Apoc, I think you are suffering from the grass is always greener syndrome. I would recommend taking a step back, and then writing out on PAPER what you really want, what you have and why each either is a plus or minus.

A diesel can be a great thing, and I love mine, yet there are times when I realize that with all the money I have thrown at it, I could have had an INSANE V10 version. Do I regret my 6.0? Not in the slightest, as I have always been a bit of a diesel nut, however, diesel is not the answer for everyone.

Just do yourself a favor and determine what you really want, before making a choice you may wish you hadn't. Trust me, when it comes to cars buying one because of emotions almost never works out. Damn, I should never had bought that Dodge...

And BTW, your 5.4 makes you kind of like the little kid brother, you might get picked on a little, but it is all out of love from us bigger kids.

Good luck on your decision.

 

Hell no. You think it does ok with that 5.4 now, just throw some 35's and the extra drag and wind resistance with a 4" and you'll hate life unless you've got the money to regear and pay the fuel prices.

Have you considered swapping in a Cummins? Destroked.com has a bunch of stuff for the conversion, mind you most of is is later gen stuff. Just spitballing, but it might allow you to at least join the diesel ranks. I love my 7.3, but NOTHING runs like a Cummins - especially once some tinkering and basic modifications have been done. I ended up in an impromptu race against one a few days ago, and he just cruised past me. We were in triple digits, and mine as well have been hitting the brakes. That and a 6-pop will get better mileage than an 8 any day.

Just an idea, I haven't priced it all out but you may end up more into the swap than buying a Ford diesel in the end.

Keep in mind I looked for my truck for several months before I found it. Good things come to those who wait and who are patient, I have complete faith that you'll be no different my friend.

 

You are a plane ride ( two actually, depending on connecting flights ) away from your dream truck and vast beauty that will leave you breathless and not just because its cold

 

Have you test driven the other engine options?

 

Apoc, I'll be down in your neck of the woods later this month visiting VA Tech again with my son, unfortunately I think we will be driving the Honda. If that plan changes and the EX will be making the trip I'll let you know, we can meet up and you can take my better breathing regeared V-10 for a spin. It might not be the "Holy Grail" but it aint no 5.4 either!

 

This is exactly why I dropped this idea when I first joined the forum. Every few months I think I'll do some of it and then someone (you in this case) reminds me that I really really shouldn't.

Nope, and never will. I have done motor swaps growing up on dozens of CARS and while I loved doing it it was mostly bolt in stuff, nothing groundbreaking. I did several Honda swaps (basically the same as changing an alternator on our trucks) to swapping motors on a focus (much more involved), to swapping in skyline motors in 240s. The skylines are actually the most fun and the easiest (except for the Hondas) but all are gas to gas, Ford to Ford, Nissan to Nissan and so on. Going from gas to diesel I could never feel right in. If I had a diesel starting out it would be different. Another thing is I have the older climate controls and hate them. It's little things like that I'll be stuck with if I keep this truck. If I go with a newer truck I can get something really nice. It's one of the 2 things my truck didn't come with. That and rear DVD. Other than that I'm fully loaded.


I'll look for the next 2 years if I have to, I'm in no rush. I dropped the price of my X to what I have in it on craigslist and will sell it as soon as someone has it in cash. I'll drive my Blazer and put that money in savings until we (cause this is a forum "Excursion" we're on) can find the right truck.






I thought you said you would never sell yours... I'M ON MY WAY!!!!





None, not in close to 15 years and back then all I cared about was the damn Zetec motor and hated on the Duratec when it came out because it had so much more potential.




I will totally take you up on that, and if you do take the Honda then we can still meet up and you can drive mine and tell me what you think.

 

Apoc- drive the other engines and make a list of your 'have to haves' and 'would be nice' options. Make notes when you drive of each truck (they blend together in your head after you drive about 6 or 8 of em!) Don't settle once you make your mind up what you want!! Don't fall in love with a particular vehicle that may not have some of your 'have-to haves'. Keep looking, 'cause Ford made a whole bunch of these... yours IS out there! I looked for a year and a half in 3 states, drove exactly 23 different Xs (some twice), and took my wife or my friends with me when I really liked a particular truck as a sanity check. Finally my wife, found ours 20 miles from home, on her way to work! Yours is out there! It will FEEL right when you find it. Have your finances ready when it comes along... 2 other people had looked at our X and came back as we were finishing the buy- if I hadn't jumped that day it would have been gone. Good luck!

 

Edit, scratch this post...

 

im sure the alaska cold will scare you away. it does to 80% of the other people that come up here thinking they can make it.

 

I grew up in Texas and lived through 120 degree summers and made it (barely) through a rainy and icy and snowy and screw you basic training. I could easily make it up there. Plus it's beautiful up there so it's not like it's all bad

 

Well that's Skip's favorite place, you two will have a lot in common.

 

i say come up and prove me wrong. i bet you a 100$ bill youll be heading south before 10 years.

 

Skip, that's like 2 cents per day I know that happens to be over your allowance.

I'm sure if you would have offered your 7.3 APOC would be packing

 

I'd be heading south by the end of August.


X3 on drive some locally with the various engines, even if that particular truck isn't the right one.

 

easy to move lips and type fingers.