Boom!
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Joined: Dec 2011
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@Mark Kovalsky
Sorry to hear of this series of misfortunes.
Were all three plug blowouts on the same head?
You identified cylinder #3 was the first to blow. Which holes blew at 242K and 247K?
A 2000 sounds like a 2 valve. By later model engine, did you mean a 3 valve?
Do you think the prior owner ran a tune at anytime during the first 210K?
What will you replace your Ex with?
Sorry to hear of this series of misfortunes.
Were all three plug blowouts on the same head?
You identified cylinder #3 was the first to blow. Which holes blew at 242K and 247K?
A 2000 sounds like a 2 valve. By later model engine, did you mean a 3 valve?
Do you think the prior owner ran a tune at anytime during the first 210K?
What will you replace your Ex with?
Thread Starter
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Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,739
Likes: 2,669
From: SE Florida
I found that #10 had blown before I owned it. That plug is epoxied in place. I think it was #4 and #2 that blew earlier. I know that there is a non-stock program in the PCM. It never turns the CEL on when there is a problem. And I know of a few minor problems that should turn the light on, such as a misfire problem.
It is a 2 valve. I meant a later 2 valve. As I recall, and I wasn't directly involved, the thread problem in the heads was fixed by 2002. The two valve ran at least through 2005 in the E-Series. There are a few available, but they are asking more for them than the reman companies are asking for their engines. And I don't think the truck is worth putting that much money into it.
I am looking for another Excursion, but it will have to be either a 7.3L or a 2002 - 2005. Or I would take an F-250 or F-350 SRW that does not have either a 6.0L or a 6.4L. I'm not into that type of disaster.
It is a 2 valve. I meant a later 2 valve. As I recall, and I wasn't directly involved, the thread problem in the heads was fixed by 2002. The two valve ran at least through 2005 in the E-Series. There are a few available, but they are asking more for them than the reman companies are asking for their engines. And I don't think the truck is worth putting that much money into it.
I am looking for another Excursion, but it will have to be either a 7.3L or a 2002 - 2005. Or I would take an F-250 or F-350 SRW that does not have either a 6.0L or a 6.4L. I'm not into that type of disaster.
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 5,800
Likes: 455
How is the condition of the excursion, other than the engine problems? In Florida? Could look for a good used v10 and swap. If the truck were close to me, I'd fix it for you just for the conversation.
pull the electrical connector on that cylinder and you can at least keep driving it, 9 is still more than 8
pull the electrical connector on that cylinder and you can at least keep driving it, 9 is still more than 8
Thread Starter
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Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,739
Likes: 2,669
From: SE Florida
The truck is pretty clean. It spent the first part of its existence in Montana, so it was not always in Florida.
A reman engine is $4500, plus the labor to install it. I could do it, but I won't. Labor has been quoted at $3000. A good used engine is about $300 MORE than the reman.
I'm going to sell it for whatever I get for it, probably to a scrap yard.
A reman engine is $4500, plus the labor to install it. I could do it, but I won't. Labor has been quoted at $3000. A good used engine is about $300 MORE than the reman.
I'm going to sell it for whatever I get for it, probably to a scrap yard.
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 5,800
Likes: 455
The truck is pretty clean. It spent the first part of its existence in Montana, so it was not always in Florida.
A reman engine is $4500, plus the labor to install it. I could do it, but I won't. Labor has been quoted at $3000. A good used engine is about $300 MORE than the reman.
I'm going to sell it for whatever I get for it, probably to a scrap yard.
A reman engine is $4500, plus the labor to install it. I could do it, but I won't. Labor has been quoted at $3000. A good used engine is about $300 MORE than the reman.
I'm going to sell it for whatever I get for it, probably to a scrap yard.
Thread Starter
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Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,739
Likes: 2,669
From: SE Florida
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 1,598
Likes: 939
Seems like a good candidate for a Cummins swap. A decent Cummins swap can be done at home in the $7K-ish range depending on what else you decide to do "while you're in there". More expensive that just swapping in a new V10 for sure, but you end up with something that tows better, gets way better fuel mileage, in very reliable and lasts a lot longer. With the only real downside being you can't just drop it off at any old repair shop anymore, you have to find a specialty diesel shop if you want to have work done on it vice doing it yourself (not an issue for me as I do all my own work anyway.
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Thread Starter
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Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,739
Likes: 2,669
From: SE Florida
I used to do all of my own work, but now I don't do more than oil changes. I pay someone to do it.
I looked at replacing the heads. New ones are not available. Rebuilt heads are about $5k installed.
A reman engine is about $7500 installed.
A later model used engine that has more threads for the plugs is about $8000 installed.
I can get an engine with the same threads as my engine and about the same mileage (250,000) for about $6000 installed. What a deal!
I'm not spending that kind of money on a 24 year old truck.
I looked at replacing the heads. New ones are not available. Rebuilt heads are about $5k installed.
A reman engine is about $7500 installed.
A later model used engine that has more threads for the plugs is about $8000 installed.
I can get an engine with the same threads as my engine and about the same mileage (250,000) for about $6000 installed. What a deal!
I'm not spending that kind of money on a 24 year old truck.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 1,598
Likes: 939
I bought the newest SUV I could that was capable of towing a decent size RV, unfortunately that was/ is a 2005 Excursion.
If there was a more modern equivalent offering, I probably would've gone that route, but there just isn't. But as it sits now with the 12 valve Cummins and five speed manual transmission, my 05 Excursion is just about the perfect vehicle for what I want it to do and that's haul my entire family (including the dogs) in air conditioned comfort, while towing a 34 foot travel trailer through parts of the country where the closest civilization is hours away and not worry too much about it breaking down (that last part is why the 6.0 had to go).
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If there was a more modern equivalent offering, I probably would've gone that route, but there just isn't. But as it sits now with the 12 valve Cummins and five speed manual transmission, my 05 Excursion is just about the perfect vehicle for what I want it to do and that's haul my entire family (including the dogs) in air conditioned comfort, while towing a 34 foot travel trailer through parts of the country where the closest civilization is hours away and not worry too much about it breaking down (that last part is why the 6.0 had to go).
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Joined: Dec 2011
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(As opposed to the young curmudgeon that you used to be).
You probably wouldn't spend that kind of money on a 24 year old kid either.
But a 24 year old girlfriend... maybe.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 1,598
Likes: 939
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Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 3,110
Likes: 540
From: Rock Hill, SC
I used to do all of my own work, but now I don't do more than oil changes. I pay someone to do it.
I looked at replacing the heads. New ones are not available. Rebuilt heads are about $5k installed.
A reman engine is about $7500 installed.
A later model used engine that has more threads for the plugs is about $8000 installed.
I can get an engine with the same threads as my engine and about the same mileage (250,000) for about $6000 installed. What a deal!
I'm not spending that kind of money on a 24 year old truck.
I looked at replacing the heads. New ones are not available. Rebuilt heads are about $5k installed.
A reman engine is about $7500 installed.
A later model used engine that has more threads for the plugs is about $8000 installed.
I can get an engine with the same threads as my engine and about the same mileage (250,000) for about $6000 installed. What a deal!
I'm not spending that kind of money on a 24 year old truck.
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