Excursion - King of SUVs 2000 - 2005 Ford Excursion
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

x Code/ATS C with With Extra Leaf Swap

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
  #1  
Old 01-31-2015, 02:09 PM
Drunken_Unicorn's Avatar
Drunken_Unicorn
Drunken_Unicorn is offline
Posting Guru
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Idaho
Posts: 1,116
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Smile x Code/ATS C with With Extra Leaf Swap

UPDATED WITH NEW PICS

Firstly, I hate you guys. This spring swap is some kind of initiation ritual isn't it? Well, I'm halfway done. Lol. I'm actually kidding, I don't hate anyone here. This has been a fun yet frustrating project so far.

I started last night as a casual evening and ended in some epic body soreness. Air tools were my friend. This was also a learning adventure. Pb blastering the front spring eye bolts really didn't do anything. I broke one impact socket, and then broke out the grinder. Bolts are cheap compared to nice impact sockets.

Overall, this is a massive improvement over stock. It looks like it should have, and it drives like it should have. I have always favored a more aggressive suspension, so keep that in mind.

Note: This mod does bring this up to a truck stance/handling. If you like the stock ride, do not go X code/ C code. These are quite literally Ford F-450 springs. Final results aren't in yet, but it looks to be an easy 2.5" of lift all around. More updates to come.






Before








Spring difference between what I pulled off and the used X codes.





Seriously. I hate you guys.





 
  #2  
Old 01-31-2015, 02:16 PM
hasteranger's Avatar
hasteranger
hasteranger is offline
Lead Driver
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 5,250
Likes: 0
Received 8 Likes on 8 Posts
Torches go a long way towards freeing stuck bolts. Fwiw I did mine in a driveway with all hand tools. I just have some big breaker bars and quality sockets.
 
  #3  
Old 01-31-2015, 02:20 PM
Drunken_Unicorn's Avatar
Drunken_Unicorn
Drunken_Unicorn is offline
Posting Guru
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Idaho
Posts: 1,116
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I only really had problems with those spring eye bolts. I will give the torch a try when I do the rear. Sounds like it just needs to be heated enough to loosen up that locktight.

Anyone reinstalling with locktight?
 
  #4  
Old 01-31-2015, 02:21 PM
Krazee Matt's Avatar
Krazee Matt
Krazee Matt is offline
Logistics Pro
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 3,595
Received 14 Likes on 9 Posts
Originally Posted by hasteranger
Torches go a long way towards freeing stuck bolts. Fwiw I did mine in a driveway with all hand tools. I just have some big breaker bars and quality sockets.
x21,947,013. Did mine with hand tools and large breaker bars as well. Right down to cutting the u-bolts down with a hacksaw after final torque's as the power had gone out, so no angle grinder lol.

PB Blaster definitely helped, however I started a daily ritual spray three weeks prior to actually doing the swap. I missed two bolts, and it was brutally apparent when I got to them that I had done so.
 
  #5  
Old 01-31-2015, 03:34 PM
hasteranger's Avatar
hasteranger
hasteranger is offline
Lead Driver
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 5,250
Likes: 0
Received 8 Likes on 8 Posts
I wash my truck a lot in winter and do the underbody wash as well. That's the real secret. Lol. Trying to keep everything from rusting up in the first place. But the bolts that have locktite, even a propane torch could not get them hot enough. The oxy ace got them hot and you could both hear see and smell the thread locker burn off. After that they turned out easy. I bought new bolts for thirty or forty bucks and use a carbide tipped long Diablo sawzall blade and cut the front spring bolts off once I loosened them enough to get the bolt head back off a half inch. Definitely would do the same if doing again. A punch and a 2 lb drilling hammer go a long way too.
 
  #6  
Old 01-31-2015, 03:56 PM
Skip1970's Avatar
Skip1970
Skip1970 is offline
Hotshot
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Semper Fi tell I die!
Posts: 15,014
Received 31 Likes on 22 Posts
where do you get the xcodes from?
 
  #7  
Old 01-31-2015, 04:02 PM
harley4jcs's Avatar
harley4jcs
harley4jcs is offline
Posting Guru
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Central Tx.
Posts: 1,678
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally Posted by Skip1970
where do you get the xcodes from?


DU from another post "I got my X codes from a local salvage yard, but my C codes came from ATS.

I'll be doing my install this weekend.

Got install pics? "
 
  #8  
Old 01-31-2015, 04:03 PM
Skip1970's Avatar
Skip1970
Skip1970 is offline
Hotshot
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Semper Fi tell I die!
Posts: 15,014
Received 31 Likes on 22 Posts
f350 springs?
 
  #9  
Old 01-31-2015, 06:06 PM
Drunken_Unicorn's Avatar
Drunken_Unicorn
Drunken_Unicorn is offline
Posting Guru
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Idaho
Posts: 1,116
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The salvage yard said it was an F 450.

Here's what it looks like with just x codes up front. Go me!





X up front. Wooo! Just need to install the C's now.
 
  #10  
Old 01-31-2015, 06:08 PM
Skip1970's Avatar
Skip1970
Skip1970 is offline
Hotshot
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Semper Fi tell I die!
Posts: 15,014
Received 31 Likes on 22 Posts
boy that looks great
 
  #11  
Old 01-31-2015, 06:10 PM
harley4jcs's Avatar
harley4jcs
harley4jcs is offline
Posting Guru
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Central Tx.
Posts: 1,678
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Did you take before & after measurements ??
 
  #12  
Old 01-31-2015, 06:21 PM
Drunken_Unicorn's Avatar
Drunken_Unicorn
Drunken_Unicorn is offline
Posting Guru
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Idaho
Posts: 1,116
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Skip1970
boy that looks great
Thank you. Just took it for a spin. Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch what a difference. I can't wait to do the C's on the back!

Did I take measurements? You bet I did! These measurements are from the ground to the fender.

Before:

Front Left: 38 1/4"
Front Right: 38 3/4"

After:

Front Left: 41 1/8"
Front Right: 41 1/2"
 
  #13  
Old 01-31-2015, 07:49 PM
Krazee Matt's Avatar
Krazee Matt
Krazee Matt is offline
Logistics Pro
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 3,595
Received 14 Likes on 9 Posts
Originally Posted by Drunken_Unicorn
Before: Front Left: 38 1/4" Front Right: 38 3/4" After: Front Left: 41 1/8" Front Right: 41 1/2"
Good Lord... I'm getting ready to swap my V/B-mod for X/C-xl from Junior at ATS. Going to be retaining my 2" drop hangar kit as well. Now I'm hoping I won't be swapping even more stuff for the height gain, ugh.
 
  #14  
Old 01-31-2015, 07:51 PM
05MilMachine's Avatar
05MilMachine
05MilMachine is offline
Cargo Master
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: North Texas
Posts: 2,066
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
I'm sore just thinking about it, but can't wait to get my new springs in. Looking good!
 
  #15  
Old 01-31-2015, 08:01 PM
wpnaes's Avatar
wpnaes
wpnaes is offline
FTE Chapter Leader

Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: N. IL
Posts: 30,008
Received 930 Likes on 678 Posts
Sweet! Liking that bro lean.
 


Quick Reply: x Code/ATS C with With Extra Leaf Swap



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:10 PM.