I know many of you guys have had the problems with the block heater plugs flopping around until they break, sometimes throwing sparks. This was the case with one of my co-workers, and we have been looking for a fix since. Leave it to the guys at http://www.genosgarage.com to sell a connector to fix the problem. It's only made to fit the Dodge's, likely because their's is falling off even worse. Only problem was finding a way to mount it in the Excursion bumper. Here's the plug receptacle, and the fix I came up with:











Fitted in place in the bumper, pictures not so good as night was creeping up on me and the camera didn't cooperate well.




Corners welded, and bracket sandblasted in prep for powder coat tomorrow.








Once it is p-coated and installed I'll get some final pics.

Then I can install the next one in my 97 F350.

 

Didn't know the X had a block heater.

 

Why the bracket ? Mounted mine in the bumper:



Bart

 

The ones with a diesel do.


That works as well. We thought of doing that but then decided against drilling holes in the valence for fear of cracks later down the road.

 

that bracket looks stupid! just mount it in the bumper man.

Ray

 

Actually, the bracket is very nicely constructed. I wished I had skills like that!
The valence is a very flexible plastic compound plus the truck sits high enough to make it very unlikely to hit anything with it. I was debating putting one stage higher, but then you have to drill through the bumper metal...just a 1 7/8 hole saw (couldn't find one locally but picked one up on eBay for $2.5).
I have seen people mount them on the drivers side but my wire wasn't long enough to do that. So I took the lazy way and located at the passenger side. Figured it didn't matter anyway :-)

Bart

 

I'll admit it's not the prettiest thing in the world to look at. But the owner did not want to cut holes in the valence or bumper. Sorry Ray, but that doesn't leave a lot of options. The front of the frame is blocked off with a nice thick plate, So the connector needs to go in at an angle for rear wire clearance or stick out another inch in the way of the tow hook. Once the valence gets painted black in a few months when the flames get painted on, the black bracket should be hardly noticeable.

 

Those are nice solutions.

Want a really trick one.........get a self ejecting socket that is made for emergency vehicles...........they eject the plug when the vehicle is started.........way cool.

 

i will buy that excuse.. yes the fab works looks great just the bracket looks outa place.. but if the customer wants ugly they get it

ray

 

Powder coated and installed:

 

Sorry, double post

 

Looks nicer painted and installed.....nice work.

 

Yeah...looked at thet until I noticed the price tag....almost $300...

Bart

 

I have a 7.3 deisel, no plug.

 

I believe it was only standard on the 2003-2004 Excursion with International 6.0 Diesel. For 2005 it became an option...
I'm probably never gonna need mine here in Louisiana :-) Maybe I'll travel north to check it out this winter

Bart