7.3 Powerstroke FAQ

How to determine if my truck is Early 99 or Late 99?

Halfway through 1999, Ford did an update to the 7.3 Powerstroke and it changed parts such as pedestal, plenums, turbo, etc. When ordering parts for your 1999 Powerstroke, you will sometimes need to know if you are Early 1999 or Late 1999. The best way to determine this is to check your intake spider. Early 1999 trucks will not have an intake heater equipped on the spider whereas Late 1999 trucks will. See image below

What is the stock turbo on a 7.3 powerstroke?

The Ford 7.3 is equipped with a Garrett GTP38 turbocharger

What is the best turbo for a 7.3 powerstroke?

The best turbo for your 7.3 Powerstroke will be dependent on current and future modifications, elevation, air density, and many other factors that may affect the behavior of your turbo. Give us a call and speak with a KC Turbos technician to see what would be best for your truck - 480-688-7160

How do I check my CCV Type on my OBS 7.3?

7.3's came with 2 different styles of CCV. You will have a metal 3.5” CCV coupler or a 4” plastic CCV coupler. These can be located near your turbo, after the intake or before the intake boot feeding into the turbo inlet.

What is EBPV and should I delete it?

EBPV is the Exhaust Back Pressure Valve equipped on Ford 7.3 turbos from the factory. This valve was originally designed to close during cold starts to allow higher backpressure and effectively help the engine warm up sooner. Unfortunately, these valves have since become stuck on most trucks and can cause lack of power, excess back pressure, and smoky conditions. The EBPV system was also built into the pedestal and these pedestals tend to leak. Our turbos come standard with Non-EBPV outlet flanges and are ready for a Non-EBPV pedestal. It is always best to option your new KCTurbo with these pedestals to make the install complete.

When will the Gen 3 OBS turbos be released?

We hope to release our Gen 3 turbos for the OBS platform within the First Quarter of 2026

Should I choose .84 or 1.0 for my 7.3 Turbo?

.84 and 1.0 A/R are used to describe aspect ratio sizing of your turbine housing. A 1.0 A/R housing will flow more air in higher RPM and is designed to cool your EGT's above 3000rpm. A .84 housing will spool faster than the 1.0 and will cool your EGT's below 3000rpm.

Do I need a boost fooler on my 7.3 Powerstroke?

If you plan to make more boost than factory, a boost fooler is almost always a great modification to add to your list. Factory MAP sensors will only read around 21psi and will fuel cut when it reads anything higher. It may also throw an Overboost Code. Most tuners can tune this parameter out of their files but if you plan to run a larger turbo with stock tune files, we definitely recommend a boost fooler.

What are acceptable ICP values for my 7.3?

Your HPOP should be producing around 2800-3100psi under WOT. Any readings under 2400psi can indicate a faulty HPOP or a leak within the system.

How to tell if HPOP is bad on 7.3?

Symptoms of a faulty HPOP include hard warm starts, low ICP, long crank time, and stumbling under load. Watch your ICP pressure as you crank the engine. You must be seeing around 500psi or more for it to start. Check your ICP sensor by unplugging it and attempting to start the truck. If the truck starts/runs better, you may have a faulty ICP sensor.