New excursion owner questions
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 1,294
Likes: 164
Lmao @4Kids . The EX is not a great heavy tow vehicle out of the box, at least not compared to a more modern f250, but in its day it was a great alternative. The EX has some definitive shortcomings that can be overcame with enough money. That being said I enjoy ours but I will never buy a vehicle that old as a DD again. It had and still has many of the issues a vehicle that old is going to have. Plus mine was a rust bucket and it was a pile of work to fix it, and it's only a matter of time before it returns. I live in MN where they love salt. But all that being said I am into a great vehicle, even with all the money I've had to put into it, for significantly less $$ than a low milage less than 10 year old f250.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 892
Likes: 160
From: Gainesville
This is a pic of the Torklift hitch that WE3ZS and I have.
250 amp Tucson Alternator. This what I got for the extra electrical load. Since there is some grinding of the intake manifold and a simple custom bracket I had to make, I got a spare.
Replacement mirrors/ headlamps. I got mine at 1A auto.
Adjustable camber/caster to get as much caster as you can for a better ride. This is for a 2 wheel drive.
Blue Top steering box. I’ve tried Red Head and Motorcraft and both were subpar. We’ll see how long this one will last. You WILL need a replacement at some point.
Cross-Country
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 51
Likes: 3
I bought my one owner '01 in '05 and it only has 110000 on it, but live in Minnesota, so my rockers are shot to the point that I had to remove the running boards.
Everything else shows no sign of wearing out.
So do keep a close eye on the underside from now on or you too will be sorry, as it can happen faster than you think.
If at all possible, kick the minivan or car out of the garage and fill it with your Excursion.
Keeping salt off it of course is key but so is keeping it dry.
Mine has been outside most of the time sadly.
Everything else shows no sign of wearing out.
So do keep a close eye on the underside from now on or you too will be sorry, as it can happen faster than you think.
If at all possible, kick the minivan or car out of the garage and fill it with your Excursion.
Keeping salt off it of course is key but so is keeping it dry.
Mine has been outside most of the time sadly.
Last edited by Dave's here; Feb 20, 2023 at 11:32 AM. Reason: spelling
Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,209
Likes: 171
From: SoCal
I have the 7.3 and if you ever experience multiple oil leaks, the bill adds up with all the new parts. Just to get to the oil pan to re seal it, $$$
It's a great truck no matter what engine you have!
It's a great truck no matter what engine you have!
Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 3,110
Likes: 540
From: Rock Hill, SC
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,997
Likes: 206
From: South Eastern Michigan
I had a NAPA rebuild installed on mine about 100k ago and its still gearing the steering without issue. Tight as a drum and no leaks. The only other box I would buy is a Borgeson if they make/rebuild them for our trucks.
Cross-Country
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 68
Likes: 26
Welcome aboard! I grew up in WI and didn't realize a 'rust free' vehicle could even exist until I moved away. 
I bought my rust free EX in Virginia about a year ago and did not realize how much I would need to put into it to make it good tow vehicle. My first advice is to be prepared for significant additional costs. Its a 23 year old vehicle and isn't really plug-and-play to do it right once you start learning more about them. The below list is what you will eventually experience. It is not intended to scare you, just inform you. Its a slippery slope.
I think I still like my EX, but after typing all this out I'm not so sure.
Good luck and don't be afraid to ask questions. There are some FANTASTIC and very knowledgable people on this site.
4Kids
...I forgot to mention that at some point you will also feel '7.3 PSD Envy'. Just let it go. The cult followers gladly pay a premium for just that engine with 3X the miles that is more than what I paid total for my EX. The 6.8L isn't a powerhouse, but neither is the 7.3 in stock form. Its good for the job at hand. If taken care of it will be reliable, convenient, and provide nearly the equivalent $/mile operating cost, which is what matters in the end.
I bought my rust free EX in Virginia about a year ago and did not realize how much I would need to put into it to make it good tow vehicle. My first advice is to be prepared for significant additional costs. Its a 23 year old vehicle and isn't really plug-and-play to do it right once you start learning more about them. The below list is what you will eventually experience. It is not intended to scare you, just inform you. Its a slippery slope.- I have heard, but cannot confirm, that if you have the 'normal' mirrors like yours then its a 3.73 ratio and if you have the 'tow' mirrors, then it is the 4.30 ratio. Regardless, you want to purchase some '08+ SD tow mirrors. Even the stock 2001 EX tow mirrors on mine suck. $
- You probably have some broken exhuast manifold studs. If not, you will soon. They can be a real b*tch to remove. I had to weld nuts onto a few of mine because they were broke off below the head. Its kind of a miserable job, so nobody wants to do it. Do it yourself to save $.
- Since you will be likely removing your exhaust manifolds, you might as well put headers on to replace them and gain a little more horsepower. Don't be a sucker for Gale Banks slick advertising like me and listen to @WE3ZS and just purchase the headers and Y-pipe. The high flow air filter will just reduce engine life, the muffler isn't anything special, and the larger exhaust tubing and tip is just to make you feel like you have more horsepower. Its all B.S. and will save you about a grand. $$
- Since yours is a pre-2002, then it has the potential to eject spark plugs since the heads only have enough material for 2 threads to engage. You can risk it or but the Cal-Van insert kit and have it at the ready or just bite the bullet and do them all at once in advance. $
- Now that you have some of these essentials covered, the good folks here on FTE will use subtle subversive peer pressure to cause you to want to 'upgrade' your EX. The first is when you crawl under and notice that your front leaf springs look inverted. This will cause you to ask many questions, go down the Ford F-350 leaf sping -vs- Junior at ATS -vs- @pirate4x4_camo ProComp spring path and consider air bags. I went the Pro-Comp, Bilstein shocks, and AirLift path, but have yet to install them. I plan to remove one leaf from the front and two from the rear to improve unloaded ride quality. $$
- Next you will have a desire to put new LEDs in every light socket, a 6.0L PSD trans cooler, an Accufab throttle body, a new radio head unit with 10" screen and integrated cameras, extra glow shift dash guagues, modern headlights, new grille, new bumper, TPMS system, USB outlets, re-cover the seats, new carpet, sound insulation, etc., etc. etc. $$$
- As you start to procure and install all of the above, you will come to terms with the fact that your vehicle is 23 years old and needs new sway bar (and every other) bushings, new alternator, A/C lines fixed, brakes, auto hubs and/or vacuum lines, minor little interior pieces that can't be found anywhere. etc., etc., etc. The junkyard is your best friend. Never pass up an opportunity to dumpster dive in every junk yard you drive by. Hopefully they aren't all rusted out. $$
- Gosh, now that its all getting fixed up its a shame that you have those puny 16" OEM wheels on that lifted EX. You probably need some new 18-20" wheels and 35" tires or it just won't look right. $$
- Hmmm, now you have 35" wheels on your EX and the effective gear ratio is down below 3.73...better do something about that. New 4.88 gears front and rear. Hopefully you didn't regear once already to 4.30 before this point. $$
- Finally everything is fixed/updated and you are ready to tow. However, you probably want to buy the 5 Star tunes to help with mileage and transmission shift points. $
- Finally you got your trailer and realize that its actually a 33 foot long SAIL that sways in the wind. Need to upgrade the hitch to a Hensley Arrow or ProPride P3. $$
- Last but not least you need a scan code reader. Luckily FORScan is FREE!!!! (unless you want to use the premium features). But a quality cable is not. $
- p.s. - Its rust free. Try to keep it that way. Get smart on what works and doesn't work. Ziebart is a lie. My plan is to go with a lanolin based treatment and re-apply twice a year. $
I think I still like my EX, but after typing all this out I'm not so sure.
Good luck and don't be afraid to ask questions. There are some FANTASTIC and very knowledgable people on this site.
4Kids
...I forgot to mention that at some point you will also feel '7.3 PSD Envy'. Just let it go. The cult followers gladly pay a premium for just that engine with 3X the miles that is more than what I paid total for my EX. The 6.8L isn't a powerhouse, but neither is the 7.3 in stock form. Its good for the job at hand. If taken care of it will be reliable, convenient, and provide nearly the equivalent $/mile operating cost, which is what matters in the end.
I almost spit out my coffee when I read this
. Except for the towing part, exactly the way I think. That's why I resist the urge to modify my "drivers", as once I start I can't stop.Too late now, I found and installed the 2004 18" HD wheels with 33" tires, so the process starts
.
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