Connecting rod questions

[grayduty]

I got a 02 7.3 and I'm getting to the point where I need to upgrade my rods. And I don't want to spend 2k on forged or billets. So I was thinking about just buying a 94-97 motor and just pulling the rods and swapping them. I wouldn't mind spending 3k on a motor cuz I could build up the heads and all that fun stuff with very little down time for the truck. BUUUT I'm still not 100% knowing of all the mix matched rods and all that. Like if I can take a 94 van 7.3 and use those rods.

Please help me out. I appreciate all the help.

[AOx4]

Pretty sure any pre 2001 7.3 rods will work.

[grayduty]

And everything about the rods are the same? Like all the measurements. And what about the heads? They are the same too. Correct. I just wanna be 100% on the fitment before I drop the $$$ for a truck I'm gonna use for parts.


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[dentexpowerstroke]

I'm pushing a good bit of power on pmrs. The best thing you can do is get good tuning, someone that has a track record for holding high hp motors together. To get forged rods the best option is find a lower mileage 94-99 block and just swap the long blocks. If you are at the power level to need forged rods you also will need studs and valve springs. My advice is get a forged rod motor that the heads are still attached(seasoned head gaskets are by far superior than putting new ones in.) studding it, putting in the springs and calling it good.

[grayduty]

Well my plan was to get a pre-PMR engine. Pull out the rods. Pull the heads and modify them to handle higher boost/chamber pressure/hp and install new injectors. And then when I get the time just swap everything out. As to reduce the down time of my truck. I'm still not sure as to what should be done to the heads but I figured I'd call up swamps diesel or another reputable shop and ask their opinion.

And as for running high hp on pmrs. I'm too big of a chicken to push them to the max.


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[85_305]

OP, what kinda HP are you running right now that your worried about the PMR's? What mods are done?

[grayduty]

Well I've done almost everything I can besides changing turbos, injectors and hpop. And I think once I do anyone of those mods ill be over the suggested 400hp mark. I'm not positive about it since I don't have a shop around me for 100 miles that has a dyno. Which sucks. Cuz I wanna know what my numbers are right now.


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[85_305]

Originally Posted by grayduty

Well I've done almost everything I can besides changing turbos, injectors and hpop. And I think once I do anyone of those mods ill be over the suggested 400hp mark. I'm not positive about it since I don't have a shop around me for 100 miles that has a dyno. Which sucks. Cuz I wanna know what my numbers are right now.


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So in other words you have a chip. Depending what kind of chip, you prolly have 320whp. You can add another 100-150whp and 300ft-lbs to that safely.... NO need for forged at this point.

[grayduty]

Edge juice (going with a ts when I get injectors.) 6637 intake. 5" turbo back exhaust. Wicked wheel. Ebpv delete. Banks power elbow. Zoodad mod. I think that's all the power mods I've done. And like I said earlier I don't wanna push the tolerance of the rods. I kinda like my block in one piece. My next upgrade is 200/30% hybrid injectors from swamps. Or larger if I I'm feeling friskey. And that'll get me pretty close to or over the tolerance.


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[85_305]

Good idea ditching the edge. Those injectors will never work with the stock turbo.. so what turbo are you going with?