SM105K's SHO BIBLE/BUILDS/LIFE

[SM105K]

EPDM belts don't crack. You've got the new belt, use it. You don't want to be on the side of the road changing a belt or worse, repairing the damage from a thrown belt.

So I replaced the belt. It was in decent condition. Good enough to be a back up if needed. However.......come on Ford.

That was the only hiccup. Drained a couple gallons of coolant, removed hose, swapped belts, put the hose back on, poured the coolant back in and sent it.

I was also able to install the passenger bank EGT sensor.

 

[SM105K]

That pretty much rounds out my to do list for Betty right now.

Install the Banks Cold Air Intake.
Remove the front grill, and perform the Zoodad mod.
Replaced Serpentine Belt. @169.8K
Install the fuel pressure sensor, and connect it to the CTS 3.
Install the stiffer fuel pressure regulator spring and rebuild fuel bowl.
Install stock OEM Motorcraft Fuel Bowl Cap.
Install the new fuel filter.
Change the oil and oil filter. Changed at 169K.
Install Passenger Side EGT Probe.

Bigger plans in the future include:

Transmission Mods
Upgrade to the 6.0 liter trans cooler
Upgrade the 4R100 Valve Body (still looking at different options)
Probably Add Deep Pan
Billet TC


Engine Power Mods - Power Goals 300 to 400 hp and 800 tq
KC Gen 3 Stage 1 Turbo
Bellowed Up-Pipe Install
New EBPD Turbo Pedestal
Air Dog Lift Pump or FASS System
*might need injectors

Suspension Mods
Air Bags for the Rear
On board Air Compressor

 

[Texas Marauder]

There is a solution to the problem.

 

[SM105K]

F450 and Lance 1062 Update:
Took the whole camper package out this weekend. The AC went out in the house on Friday (we were leaving Saturday morning), so I set the camper up (plugged into shore power) turned the AC and a box fan on. Took about 4 hours to cool the camper down to 77 from about 105 degrees. Everything worked amazing. Ran the fridge on propane. After the AC company couldn't fix my trash, we set out for about an 1.5 hour drive to Payson roughly 87 miles.

The drive to Payson from Phoenix is basically all uphill. Truck drove amazing. Everything was great. There are some gnarly hill climbs and steep grades. KC turbo is local here in AZ and they test all of their products on this stretch of Highway 87 because of the hill climbs and extreme temps. The old girl is underpowered on the big sustained climbs. I had to throw her into 2nd gear and hold a sustained 45 mph up the biggest hill to keep EGT's in check. I know the 3.73's were not helping my case. However slow and steady did finish the race. Trans temps were fine right at 200 as well.

However on the downhills and flats it was a different story. The truck does super well with big sweeping descents. Not a lot of body roll, considering she is carrying a 4k lbs higher center of gravity back pack that doubles as a sail. The brakes are really good as well. They never once had a hint of fade, and I maintained my speed of roughly 55 to 60 mph all the way back down. The flats are where she really shined. She ran 70mph like it was nothing. So going with the 3.73's in that regard was money.

I still plan on getting a car trailer in the near future, so the added weight of the trailer and whatever car I tow will def be something I look forward too.

 

[SM105K]

F450 Update: Let's revisit this......

Engine Power Mods - Power Goals 300 to 400 hp and 800 tq
KC Gen 3 Stage 1 Turbo
Bellowed Up-Pipe Install
New EBPD Turbo Pedestal
Air Dog Lift Pump or FASS System
*might need injectors

Just waiting for KC Turbos to let me know when to pick all that stuff up. Once I pick that up I will start yanking all the old stuff out. Should be fun, I am excited to get rid of the exhaust leak tick from the old donut style flanges from the Up-Pipes and for a non 30 year old technology turbo.

 

[SM105K]

E63s Update: I am compulsive as eff....so I decided I needed a BlackBoost Cold Air kit for the Merc. The Merc goes back to Dyno Comp for a E30 tune revision, and 63 Motorsports Catch Can Install on Monday.

 

[kryptto]

bigger turbos!!!

 

[FREAK_SHO]

bigger turbos!!!

Could possibly slow or change the Earth's rotation doing that! LOL

 

[SM105K]

F450 Update: KC Turbo called me Friday around 3 pm and said my order was ready. So I drove down and picked everything up. The guys are KC's are amazing. We BS'ed for about 30 mins and then they took me on a tour of the facility. Super cool guys.

So on Saturday I started the process of replacing the turbo, pedestal, and bellowed up-pipes.

New Hotness:





Compared to old trusty:



The tear down wasn't bad. IC piping, removal of the spider, downpipe, and turbo disconnect wasn't bad. What was bad, was the removal of these bastards.



These up-pipes were leaking, and bad. The nuts and bolts are seized (because they have a million heat cycles on them), I rounded off bolts, used fire, used the death wheel, and ultimately started just breaking off bolt heads. Got the new up-pipes (they weren't too bad to install) in. If I ever do this again, I 100% will remove the cab. The up-pipes are jammed between the engine and the cab. This job took me 10 hours, 6 hours of which were the damn up-pipes. If I removed the cab, the whole turbo swap including the up-pipes would have been about an hour.



Next was the pedestal, and upgraded turbo to go in.




Finished up re-installing the hotside and coldside. Used the non-start function on the Hydra Tuner to crank the motor over to build oil pressure to the turbo. Started the truck and let it idle for about 10 mins checked for oil leaks. No leaks.



I was terrible at taking pictures, but you get the jist of it.

 

[SM105K]

F450 Update: So here are my first impressions of driving the new KC Gen 3 Stage 1 turbo. First things first. I love this truck. Even with the old turbo, leaking up-pipes, down on power, I love this truck. It might have been a complete tractor accelerating, clunky, bouncy, and overall older but she is mine.

That being said. If I just had replaced the old up-pipes with the bellowed ones and got rid of the exhaust leaks it would have been worth it. However, coupled with the new upgraded turbo it completely changed the truck. It makes new super cool turbo noises (that is a huge deal in my book), it spools quickly, and Ol' Betty dare I say at over 10k lbs actually accelerates kinda like a modern truck. No more exhaust ticking, just straight beautiful 7.3 Powerstroke symphonic bliss, and KC Turbo sounds. What a difference. The bump in power is really nice too.

So next on the list is probably going to be transmission upgrades and a billet TC.

Yes, I know I said I wasn't going to go crazy. However, my trip with the camper made me realize that for what I want to do with her (camper, car trailer, and car) I need the power. I honestly believe this will be a forever truck for me, and sooner or later this will all happen. I might as well start checking off the boxes now, while parts are still available, and I am still motivated to do it.

 

[Junkyard_Mad-Scientist]

It makes new super cool turbo noises

Earl Dibbles Jr - "Diesel". Looks it up, you've been turned lol. I get the forever truck mentality and the sentiment behind it all, but outside of that its just nice to see someone putting the time into a 7.3. The 6.0 and 6.4 or even the 6.7 all make great power granted all have their expensive setbacks, but the 7.3 will always be the strong confident grandfather of the others that just does the work and doesn't complain. Teach her how to whistle and what more could you ask for.

 

[SM105K]

Earl Dibbles Jr - "Diesel". Looks it up, you've been turned lol. I get the forever truck mentality and the sentiment behind it all, but outside of that its just nice to see someone putting the time into a 7.3. The 6.0 and 6.4 or even the 6.7 all make great power granted all have their expensive setbacks, but the 7.3 will always be the strong confident grandfather of the others that just does the work and doesn't complain. Teach her how to whistle and what more could you ask for.

I know Diesel, that video and song crack me up. I had a diesel for about a year 10 years ago, and I really enjoyed it. So it was always in the back of my head.

Honestly with the amount of money into this truck that I have verse the Merc (literally 10 to 1) it gives me the same feeling and same smile when I put the down the loud pedal down on both.

You are right, the 7.3 is the strong confident grandfather that just does work and doesn't complain. I am astonished at how well everything in this truck still works so good. It is a real testament that if you take care of something, it will reward you.

 

[SM105K]

F450 Update: I am purchasing a boost leak detector. I don't think I have any major boost leaks, but I do have 25 year old couplers, hoses, and vacuum lines. This device will allow me to pressurize the system, weed out, and help and mitigate all of the boost leaks. Then I will start replacing all of the older components. Probably boost leak test the system quarterly going forward.

Might even want to start checking your SHO's. They aren't getting any younger.

 

[kryptto]

great video, good to have in the bible

 

[SM105K]

great video, good to have in the bible

Done! Good Idea.

 

[SM105K]

Ford F450 Update: So I hooked up the boost leak detector and there were many boost leaks. Four of them to be exact. I worked through half of them. However, I guess when I installed the turbo, I didn't realize that I bent the intake inlet connectors.




Here are some terrible pictures of how I wrecked them....lol.




I tried to bend them back and re-install the lower couplers, but to no avail. They were too compromised and would crush when I tried to tighten the couplers down.




I purchased a pair of billet intake inlets and new couplers. That will be my project this weekend. I also bought a topside creeper, so no more laying on the top of the engine for me. Unfortunately, the turbo has to come back out.....good times.

 

[SM105K]

E63 Update:

There is documented issues with the PCV system on the M177 LS2 engines that are in the E63's. I have had all of the repairs done to eliminate the issues, and now I am adding a these catch cans to help. I think I am the fourth person to add these to the platform. They fit well and they look great, hopefully they work just as good.




I need to go back in and re-clean the engine bay because it is filthy. I have also removed the BMC filter.

 

[SM105K]

E63 Update:

While she was getting the catch cans installed, I had them install the Gen 2 Black Boost Intakes.




I also had Dyno Comp give me a E30 tune as well. Here is what she cranked out......


I was a bit un-easy with that much tq. They turned it down to 737/881 I believe. I have the dyno sheet, I just didn't take a picture of it. I can't wait until it cools off and I will get to see the new draggy numbers.

 

[luigisho]

I want a topside creeper so bad. I used a platform to stand on to do plugs and coils on the truck last week

 

[SM105K]

I want a topside creeper so bad. I used a platform to stand on to do plugs and coils on the truck last week

View attachment 95513

Once I get home and build it, I will post pictures.