Any easy engine upgrades, tweaks, or swaps for a 98.5 24v?
 

I have a friend who has a 99' Ford w/ a 7.3 powerstroke in it who has found several easy mechanical type upgrades that were either free or really cheap and also some swaps, like a using an intercooler out of 6.0L powerstroke in his 7.3. Things that improved gas mileage, performance and engine life and all of these were things that could be done any given day in a garage with few tools and basic mechanical knowledge. Now I know there's people out there with the Cummins 24v 5.9 like mine who have done some tweaking or swaps or whatever to improve there truck and I was hoping you could share. Or maybe give me some links with some info like this, if there is any. Thanks...

I really don't there's too many options with these motors as far as free or cheap goes mainly because they have electronic injection so you can't do any fueling or timing adjustments without buying a box. Cleaning your IAT sensor may help with mileage and also a BHAF but that'll run around $60. Rerouting the crank case vent tube will help keep the engine cleaner and keep blow by from junking up your radiator. It looks like since you have replaced the VP44 you already know that the fueling and fueling system is your main priority with these engines.

A inline holley blue is a cheap option, really theres no performance mods for free with these trucks. Boost elbows are also pretty cheap but wont do much for performance.

You can remove the Turbo Silencer to give your turbo more sound but it doesnt help or hurt performance.

If you use a Holley Blue make sure you put an inline filter into the fuel line before the Holley.

Yeah I took the silencer off. Never have cleaned the IAT sensor. I'll do that. These are good. Keep them coming. Anything else?

Clean MAP Sensor. Check APPS Voltage.

To be flat out honest, I think apart from the silencer ring, there is not alot out there. Poke around on the site, you can find some ways to wire up a loc up switch, smoke switch, even a home made high idle wiring diagram.....
look here and you might get some ideas

Where are the IAT and MAP sensor located and what would I clean them with?

There back and up from the stock fuel canister. I always use MAF Sensor Cleaner.

When you say stock fuel canister are you referring to the fuel filter or the lift pump? Also how do I know which sensor is which?

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Do I have to use a sensor cleaner or can I use something more convenient around the garage?

i'm pretty sure you can use anything to clean the sensors that doesnt leave a residue. brake cleaner may be abit harsh; especially the top dollar stuff. the cheaper store brand stuff isnt nearly as good so it may be acceptable but to be safe. MAF cleaner is the ticket. a MAF has to be perfectly clean or it can cause some screw things so i'd suspect the cleaner is top notch.

IAT is farther back on the Engine than the MAP.

I'd stay away from the holley blue...heard more issues with those pumps than anything else. If you're going to go with an aftermarket pump, then just get a reputable one, Air Dog or FASS, just stay away from the FASS DDRP.

A boost elbow by its self might bump you up from 19-20 psi of boost to 24-26 psi, but it's not going to do much by itself. You need a box to get your money's worth out of a boost elbow. Elbows by themselves are pretty cheap, about 20-25 bucks, but you'll get one with the box if you buy brand new...

Silencer ring does nothing but makes the turbo louder. No improvement in performance.

Smoke switch does nothing without a boost fooler, or box.

I've got a manual high idle switch installed that I bought off a guy formerly on Idaho Bombers Forum, HBowers. dunno if he's on here, but if he is, you can get one from him. It doesn't work great for warming up, but to hold the idle up while operating extra accessories, it works great! (I use it while I'm winching, to keep my batteries charged up)

lol Those are the only things I could think of anywhere near free :D

I don't necessarily mean free or even real cheap. Just stuff I can do easily in my garage with basic tools. Some swaps would be cool. I used to like going to the junk yard with the old man. We'd pull stuff out of other trucks that would fit in his truck, like axles inter coolers, cosmetic stuff, etc. I knew someone who took some posi trac axles of of a big older truck that fit right onto his toyato. Things that would improve the trucks performance or whatever. That kind of stuff would be cool to know about.

Also, I checked really quick this morning and could not tell where the MAF or IAT sensors where. I'd like to clean them and see if it helps anything. I've never done it so I need help finding and identifying them.

Electrical contact cleaner - available at most auto parts stores

Well if thats the case,
I would consider a Airdog 100 or 150 depending on the desired power level and uses of the truck, A good set of injectors (100 Horse max if you dont plan to upgrade the charger), Somthing like a Edge Drag Comp and a 4" or 5" Budget Exhaust from Luke @ Diesel Dawgs
All of those can be installed pretty easily in the driveway!
For the most part, Your pretty limited on swaps to "better" the truck, Of course there's some stuff that folks are swapping out. Do you have the fold out tow mirrors?

gotcha.........................:U:

I had a guy adjust my waist gate.I was gettin around 18 to19 psi. Now I'm gettin 30! All that cost me was 40 bucks. BD does have a boost fooler that does the same thing electrically. Here's the link for ya. :c: BD-Power Turbo Boost Builder

I don't have the fold out tow mirrors? That would be sweet! My mirrors are actually already cracked, need new ones anyways. I've thought about adjusting the wastegate or buying a boost fooler. I'm kind of afraid to play with the turbo having the auto transmission. Don't know if it's the original or not, truck has 196,000. I can't really afford to burn it up yet. Saving for the new tranny still. But if I did do a boost fooler I'd probably want gauges too huh.

Please keep in mind when adjusting the wastegate your chaning the movement of the tab that opens and closes the only free exit for exhaust gases. When you adjust the wastegate rod, your forcing the tab closed. Your not changing the rate of which your wastegate opens, we want to change the rate of opening not the ability to open or how far it opens.
Adjusting a wastegate rod to increase boost is a sure fire way to raise drive pressure out the roof and destroy a charger! Increasing boost, as said before without added fuel is pretty much pointless power wise, but it may increase fuel mileage and driveability and should cause no adverse effects on your transmission.

There's a couple vendors online that sell the aftermarket fold out tow mirrors and I've done the swap for alot of our customers!

The first mod for any VP truck is a fuel pressure light or gauge.... even if you dont have the cash for all boost and pyro ATLEAST get a fuel pressure gauge.
You could also kill a couple birds with one stone and get a edge juice with attitude or quad adr with a pulse....(luke you should be happy.....I said somthing positive about the adr)


Any of us vendors will be glad to help you atleast get a low pressure light on the truck!!

Yeah, I probably won't mess with the wastegate. I am definetely wanting to go th "kill two birds with one stone" route and buy something like the Edje Juice w/ Attitude. But the damn thing is so expensive. Seeing that I'll probably spend the money on the transmission first, I may end up just buying a monitor and then athe chip. I know I need the fuel pressure guage but I can't justify spending $100 or whatever when I'm wanting something like the Edge monitor.

On another note. I was wondering why you need the tude on a cold air intake? I have a k&n intake and I was thinking why not just eliminate the intake tube and put the filter tight onto the turbo?

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I meant tube. not tude.

I guess you could but you would probably have higher intake temperatures since it would be right next to that hot exhaust manifold.

I have someone who will sell me his edge ez for $175. It's off of a 2002 so I'd need an adapter. Are they expensive? Any comments on the edge ez chip? I'm not planning on racing it or anything. I just want better gas mileage and maybe a little power. Would I need to worry having an auto transmission?