I had posted a similar thread in the 7.3L Powerstroke forum last spring (2011) but since this is an Excursion I should have posted it in the "King of SUV's " forum......Well, here it is:

I bought a used 2000 Excursion in Feb 2010 when diesel prices started escalating and more of these vehicles were becomeing available in my area. This one has 191K on it an still stock as far as I could tell. The dealer let me spend 2 hours crawling around it and running everything I could think of with the AE software/scanner. Pretty clean vehicle but the suspension and the 4 wheel drive (front) needed some attention. the engine system AE tests and oil analysis all looked good. The tranny fluid analysis - well, that's another story. But with almost 200K on the tranny I assumed I would be throwing a couple of pay checks at that.

Oh, almost forgot - , thanks Pete (F250_) for helping me find a good one!



The first mod i decided on was the suspension. After the bouncy and bangy test drive I knew this was a must. Like Cary T from CT Performance likes to say:

ya got to fix the suspension..they are flat lousy handling riding pigs stock

After driving with my family to my daughters 4-H meeting with 4 rabbit cages full of rabbits bouncing around in the back my wife basically said - "get the damn suspension fixed before we do this again!"

My plan worked and the suspension mods are a go!

I ordered some parts from CT Performance (CT Performance website) to upgrade the suspension and be able to add 32" tires.

Bilstein shocks (6) and dual brackets
Adjustable Billet track bar
2" hanger kit
New U bolts
Dual steering stabilizer w/Fox shocks




I still neeeded to get:

Front V code springs: Part #2C3Z-5310-HA
Rear B code springs:Part #3C3Z-5560-CA
rear sway bar

 

After getting it up on the lift it sure does look like she needed the work bad. As you can see in the pics the fromt shocks are leaking and look like hell. 191K miles will do that I guess.






The new B and V code springs from the local Ford Dealer came in Tuesday. Now just need to mod the B codes for the rear. The fist pic is of the stock rear springs on my Excursion. The 2nd is of the new B codes before the Mod and the 3rd & 4th pics are from Cary (OBSWIZ)showing what the completed B code Mod should look like.







The first step in the B code mod is to remove to top spring and the block from the new B code spring (those two parts the red arrows are pointing at). Cary sent me some detailed instructions with pics when I ordered the kit from him.



Second, Take the two shortest leaves from the stock Excursion spring packs and add them to the B code spring packs between the shortest leaf and the bottom overload leaf..

Remove the sheet metal spacers of the B codes and replace them with the 1/8" spacers from the stock Excursion springs.





What the completed B code mod should look like:






I'll add some pics tomorrow of the completed B codes, front hanger kit and the V code springs.

 

Now to switch gears. This week was my first time ordering from Clay at Riff Raff Diesel. I'll give it to you straight.

1. I ordered 4" exhaust. CCV Mod kit and a few extra gizmos.

2. Ordered Monday afternoon - it'll be her tomorrow..... nuff said


I wish the Army was that efficient.....LOL


I see what you all are talking about when it come to customer service.


Then today (Thursday) I forgot to order the Warn Hubs . It's still winter up here and my vaccuum seals are shot along with the vaccuum hoses. SO I got online and ordered them (Riffraff Diesel), talked with Clay a few hours later. Bottom line - they will be here Monday or Tuesday......BAM - problem solved



Thank you Clay, you run a 1st class setup

 

can't forget......

Got my hands on a PMT-1 PCM to replace the Excursion PCM (thank you Ben!!) - she'll be introduced to a Tony Wildman Chip

 

Here are some pics of the new V code springs and front hanger kit.










As per Cary's intructions the sway bar hanger mount (if that is what it is called ) might need to be moved fron inside the frame rail to under the frame rail so it would clear the new V code spring.

 

getting started on CT's dual front shock kit. Can't wait to feel the difference this setup makes. Cary suggested only thread the first couple of threads on all the bolts in order to be able to get the shocks on easier.



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Here are some pics of the modded B codes springs (rear) mounted.

 

pics of the front end and dual front shocks. Tranny should be back in tomorrow and hopefully on the road in a few days.








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One week later ------- Finally got the tranny back in and got to drive it around with the new setup today. I drove it around town most of the day running errands and such, then tonight had to go out of town so I got to put on about 80 miles on the highway with a good 25-30 mph crosswind.

Here is the difference I have seen so far:

1. A huge improvement when hitting bumps, potholes and roadkill, it does not bottom out like it did before the upgrades. I kinda expected this since my original stock shocks were toasted.

2. A much better ride with less oscilations from the front end. It did not wallow or rock over RR tracks like before.

3. A definite improvement in the steering, especially with the steering wander problem I had before the install. Only been a day but seems to be gone.

4. On the highway in the wind is where I felt the biggest improvement. Prior to the upgrades I would easily get pushed around with a crosswind. The steering seems to be more solid and somehow made it easier to correct for the crosswind. I didn't get blown into the next lane like it had previously.

A short post for now, will post up some more info this week with some after pics, kinda late and I'm gonna hit the hay. I'll be sleeping with a grin on my face tonight. Can't wait to play again tomorrow!
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a couple of before and after pics......I'm still thinking about the 3 1/2" blocks for the rear or possibly some Firestone Airbags. Haven't done any homework on it though.

Still need some tire & rims.......
Tony Wildman Chip
reg return
injectors
turbo
etc.......

gonna take a few of years at this rate........




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About a month later --------

Finally got the 4" blocks installed.......much better. Someday tires and rims.............

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After 6 months of driving myself crazy about rims and tires I finally went with some 305/70/R16's on 8" ATX rims.



I followed Cary's recommendations and he never let me down. Including the promise he made me that with the recommended mods and 33" tires I will still fit it in the garage (7' doors)> I want to be able to keep it garaged during the winter months up here in South Dakota. The handling & steering characteristics are a huge improvement over the stock setup.....I'll never go back.

 

Thanks for making this thread, Rich. Now I'll add it to my Steering Wander compilation thread.

Stewart

 

 

Awesome thread... Was really looking for this type of information since it seems I'm going to do this to my 2005 soon. What size were your original tires? Trying to envision the difference the 305's made in your last picture.