Adding a Turbo to an "88 " 7.3 Ambulance?

[SoLoMax]

Hi everyone, its been a while since I posted. We just acquired for my son a 88 model F350 Ambulance with a 7.3 International Diesel. This is his work truck for doing Wireless and Direct TV type work. Pleanty of tool boxes and an office on wheels.I thought it must be a powerstroke as its same size as my Excursion and a Ford.
We are looking at some kind of overdrive transmission and also looking at putting a turbo on this Hulk. 68 mph seems to be top speed. Maybe jsut best leave it that way, but it seems to me a 2 speed rear-end or OD tranny would make life a lot easier,,not to mention the 9-10 MPG could eat up his pocketbook. While there were probably better choices,,we bought it fairly cheap and the engine was new when installed 2 yrs ago and not driven but 1000 miles since.
Any experience or advice on improving this vehicle would be much apprectiated. Thanks in advance, Jeff,,SoLomax

[01F350PSD4x4]

Get either a banks or ATS turbo. I don't have any experience with them but have read they last a long time. Since this sounds like a budget rig, check ebay for used set ups. For the trans I'm not sure but I'm guessing you have a C6 right now. An AOD or even a E4OD will probably bolt up it's just the electronics might have a problem. If you want to get wild on the trans swap, a ZF-5 5 speed or maybe even a 700R4? Who knows. The reason I say 700R4, they seem to interchange with a lot of bolt patterns and were used behind the 6.2 in the half tons i think.

[Mark Kovalsky]

An AOD won't bolt ot the diesel, and if it did the diesel (especially if you add a turbo) will grenade it all over the road.

A diesel E4OD can be installed. The driveshaft will have to be shortened, probably the crossmember moved back, and the wiring and computer will have to be installed. It's going to be a lot of work and a lot of $$$. I think he will need to drive this a long, long way to make this swap pay off.

Another alternative that's going to be cheaper than the E4OD is to add a Gear Vendors or US Gear aux trans. New they are somewhere near $3000, you can probably find a used one cheaper. Either way I'll bet it's cheaper than installing an E4OD.

[SoLoMax]

Many thanks to John for moving my post where it belongs. And thanks for the replies so far. John asked if we were removing the box? He was thinking we might convert it to a pickup be. We want the big box with all those bells and whistles and storage. And I forgot to say this is a "VAN" type front end, not a regular truck front end. Therefore there is gonna be some fit problems with a turbo I think. I hope someone of ya'll might know how or someone who has done similar riggin.? Please keep the info coming. Jeff

[Mark Kovalsky]

I installed a Hypermax turbo kit on a '94 van. Their instructions said it should take 5-6 hours. It took over 30! There is SO little room to work in a van.

Make sure that if you buy something that it is for a van. I think there are a lot of differences between the van and pickup.
It was a very tight fit. When it was done the turbo would hit the doghouse under load in reverse. Hypermax told me to unbolt 14 body bolts and pull the body towards the back of the chassis! I think mine did need this done, as the front tires would contact the rear of the inner fenders when turned all the way. I never did it. The turbo made more clearance for itself, but it always did touch backing up my trailer.

[Mr_Roboto]

Here goes. Old ambulances are cheap. Yes you can add a turbo and overdrive to your unit, but that would probably cost more than buying a 95+ ambulance that would have the PSD engine. You're looking at about $1800 for a turbo kit and $2000 plus core for an E4OD overdrice trans. My bet is you can pick up a PSD ambulance for 3K easy. Many ambulance companies sell the used ones, you can find them online.

The PSD was introduced in mid-94 in pickups and 95 in vans. The 7.3 engine in your ambulance is a completely different engine from the 7.3 PSD.

[typefour]

I have a turbo kit for sale in the for sale section

[cdnsarguy]

Check it may already have the E4OD trans but have 410 or 513 rear axle........????????

[Mr_Roboto]

E4OD was not launched until 1989.

[SoLoMax]

Thanks ya'll for the replies to this thread. Another question is what about a bigger exhaust? Would a 4 inch maybe give us more mpg and engine life? My other son is a welder and the 2 of them likely could fab one. And Mr Roboto, since you have an 85 international, would this 7.3 international be similar engine to your rollback? I looked at a lot of vehicles and I guess in hindsight the 2000 GMC Van with TUrbo-diesel for $10k may have been a better deal in the long run than a $3800- Ambulance with new engine. But now we got this thing and just trying to get the most out of it we can. Thanks again ya'll. Jeff

[Mr_Roboto]

Solomax, all of Ford's full size pickup truck diesels are manufactured by Navistar / International. Ford uses a few different externals to fit into the much tighter engine compartment.

The 6.9 and 7.3 IDI engines are the same block, with the 7.3 being bored out more. There were some changes in the engines / blocks over the years but they are all interchangeable.

The Ford 7.3 PSD and Navistar T444E are also the same motor, with some external differences. Same for the 6.0L and 6.4L and Navistar's versions of those. Also the 4.5L V-6 that Ford cancelled is / was used in the International / Blue Diamond LCF medium duty trucks.

When I get engine parts for my International at Autozone, I ask for parts for a 85 Ford since they do not list medium duty truck parts.

Back to the original topic, a NA 7.3 that is running properly has enough power to move a loaded ambulance with ease (although not with rapid acceleration like a turbo motor would). I had my old NA 7.3 van loaded to about 17 - 18K and ran it over the Alleghanies with little trouble. This was with 3.73 gears and most of it was in overdrive.