I have a 2000 F250 PSD A/T and currently have a hypertech programmer on it. Does anyone know any tricks that I can do myself for increasing horsepower that won't the engine or tranny. Maybe something to do with the turbo????? Thanks

 

Yeah, dump the Hypertech. Even when they were new they were junk, now you're hardpressed to find anyone even running them. A good chip from dp-tuner will help out quite a bit and won't hurt the engine as Jody has invested the time and money in CP testing. The transmission is another story. No matter what you do powerwise you need to start modding the trans to hold it. You'll need at minimum a good valve body, but a good torque converter will do worlds for you as well. Now keep in mind that these will only help if your trans is already healthy, but if its not its only a bandaid and the trans will fail. Unless you're adding alot of fuel a turbo isn't going to do anything for you except eliminate your power.


Follow this list of mods:
1) Gauges (pre turbo pyro, boost, and trans temp) THIS SHOULD BE YOUR FIRST MOD PERIOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2) Free flowing intake (DIY is best)
3) 4" turbo back exhaust
4) Probably will need a wicked wheel and/or ATS ported housing as the turbo may start surging.
5) Transmission valve body
6) Pre-pump and harpoon mod
7) Good chip

From there you're talking big money for injectors, fully built trans, turbo, head studs, girdle, billet rods, full fuel system, intercooler, etc. Most of what I listed above will help the power some, but is mainly for longevity of the truck and trans, aside from the chip.

 

is there anything, such as a few simple tricks I can do without spending much money

 

First question.....DO YOU HAVE GAUGES????????


You should have had them from the moment you got the Hypermax. Even on stock trucks they're a big help. I wouldn't recommend even running the Hypermax on any setting any longer without them.


IF you have gauges then if you want cheap get a muffler delete pipe or Walker BTM, DIY intake, and then you can do a 10kmod, but they can be a little finiky. The exhaust part will run you around $40, the intake about $60, and the 10k mod is fairly cheap, but don't remember the exact cost.

 

why are the guages so important

 

Primarily to make sure you're EGT's are in check and watch boost. Fuel = heat. With gassers less fuel measn lean burn which = heat. Just the opposite.

 

You want gauges unless you want to see what melted pistons look like. Like Familyride said more fuel = more heat. This is even more true with crappy programmers like the Hypertech. You are limited to 1250* perturbo exhaust gas temp (EGT). That is a sustained heat, which can be surpassed, but only for a very short time (1min or less). When you tow your EGTs climb and climb quick. I just got home with my 10k trailer with a 95 Ranger on it. Pulled through the foothills in PA and 900-1000* is common when in the low setting on my chip. If I'd had the trailer loaded up it would have been higher. There were a few grades that I had to back out of it a little since I was at 1300*.

The boost is handy to watch as you can use boost to help control EGTs. It also will give you a heads up to impeding problems. The same is true of the trans temp gauge. No matter what, if you have an auto you NEED to have this. I burned up one trans in my old F150 because I didn't have the gauge and it overheated. Now when I'm towing I keep a VERY close eye on it.

 

You can make your self and Open Air Intake for around $30. Diesels love to breathe so it is important to get rid of the restrictive stock intake. Lots of people do this, i didn't because my truck already had an AFE stage II when i bought it. Also there is a free mod called the Zoodad. Its where you cut a hole in the plastic behind your grill on your intake side to let air in. Saposivly increases air flow and decrease engine temps. In theory should work. Check out the diesel section on FTE. Ford-Trucks.com

Wicked Wheel- To help with turbo surge

Another free mod you can do is to disconect your wastegate from your turbo. This will give you more boost but can effect the longlivity of your turbo. Some people do this with great results and just buy a turbo rebuild kit for the future.

Hope this helps

 

so what is a wicked wheel?

 

A less aggressive turbo wheel based off the early 99 PSD turbo wheel. It helps to eliminate turbo surge, but is usually used in conjunction with the ATS ported housing. This is only for the 7.3L trucks.