Towing with an IDI

[4x4_Welder]

I just took delivery on my latest project payment- An 88 F350 SRW crew cab 4x4 with a 7.3 IDI non-turbo and a ZF 5speed. I'm putting the body onto an E350 motorhome chassis my brother in law has to make hime a 5th wheel hauler, and I'm putting the 7.3 and ZF into my 72 F250 2wd hauling rig. It currently has a rather hot FE 360 and T18 four speed, and does a great job hauling my lifted 72 F100 4x4 (about 9k between loaded 4x4 and trailer), I even can keep it over 45 going up Cabbage Hill. The downside is it gets between 7.5 and 9mpg towing, and only about 12 empty. The truck has 3.73 gears and 33" tires on the rear.
The 7.3 has been turned up a bit, and I'm thinking of adding a turbo, but it's going in stock for now.
I guess my question is, what can I expect of this thing hauling? I know it's not going to fly down the highway, but I built my trailer to handle 65-70 continuously at it's maximum weight.

 

[spencevans]

I think you'll be fine. The 7.3 IDI was a reliable and well built engine, and it even more capable with a Banks turbo kit. In stock form it will still get the job done but I think you will save money in the long run by adding the turbo.

Check out this link, it will let you see all the numbers and towing capability.

http://www.bankspower.com/products/show/155/39

 

[SLC97SR5]

Get a pyrometer before you tweek the fuel anymore.

My IDI was our tow rig before my FIL ricsrx upgraded to the Cummins. It handled our gooseneck with both Toyota's and a ton of other gear...around 17k. It's not fast but ALWAYS got us there doing 35-75, driving by the gauges.

'94 F-350 TD IDI CC long bed 4x4 e4od

oilburners.net is a great resource!

 

[Rot Box]

Crew cab IDI's with four wheel drive and five speeds are VERY hard to find these days... Why are you taking it apart???

Without a turbo you will be working it hard pulling 70mph with 9K or more. In the canyon you might find yourself very disappointed. First off I cannot recommend having the pump timed by a professional using a pulse meter enough. Most pumps are timed my ear and that just doesn't work on this motor. If your injection system is old or weak or it hasn't been timed before I would say this is mandatory before any other modification. Even a 2* variance is the difference between an owner that loves his IDI and one that hates it with a passion.

Next up is a pyrometer and a working coolant temp guage. You will end up driving by just these gauges any time you have the trailer hooked up.

The IDI's rock. They are built to work hard and they are really simple to work on. I would rate it with the 12v Cummins for reliability and simplicity, but not in power capability. After the two things I mentioned I would recommend tracking down a turbo. I have bought two now used for well under $500. Any of the ATS, Banks Hypermax and the Factory Ford (93-95) ATS built units are great and make a night and day difference in power.

 

[BlackDog]

I loved my idi,(enough so I just boguth one to repower the Centurion with.) and with a mild load it pulled right with the big guys, undertuned pump, factory turbo 92 with a Zf... left out of SLC (Murray ish) with a 9k pound Fiderform and trailer, twin engine, 27" or so... that fed the truck its lunch... But I still pulled 10 from SLC to Sacramento, and some of the hilss on this dinky azz switxhback, I had to pull in granny to keep temp gauge down.

I put a NA pump from a 6.9 on it, and it just didn't fuel it enough, I didn't have a pyrometer, so I didn't turn it up.

 

[4x4_Welder]

I think this one has been played with a bit, it has a Banks air cleaner and pyrometer, and blows a CLOUD when you get on it hard. Much more then my Mercedes diesel did, even after I turned it up a bit, but then that is a turbodiesel and has a boost compensator on it.
I am a member over at Bombers, and at Ford Truck Enthusiasts, but I'd rather get some unbiased results and answers other than "put a Cummins in it".
I'm toying with getting an HX35 or HX40 and making my own manifolds and up-pipe since I'd want to get the turbo a little more forward of the firewall.
As far as why, this truck has been kinda beaten, the bed is in rough shape, it rides like crap, but it's a loaded XLT cab and was much cheaper than buying a 5th wheel hauler rig out of the box. It's too big to wheel, and I do enough highway hauling that a giant lifted 4x4 is a detriment. I got my brother in law to buy it since he wanted a crew cab to pull his 5'er, and I'm putting this cab on his existing E350 motorhome chassis in trade for the engine and other leftovers. He doesn't really have the automotive intelligence to handle the additional maintenance and different driving style of a diesel, and I really don't want him to call me from Kansas saying he put 60gallons of gas in the thing.
Besides, it's enough of an in-depth build that i can add it to my portfolio.

 

[Rot Box]

I bought mine with the intent of putting a rotory pump VE Cummins in it, and I have all but talked myself out of it--the IDI is so lovable and the parts for it are everywhere and much cheaper and easier to find used than the Cummins stuff it seems.

I think this one has been played with a bit, it has a Banks air cleaner and pyrometer, and blows a CLOUD when you get on it hard.

What do the EGT's read when your at wot? Even a small black cloud on a N/A IDI would worry me...

but I'd rather get some unbiased results and answers other than "put a Cummins in it".

Understandable. I LOVE the VE pump 5.9's but my IDI runs and it goes without complaining much. I see no reason to do the swap other than fuel economy but it would take a lot of driving to justify that.

I'm toying with getting an HX35 or HX40 and making my own manifolds and up-pipe since I'd want to get the turbo a little more forward of the firewall.

There is always talk of the HX series on oilburners. In the long run it would be far easier and cheaper to do the Cummins swap imo. The Stanadyne pumps won't fuel them--a Moose pump and injectors might, but then there is the problem with the IDI's design and higher compression that goes with it... I would love to see one push over 25psi reliably but so far I have never seen one do it :-\

 

[4x4_Welder]

In 5th, floored from 60-70, it picked up to about 900. Highway cruise it was about 600.
What's a good number for an n/a? I know 1200 on a turbo is pushing it.
I should clarify as well, if i goose it it'll blow a cloud, once it's moving it's not as bad.
I'm not looking for a powerhouse, and given my 360 gives such poor mileage, this swap is actually worth it. I am expecting 15-16 in DD use, and ~13 towing, which will basically be double what I get now.