And your last pic is LOL! Every time we get a decent storm around here I post this video up. Everyone gets a kick out of it every time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6zaVYWLTkU

Wow that guy has some funny stuff....

Finished the install of the Zone adjustable track bar after taking 3/8" from each side. :-X22

Installed Rancho adjustables in the front. The factory shocks were 1/2" from fully extended at ride height after the changes. Got the 4" lift version and the front tires don't feel like basketballs any longer. :-X21

Also ran it through the wash tub for some shine and worked some Corbin saddle cream in to the seats. Oo.

Finally after having the Excursion for almost exactly 2 years (has it really been that long??) I fixed my lie-o-meter. I was worried about breaking the retainers but it came down without breaking them. I used a cold solder pen and I was surprised at how well it worked. The problem was one of those resistors had broken loose. It only took about 15 mins to fix to include removal, fix and reinstall. I should have done it a long time ago. So here is the pic, just so you know it happened.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...d7b90d23f2.jpg47degrees out.......chilly for so cal.

Well it's going to warm up above freezing so the roads are going to get nasty, so i'm driving the Ex the rest of the week.


Anyone ever replace the heater control valve and get better heat? I just don't feel like i'm getting the heat through the core I should. I replaced the thermostat and it's getting up to full temp and staying so that's not the issue and I've flushed the core and it was good also.

Maybe it's the -25 degree air going through the core? You guys are having a real winter this year. We're still having a non-winter, works for me!

I lost heat last winter and it ended up being that valve. Popped in a replacement and had glorious heat again.

Haha! Well it's actually MUCH warmer this week, today was near freezing and tomorrows high will be 39F! First time we've been above 32F in about 2+ months. Really sucks because everything has been nice and frozen and the snow light and fluffy making it easy to move. We are actually right on target with 46" or so of snowfall for late January. We've had 24" since January 1st so mother nature is making up for lost time apparently.


I think I'll replace the valve and see if it makes a difference, it used to get much hotter if I remember correctly...but it's been so long since I drove this thing daily in the winter it's hard to really remember...:-jammin

Different conditions obviously but at -37F I had no heat at all from the registers and the trans cooler bypass closed and overheated the transmission pulling a pass in NM.

You guys close the air off to the radiator right?

In my case that's what was needed to get everything working again.

I have nothing blocking the front of the radiator, no winter front or cardboard. I don't have an issue with the truck getting to temp after replacing the t-stat and putting new antifreeze in it, but the heat coming out of the dash vents just doesn't seem as good as it once was.

I'm going to order the heater control valve online since nobody had it in stock locally which seems odd.

Drove 4 hours round trip to pick up a 5 speed trans and transfer case for our "new" father son project. It's like a baby Excursion....A 1985 Bronco II. It had just received a new rough country suspension with new rear driveshaft eliminating the CV monstrosity back there and blew the tcase and trans on its first trip out. It has sat for a few years since the previous owner gave up on it, so it will need gone over in most areas. We are planning a desert tan or other earthy matte finish. We have three years to play with it before he gets a license but even then I have to decide if he is capable of handling the notoriously tippy BII made worse by a lift and bigger tires. Either way we can have some fun with it. It has a rebuilt engine with not many miles on it also. Pics to enjoy:

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...809eab10f3.jpg

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...d8e3cf1235.jpg

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...e0b2b343ce.jpg

I remember why I love driving the Ex, no "drive aids" telling me what I can/can't do. I will say though the open rear end HAS TO GO! It will break one front tire and one rear tire loose so easily it's laughable even with studded snow tires.

Attachment 208482

That is cool! I wonder if 08 mirrors would fit on it? :D

I'm impressed with the chromed receiver hitch. :-X22