I was driving my Excursion down the free way. heard a loud pinging and then pieces of metal started flying out of the bottom of my engine. Is this a common problem, related to service, or just a mechanical failure. I have the 6.8 V10, I'am now looking to do the diesel swap, and advice and direction as far as what I need to do?

 

Holy Moly! No, this is NOT a common problem. Sounds like the nuts on a piston rod came loose. I happens rarely to any engine, but when I have seen it, it is usually caused by overheating from low oil pressure. Wow.

I don't know where to send you for diesel swaps, except to check in the 6.0 and 7.3 forums on here.

Just for info, how many miles on it and did you do any search through the engine to determine the cause of the failure?

 

I'm speculating that it is no longer under the powertrain warranty?

 

His profile shows it as a 2000 with 100K+ miles. No warranty anymore.

 

Got a buddy doing a Diesel swap right now on an Excursion with a blown V10, that was the worst engine I'd ever seen, looked like someone put a .44 round in the side while it was revving 9K, and didn't let off the gas until they'd made sure to lose compression in ALL 10 CYLINDERS.

Any how, he picked up an '01 F-250 with 27K miles, had been wrapped around a tree, or trees. Swap is going good, minus the wiring harness changes. His 03 Ex has one fuse panel, the '01 250 has separate(underhood and dash).

Check this site, Copart USA - The Source for Online Car Auctions - Home Page , pay a fee to a broker, let them set up shipping, and find the perfect rolled over, Semi-T-Boned, Tree felled on truck. If you stay same year, you should only need to swap the engine harness(hopefully), if so you can look at anything from an Excursion to a F250, or even a F350/450 and steal some heavy duty suspension parts from the donor truck as well.

BIG THING HERE, if your Ex is a Cali truck, get a Cali donor, if it's not, DON'T GET THE CALIFORNIA DONOR. You'll find yourself hunting for about two grand in extra modules if you choose wrong, either way. Good luck, and have fun, the drivetrain is (mostly) bolt up, but depending on the donor you may need new driveshafts, get some money out of the old ones on here or Ebay.

drunken.

 

It is definately a california truck. I hate the idea of the V10 as well, horrible engine. I was told theres issues with mounting the diesel engine inside of it, and that there's not enough room for the intercooler and what not?

 

It's the same truck. Why would it not fit?

It's been said on here before and just proven by a post a couple up that you need to get the whole dash and wiring harness from the diesel donor and they need to be the same year truck or you will have MANY hours of rewiring to do.

Just curious, what's so bad about the V10 that makes it a horrible engine?

 

I have not gone through the motor yet, taking it to a an engine repair shop monday in southern california to get an assessment on it. I found the hole, it is the size of an apple its in the side of the engine block, i also found thick pieces of metal sitting in the engine compartment, looks like connecting rod hardware.

 

Any chances of pics?

 

For me the V10 is bad because it is lifted 6 inches with 35 inch tires, 9 miles to the gallon everywhere. My father had the 6.0 diesel in his excursion and it is bulletproof. Also know 2 other friends that have lifted excursions with the diesel and no problems. I just think it is pretty bad that im cruising at 70 down the freeway and it all happens like that within 2 minutes, and then a hole 4 inches in diameter in the side of my engine block.

 

Well, I've been on here just over a year and have never heard of that happening with the V10.

Have heard PLENTY of repair stories with the 6.0 tho.

 

no pics yet, will have pics up when i have the motor out.

 

This change over from a V-10 to a diesel is a BIG SWAP, you may want to consider replaceing the V-10 and then tradeing for a diesel if you want a diesel X.
This change over is a biggie for sure, tank, wireing, exhaust work, extra battery and so on and etc. It can and has been done but its a biggie.

 

I'm leaning towards diesel after this incident, plus the power is fairly poor with the lift, tires, and rims.

 

That forsure helps me with the situation, I didnt really know how big the swap would be but sounds like a long and expensive process, i might fix the v10 and just get rid of it. Do you have any experience with the diesel swap?