Hi. I have a 7.3 idi turbo diesel. I was wondering if there was a way to convert it to be computer instead of all mechanical. If yall know what i mean. Im wanting to try and put a fuel chip to get better mpg's and im wanting to see my temps and boost and rpm's and what not all on a monitor. Kind of like a bully dog monitor or something like that. If anyone could help answer my question that'd be awesome!
thanks, tanner

 

Tanner this is JD first off welcome friend And I spent hours on hours looking on the net for the same thing your thinking about and the only way you'll get it, is to plunk the engine and put a power stroke in. It'd be more than what you would buy a used truck for, as long as it's running good keep it, these are tough times and we need all we can get, I have a 1990 F-350 and I love it non turbo it'll pull all day long, I had two tons of feed in the back and a 25 ft goose neck with 12 tons of feed on it and pulled all day long. If you want more info you can email me at Willys1jdp@aol.com

 

There is no way to convert these engine to a computer. For better MPG, leave the injection pump set at stock or turn it turn if you've turned it up. The only other ways you'll get better mileage are the old fashioned ways: gearing, reduce weight where possible, keep tire pressure where it needs to be, and of course how you drive. For monitoring engine vitals, just get some gauges.


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I was thinking about a trans gage and pyromteter, temp gage

 

Only way is by swapping in a powerstroke motor and its a pain in the *** cause of all the wiring that u have to do.

 

If you know anything about computer programming, you could use an arduino with an LCD display and customize everything.

 

Sound like a total pain to me... and I would have to ask why? you could pick up a newer power choke for the money you would have to put into an idi to make compooter friendly, and it would pretty much all have to be custom fab work... not to mention the injection pump is the big ticket difference from PS to idi, hence the term Direct injection vs indirect injection, also means swapping heads, cause no pre chamber... which means different intake and exhaust...(I think?) I'm not even sure the DI heads will even bolt up to the IDI block, oh yeah and the pistons are slightly different. (DI pistons are coated), and to top it all off you would need to get electric fuel pumps...

But if you just want to monitor stuff, they make gauges, and the wiring for them isn't to bad...

 

I had an idea similar to this ... saw a 4 probe pyrometer set up in a small plane and thought huh........ now if I could just two of those I could figure out which injector is giving me a fit and just do that injector... and then thought trans temp and such .... but I have learned unless I see a bunch of black smoke ..... my EGT's are good ... ( providing that my coolant temp is good too...)