I started this thread once already (in the Excursion section), but it went south.

I started the thread for help, so I figured that I would restart it over here and hopefully have better luck.

Anyway, I have been forced to bulletproof my Excursion that I have only owned for just over two months. It is currently at the shop, and the engine is torn all the way down right now.

I just need to know if you guys can read over my list of what I am having added and let me know if there is anything of importance that I am missing, that should addressed while its torn down.

Here is the list:

ARP Head Studs
Victor Reinz Head Gaskets
Ford Replacement Fuel Injectors (8)
Motorcraft Oil Cooler
Blocked (tig welded) EGR Cooler
Updated Injector Rail Fittings (2)
Green Breather O-ring
Oil Rail Supply Tube (2)
Coolant Flush with VC9 Cleaner
Gold Antifreeze
Motorcraft Oil Filter
Motorcraft Thermostat
Intake Gasket
Head Gaskets
Valve Cover Gaskets

Once I get it back, I plan to order a Sinsister Coolant Filter AND I will send my FICM off to Ed for a fix and tune.

So, what do you guys think? Is that an all inclusive list or am I missing some stuff?

 

Ditch the Victors & use Ford head gaskets. I would add the updated fuel pressure regulator blue spring, updated STC fitting, updated turbo feed tube, updated turbo drain tube, new fuel filters, updated standpipes & dummy plugs.

 

Ive received that advise about the VR gaskets before. So, I called my mechanic and he told me that he feels the VR gaskets are better quality than the OEM gaskets. He only uses OEM when the customer refuses the VR gaskets.

I went up to his shop and he laid both gaskets out for me to look at. They look almost identical meaning the same size shape and materials. However, the OEM has the raised reinforced material (I forget what the mechanic called it) pretty much exclusively around the cylinder rings. Where as the VR gaskets has that material around all of the ports and passages.

So, on a visual inspection, I had to agree that the VR gaskets is of better quality.

Additionally, the mechanic told me that his shop does 2-3 sets of 6.0 head gaskets a month. He said that they have only had one failure of the VR gaskets. He even pointed me to the mechaic that did the work. That mechanic told me that he taks personal responsibiliy for that failure because after tearing the same motor back down he is sure that he forgot to properly torque one of the bolts.

So, based on all this, I decided to go with the VR's.

Regarding the other stuff. I will start researching all of it tonight. Thanks

 

Ok, I dug around a bit...

"Victors"... covered
"fuel pressure regulator blue spring"... I have the Air Dog II system, so this should be non-issue for me
"updated STC fitting"... I will look into this and talk to the mechanic about it
"updated turbo feed tube"... According to bulletproofdiesel.com this is only needed for 2003 and older PSD's. Is that correct?
"updated turbo drain tube"... I will go look at mine and see if its kinked. Since they are hand bent, I assume some are worse than others.
"new fuel filters"... Mine have less than 500 miles on them so Im thinking that they will be fine.
"updated standpipes & dummy plugs"... Those are already on my list, just under a different name. (The items that have (2) next to them)

Thanks!

Keep the ideas comming...

 

Whatever your comfortable with on the head gaskets I guess is what counts. The STC is a must if you don't have the updated one & have it apart. I also have an 05 & just installed the updated turbo drain & supply lines. I'm not sure whats updated about the drain but the supply is a hard tube throughout, not flex like the original. Gotcha on the stand pipes & dummy plugs. Nothing else comes to mind right now.

 

Anyone else have anything to add...

 

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ightmares.html

http://www.powerstroke.org/forum/6-0...-my-6-0-a.html

 

i'd agree with all of the above... sounds like what i had done 2 weeks ago.

read your post on the head gaskets... i haven't really heard anyone
say much good about anything other than ford OEM gaskets.

and i've heard read some horror stories....

my thought is that if the ONLY person raving about a part is the
same one selling me the part... i'm gonna have concerns.

once you spend some time reading on the different forums, you
find that there is a group conscious about what works... and
from everything i've gotten from everyone... OEM head gaskets
are the only thing to use, along with ARP head studs.

so... let us know how this works for you...... a quote comes to mind...

"some things are unknown because nobody has ever ventured forth....
some things are unknown because nobody has ever returned"

 

Do know what your previous eot. vs. ect, were? If the spread was getting wide or if you don't have the gauges I would replace the oil cooler and have the turbo cleaned too..Check FICM voltage too..Personally I am having exhaust manifold gaskets installed too, I hate the pesky exhaust leak knock... Check tensioner and idler pulleys for dry brgs. and wear..