stronger than a powerstroke? - Diesel Forum

thegreg92 · 07-29-2006, 04:12 AM

hey guys. i read in a magazine that with a few simple mods, the idi motors can easily outperform a stock 1st gen powerstroke (94-97). now i dont own one but am curious as to what is done to these motors to make them so powerful. thanks

greg

Mr_Roboto · 07-29-2006, 10:50 AM

There wasn't a whole lot of different in power between the two engines, so you don't have far to go.

Just a guess but a new downpipe, bigger exhaust and turning up the boost and fuel would probably more than do it..

FoMoCo · 07-29-2006, 12:23 PM

I have just installed a intercooler. I also have the ATS turbo upgrade with 3 inch downpipe and 4 inch exhaust. Also a oper air filter. I have turned the fuel up and increased the dynamic timing and yes the truck is stronger than a stock powerstroke. I have also driven a new Duramax and it was slower on the lower end than mine. Of course mine is a standerd trans. The Duramax is quicker on top end. In other words not to impressed with the GM on lower end.

Next mod........ maybe propane

1morford · 07-29-2006, 01:40 PM

thegreg92,

Just curious, what magazine and what issue?

Thanks Mike

Fozz · 07-29-2006, 03:27 PM

I don't have any hard proof or data, but my brother had a 94 Powerstroke (stock), exact same setup as mine truck except with a 5 speed. He thought my truck pulled harder than his, as per his calibrated Butt-o-meter [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]

thegreg92 · 07-29-2006, 05:38 PM

ok i looked thru my old magazines and couldn't find it...

the article was a timeline of consumer diesels starting with the old chevy 5.7. basically it said that when the new powerstroke was released in 94, ford had to tune down the idi so it wouldn't outshine the powerstroke. it said the idi can easily be modified to outperform a stock powerstroke.

so how do you turn up the fuel? adjust the fuel pump?

Mr_Roboto · 07-29-2006, 08:28 PM

Frankly it sounds like another "Armchair quarterback" article. The IDI was never "tuned down" from previous levels. In fact, it never got a turbo till the last year and a half or so of the run.

You can adjust the "max fuel" screw inside the IP, which will allow the IP to "overfuel" more. So much so that you are in danger of melting your pistons from the extra heat.

Powerwise, you can't really compare the IDI to the PowerStroke. They were both "state of the art" for their times, they just were different times.

yaric008 · 07-29-2006, 10:30 PM

[ QUOTE ]
The IDI was never "tuned down" from previous levels. In fact, it never got a turbo till the last year and a half or so of the run.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well i think he means it was turned down after it got the turbo. Which i think may be believable. Either that or they never turned it up really to utilize the turbo as much as it could have, or they just plain lied on the numbers. They added a turbo for it's last year and gained 5HP. Yet, according to Banks, if you add their turbo you get 83 more HP? It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that something is fishy.

boatplayer · 07-29-2006, 11:26 PM

First if you ran against an LLY, let alone an LLZ, even a modded Stroke is gonna get burnt, let alone an IDI..

Mine was a 92, ATS non wastegated, pump turned up, gutted exhaust, ans my stock 96 Stroke pulled my boat a good 5 mph faster than it up a grade..

gregrob · 07-30-2006, 12:05 AM

I'll put it to you this way, if and IDI is ever stronger than a powerstroke, something is wrong with the powerstroke.

...and yes I have plenty of seat time in each, many different trucks.

Mr_Roboto · 07-30-2006, 12:24 AM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
The IDI was never "tuned down" from previous levels. In fact, it never got a turbo till the last year and a half or so of the run.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well i think he means it was turned down after it got the turbo. Which i think may be believable. Either that or they never turned it up really to utilize the turbo as much as it could have, or they just plain lied on the numbers. They added a turbo for it's last year and gained 5HP. Yet, according to Banks, if you add their turbo you get 83 more HP? It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that something is fishy.

[/ QUOTE ]

But does that 83 HP require a pyrometer?

Remember that Ford has to produce products that the general public can jump in and go. And Ford has to warranty the product. I'd be willing to bet that the turbo improves throttle response and smoke on acceleration even if it did not radically improve raw HP numbers.

I believe the electronics on the PowerStroke enabled Ford to use more fuel without meltdown like would happen on an IDI. The only thing that controls fuel on an IDI is the drivers' foot. A computer can back off the max fuel when XY and Z conditions are met...

m35a2 · 07-30-2006, 12:28 AM

well,My truck(when it wasn't my truck!) Dynoed at 201HP and 387 Ft/Lbs at the rear wheels with nothing more than a Banks sidewinder.straight exhaust,and the pump turned up.All this running though a Stock E4OD.Just wonder what she pushed at the crank.

tjgriffin · 07-30-2006, 02:10 AM

hahahah yeah just dont ask Freight what happened after/since then.......... [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

gregrob · 07-30-2006, 03:35 AM

[ QUOTE ]
well,My truck(when it wasn't my truck!) Dynoed at 201HP and 387 Ft/Lbs at the rear wheels with nothing more than a Banks sidewinder.straight exhaust,and the pump turned up.All this running though a Stock E4OD.Just wonder what she pushed at the crank.

[/ QUOTE ]

It doesn't matter what she pushed at the crank.

...and I gaurantee you it still won't run with a psd.

Don't get me wrong, I love IDI's, just don't go around thinkin they're hotrods are people will look at you funny.

BTW, what happened after that dyno run? [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

Zrob · 07-30-2006, 07:06 AM

It's pretty well known that there is more IDI performance to be had, over the stock setup. The emission(92.5-94) pumps were detuned with the fuel trim screw, and prolly a little internal tweaking .

I believe that Ford knew the powerstroke was coming out in a coupla months and could'nt allow it's power output to be to close to the IDI-T. It had to be better, or how could it justify the extra mony it was charging for it.

Can a IDI-T match the Stock 94 Powerstroke? Sure it can.
But with just a coupla light mods, the PSD is out of a modded IDI-T's range.