Need a knowledgeable guru in northern virginia

[audiocontr]

My f250 needs a look over. Loss of power is keeping me down. Koons wants $145/ HR. Two hour minimum for what I'm sure a friend of the board would be happy to help with for less. I'm not expecting something for nothing just a knowledgeable tinkerer.

[Southpaw]

What are all your issues.

Where in Nova are you?

I don't have a lot of free time these days, but if you can come to me I can scan it with AE and run a buzz test etc...

I'm at summerduck dragway every thursday night.

[audiocontr]

Two separate issues im concerned with at the moment:

Dead space in the center of the steering. Makes it very difficult at all speeds. My guess is steering box.

The bigger issue: Truck seems like its overly loud and lacks power. I have the DIY intake and a summit 4" turbo back. I have boost, but it seems like it builds late. If i step on it, I get about 18psi at WOT. I'm wondering if my boost is low at partial throttle. I'd like someone to verify that the boost is an issue and if possible, help me figure out where the leak is

[Southpaw]

The slop in the steering could very well be the steering gear box.

If the truck is stock, you'll probably only see 18-19 psi of boost.

Is there any soot from the exhaust on the firewall or anywhere under the hood?

When you say it's loud and lacks power, is that the way it's always been? or are these 'new' symptoms? has something changed?

[audiocontr]

The truck was in a front end collision less than 30 days after owning it. Ive never had a diesel before and noticed it straining up hills while towing 7k#. I'd like to find someone who is used to the vehicles that could say "This is a normal feeling 7.3" or it feels "under powered". My ultimate concern is that i have a boost leak.

I looked for soot on the firewall and i see none

I installed the DIY intake and a summit 4" straight back. This of course made it louder. Its REALLY louder.

I adjusted the steering box from 1.5 rotations, back down to .5 revolutions, testing the dead spot and it improved. The rest of the dead spot has to be either the tires or steering linkage ends/tie rods. Any way to check?