Well I am the new owner of a 2000 Ford Excursion limited. After owing my 1992 F-250 idi turbo, 5spd ext cab, I decided it was time for a chance...I got married, have a foster kid, planning to have my own soon, and I have really gotten into camping.

So I sold the truck and picked up an Ex. This is a 2000 limited, v10, 4.30's. It has 75,000 original miles. The rear seatbelts had never even been used. Leather is mint, even has the factory plastic under the floormats. Overall I got what I considered a pretty good deal on it. It needs a little bit of work like drivers side balljoints, a steering stabilizer, and rear brakes. Overall not bad for a 14 year old ride. I have had this thing 3 days and I am loving it compared to my old truck.

The plan is to make it as capable to tow a possible. Yes, this will tow several times a year right at max weight. Below are mods to make it solid and stable.

Suspension-

- V/ mod B codes. Planning to do the normal 2 plys + the cut factory overload between the new overload and factory block.
- F-350 30mm rear swaybar. Mine does not have one.
-Firestone bags and compressor in the rear.

Trans-
- 6.0 26 row cooler from Rock auto
- Autometer trans gauge in single pillar mount.
- Full synthetic fluid
- Debating on a derale tubed pan.....but up in the air

Engine-

Stock for now, plan is to make it as stout as possible stock, then add exhaust and tuner later.

Towing-

-Add weld washer to hitch pin hole if needed
-Adding a Tekonsha Prodigy P2 with wiring. It does have the factory tow harness in back but no controller
- Also plan to add an '08 superduty diff cover to the rear....might not help, but I like it.

OK enough rambling....here are the pics.

 

Congratulations on your new ride!

One thought though... I would get a ScanGauge II instead of a pillar mounted, dedicated tranny gauge. The ScanGauge will give you tranny temps plus a lot more... and it is whole lot easier to plug in and mount somewhere.

I have a V10 with 4.30's and she pulls very well. I just also like to know all I can about what is going on with the Ex while driving. The ScanGauge does it for me and others on this forum.

 

Congrats on your purchase, I like the Hellwig rear sway over the OEM.
Exhaust and cold air intakes do very little for the v10, but other than that you have a good plan.

 

Will it monitor the trans temp on a 2000?

 

Intake will stay stock. Exhaust will be done when needed. Probably Doug thorley headers when the time comes. As for the sway bar. I'm in it $75 and needs end link. Either way I can be in it less than a Hellwig.

 

I did the Banks system on my previous EX, I did enjoy the sound from the system

 

So it appears that the scan gauge II has to be programmed to read Trans temp but I don't think ford had one in those years. Also looked at the ultra gauge.... It doesn't support Trans temp either. As for scanning and clearing codes....I have daily access to a Modus. I really want the Trans temp as that is my biggest concern. Can users of the scan gauge or such chime in?

 

I have had an Ultra-Guage for almost 4 years now, the makers kept making promises that the updated model would include Ford's trans temp reading right up until the new model was released.........no trans temp. So I run dedicated trans temp and rear diff temp Glowshift guages along with my U-G. (I do like my U-G for everything else it does though!) I have plans to also add guages for oil pressure, oil temp, DC voltage and air pressure.

 

Congrats! I just bought mine for camping too. I have no room for a trailer or an RV really so I wanted the biggest possible SUV to sleep in the back. The 4' x 8' space with the 2nd row folded and 3rd row removed is really nice!

 

Sweet score! Looks like a great plan, I'd add the upgrade to tow mirrors over your paddle style ones.

 

That would be a good question... I just assumed that since it can on a 2005 that it would be able to on a 2000 also. Hopefully someone will chime in with a 2000 and let us know.

 

The scangauge2 on my 2001 sees transfer temp

 

Nice looking rig. Low miles and clean that is pretty cool. A couple diesel company's sell 6.0 trans kits other wise you may price compare with either horizon ford or tousley ford, they also have the new diff cover for less. Do a search on here and you can get low price overnight shipping as well. Are you planning on tuning up the engine before as well? May be easier for the plugs now compared to 25k from now. Either way good purchase.

 

Yes, the scanguage II will give you trans temp on a 2000 EX. You do have to program in the x-command, but it's easy to do.

FWIW, with my stock cooler, the trans runs about 90 over ambient when towing my 7000 lb TT. It did get up to 220 once briefly, but that was at 8000+ altitude going up a good grade in stop and go construction traffic. Came right back down once we got moving again.

 

Spend the money on lottery tickets instead. It will have the same effect on your transmission, but at least you'll have a chance to win something.

Stewart