 1/2" gun and inflate tires and maybe be able to blow out the radiator. I've been using gas powered compressors on the farm- but they are big and heavy. That won't work on this rig. I look and see some compressors- but the cfm always seems low- like 2 to 3 and that doesn't seem like it could do all that much...maybe with enough tank capacity it could. I don't know- surely somebody on the portal will have some real world experience to pass along.
Seabass
Idiot
It's been a while since I updated anything on my thread. I've done some stuff since then.... Where to start? I did all the basic stuff like most of us do: complete service and change of all fluids and replaced all the lubes with their synthetic replacements. That made me feel good knowing all my gearboxes where fresh and clean. Then I bought a nice set of heavy duty shocks for each corner and a new steering shock. It just seemed silly to stop there so I thought add-a-leaves should go at all four corners too.....what an adventure! The front went great-
Actually I ended up adding a second set of front leaves to get a little more lift and more controlled ride. But when I took the rear axel off things fell to pieces...
the top spring was broke when I took the u-bolts off the driver side! That sucked. I knew that meant all new springs and shackles for both sides and that's exactly what it got.
Now I had room for a new set of tires. After some serious trading I sold the like-new BFG AT's for a fair price and bought a new set of 315-75-16 Fierce attitude M/T's - and they are 10 ply load range E's to boot!!
So now I have a solid 2.5 inches of lift up front and closer to 3 in the rear and a much more controlled ride and more "Awsomer" look!
I'm really happy with what I've done so far. I also took some time to add some really needed LED lighting to my roof rack for night time activities. And yes- now " I can do so many more activities" at night!
I also did the standard stuff like aftermarket stereo and a hopped up cb.
I even added two power outlets on each side of the cb so I could charge and run all my electronic goodies. All in all it getting there. I plan on buying a slide in pop up later this year- but in a couple of weeks some serious camping will take place and the topper is gonna have to do. I'll post more when I get that lined out.
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Actually I ended up adding a second set of front leaves to get a little more lift and more controlled ride. But when I took the rear axel off things fell to pieces...
Now I had room for a new set of tires. After some serious trading I sold the like-new BFG AT's for a fair price and bought a new set of 315-75-16 Fierce attitude M/T's - and they are 10 ply load range E's to boot!!
So now I have a solid 2.5 inches of lift up front and closer to 3 in the rear and a much more controlled ride and more "Awsomer" look!
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Seabass
Idiot
Looks great
Thanks RotBox! I have so many plans and so little time and money. But I guess I've got a good bit considering I've only had it for six months. If I could ever find the slide in that suited me I'd have a lot that I could do. You just don't run into that many of the pop-up variety here in central KY. When you do they are pricey. It'll happen if I keep looking. I the mean time I'll just rock the crap out of my topper. When I had the Dodge we slept in the bed under a topper plenty. It's not convent- but it worked.
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