I also know that, stock for stock, a N/A 7.3 will run circles around a 12v Cummins.
Limited experience here, so please know I am not starting a fight. That might be true near sea level, but up here at 7500 - 10k' my van runs out of breath on most hills. 4.10's. Stock Tires. I NEED a turbo
Returns around 17 mpg locally.
My STOCK 24 Valve (NV-5600) happily putters along happily up any pass as long as I am around 1700 rpm empty. Below that and I down shift to direct. (3.55's and loud 33 MT's) returns right near the same 17 locally.
My neighbor has a 1996 12valve NV-4500, 4.10's, reg cab 4wd, 200k. Completely stock and he bought it new. He complains about the narrow power band. I told him I would trade
Honestly, if I lived near sea level, I am not sure I would yearn for a turbo as I found the van enjoyable to drive up to around 5k or a little more. On my last long trip CA to CO I felt power adequate up to Flagstaff, then I could feel power start to drop off.
If i were to chase a mechanical cummins, I would go after the VE.