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Old 11-09-2020, 02:50 AM   #1
PiterFlash
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Attention 7.3l owners!

Hello there
I have a 2001 f-250 7.3l with almost 99k miles on it. I tow a tt about 7500 pounds here in California. I was wondering what modifications any of you have made to assist towing. I'm not looking to dust people with black smoke but I do feel there are some modifications that could be done to help on the inclines. I feel the truck lugs a little and any incline causes a downshift. What have you guys done to your trucks? So far I have the 6.0l trans cooler and a banks exhaust that was on it. It's a "cat back" system although it doesn't have a cat. Any suggestions are appreciated.Ana please recommend best exhaust for 7.3 powerstroke
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Old 11-09-2020, 04:03 AM   #2
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I ran an EDGE programmer on mine and was happy with the results. It changed the shift points which really helped the lugging issue. I had a bigger downpipe though. I could tow with it in the #2 setting without any EGT problems.
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Old 11-09-2020, 04:26 AM   #3
flybouy
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That's exceeding low mileage for a truck that age. Agree with the Edge tuner but just realize that no matter what you do it will never come close to the hp and torque of a newer diesel running thru a transmission with 2x the amount of gears.
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Old 11-09-2020, 08:11 AM   #4
JRTJH
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As far as a recommendation for a replacement exhaust system, I have found that "dollar for dollar" it's almost impossible to beat the performance, customer service and reliability of a Bank's system. I installed one on my 93 7.3l and it is still on the truck last time I talked to the guy I sold it to in 99 when I bought my first SuperDuty. I installed an Edge tuner and a Banks exhaust on that truck and I never had any issues with either the tuner or the exhaust on that truck. If I ever need to replace the exhaust on my 2015 6.7l diesel, it's going to be another Banks exhaust system.

A word of caution: If you're considering a Banks exhaust for Ford SuperDuty trucks AND have the Reese underbed fifth wheel hitch or the OEM underbed hitch, the Bank's exhaust will not fit. Contact them to discuss your options.
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Old 11-09-2020, 08:23 AM   #5
wiredgeorge
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You might do well to pose this question on powerstroke.org website. Probably a lot of 7.3 expertise there and folks are always ready to help you spend your money (just like here).
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Old 11-09-2020, 09:10 AM   #6
travelin texans
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PiterFlash View Post
Hello there
I have a 2001 f-250 7.3l with almost 99k miles on it. I tow a tt about 7500 pounds here in California. I was wondering what modifications any of you have made to assist towing. I'm not looking to dust people with black smoke but I do feel there are some modifications that could be done to help on the inclines. I feel the truck lugs a little and any incline causes a downshift. What have you guys done to your trucks? So far I have the 6.0l trans cooler and a banks exhaust that was on it. It's a "cat back" system although it doesn't have a cat. Any suggestions are appreciated.Ana please recommend best exhaust for 7.3 powerstroke
IMHO use the $3-4k+ you'll spend souping up the 7.3 & put it down on a newer truck!
Bone stock any of the big 3 diesels in the last 10 years will have more hp, torque & fuel mileage than you'll likely have after spending the $$ on the 7.3.
That 7.3 belches plenty black smoke & stink being stock, even more once tuned!
The additions to the 7.3 you've mentioned are they even legal in California?
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Old 11-09-2020, 05:56 PM   #7
chuckster57
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Ca requires smog checks on diesels built in 1997 and later. Any modifications must come with a C.A.R.B. Compliance sticker on the radiator support.

My ‘86 F250 with a highly modified 460/C6 had a bunch of stickers for smog. My current TV is exempt (MY 1994), one reason I still have it.
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Old 11-11-2020, 04:23 AM   #8
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I am pulling a 2021 Cougar Half Ton with a 2000 F250. While I agree that the newer trucks are more efficient they are also more expensive. I have 270K on my truck but I also don't have a payment. I am a mechanic by trade and I am able to wrench on my truck which is why I have balked at buying a newer one. I can still get under the hood without lifting the cab. I am running 3:73 gearing and I have done a lot to my truck. BUT..... If had to start over I would get a tuner of choice(Edge, TS, ect..) and upgrade the turbo and intercooler. JRTJH up there has good advice as well. Banks customer service is top notch. Had a buddy last week looking at the Banks brake for his '05 6.6 3500 and actually got to talk to the design engineer of the unit for about 20 minutes getting a tutorial. If buying a new truck isn't an option that 7.3 will wont do you wrong, just all depends on what you want and can afford. As far as black smoke that's all in the tuning. I have seen 500hp trucks that wont puff at all and see 225hp trucks look like freight trains.
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Old 11-11-2020, 02:32 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brycar77 View Post
I am pulling a 2021 Cougar Half Ton with a 2000 F250. While I agree that the newer trucks are more efficient they are also more expensive. I have 270K on my truck but I also don't have a payment. I am a mechanic by trade and I am able to wrench on my truck which is why I have balked at buying a newer one. I can still get under the hood without lifting the cab. I am running 3:73 gearing and I have done a lot to my truck. BUT..... If had to start over I would get a tuner of choice(Edge, TS, ect..) and upgrade the turbo and intercooler. JRTJH up there has good advice as well. Banks customer service is top notch. Had a buddy last week looking at the Banks brake for his '05 6.6 3500 and actually got to talk to the design engineer of the unit for about 20 minutes getting a tutorial. If buying a new truck isn't an option that 7.3 will wont do you wrong, just all depends on what you want and can afford. As far as black smoke that's all in the tuning. I have seen 500hp trucks that wont puff at all and see 225hp trucks look like freight trains.
Yep, I'm with you on that. It took a while to trust the 6.7 that I have now. They got a lot of negative publicity about water in the fuel that really wasn't that widespread or warranted. The 7.3 is right there with the Cummins 5.9 when it comes to reliability. I hated to sell mine but it just sat after I got the new truck. Granted, it had it's limitations and now that I have the Banks programmer in the 6.7, OMG!!! I swear it launches harder than my Cadillac CTS V! Never dreamed I would have a 510 hp truck! But I do believe Banks is the safest power adder to use. They've been doing this for a long time.

But the 7.3 will get the job done. Just don't compare it to the new diesels. Apples and oranges.
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Old 11-11-2020, 02:39 PM   #10
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A 7.3 with under 400K miles here in Texas can bring a LOT more money than a 6.0/6.4 in any condition and with any mileage. The 7.3 has gotten legendary and I guess folks appreciate they didn't have any major faults or need much care and feeding. There is nothing wrong with the 6.0/6.4 that some money won't cure to make it as reliable but the 7.3 has the rep. The kids on the Ford forums were crazy mad when the new gasser 7.3 came out; almost like sacrilege to use that displacement.
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Old 11-11-2020, 05:11 PM   #11
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As long as you're not overloaded for that truck a tuner can help. It helped me a bunch! I used a Superships tuner for the 13 years that I had a 2000 7.3 diesel. It made a huge difference in the shift points and made pulling hills quite smooth. My trailer weighed around 8500 - 9000 lbs loaded at that time

This isn't a shift-on-the-fly tuner. I set mine to Heavy Towing and just left it there. Always worked great. It's also a code reader, which came in handy on one occasion.
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Old 11-12-2020, 07:46 AM   #12
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I had a 99 7.3, went with larger injectors, DP tunes, 6L rad and oil cooler, domanator 66 turbo, exhaust and a few other things, dynoed at 930ftlb tourqe at the rear wheels, fun as heck to drive and towed like a freight trin. Bought my new 5th wheel and the pin weight was 800 lbs more than they advertised so it put me over on my rear axel. so I bit the bullit and traded it in on a 2014 f350 6.7. stock that 6.7 out tows my hopped up 7.3 by a mile in the midrange, and is quiet. I dont feel bad about starting the truck up in a campground early when I want to get on the road again. probably the first motor I would pick over a 7,3 given the choice now.

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Old 11-15-2020, 02:02 PM   #13
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I used to tow our 11000 lb toy hauler with an 01 F250 7.3 I just added the transmission cooler and Diablo Predator tuner the weak link in mine was the transmission I had to have it rebuilt at about 145,000 at Aamco , I told what I towed and they built me a great transmission and told me don’t change the shift points with the tuning it now had 273,000 on it as a daily driver/work truck. We upgraded the TH to the Raptor in my signature and got the F450 with the 6.7 stock no modifications and the difference is like night and day even with the heavier TH It rarely has to downshift after I get up to speed unless the hill is really steep but I try to look far enough ahead if I see a big hill coming up I’ll ease into the throttle and little more and normally will make it without losing any ground. Just my 2cents
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Old 11-15-2020, 02:18 PM   #14
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I used to tow our 11000 lb toy hauler with an 01 F250 7.3 I just added the transmission cooler and Diablo Predator tuner the weak link in mine was the transmission I had to have it rebuilt at about 145,000 at Aamco , I told what I towed and they built me a great transmission and told me don’t change the shift points with the tuning it now had 273,000 on it as a daily driver/work truck. We upgraded the TH to the Raptor in my signature and got the F450 with the 6.7 stock no modifications and the difference is like night and day even with the heavier TH It rarely has to downshift after I get up to speed unless the hill is really steep but I try to look far enough ahead if I see a big hill coming up I’ll ease into the throttle and little more and normally will make it without losing any ground. Just my 2cents
Agreed. The 7.3 was quite the motor to have back in the day. But these 6.7's rock! Glad I moved up.
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Old 11-23-2020, 01:09 PM   #15
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Do not buy an edge tuner! They are known to hurt transmissions, you have the exhaust get an intake not a k and n! and a respectable tune like a dp or php and possibly a boost fooler... if you have any turbo bark get a wicked wheel! Past that you have a truck that might not be the fastest but will be darn reliable when it tows! I have a 2000 7.3 and it took some getting used to as I felt like I beat the snot out of it to pull but I've learned the truck likes it! Keep rpms high and the boost up! Save your money on a new truck that 7.3 will be better in the long run
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