Banks turbo

[Don Martin]

My old F350 is in a strain pulling ol Scaaty over the hills out west. I am looking for a used Banks turbo kit to put on a 7.3 idi engine. We pull from west Tenn. Last year I was down to 19 mph going east out of Salt Lake City. A new truck is not in the budget, the car comes first.

[jacksoni]

Coming from the salt, instead of going south to get I-80 east, take 215 north to I-15 north toward Ogden, then 89 to pick up I-84 east. It is much gentler hill wise and only few miles longer. I have no trouble maintaining speed all the way up (diesel excursion with box trailer)

[Don Martin]

Jacksoni  Thank-you will give that a try next year.

[Stan Back]

New scenery, rather than used parts, seems a winner to me.

[joea]

im with Stan on this.....

1800 miles at 19 mpg and $3.5  per gallon diesel is around $331

1800 miles at 22 mpg and $3.5 per gallon diesel is around $286 or savings of about $45...

used Banks turbo...possibly around $1200  http://www.ebay.com/itm/6-9-7-3-idi-BANKS-SIDEWINDER-TURBO-KIT-/180851940808

if you actually did get 3 mpg better, you could go 13 times round trip to Bonneville before you would pay
for the $1200 dollar kit, if thats all it cost in total getting it integrated

if fuel prices stay steady......http://www.eia.gov/petroleum/gasdiesel/

[BHR301]

I think he said MPH not MPG...

Bill

[Stainless1]

Coming from the salt, instead of going south to get I-80 east, take 215 north to I-15 north toward Ogden, then 89 to pick up I-84 east. It is much gentler hill wise and only few miles longer. I have no trouble maintaining speed all the way up (diesel excursion with box trailer)

When you get on 215N just past the airport take the Legacy Parkway, the speed limit is only 55 but it never stops like 15.  Been going the flat route for the last 15 years or more... it is 9 miles further and usually 30 minutes faster than going through SLC and over the hill.

But the turbo will help with Wyoming too

[jl222]

My old F350 is in a strain pulling ol Scaaty over the hills out west. I am looking for a used Banks turbo kit to put on a 7.3 idi engine. We pull from west Tenn. Last year I was down to 19 mph going east out of Salt Lake City. A new truck is not in the budget, the car comes first.

 How about one of those computer programs that tunes your engine for more power. Lots of them, Bully Dog is one, around $500

  JL222

[Don Martin]

Thanks for the input. My 7.3 is mechanical so a Bully Dog won't help. I plan to use the truck for several years. Parts are plentiful and cheap. I know the cost of a turbo will not be recovered by fuel savings but more power would really help. A naturally aspirated diesel needs all the help it can get in the mountains. If you were behind me last year in construction--sorry-- but I was still ahead of you (then). I don't push hard. I drive alone 10-12 hour days. That my change for next year but to early to know.  It's all fun Don

[BHR301]

After 37 years of driving a semi, if there is one thing I learned..a NA diesel is as bad or worse then having a gas engine.

Bill

[jauguston]

Don,

Another option for a turbo kit for your 7.3 is Hypermax. I put one of their turbo kits on a 6.9 (earlier version of the 7.3) that was in a 27' class C motorhome I had years ago. It made a huge improvement on power.

Jim

[Seldom Seen Slim]

A couple of years ago a racer that ran Duramax (diesel) power offered to re-flash the factory chip in my truck ('04 Duramax GMC).  he did so -- and for the 30 or 50 thousand miles I put on it afterwards -- I could find no difference.  I kept very close track of fuel economy and even driving style/conditions (freeway or 2-lane, traveling to Bville or to town for some groceries, etc) and drive the same speeds all the time.  I even paid attention to using as much throttle as I needed to accelerate at the rate I'm used to - and on and so on.  Results?

No difference.  Even figuring fuel economy over a period of tens of thousands of miles -- I couldn't find proof that anything had changed (except that my warranty would have been voided if I'd taken it to the shop).

YMMV.

[Don Martin]

Thanks for the input. I found a ATS turbo setup local yesterday so I bought it. Today I got a call from a guy with a complete Banks kit, now I have 2. Life is good  Merry Christmas

[jacksoni]

Thanks for the input. I found a ATS turbo setup local yesterday so I bought it. Today I got a call from a guy with a complete Banks kit, now I have 2. Life is good  Merry Christmas

Put 'em both on. You'll fly over those hills 8-)