Welcome to the Compression Combustion Addiction Society!
1. Get the stock muffler off it ASAP. Replace with a straight pipe or entirely new exhaust. Youll thank us later.
2. Get that restrictive and really quite stupid stock intake box/filter out of the engine bay. Replace with a Tymar/BHAF/6637 filter and optional prefilter cover. LET IT BREATHE! Youll thank us later.
3. GAUGES! Get flippen gauges on it ASAP. You will thank us later.
4. TRANSMISSION UPGRADES!! Very important, especially if you tow.(Get a more efficient cooler) Research to find what fits your budget/purpose. Youll thank us sooner than later.
5. Chip it! (No, I dont mean the paint) Do research on which is "Best" For you. You will rave about how the truck dont care if its towing and is a veritable beast later.
5. FUEL SYSTEM. The stock fuel system of these trucks is notoriously stupid in design. ITP offers a great system replacement/upgrade. NO, its not required to delete your fuel bowl! Do it if you WANT. HARPOON MOD THE TANK! You WILL thank us later.
6. Turbo. (Address it first, with a ported intake housing/larger exhaust housing, ect... Or just replace it with a nice aftermarket unit. Upgrade to a more efficient intercooler as well.) After that, its all how much excess power you REALLY want., injectors (Hybrids are the STUFF), HPOP (High pressure oil pump) Headstuds, rods, springs, Ect. (Although I personally would go for a stronger HPOP regardless of HP goals.) Youll be one hella happy camper later. If you are married, like as not your wife will wonder why you turned all that cash into black sooty smoke until the first time shes pressed back in the seat merging onto a freeway while towing whatever you tow.
Or, leave it alone and do nothing to it but regular maintenance. The 7.3 is a boring slug in stock form, but galactically reliable. DO NOT EXCEED 350ish hp! Your powdered metal rods wont stand for it long, will walk off the job with a resounding BANG, and horrible clunking noises, taking the pistons and sometimes the block with them.
This is only a suggestion, but typically upgrades addressed in the above order make for a really quite drivable(Between upgrades. rarely all the additions come at once, but it DOES happen), eminently reliable, and really quite fun truck.
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ON EDIT. Dont bother with anything that says BANKS or BULLYDOG on it. Yer throwing away cash on a name. JMHO.