Hi guys, I just bought an 04 excursion Eddie Bauer and I'm pretty pumped about it. All stock. I'm going to do a leveling kit and tires/wheels. Just wondered if someone could point me to a thread with pics of different combos of lift and tire size. I'm sure it's been covered before! I'm thinking 2 inches in the front with 33's on 18's. Thanks!

 

Welcome to the best EX forum on the net Rookie!
This thread covers a wide variety of suspension mods for our EXs and it does have some pictures as well. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...easurents.html
Don't rush into any decisions too quickly on either the lift or rims, there are some options that work better than others and we can help direct you to info highlighting some tried and true options.
Post up some pictures of the new wagon and let us know what your planned usage will be and what exactly you would like achieve with your future mods. And let us know where you are from, we have lots of member who are willing to lend a hand with mods or drink your beer while watching you work.
Also take some time to read through the "Read first" threads at the top of the main EX forum page, the 3rd on down explains how to use the forum in detail and the 4th one down is the "Tech folder" and it covers a ton of valuable info on troubleshooting, repairs, maintenance and modifications. For what you have already said you are looking to do be sure to read the V/B spring swap threads there.

 

Welcome to the group, we like pictures

In addition to what Tom pointed out, check out the other sticky up top with the read me first blurb. The second post will help you find your way around here a little bit

For a leveling setup, I used Icon's 2" drop hanger kit. My B-mod rears ended up 2" higher than the front, and they brought it up level perfectly. There are other options, that's just the route I took.

 

Pages and pages of pics showing various lift and tire combos here
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/5...xcursions.html

 

Thanks guys. I'm from southeast Michigan, grew up in the infamous Flint! I have a growing family and love F-series trucks so the Ex made sense to me. All my mechanical exp is with 70s, 80s and 90s Chevy/GMC so I have a bit to learn with this rig. I won't be towing anything big, just a 19 foot boat occasionally and it's my daily driver. With marriage and now kids I've found I can't have a daily driver AND my toy so this it. I would love 4-6" and 37's but kind of impractical for me. Definitely would like to improve the stance and ride, performance for sure, could sound better with exhaust and CAI and I've already been looking into 5 star tunes.


It's got some rust bc it's been in MI. I got impatient and didn't have time to go south

 

Which engine do you have? Since you mentioned 5Star I'm assuming is the 6.8? Either way the CAI is pointless. On the V10, the OEM setup flows plenty of air so a quality filter would do you well and save some monies.

 

It's the 6.8L. The y-pipe swap looks like it makes sense since the factory setup looks restrictive.

 

As was mentioned there is a ton of information out there. IMO your best order is 1) Get the front end in like new shape, 2) Check the links on the front sway bar and add a rear one, and then 3) replace the springs with proper F250/350 springs. The first item is something that can kill you, even if low mileage is worn out by now, and for some reason is ignored by new owners. Item two prevents the very common post of "I have a knocking somewhere and can't find where it is coming from" as well as adds a noticeable improvement in cornering and rough road ride. The third item is because the springs were marginal when brand new. By now they are worn and will likely give you the lift you are looking for.


I couldn't tell from the picture whether you have 4WD. If so with new springs and the proper offset on your rims they should work. I am running 34" in a stock but with new springs setup. In full deflection the tires rubbed against the rear splash guard but all I had to do was tie it back an inch.

 

Nice wagon!
As was already said, save your money on the CAI, the factory Cold Air Intake is pretty good and can outflow the motor at redline.
If you have the T shaped Y pipe then a good aftermarket smooth Y pipe will improve throttle response some as it frees up the exhaust a little. And for more exhaust help a set of quality long tube headers will let the V-10 breath much better, and most good headers come with a matched Y pipe. The top choices for quality long tube headers for the 6.8 are from Thorley and Banks, I have the Banks headers on mine. Here is the install thread that details the installation as well as showing the comparisons between the new stuff and the factory parts. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ll-w-pics.html
To finish off an upgraded V-10 exhaust be sure to test listen to as many sound clips as you can, the 6.8 can sound very "ricer" with a lot of performance mufflers out there. To my ear the best sounding muffler behind the V-10 is the Aeroturbine 3030XL, here is me sound clip comparing the stock muffler to the 3030XL. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l-muffler.html
If your EX doesn't have rear anti sway bar then take a look at the Hellwig "Big Wig" bar, it has adjustable end links and 3 position mounting to tune the performance of the bar, good stuff! Makes a big improvement in handling.
Take your time and read up on the popular V/B spring swap, there are like a hundred threads here that discuss the swap and it's benefits. It makes the EX sit and ride like the F-250 pickup vs the Soccer Mom stance the started out with. And it will fit the 33"s you mentioned well. Of course there are plenty of other suspension options out there too, read lots and ask questions to make sure you will get the results that you want.
5Star Tuning are the go-to guys around here for great V-10 custom tunes, they really know these motors! There tunes wake up the motor a bit and greatly improve the transmission performance, I love my 5Star tunes.

 

Thanks for the info guys! Wow there is alot of info on here. I am going to slow down a bit and read/listen more! Been too excited since I brought it home!
It is a 4x4 to answer your question Gene. Thanks for the info and order as I have read the front ends get tired quick on the Ex. How is the ride after the spring swap? I'm sure its quite stiffer and rides more like an F-250.

 

Well if you do the Super Duty pickup spring swap it will ride just like the pickup the spring were meant for.
Due to the EX getting shorter springs (2" lower ride height than a similarly equipted F-250) they tend to beat the front bump stops to death and that results in frequent hard bottoming out of the front suspensions, take good look at your front bump stops. So even with a heavier pickup truck spring the ride will be smoother due to not bottoming out on the frame.

 

WE3ZS' description is right on the money. A little stiffer on the negative side but the positives far outweigh the negative. After about a week you won't notice the difference unless you are on a rough road in which case you will appreciate it. The rear anti-sway bar won't make a material difference in normal driving but if you ever have to make a quick maneuver on the freeway or are on an uneven rough road you will be happy you have it. There is entirely too much body roll in the stock vehicle for my comfort.

 

Apparently I got lucky because this one does have a rear sway bar, I've read some 04's didn't. Do you all find the factory bars are ok as long as the links and bushings are good or is the Hellwig just better? Not whole lot to them. Forgive me guys, if it isn't apparent already, I D.N.S.
Great forum though, I could sit here and read this stuff all day!

 

ford didn't put a rear sway bar on the excursion so if you have one it was put on by the previous owner. It could be from a f250 or one of hellwigs. There are several diffrent sizes. To ID what you have you can near use the bar diameter and post up a pic of the end links where the connect to the bar.

Bigger or smaller bar, the main reason to use a diffrent size bar would be to alter the under/over steering chartereristics of your setup.

 

In the later years some EXs did come from the factory with rear sway bars, I think it may have been part of the towing package, but not sure if other packages got it also. My EX is a former Gov vehicle with the basic XLT package so no rear bar on mine.