V10 Excursion Off Road / Overland Build?
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V10 Excursion Off Road / Overland Build?
Hey All,
I am at a crossroads right now. I currently own a 2002 V10 Ex with 120k miles. Truck is amazingly clean, runs great, no issues at all. I am trying to decide whether I should build this truck the way I want it (put lots of money into it cosmetically) or if I should let my wife have it and buy a used 7.3l Ex to build instead. I know a lot about the 7.3l vs 6.0l vs 6.8l engines and my concern stems from seeing most of the built excursions being diesel. I read some where that the best truck to build is the one you own. What do you guys think?
I am at a crossroads right now. I currently own a 2002 V10 Ex with 120k miles. Truck is amazingly clean, runs great, no issues at all. I am trying to decide whether I should build this truck the way I want it (put lots of money into it cosmetically) or if I should let my wife have it and buy a used 7.3l Ex to build instead. I know a lot about the 7.3l vs 6.0l vs 6.8l engines and my concern stems from seeing most of the built excursions being diesel. I read some where that the best truck to build is the one you own. What do you guys think?
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Hey All,
I am at a crossroads right now. I currently own a 2002 V10 Ex with 120k miles. Truck is amazingly clean, runs great, no issues at all. I am trying to decide whether I should build this truck the way I want it (put lots of money into it cosmetically) or if I should let my wife have it and buy a used 7.3l Ex to build instead. I know a lot about the 7.3l vs 6.0l vs 6.8l engines and my concern stems from seeing most of the built excursions being diesel. I read some where that the best truck to build is the one you own. What do you guys think?
I am at a crossroads right now. I currently own a 2002 V10 Ex with 120k miles. Truck is amazingly clean, runs great, no issues at all. I am trying to decide whether I should build this truck the way I want it (put lots of money into it cosmetically) or if I should let my wife have it and buy a used 7.3l Ex to build instead. I know a lot about the 7.3l vs 6.0l vs 6.8l engines and my concern stems from seeing most of the built excursions being diesel. I read some where that the best truck to build is the one you own. What do you guys think?
I think that the biggest question here is do you and your wife want the current EX to be her daily driver or not moreso than if you should go gas or diesel for a show truck. That to me that is a bigger decision than which fuel a "show truck" burns, but maybe it's just my warped view on "special" vehicles vs daily drivers.
Will the completed show truck actually ever see use that would matter on which power it has? In other words, would it be all show and no go? Or will it be used in some type of performance "show" as well as whatever other more typical visual show mods it will have?
My above mentioned warped view on the subject is real. I have a very rare 87K mile '69 Trans Am, 1 of 540 built with many less still surviving, it's pretty clean and mostly original but it's just the wrong car for me personally. Whenever I drive it I just want burn the tires off it and get it sideways as much as possible, but it's too rare for me to beat on like that without a major case of the guilts. Unfortunately I also not terribly into the whole car show scene, more fun for me to be a visitor at shows vs a participant, so the Trans Am sits. I have '69 Camaro ragtop that I'll be building to be a big boy's toy, it won't be all original or numbers matching so I can torture it a good bit and rack up some miles without the guilts setting in. It will be much better "special" car for me than the TA. The ragtop build is waiting until we are finished sending all of our money to The Ohio State University each semester.
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I think that the biggest question here is do you and your wife want the current EX to be her daily driver or not moreso than if you should go gas or diesel for a show truck. That to me that is a bigger decision than which fuel a "show truck" burns, but maybe it's just my warped view on "special" vehicles vs daily drivers.
Will the completed show truck actually ever see use that would matter on which power it has? In other words, would it be all show and no go? Or will it be used in some type of performance "show" as well as whatever other more typical visual show mods it will have?
My above mentioned warped view on the subject is real. I have a very rare 87K mile '69 Trans Am, 1 of 540 built with many less still surviving, it's pretty clean and mostly original but it's just the wrong car for me personally. Whenever I drive it I just want burn the tires off it and get it sideways as much as possible, but it's too rare for me to beat on like that without a major case of the guilts. Unfortunately I also not terribly into the whole car show scene, more fun for me to be a visitor at shows vs a participant, so the Trans Am sits. I have '69 Camaro ragtop that I'll be building to be a big boy's toy, it won't be all original or numbers matching so I can torture it a good bit and rack up some miles without the guilts setting in. It will be much better "special" car for me than the TA. The ragtop build is waiting until we are finished sending all of our money to The Ohio State University each semester.
I like the idea of the V10 for her as a daily because the maintenance savings and because she isn't going to be driving much, the MPG doesn't really matter.
I like the idea of a 7,3l that I can build, maintain, and eventually be buried in.
Either way, this will not be a bus on stillts that topples over climbing a speed bump. The build will be off road/overland specific and will be capable.
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Whew, that’s great news. Your title had me imagining the worst. Maybe change the title with the words overland/expedition build?
Anyway, thx for your sense of humor. I’ve done a fair amount of wheeling in an Ex out west; will be interested in your build.
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Updated, thanks!
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Offroad/overland vehicles that get used the way they should do not stay pristine for long...not that there is anything wrong with that. The first couple "all natural" pinstripes will bother you but after that they are just reminders of all the places you have been.
The diesels have always had better resale value but also higher purchase cost. The V10s when set up well make really good offroad/overlanders. No wrong answers just preferences. Pick what suits you.
Good Luck!
The diesels have always had better resale value but also higher purchase cost. The V10s when set up well make really good offroad/overlanders. No wrong answers just preferences. Pick what suits you.
Good Luck!
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List the 10 must have mods for your idea of an overlander and that will answer your gas vs diesel quandary.
Fwiw.... I don’t call mine an “overlander” but the truth is it is mainly used to explore and camp in Baja. I will there most of December and then 5 weeks in the Mohave desert for Jan/Feb.
Fwiw.... I don’t call mine an “overlander” but the truth is it is mainly used to explore and camp in Baja. I will there most of December and then 5 weeks in the Mohave desert for Jan/Feb.
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Offroad/overland vehicles that get used the way they should do not stay pristine for long...not that there is anything wrong with that. The first couple "all natural" pinstripes will bother you but after that they are just reminders of all the places you have been.
Good Luck!
Good Luck!
Here’s one already finished & for sale; needs some off-road love.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/26406251948...&ul_noapp=true
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