'94 IDI Fact. Turbo

[TurboIHPower]

Hey, Just turned 16 and bought my first truck. 1994 7.3L IDI Factory Turbo with a 5spd. I was just wondering what everybody thought about the ATS exhaust and turbo upgrades. How much power will this gain me, or how much will just the better downpipe with custom system the rest of the way back gain me? Also, what do u suggest for intake? Just wondering what i should do to it while i have it inside getting painted... thanks [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

[cdnsarguy]

Welcome to TDS........

Our first suggestion is to check for SCAs before you do any upgrades. One must protect the engine from itself, before you rag the daylights out of it........ [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img]

[TurboIHPower]

What are SCA's ? Its got 84K on it, hardly broke in as far as im concerned.

[hesutton]

SCA = Supplimental Coolant Additive. It is used to help prevent cavitation. Cavitiation is an issue on the 7.3 IDI motor as the cylinder wall is thinned as (in simple terms) the block is a bored out 6.9 IDI.

Quoting 95 Stroker:
[ QUOTE ]
Cavitation is a localized low-pressure zone. This low pressure zone is caused by vibration of the cylinder wall due to the high cylinder pressure in a diesel engine. The cylinder walls vibrate due to irregular and sharp pressure increases during ignition. This fast cylinder wall movement causes a low-pressure zone to be created at the cylinder wall. When this pressure zone drops below the vapor pressure point (temperature, coolant ratio, and additive dependant) a vapor bubble is formed. When this low-pressure zone returns to a high-pressure zone, the vapor bubble collapses, causing an implosion, or pitting phenomena on the cylinder wall (like hitting the surface with a microscopic ball-peen hammer). If left unchecked, it will eventually eat all the way through the cylinder wall.

Diesel engines that have excessive turbocharger boost or severe duty use usually incur higher cylinder pressures and are more susceptible to cavitation concerns. Vehicles that incur short drive cycles (the vehicle is driven without time to warm up) can also be prone to cavitation concerns.

In short, cavitation is the Cancer of the Diesel Engine. Make sure you maintain the proper level of SCA's in your engine."


[/ QUOTE ]

There are tons of ways to get SCA into the coolant. DIS has a good article on how to use Fleetguard DCA 4 and their test strips.

Again, 95 Stroker has good info on getting SCA into your diesel's coolant.
[ QUOTE ]
Ford or Motorcraft Premium Antifreeze · Motorcraft Premium Gold Antifreeze (does not require SCA/DCA)
· Texaco Antifreeze/Coolant
· Texaco Antifreeze/Coolant Pre-diluted 50/50
· Zerex 5/100 (white bottle) Antifreeze/Coolant
· Zerex Ready To Use Antifreeze/Coolant (premixed 50/50 with de-mineralized water)
· Zerex Heavy Duty Pre-charged Formula
· Shellzone Premium Quality Antifreeze
· Fleetguard Complete EG--pre-charged at 1.5 units/gallon DCA4
Also available premixed 50/50 with water with the same DCA4 level
Fleetguard's DCA4 SCA (Supplimental Coolant Additives), first introduced in 1984, contain heavy-duty chemical inhibitors and organic corrosion inhibitors that provide enhanced diesel engine liner pitting protection. These inhibitors contain Potassium, Phosphate, Potassium Nitrate, Sodium Nitrite, Sodium Molybate, and Adipic Acid.

There are some concerns and naysayers regarding using ELC.....
Extended Life Coolant....in the IDI...There are SEVERAL members
using ELC coolant with NO REPORTED failures!

IF you want test free coolant, CAT, Rotella ELC, and Fleetguard
are all 300 k mi coolants that you pretty much just flush out and clean the cooling system, add the ELC coolant STRAIGHT from the jug and DO NOT add any water what so ever!
This coolant is pre-mixed and if and when make up coolant IS needed ie; after a hose issue,W/P or T/stat replacment etc....you MUST use the product...not tap water!
The minerals in tap/well water will inter mix and cause SLUDGE!

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I have heard good things about the ATS upgrade, but some complain about the way the downpipe fits into the turbine outlet. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]

Heath

[OkieGringo]

Welcome to TDS. Ahhhh, to be 16 again, and know then, what I know now [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]. That truck will last you a long, long time, as long as you don't get STUPID(=drink and attempt to drive) and wrap it around a tree. And DO NOT let ANY of your BUDDIES drive it or borrow it. You'd be real surprised at how FAST BUDDIES disappear after they break YOUR truck. Do the ATS downpipe mod. You'll like it. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smokin.gif[/img]OkieGringo

[TurboIHPower]

Good info thanks guys... my buddy is gonna be putting stacks on his truck and wants to get rid of his exhuast from the box back. What do you think an MBRP 4 inch system off a '96 PSD would sound like on my truck, With and without the ATS downpipe? And how much of a power gain have you guys been seeing with ATS? Thanks

[m35a2]

ok,First off welcome to the Brotherhood(maybe-See below).

Are you sure it is a IDI and not a Powerstroke.In 1994 there were 3 diesels available in the Ford trucks.Naturally asperated 7.3L IDI,Factory Turbo charged 7.3L IDI,and Turbo 7.3L Powerstroke.Being as you have a Gear rower it can be either an IDI or a Stroker since the IDI was available with a Slush Box or a Handshaker but the Powerstroke was available in only a 5speed since ford couldn't figure out how to integrate the tranny puter in time.easiest way to tell them apart is open the hood and see if there is an injection pump top front.large hicky behind the oil filler neck in the vally pan with 9 metal lines on the back(8 cylinders and one inlet pipe).THe stroker won't have this.Also,you can't see the injectors and Glow plugs on a stroker since they are under the valve covers.

[aaklingler]

he should know if he has an idi or psd his buddy has a psd to compare it to. Get your buddy exhaust it'll sound good. I also recommend the ats upgrade kit but i don't know how much power it'll get you over the banks downpipe.

[TurboIHPower]

Yeah, it's definetly an IDI. I've been studying/dreaming of ford diesels since I was old enough to climb the ladder to look under the hood. If you think 4" will sound good, we'll go for it...