I've tried looking through different post so I didn't have to bug you guy's with a silly question but didn't find anything, so my question is would you shy away from installing a chip/programmer on a 03 7.3 auto with 225,000k? The truck is stock except for tymar and zoodad mod, 4"turbo back exhaust, gauges and I maintain it religiously. I don't have deep pockets to start replacing blown up parts or have the time or expertise to work on my truck because it's not running right every weekend. I don't have a heavy foot or ever race (which I know the added hp from a chip will test me) but like everyone else on this site I'd like to improve my mpg and general everyday performance, after reading on this site of suggestions on which chip/programmer to go with I was thinking of going with a TS, DP, or SCT unless somebody recommends different. And one last thing (sorry this is so long!) what would you look at upgrading next to head off any potential/upcoming problems? intercooler boots? torque converter? other? (both stock/original) Thanks for any input.

 

You have most of the normal stuff done. I would look into a TS type chip with tunes from one of the many vendors out there.

As far as things to look foward to... Tranny. Save your pennys and when you have about $3800, look up BTS and get yourself the last tranny you will ever buy.

 

I have A 6 pos chip on my 99 F350 with 186k and i have had to replace my torque converter twice.
this time around i replaced it with a billet TC and have noticed a huge difference in the way my truck drives. I would have to say if you go the chip route your next step would have to be a upgrade TC.
Sean

 

With the truck being an 03 be careful on who you have tune the chip.

 

i would do what CSI said, i learned the hard way and just kept replacing with stock parts and well they kept breaking cause of my lead foot, i have sun coast clutches and a PATC TQ and a trans go shift kit, best thing i ever did for my truck.

 

go look at php... u can buy a chip programer so if you dont like what you got you can update it to what you wnat

 

Thanks for all of the great advice, I installed a TS 6 pos early last week and am mad at myself for not doing this the day I bought the truck being the fuel savings I'm already seeing by this relativity cheap upgrade probably would of payed for itself already and of course the performance difference was amazing. Now I'll take your guy's advice and start researching and saving for a torque converter. Which brings up another question and I know it will vary from different shops but after I purchase a TC roughly how much can I expect to spend on a shop to install it? and by installing an aftermarket TC will this most likely take care of lockup problems common with these trucks or do you have to buy a separate lockup device/controller?

 

its not too hard to install yourself, i have done mine, but a i would venture around 200+ for just labor, and i don't have a seperate lock up controller and mine does fine

 

I had a local Machine shop install mine for $1400 including the TC. They had to flush the tran also because the TC Blew up. There was a lot of metal in the fluid in tran but luckily i didn't have to rebuild it. It has worked great and it it has been well over 6 months since the new TC went in. Hope this gives you a good idea of how much it would cost.