TowRig.com - Diesel Discussion and Tow Tech

New member here. I just traded my 89 F250 gasser for an 89 F350 w/ a 7.3 diesel. My first diesel. I took it out today with my toy hauler and was totally disappointed with the power. The truck has 188,000 miles on it. What should I look for to try to get the power output up to at least to what my old gasser had? Also the motor has a knock that sounds like it is coming from the bottom end, is that common? I have read the threads on the forum and if I need to install a turbo, which one would you suggest? Banks, ATS? Any and all info is greatly appreciated. Thanks

You might have bad injectors in my haynes manual it say there will be a rod knock sound if the injectors are bad.:cool:

Welcome to the forum...

Good luck with your new (used) truck.

I had an '93 non-turbo and put the Banks Sidewinder turbo pack on it. let me tell you this made a huge difference in power, like night and day.
Don't give up, this TV is one of the toughest light-duty trucks built...waytogo

Be tough to diagnos a knock from here. Big thing, is you are used to a gasser, which is quiet, and you may very well be hearing a normal diesel noise. Or you could have an issue. I really don't know. Where in Or are you? I should be passing through the I5 coridor in the next week or 2.

As for a turbo, YES! Turboed 7.3's have more than plenty of power potential and will still get awesome mileage. I thnk either the ATS or the Banks kit will work great. I don't deal with Hypertech cause they are just too damned expensive for what you get. I'll work up a price quote for ya!

Did you get the 5 speed or auto?