If you’ve been following along the last three months, you’ll know we added head studs, hybrid injectors, and custom tuning to our ’97 F-350 in the May issue, replaced its up-pipes in June, and added a bulletproof transmission last month. Our recent series of 7.3L upgrades and repairs was all part of taking the next step in making horsepower—and eliminating weak links. Head studs were installed to keep our head gaskets safe, the up-pipes were replaced to rule out exhaust leaks, custom tuning was required to efficiently fire the hybrid injectors, and a fortified E4OD was bolted in and given the task of harnessing the newfound power.
| serious 7 3 L Upgrades Part 4 ford F 350 On Dyno
This month, we’re breaking down the anatomy of a hybrid Power Stroke injector. We’ll detail how it’s made, why it’s efficient for your engine, and what our 238cc, 80-percent-larger-nozzle hybrid is capable of flowing. In addition, we’ll showcase how custom tuning can keep a 7.3L’s stock bottom end in the safe zone, and how much horsepower we picked up on the dyno. But most of all, we’ll convince you why hybrids are the new entry-level injector for 7.3L Power Stroke fans.
238/80 Hybrid: Explained and Flowed
Overview:
The 238/80 hybrid gets its name for flowing a maximum of 238 cc of fuel per 1,000 shots, and for its utilization of a nozzle capable of providing 80 percent more flow than a factory nozzle. This means that not only is a higher maximum amount of fuel delivered per combustion cycle, but it’s delivered faster (check out our injector flowchart to see its faster injection rates in action).
| 1. 16mm intensifier piston (stock)
2. 7.1mm-diameter plunger and barrel (vs. 6mm stock)
3. EDM’d 7x7.5 nozzles 3 (7 holes, each 0.0075 inch in diameter)
I530E Parts:
It’s important to know that the injectors in International’s T444E (7.3L), DT466E, and I530E all share the same dimensions, which is why parts can be interchanged and I530E injector components are used to create a hybrid. Our 238/80 injector, built by Unlimited Diesel Performance, starts out as an A-code injector (found in all T444E and 7.3L Power Stroke engines), and without the need for any machining is outfitted with a new, single-shot BD-code plunger and barrel (found in the I530E engine). This effectively increases the bore of the injector. The retention of the stock 16mm-diameter intensifier piston allows the hybrid to use less oil to actuate than a BD-code injector, and in this particular configuration it has almost the same capacity as a BD-code injector. This saves you money in the long run because a healthy ’99½ to ’03 OE high-pressure oil pump (or an Adrenaline high-pressure oil pump, in our case) is sufficient in supporting its oil demand.
*A pump in good overall health can hold 2,500 to 3,000 psi of injection control pressure (ICP) under wide-open throttle with this particular hybrid injector.
Nozzles:
All of Unlimited Diesel Performance’s 80-percent nozzles (and its 100-percent nozzles, which are popular as well) start out as blanks and are electronic-discharge machined (EDM) to achieve the desired hole size. Its nozzles retain the stock seven-hole design, but each hole on its 80-percent nozzles measures 0.0075 inch in diameter (making it a 7x7.5 nozzle versus 7x6 stock). From there, its nozzles are Extrude-Honed for a perfect orifice surface finish (the 100-percent nozzles undergo slightly more Extrude-Hone work).
Flow Bench Tested:
Once built, all injectors are tested on Unlimited’s HEUI flow bench, which consists of a hydraulic pump to actuate the injectors, a gauge to monitor injection control pressure, and an AirDog fuel system for fuel supply. Four injectors are tested at a time. First, they’re run at full-throttle to purge all air, then they undergo several tests with varying injection control pressures (high-pressure oil). All injectors are balanced across the board during the flow test, and every unit flows within 2 to 3 cc of each other before being shipped.
Gearhead Automotive Performance Tuning
Using Power Hungry Performance’s 7.3L Power Stroke tuning software, Matt Robinson, owner of Gearhead Automotive Performance, created six custom files for us via a TS Performance six-position chip.
| serious 7 3 L Upgrades Part 4 tuning Chip
Position:
Setting:
Details:
1
Heavy Tow
Stock-like power, but with more horsepower than stock—without exceeding stock EGT limits
2
High Idle
1,100-rpm idle for cold-weather warm up
3
Stealth Mode
Reduced engine noise for the drive-thru window
4
Economy
Lower shift points than performance or tow tunes, 50 hp more than Heavy Tow tune
5
Street Fury
Hot street performance with very little visible smoke
6
All Out
Complete performance tune, but with great driveability and low smoke; also detuned slightly to keep boost less than 40 psi and drive pressure reasonable to extend turbo life
Stage 1 Flow Characteristics
We will note that comparing a Stage 1 injector to a Stage 3 hybrid injector is not an apples-to-apples comparison. However, in order to explain the benefits of the hybrid versus the Stage 1 (and Stage 2 for that matter), we are comparing them directly in terms of fuel per time. Both injector flowcharts display how many cc of fuel are delivered given a certain engine speed, pulse width (how long the injector is open), and injection control pressure (ICP).
| 170cc Stock Nozzle (Stage I) Fuel Injectors
Making power with any diesel engine is dependent on fuel per time (also referred to as injection rate, or cc per millisecond). The faster the injection rate is, the more fuel gets delivered in the usable injection window. With a stock 7.3L piston and factory spray angle, this usable injection window (or interval to hit the fuel bowl) is roughly 24 degrees before and after top dead center (TDC). Because our Stage 1 injector utilized stock nozzles, its injection rate was slower. A slower injection rate meant an earlier start of injection (increased injection timing)—commanded via tuning—was required to get as much fuel as possible into the cylinder within the usable injection window.
As you can see, it took 4 milliseconds of pulse width (injector on-time) and 3,000 psi of ICP before its maximum of 170 cc was flowed. When compared to the hybrid, it can achieve maximum flow (238 cc) at 3.5 milliseconds of pulse width—not to mention at a lower ICP (2,500 psi).
Stage 3 Hybrid 238/80 Flow Characteristics
Looking at the hybrid’s flowchart, you’ll see its injection rate is much faster, thanks to the 80-percent-over nozzles. Basically, more fuel is delivered in-cylinder in a shorter time frame, and a lot less timing is required (that means less cylinder pressure and less heat). In addition, the quicker nozzle leads to a more efficient combustion process, so more fuel is burned. This means no unnecessary smoke and reduced exhaust gas temperature throughout the powerband when compared to the same horsepower output of the Stage 1 injector.
| 238cc 80% Nozzle Hybrid Fuel Injectors
Across the board, the hybrids deliver at least 30 percent more fuel in the same injection window as the Stage 1s. For example, with 1.9 milliseconds of pulse width (PW) and 2,000 psi of injection control pressure (ICP), 105 cc of fuel is being flowed, whereas the Stage 1s were flowing 70 cc of fuel.
As mentioned, it only takes 3.5 milliseconds of pulse width and 2,500 psi of ICP, and the hybrids are flowing their maximum (238 cc). This also proves the hybrids don’t require more oil to operate effectively (once again, a healthy, single high-pressure oil pump will suffice).
Stage 1 Numbers
Before diving into our new power numbers, we revisited our previous best dyno pull with the Stage 1 injectors. In the “More HP, Less EGT” article (Aug. ’10), our ’97 Power Stroke laid down 353 hp and 747 lb-ft (shown). At the 350hp mark, we decided we’d reached the high end of what most 7.3L owners can expect to see with Stage 1s. This is what it took to get us there:
| serious 7 3 L Upgrades Part 4 stage 1 Dyno Results
Full Force Diesel Stage 1 injectors
DieselSite Adrenaline high-pressure oil pump
DieselSite CPR electric fuel system
Total Diesel Performance custom tuning via six-position chip
ATS Diesel intercooler
NADP Heavy Hauler E4OD
MBRP 3-inch downpipe into 4-inch exhaust
Comp Turbo TP38 turbocharger
*Nearly all the above modifications paved the way for us to effectively run a set of 238/80 hybrids.
Stage 3 Numbers: PMR Tuning
On our first trip to Randall’s Performance and Accessories’ SuperFlow dyno, we ran Gearhead Automotive Performance’s All Out/PMR tune—which is aimed more toward ’01 to ’03 7.3L Power Stroke owners. Many of these trucks came from the factory with powdered-metal connecting rods (PMR), which, as the aftermarket has proven, can bend when hard low-rpm fueling takes place (big torque down low destroys them). To keep the owners of these Super Dutys in the safe zone, Gearhead had us run the All Out/PMR tune, which (as you can see in this graph) still made 420 hp and 788 lb-ft.
| serious 7 3 L Upgrades Part 4 stage 3 Tuning Resluts
Notice the progressive ramp up of fuel? Peak torque occurs at roughly the same rpm as peak horsepower. By progressively introducing the fuel, cylinder pressures are kept to a minimum at low engine speeds, the engine isn’t overtorqued, and the performance comes on strong at higher rpm (it’s much safer to introduce fuel at higher engine speeds). We saw EGT peak at 1,350 degrees and just 30 psi of boost—which means head studs aren’t a necessity, and your turbo’s longevity won’t be sacrificed.
Diesel Power Stamp of Approval
Why we recommend hybrid injectors for entry-level 7.3L owners
Budget: At just $1,850, you have an affordable injector capable of making 325 to more than 500 rwhp. The general consensus is that, either as your hunger for more power or your budget increases, you will want more power eventually. So why not start with all the injector you’ll need, de-tune them, and grow without swapping injectors again?
Tuning: With good custom tuning, the hybrids can be dialed back (just as ours are) until you can upgrade your fuel system, turbocharger, transmission, or add head studs (Gearhead Automotive Performance’s lifetime free reburn policy allows you to update your tuning free of charge in the future, making it easy to amp up the horsepower whenever your setup can support it).
Versatile: Through tuning, this injector can be used in a hot street truck, a fun daily-driver, or a tow rig without sacrificing anything (idle, driveability, or mileage).
Efficient: Hybrids don’t require a lot of oil pressure (dual high-pressure oil pumps) to do their job. In fact, a healthy stock ’99½ to ’03 high-pressure oil pump will work perfectly.
Stage 3 Numbers: Forged Rod Tuning
All Out Tune
As we’ve mentioned in previous issues, our hybrids were detuned to keep our street-sized turbo alive. But since our ’97 engine came with forged-steel connecting rods, we decided to tap into a little more of the hybrid’s potential. The result of Gearhead adding in more fuel throughout the entire rpm range was 436 hp and 818 lb-ft (shown). In case you were wondering, yes, this old ’97 is a blast to drive on the street now.
Max Horsepower: 436 hp at 2,850 rpm
Max Torque: 818 lb-ft at 2,750 rpm
Peak EGT: 1,400 degrees
Max Boost: 36 psi
| serious 7 3 L Upgrades Part 4 dyno Graph
Tow Tune
Thanks to our Heavy Tow setting (position one on our six-position chip), we’re able to keep our truck’s tow-anything theme alive, as EGT never exceeded 1,100 degrees while under a tough, 30 percent load on the dyno. And to our surprise, the truck makes more than 300 rwhp on this setting!
Max Horsepower: 330 hp at 3,000 rpm
Max Torque: 632 lb-ft at 2,600 rpm
Peak EGT: 1,100 degrees
Fuel Economy Tune
With fuel prices constantly on the rise, we spend a lot of time in our fuel economy setting. Not only does it help the truck sip fuel, but it’s actually a fun daily-driver tune with plenty of passing power and still well within our EGT threshold.
Max Horsepower: 378 hp at 3,100 rpm
Max Torque: 679 lb-ft at 2,700 rpm
Peak EGT: 1,225 degrees
Fuel: Before and After
In this mass fuel limit vs. rpm graph you can see how much fuel our Gearhead Automotive Performance tuning called for in the All Out/PMR tune (dotted line), and the more aggressive, forged-rod, All Out tune (bold line). Starting at 900 rpm, the two fuel curves begin to separate, and the quicker fueling of the forged-rod tune comes on. By 2,100 rpm, the more aggressive tune is calling for as much fuel as the PMR tune allowed at its peak (2,800 rpm to 3,000 rpm). And even with the added fuel in our forged-rod scenario, most of the fueling hits hard in the mid-to-upper portion of our powerband. Fueling hard up top is much easier on parts than doing the same thing at low rpm.
| serious 7 3 L Upgrades Part 4 fuel Usage
Keep in mind that we’re pushing the limit of what our Comp Turbo TP38 turbo can handle without using the hybrids to their full fuel potential. Spot-on tuning prevents the turbo from pushing more than 40 psi of boost and drive pressure getting out of hand. With a more durable and higher-flowing turbo (like a Garrett GT42, or even a GTP38R), we could see 500 rwhp. In the future, you may see us unleash more of what the hybrid injectors can flow (via tuning), which will call for a much-needed turbo upgrade.
