Sold Expedition, what is the word on Excursions

I am looking to replace the rusty 97 Expedition with a V10 Excursion, Diesel if I can get the right price. The Expy runs great to this day with 250K, but rust and a lot of little problems made me want a bigger and newer version.

Thinking of up to 150K around 2002 model.

I know the V10 is somewhat thirsty but we both have Elantras for DD duty.

What are the issues on these behemoths?

Do they have plug issues?

What package works, I tow a lot. I am looking to get an enclosed trailer.

What problems do they suffer from?

They're larger. I think you can only legally own an Excursion if you're a woman under 5' and less than 100 lbs, as that's all I ever see driving them.

Meh, have you met Mongo

Seems cheap in Zanesville

Non-running but $2.5K in Cleveland

Needs trans and dented

Needs motor

JohnRW1621 wrote: Seems cheap in Zanesville

Message left,

Seems that 2wd versions of the Excursion could be had with 5.4L.
Is the 5.4L less problematic than the V10?
Is the 4wd important to you?

Also, it used to be that when comparing Expeditions to Navigators, the Lincoln Navigator could often be found cheaper than the Expedition. Just a thought if you happen to revert back to the "smaller" size.

Unless you object GM products heavily, I'd go for a 454 Suburban instead. The BBC not being known for spitting and breaking off spark plugs like clockwork., or really doing anything but producing buckets of torque whenever needed.

I have a 00 diesel Ex 2wd. Great rig. Big and comfy. A bit heavy compared to the base model 02 F250. Drives ok for a big truck. Hauls my Miata like nothing. Mileage is decent for something this size. I get an avg of 14-15 towing ~6k @ 70 mph including some hills and traffic. Pretty easy to work on too.

The V8 is too small for the Ex. The V10 works well. Some issues with spark plug threads and exhaust manifolds.

People do comlain when towing big and heavy with the stock soft suspension. Some switch over to the F250 springs to compensate. I have no complaints towing my Miata on an open trailer.

Good forum here: http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/index.php

We have a '00 Excursion 2wd with the V-10. 212k miles. We have replaced the battery, computer, brakes and tires. That is all. Dual a/c still works as do all electronics, etc. The leather is beginning to look a little worn, but the truck is a tank and still runs great.

Kenny_McCormic wrote: Unless you object GM products heavily, I'd go for a 454 Suburban instead. The BBC not being known for spitting and breaking off spark plugs like clockwork., or really doing anything but producing buckets of torque whenever needed.

What he said ^

Powar wrote:

Kenny_McCormic wrote: Unless you object GM products heavily, I'd go for a 454 Suburban instead. The BBC not being known for spitting and breaking off spark plugs like clockwork., or really doing anything but producing buckets of torque whenever needed.

What he said ^

I'm going to third it. I'd likely look for a GMT800 (01-06) Burb personally, go with the 2500 and you get the better 4L80E trans and your options of the moderately underpowered 6.0 or the monster 8.1.

Excursions are heavy, heavy, heavy. The 5.4 is just not enough motor for those things. If you go V10, find one with the 4.30 axle ratio and put on a tuner from Five Star. It will be thirsty, but it will pull quite well.

My Excursion is a 7.3 diesel. Plenty of power to move the truck, after installing an aftermarket tuner. Stock 7.3s will run forever but are pretty lazy in stock form. They also make a lot of noise compared to newer diesels. Great MPG though, mine will knock down 20 MPG empty on the interstate.

Later Excursions come with the 6.0 diesel which has plenty of power but need head studs, head gaskets, and an EGR delete in order to be reliable. Once you do that, they are great. Crazy good power and good MPG.

They have relatively soft suspension stock in order to keep the soccer moms happy. Enclosed trailers will require stabilizer bars. Most did not come factory with a rear sway bar, and really need one. Hellwig makes a nice unit or you can snag one from under an F-250. Spring swaps from F-250s are pretty popular as well - they lift the truck a couple inches and are supposed to make the ride much more stable. This is commonly referred to on the forums as a V/B code swap.

Rustproofing wasn't great on these things so common problems include rust on the bottoms of the doors and around the window trim. Factory autolock hubs on the 4wds are known to go bad. Replace them with aftermarkets for ~$100. Worn front ball joints are a common cause of handling issues and are a real PITA to do.

They are great trucks, though. Tough and easy to work on. Mine just turned 240,000 miles and is still counting.

I had a V-10 XLT model. Other than the described suspension upgrades(switching out to F-250 springs and sways) we towed with it and did some travel(it took us to several Rolex 24's). Best tow vehicle ever(and I have had several big block 'Burbs). Totally worthless as a DD although my neice and nephews preferred that I pick them up at school in the "truck" as any sports car I have ever owned??? The monster(remember that base weight is 7200#) will go thru brakes(pads and rotors) every 20k. Sold it when the economy started to limit my racing but still see it around town. Much more reliable than 'Burb.

whenry wrote: Much more reliable than 'Burb.

Ive driven and worked on a couple 7.3 Excursions and i can see how a 5.4 would be HORRIBLY underpowered in one. I cant speak to ease of working on the v10 (except it being a bigger 5.4 which ive never ENJOYED working on but arent horrible for NORMAL repairs), but i will say the 7.3 is not that easy to work on. Compare it to tons of other cars and working on a 7.3 excursion is a pain in the ass for simple reasons like the fenders come up to your nipples and the engine is as big as the engine bay. The last thing i did to one was a power steering pump...

Oh, and i thought i would hate a 7.3 excursion before i drove one. Now i think they are cool if you can justify owning one.

Powar wrote:

whenry wrote: Much more reliable than 'Burb.

Seriously, an early 2000s 2500 suburban is really damn reliable.

My Dad has a 2000 2wd V10 and that thing has been one of the best vehicles he has owned. Apart from the gas mileage anyway. My mom can't get him to part with it even though she is constantly nagging him to get another car.

It has just under 200K and the only thing that has went wrong with it besides regular maintenance is a power steering pump failure. We don't tow a whole lot, but when we do it has always been up to the task. Last year we towed an enclosed trailer from NC to MI and it did fine, but I will second that the suspension may be a little soft. If you load it correctly though it does great!

This had me look up new 2500 'burbs. Nothing bigger than the 6.0

Back on topic, a diesel excursion with a mileage tune is on my bucket list.

how much are you looking at spending

They seem to run from $5K to $7K for a 150K 01/02. Wife likes the Limited (Of course)

Lower mileage is good, good paint interior is worth more, any of the above fixes already done helps also. I can get used parts cheap enough though.

Chevy guys, no thanks, we want the Ford, they've been good to me.

I have a 7.3 Ex. Great towing vehicle after you do some work to set it up.

Also had a V10 but did not tow with that. Assuming the power is probably fine, but the same setup issues as the 7.3.

You'll pay real money for a 7.3 without problems. Expect in the teens for one with 100K miles or so in good conditions. Lower mileage ones will go in the 20s. Broken down old nags you can probably get closer to $10K.

The V10 will be about half of a comparable 7.3.

Avoid the 6.0L diesel, which was in late 03 through 05 models, unless you get a 2005 model, when most of the problems were solved.

I tow a 35 ft. trailer down to the Indy 500 every year in my buddy's V10 Ex. It tows well, but never lets you forget that it's a big heavy truck. Even when unloaded.

He has had spark plugs tear from the heads (needed to be re-threaded), and he's also had a few other niggling issues. Overall though the Ex has been a pretty good machine.

He previously had a early 2000s Suburban and it was a better machine in nearly every way. (more comfy, better mpg, nicer interior, much better to drive) However the Chevy was a smallblock, so it wasn't up to the task of seriously heavy towing--- like his trailer. Also, the OP is a Ford guy, so it's a moot point I guess.

If you need the size and towing capacity of the Ex--- I'd hold out for a diesel.

I'll sell you mine for $6k. 2000 2wd limited V-10 with 90k miles, been in my family since new. Has all bells and whistles. Issues are a scrape on the driver's door and a rip in the driver's seat. It will tow anything you can hook to it.

Aeromoto wrote: I'll sell you mine for $6k. 2000 2wd limited V-10 with 90k miles, been in my family since new. Has all bells and whistles. Issues are a scrape on the driver's door and a rip in the driver's seat. It will tow anything you can hook to it.

Can you send me some pics of that truck, I have much want for that 66 of yours, maybe we can work out something here.

Steve

^ Sounds like a reasonable deal.

Check ball joints. I have gotten about 60k from each set of mine. PITA DIY fix and +/- $1K if you have someone do it.