Well here we are a couple of months later. This rig has been half way across the country and back, to the airport, and back and forth across the state to our camper. I've put about 5000 miles on it with zero issues. I suspect it will run for me as long as I can live with 15-16 mpg.
It's proven so useful, in fact, that I'm considering parting with my 2005 Ram 2500 diesel because I simply no longer use it. The Expedition is so much better for most tasks that it makes me question why I'm still sitting on the truck.
I intended the Expy to be a purchase for this summers travel and then a flip. I'm really bad at giving up vehicles once they are registered and titled to me...
We are soon to enter a new year and the Expedition is running well. I'm about to do a few more repairs, and next up is working on the heavy power steering. It isn't notchy but rather is heavy to turn particularly at low speeds.
I flushed the power steering fluid and it has absolutely made a difference. I would say the effort to steer is down by 20%. However it's still heavy, and I've learned that the joints on the steering shaft are prone to failure and become super stiff. I hit it with penetrant but while it improved its still stiff. I've ordered the Dorman replacement lower steering shaft and can't wait to get it on there!
Next up will be a trans flush and new filter, and new front sway bar links and new loaded front struts as well. Once all of that is done I'm going to treat her to an alignment.
I need to replace the blend door actuator, but I have to admit my cut-free hands don't look forward to that project.
Overall this truck has been possibly one of my best purchases to date (of over 140). The more I know about these the more I trust that I can get a long life out of her.
I just finished a bunch of work on my wife's mazda5, so I'm going to be doing a few things to mine to get it ready to sell.
Rocker rust - only rust on the whole thing, how does yours look there? Below the door but above the running boards. I'm going to be doing a clad-over repair so it will pass state inspection.
The trunk driver's side window isn't water tight, have to figure that out.
In reply to Apexcarver :
Mine is precisely the same and I am planning the same repair. Both rockers are rotten almost exactly in the middle. I'm going to cut anything rusty out, spray it inside then outside with Eastwood rust convertor and then I'm planning to rivet plus panel bond something like this on. My plan is to make every effort to get it water tight without spending thousands to cut out both complete rockers and fully replacing them. I wonder what Ford was thinking selling these things with paper thin rust prone rockers in the first place??
In reply to Loweguy5 :
It's seems like the drainage was complete BS there too. Just a place for debris to accumulate and cause rot.
I was planning to weld mine on and even out with seam sealer before painting.
