- Joined
- Feb 28, 2001
- Messages
- 8,007
- Reaction score
- 4,329
- Points
- 113
- Location
- Dayton Oregon
- Vehicle Year
- 1990, 1997
- Make / Model
- Ford
- Engine Type
- 2.3 (4 Cylinder)
- Engine Size
- 2.3 Turbo
- Transmission
- Manual
- 2WD / 4WD
- 4WD
- Total Lift
- 6
- Tire Size
- 35"
I asked on a different forum (not a truck forum...) and got some negative nancy's...
Anywho, '97 F350 crew cab long bed 4x4 single rear wheel manual transmission 35" tires and 4.10:1 gears. The thing has been around, chassis has over 350k on the clock (but the speedo/odo stops ocasionally so who knows... that's another deal that I think I know the fix just haven't gotten to it) and according to the previous owner the engine is supposed to have around 250k on it. From what I've heard the injectors are supposed to last about 200k, and one sign of bad injectors is smoke on a cold start and there's plenty of that sometimes. When I got it it had a Spectra air filter on it, I upgraded to the Napa Cummins filter but probably not soon enough to save the turbo... It runs smooth and hot starts are instantaneous, no codes, only seems gutless when the total weight is over 12k pounds . The exhaust is 3" down pipe and 4" straight pipe dumped before the rear tire. The warmup valve on the turbo is bypassed.
When towing it gets hot, and on extended pulls uphill I have to back out of it to keep it cool (starts defueling around the L in NORMAL I believe so I keep it at the A or lower) which with 12k pounds or more means 38mph up the mountain passes in spots (third gear 2500rpm). Currently it won't pull 4th if I could get there but the 800rpm or so jump from 3rd to 4th is a killer, 2500rpm or so in 3rd to 1700rpm in 4th. The thing builds about 3psi boost before 2000rpm and peaks at 15psi at 3000rpm, absolutely no smoke.
Ok, with that said, I have a Mishimoto radiator on the way as well as a Gates water pump so that should hopefully help the cooling issues, I replaced the fan clutch a couple months ago. I have a early 99 intake spider and an all aluminum '01 intercooler that all I need is some exhaust tubing and time to install. For injectors I'm looking at Full Force 180cc with a Hydra and Jellibuilt tunes and a reworked high pressure oil pump. Toying with rebuilding the turbo with KS replacement wheels while in there, the pedestal needs resealed anyway. I don't need to be the fastest thing out there, I just want to be able to do 50 up the mountain passes with 20k pounds total weight for another 100-150k miles... All of the above parts cost very similar to stock components so might as well get a little extra.
Does this sound like a reasonable plan? I know a clutch is going to be needed with that which is fine, it needs one anyway, Full Force has Motorcraft glow plugs for a $99 adder with injectors so will probably go that route. Rust belt people probably freak out about a high mileage old rig and throwing money at it but it's near rust free (no flakes, just mild surface rust).
Anywho, '97 F350 crew cab long bed 4x4 single rear wheel manual transmission 35" tires and 4.10:1 gears. The thing has been around, chassis has over 350k on the clock (but the speedo/odo stops ocasionally so who knows... that's another deal that I think I know the fix just haven't gotten to it) and according to the previous owner the engine is supposed to have around 250k on it. From what I've heard the injectors are supposed to last about 200k, and one sign of bad injectors is smoke on a cold start and there's plenty of that sometimes. When I got it it had a Spectra air filter on it, I upgraded to the Napa Cummins filter but probably not soon enough to save the turbo... It runs smooth and hot starts are instantaneous, no codes, only seems gutless when the total weight is over 12k pounds . The exhaust is 3" down pipe and 4" straight pipe dumped before the rear tire. The warmup valve on the turbo is bypassed.
When towing it gets hot, and on extended pulls uphill I have to back out of it to keep it cool (starts defueling around the L in NORMAL I believe so I keep it at the A or lower) which with 12k pounds or more means 38mph up the mountain passes in spots (third gear 2500rpm). Currently it won't pull 4th if I could get there but the 800rpm or so jump from 3rd to 4th is a killer, 2500rpm or so in 3rd to 1700rpm in 4th. The thing builds about 3psi boost before 2000rpm and peaks at 15psi at 3000rpm, absolutely no smoke.
Ok, with that said, I have a Mishimoto radiator on the way as well as a Gates water pump so that should hopefully help the cooling issues, I replaced the fan clutch a couple months ago. I have a early 99 intake spider and an all aluminum '01 intercooler that all I need is some exhaust tubing and time to install. For injectors I'm looking at Full Force 180cc with a Hydra and Jellibuilt tunes and a reworked high pressure oil pump. Toying with rebuilding the turbo with KS replacement wheels while in there, the pedestal needs resealed anyway. I don't need to be the fastest thing out there, I just want to be able to do 50 up the mountain passes with 20k pounds total weight for another 100-150k miles... All of the above parts cost very similar to stock components so might as well get a little extra.
Does this sound like a reasonable plan? I know a clutch is going to be needed with that which is fine, it needs one anyway, Full Force has Motorcraft glow plugs for a $99 adder with injectors so will probably go that route. Rust belt people probably freak out about a high mileage old rig and throwing money at it but it's near rust free (no flakes, just mild surface rust).