First Excursion - several issues inside
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 245
Likes: 2
From: TN
BTW, still tracking mileage, and oddly enough the first tank after adding the bigger tires and rims was still on the 10.5 mpg range. I need to re-sync the speedo to find out how far it is off, but it might be a bit better than that actually once corrected for the mileage.
Not stellar, but not bad considering how it gets driven
Not stellar, but not bad considering how it gets driven
More Turbo
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 669
Likes: 7
From: Tennessee
Look on the left rear of the diff and there should be a metal tag on it. In the bottom left had corner just to the right of the bolt head there should a 4 digit code. Like 3L73 or 4 30 or 4L30. The blank after the first digit tells you if it is a locking diff or not. 4L30 means 430 locking diff. 4 30 means 430 no locker. Make sure you clean the dirt off real well. My first digit was hard to read from road dirt. By left and right I mean with the tag horizontal.
Perry
Perry
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 245
Likes: 2
From: TN
Just a little update:
Fuel mileage is holding steady @ 10.23 average. Best tank was 14.41, worst was 9.08
Finally broke down and put new end links on my front sway bar to get the bolts correct, and get rid of the used and worn out links I had installed with the Helwig front bar. Ride is nice and tight, no more popping noises, etc.
Very happy camper so far.
Fuel mileage is holding steady @ 10.23 average. Best tank was 14.41, worst was 9.08
Finally broke down and put new end links on my front sway bar to get the bolts correct, and get rid of the used and worn out links I had installed with the Helwig front bar. Ride is nice and tight, no more popping noises, etc.
Very happy camper so far.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 245
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From: TN
MY entire drivetrain is Toyota except for the axles, so it's more Toyota than some.... for now.
Junior User
Joined: Sep 2010
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Did you use the X length front shock? they are shorter, some companies have different shocks for 03-04 fx4 SDs ("v" code) . I have both an 01 X4x4 v-10, and an04 f250 fx4 with v codes in my garage, (mine and hers). I also used to manage a 4x4 specialty shop and have installed,and or sold most ford SD lifts available at the time 97-06. my old 04 f250 ran 4" pro comp, 315s on 16x10 I have seen 315s fit on unlifted Xs USING THE STOCK WHEELS, but on my old f250 they rubbed with 5" of lift(actual mesurement of 4" pro comp on a V code truck with 2000miles on the oem springs at the time. The funky snudder deal on the rear spings is factory X.
Junior User
Joined: Sep 2010
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Correction; snubber, not snudder, I also used to rockcrawl an 85 4runner, 4.7 tcase 4.88, 35" jeep wrangler and baby cherokee leaf springs, many rollovers.
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Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 245
Likes: 2
From: TN
Another update:
Had some 305 60 20's installed on Friday evening, and needless to say - they rubbed a little. This afternoon I spent a little time with a razor blade to trim a bit off the lower air dam and a bit off the lower trailing edge of the front bumper plastic.
I then used the plasma cutter to trim the front outer bumper brackets back and a flap disc on the grinder to clean things up.
Oddly enough - the driver's side needed more clearancing than the passenger.
They also rubbed on the rear inner fender plastic, so I did a little slicing to pull the inner fender plastic back about 3/4" then fastened it in place with a small bolt and nut from the bolt bin.
It's still close but the tires won't contact any metal or cutting surfaces like this.
Next week might add a cut down single leaf to the bottom of the front pack to lift the front about 3/8" to get just a bit more clearance just to be safe, but we'll see how a week of driving goes.
Anyway, I think I've found pretty much the limits of stuff 305 60's on 20x10 rims under an Excursion with the *bare* minimum of lift
Had some 305 60 20's installed on Friday evening, and needless to say - they rubbed a little. This afternoon I spent a little time with a razor blade to trim a bit off the lower air dam and a bit off the lower trailing edge of the front bumper plastic.
I then used the plasma cutter to trim the front outer bumper brackets back and a flap disc on the grinder to clean things up.
Oddly enough - the driver's side needed more clearancing than the passenger.
They also rubbed on the rear inner fender plastic, so I did a little slicing to pull the inner fender plastic back about 3/4" then fastened it in place with a small bolt and nut from the bolt bin.
It's still close but the tires won't contact any metal or cutting surfaces like this.
Next week might add a cut down single leaf to the bottom of the front pack to lift the front about 3/8" to get just a bit more clearance just to be safe, but we'll see how a week of driving goes.
Anyway, I think I've found pretty much the limits of stuff 305 60's on 20x10 rims under an Excursion with the *bare* minimum of lift
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 245
Likes: 2
From: TN
Did you use the X length front shock? they are shorter, some companies have different shocks for 03-04 fx4 SDs ("v" code) . I have both an 01 X4x4 v-10, and an04 f250 fx4 with v codes in my garage, (mine and hers). I also used to manage a 4x4 specialty shop and have installed,and or sold most ford SD lifts available at the time 97-06. my old 04 f250 ran 4" pro comp, 315s on 16x10 I have seen 315s fit on unlifted Xs USING THE STOCK WHEELS, but on my old f250 they rubbed with 5" of lift(actual mesurement of 4" pro comp on a V code truck with 2000miles on the oem springs at the time. The funky snudder deal on the rear spings is factory X.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 245
Likes: 2
From: TN
Just thought I would throw in a 1 year update.
Earlier this month the day before leaving for vacation, I had to replace a front unit bearing. Easy job, and man - that one was GONE.
I also Purchased a Hypertech e-Con that they upgraded for free to their Max programmer and installed that with the 87 octane settings. The earlierst tank shown in the picture is about what I had been averaging for mileage, the rest are after installation of the programmer. The most recent (top) tank is what I would call normal driving routine.
I was hoping for improved mileage, but really wasn't expecting almost 2mpg improvement. I keep records on every fill-up, so we shall see if this holds up in the long term.
Earlier this month the day before leaving for vacation, I had to replace a front unit bearing. Easy job, and man - that one was GONE.
I also Purchased a Hypertech e-Con that they upgraded for free to their Max programmer and installed that with the 87 octane settings. The earlierst tank shown in the picture is about what I had been averaging for mileage, the rest are after installation of the programmer. The most recent (top) tank is what I would call normal driving routine.
I was hoping for improved mileage, but really wasn't expecting almost 2mpg improvement. I keep records on every fill-up, so we shall see if this holds up in the long term.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 245
Likes: 2
From: TN
Yes. I used the programmer to set the actual tire size. I didn't consider that would monkey with my fuel mileage numbers, but I may go back and run some numbers to double check. I recall - not sure when - I checked the odo against set distances (100 miles) and it was actually pretty close...