7.3 IDI with banks turbo... anyone ever run one?

[Wheel House Motorsports]

My roomate bought an early 90's f350 with a banks sidewinder kit on the 7.3 idi and a 5 speed for $500 bucks, its in decent shape, runs really well. Hes now thinkin of dealing with some of the small cosmetic issues and trying to sell it for more as he got it for a STEAL! I have worked on it a little with him and drove around and it runs good, so was thinkin for buying it from him, was just curious what peoples thoughts on them were, i know the 7.3idi is a simple motor and a lot cheaper to work on then a powerstroke.

any thoughts on milage? he never drives it more then up into the woods and back, so no really useful data yet.

the power is pretty impressive, that combinded with the long box i kinda want it as a wood/work truck and something i can not worry about falling in half every time i step on it.

 

[highmark18]

He stole that thing! I had a 92 that I installed the turbo kit on, I paid 700 for just the kit used off of ebay over 5 years ago! They make decent power with the turbo, mileage will be average 12-16 depending upon conditions.
How many miles on it?

 

[augerin]

I don't know how you would check for it, but if it hasn't had the right addatives in the coolant the cylinders will rot from the waterjacket in. I had that happen on mine and it cost me 7k to get it rebuilt. Other then that the only persistant problem I had was with the vacume pump.

 

[Wheel House Motorsports]

the coolant thing is PH based i beleive, I read about that a bit.

well it seems now that it runs all nice again he might not want to sell it!! i might have to sabatoge it so he wants to sell it!!

 

[rocketron]

Had an '88 put a factory turbo (ATS) on it. Drove the tar out of it, still going strong with new owner. Won't be embarasing Maxi-pads with it,but, very good unit if the coolant was kept up and no more than 14#s of boost should live a long life. Mine had 320k (KMs) when i installed the turbo. You can get he test strips from an International dealer to test A/F.

 

[T-Bone]

A guy I knew in high school had one probably a 90 or 91 model. I know it did really good burnouts. Other than that it seemed to be a pretty tough truck.

 

[Wheel House Motorsports]

Had an '88 put a factory turbo (ATS) on it. Drove the tar out of it, still going strong with new owner. Won't be embarasing Maxi-pads with it,but, very good unit if the coolant was kept up and no more than 14#s of boost should live a long life. Mine had 320k (KMs) when i installed the turbo. You can get he test strips from an International dealer to test A/F.

maxi pads? thats my buddies nick-name, and it would embarase his truck, but dont follow otherwise.

boost has been set at 8 pounds and only has like 5k miles boosted, so me thinks the motor will live a long life, drove it around yesterday, the thing has some BALLS and runs much better with fresh fuel in it!! roomate might be falling on hard finances... may get it after all!!