De-Chipped my 7.3

Airstreamer67 wrote:
QUOTE: "1996 diesel? Was it like 170 HP? That must be hog with camper?"

You'll need to define "hog" for me to answer that part.

If you're referring to acceleration, I don't know what my '96 7.3L's 0-60 mph performance is. I do know that I accelerate and climb mountains at partial throttle even though the F250 is maxed out GVWR- and GVCWR-wise rigged for camping, so I've never felt under-powered. This is probably because I realize I'm driving a house on wheels, and I don't expect it to perform like the Z-28 I used to own that could do 0-60 in less than five seconds and reach 150 mph or more. I expect my RV to perform closer to the 18-wheeler that manages to haul the freight for a million miles but can't accelerate with the small vehicles.

As far as my horsepower, it's rated by the factory at 215, which was the leader-of-the-pack in 1996. Measured at the wheels, it very well could be near 170. And today, it very well may be considered a "hog" acceleration-wise compared with the new 400 hp diesels being put out on the market. But it's not a hog when considering what it "eats": an average of about 15 mpg on the long runs I make. Without the RV, I achieve 23 mpg at 55 mph and 21 mpg at 70, as calculated by miles driven and fuel pumped.

Besides the normal consumables, the only mechanical pieces I've had to change on my rig so far are the radiator and water pump. So far, my ole F250 has been a stellar investment when considering the overall financial outlay of purchase and maintenance. I can't think of a rig that would have given me more for the buck. So I can't consider it a hog in that regard either.

Well, I've beat that hog to death, so I'll stop now.

No problem with me in as much as I too have a vintage Ford Diesel and I like mine just fine.

People dwell on horsepower but in reality with a diesel it's the torque that moves you down the road, not the horsepower. I don't care about horsepower at all. Means nothing to me. Torque and Torque rise is what is important and your old 7.3 and mine produce a lot of torque, around 600 pounds feet. Thats what moves you.

Also why I have no desire to get a new truck. One, I don't want the complexities of the emissions components and two, I want to be able to perform the necessary maintenance and replacement of parts myself and not have to rely on a dealer with sophisticated computer diagnostics to do that.

My '97 7.3 is stone simple and for me. it's perfect because I'm a driveway mechanic.

In the spring I have to pull the valve covers and install new glo plugs and injector harnesses, no big deal. I replaced the water pump a few years back as well. Again, no big deal.

I don't get quite the mileage you get but mine has been modified a bit. It has an aftermarket turbo and straight exhaust and low restriction intake and it might not be a rocket ship compared to the new ones but it's paid for and if it does break down, it can be repaired without breaking my wallet at the same time.

Looking down the road, when the new generation of emissions compliant, electronics laden diesel pickups get some age and mileage on them, I'm thinking that it will be a nightmare for the owners, especially out of warranty when parts start failing and they are at the mercy of a dealer that charges 130 bucks an hour shop time as well as the stupid cost of the replacement parts.

Guess that's why our 'vintage' trucks are appreciating in value. Informed people know that the 'new breed' of trucks will be money pits down the road.

My 97 'sleeps' all winter with my RV. Never has seen snow or corrosion making salt and I plan on running it another decade at least and the selling it for what I paid for it...and I probably will get that price. Here in Michigan, 5 more years an I can plate it as a 'Historical Vehicle'.