Welcome to Top Tech Questions. Oftentimes, readers contact us with questions about articles, or to praise us on what a good job we are doing. But our favorite form of reader communication is tech questions. Our Top Tech section is a place where you ask what’s on your mind, and we answer it. Got a trouble code? Wondering how to get your engine to make more power? Send us an email at jason.sands@sorc.com and we’ll do our best to answer it.
6.4L Turbos on a 6.0L Ford Question: I have an ’00 Ford Excursion with the 7.3L Power Stroke engine, and I was wondering if it’s possible to put the compound-turbo setup off the newer 6.4L Power Stroke on it. Since they are so much better from the factory, it seems like a logical choice if it would work.
Chris Bauer -via snail mail
| It’s no secret why the 6.4L Ford is such a beast—the compound turbo setup on an ’08 to ’10 Super Duty is perhaps the most efficient turbo setup ever offered on a modern diesel. Unfortunately, it is very parts-specific to the 6.4L Ford and is not easily adaptable to other Power Strokes.
Answer: With enough fabrication skills, you can do just about anything, but putting 6.4L turbos on a 7.3L engine would probably be a pretty tough one. The 6.4L Power Stroke’s factory compounds take up a good portion of the engine valley, which the 7.3L needs for its fuel system, filters, and injection system. To make matters worse, the exhaust and intake sides of the turbocharger setup are completely different, which means both would need to be fabricated from scratch. We’re not saying it’s impossible, but for the amount of effort it would take, you’re probably better off just going with a T4 kit from a company like Turbonetics, or an H2E kit from Hypermax. The most cost-effective option—and one that will get you close to 500 rwhp (the Ford compounds support about 550—is to install a Garrett GT38R turbocharger, which is a ball-bearing version of the turbo that is stock on Super Duty trucks. Spooling will still be quick, the power will be there, and the turbo will be much more reliable at higher boost levels.
Why No TDI? Question: It is very interesting to see the number of Volkswagen TDIs on the road today. I love my ’10 VW Jetta TDI and thoroughly enjoy my high mileage rating—sometimes as high as 52 mpg. I sometimes wonder if your publication is solely for truck enthusiasts or for the general diesel enthusiast as well. Wouldn’t it be wonderful for other TDI-philes to enjoy the same status as the big trucks on the road today? Please help me encourage other TDI lovers to assist you in promoting the many benefits of diesel technology by offering other articles and aftermarket add-ons.
Robert Herrington II Limerick, Pennsylvania
| If you’re not a fan of rust, it might actually be worth it to buy a vehicle west of the Rockies. Shipping a vehicle cross-country usually runs about $1,000, while rust repair can run much more than that.
Answer: Whenever any of us here at the magazine is looking for a vehicle to buy, we are always out for the best deal. That means searching high and low and being as thorough as possible, so we don’t miss out on a good buy. For starters, we hit the Internet. Autotrader, eBay, Internet forums, and Craigslist are all good sources for finding a used truck, but don’t limit your search to the web. Looking in local papers, asking around at work, and even checking the local vehicle auctions can all turn up good finds. Also, talking with diesel repair or performance shops can be a good way of finding a used truck, as many customers turn to their go-to repair guys when it comes to trying to sell their diesel. Perhaps some of the best deals we’ve run across come from asking shops if any of their customers are looking to sell. Be patient, and you’ll find something.
