Taking the plunge

[turbodave]

Well, I'll be calling my salesman Mon. AM and telling him I'll take the 01 X Limited I looked at this weekend. White Limited, PSD, 4X2, pretty well equiped, even the rear seat entertainment system, getting on the A-plan.

Now, for the obvious questions for the experts. Anything I should know about? gotcha's or whatever?
And what about typical fuel mileage? city, highway, non towing, and towing. My car/trailer probably only weigh about 6,000 combined.

But I've been wanting a big super luxo road cruiser for a long long time, and this seems to fit the bill, without killing the wallet feeding it. Are my assumptions correct?

Thanks everybody for any advice and tips you may have!!

[turbodave]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by cliffsurfs:
Dave: If you been viewing this site you know about the updates you will have to make it make it a safe driver. A must is the Helwig rear stabilizer, can be had for about $120 + shocks. There is much info. on the best shocks, that should be your choice, lots to read on that subject. I bought the 4x4 didn't need it but the low range could be handy at times. Was in the busness for 23 years and could never get next to the Twin I beam front end even though it is very strong. If you read the posts it seems to still give a disporportionate amount of alignment problems ie: tire wear, wondering, clunks and bangs, especially when the miles start racking up. I have no regrets on buying my EX. Always believed to look at the veh. not the name, was a GM buyer, even had a 01 Yukon XL 2500 4x2 on order(no twin I beam). Hope you will be happy with tour choice as much as I. Welcome to the dark side. my $.02 cliffsurfs<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Thanks! I just found this site yesturday, so haven't had a lot of time to look around yet. So I'll probably ask a lot of dumb questions, like what's the Helwig stabalizer? Does that mean my 4X2 doesn't come with any rear stabalizer?.

You mentioned twin I beams a couple of times, I thought the front ends on the 4X2's were independent dual upper and lower control arm types? I don't remember seeing twin I beams under there.

One more question guys, what about those new "active suspension" things that can be added to the rear springs, I've seen on TV etc.?

Thanks again.
P.S. Are the mileage numbers I've been hearing realistic?? Like non-towing of about 14mpg in city, and 20-22 on the highway?

[Worm]

Dave, I'll pass along one of the best tips I have read. There is grease all over the seat slide rails and hinges. The grease on the hinges is green and black on the rails. If you have kids they will have it all over the place. Next, take the cross bars off the roof rack, they ride on the paint and collect dirt underneath. Now you can safely drive the crap out of it. It actually handles fairly well for a big car. Yes the 4X2 has twin I-beam. I have been driving this type for about 16 years, they have changed a little; they have ball joints instead of the old kingpin. My new Cuttaway drives a lot better than my '91 E250 ever did, I drove it for 9 years. I never had the front end properly aligned and yes it wore out a few tires. I had it "aligned" at a NTB about a year before trading it in(gave it away)and it drove worse than ever. Caster shims need to be installed for proper alignment(same on 4X4). If you want an A-frame front end in a SUV you'll have to get an expadition, or a Suburban type. I'd go with the twin I-beam. Good luck!

[turbodave]

Thanks for the advice Worm! No kids here, we're empty nester's now! Phew!
I signed the papers today, and take delivery tomorrow evening!!!!! I'm really excited!!!!

When test driving it, I was SOOOOOOO Impressed by the power, and especially the handling!!! Way better than my Explorer, and quite a bit better than the Navigator I test drove.

Can't wait to get it home!!

[cliffsurfs]

Dave: If you been viewing this site you know about the updates you will have to make it make it a safe driver. A must is the Helwig rear stabilizer, can be had for about $120 + shocks. There is much info. on the best shocks, that should be your choice, lots to read on that subject. I bought the 4x4 didn't need it but the low range could be handy at times. Was in the busness for 23 years and could never get next to the Twin I beam front end even though it is very strong. If you read the posts it seems to still give a disporportionate amount of alignment problems ie: tire wear, wondering, clunks and bangs, especially when the miles start racking up. I have no regrets on buying my EX. Always believed to look at the veh. not the name, was a GM buyer, even had a 01 Yukon XL 2500 4x2 on order(no twin I beam). Hope you will be happy with tour choice as much as I. Welcome to the dark side. my $.02 cliffsurfs

[Offspring]

TurboDave,

Welcome to the site! These turbos are a little larger than our GN's! [img]images/icons/laugh.gif[/img] Have had my X since end of April and love it. 7000 miles and 'round town mileage is about 17 mpg and seems to improve with time. The best I got on highway so far is 21.9 mpg, which is far better than my Sub*****n. All these numbers are hand calc'ed. Have fun and spend time looking around.

[cliffsurfs]

TurboDave: You will love your EX. mines also a white Ltd. much easier to keep clean. The rear Helwig is a sway bar like the stock one on the front. You will notice on "s" curves the back will try to pitch-pole, front will dive and the oposite side rear will lift. Can get scary. The stock shocks are a joke also. The EX will feel like a different truck with these two modifications. The EX will also corner flat instead of leaning rear up, it's a safety issue. Bite the bullet and figure spending about $400-$800 on wonderful things you didn't know you needed. So far 70 mph & below 19.5 mpg. 75-80 mph(over 2k rpms)= 17.5 mpg. I'm at 7000 miles cliffsurfs ------------------------------------------
01 EX 4x4 LTD PSD white w/all the b.s: Ford Outfitters wing, wood dash, mud flaps, cargo protector and liner, rubber mats, dash cover. Amsoil air filter, K&N oil filter, old Franz by-pass, Helwig sway bar, Bilstiens, Isspro 3 pillar, probably forgot something

[POLR BR]

Welcome Turbo Dave. It won't be long after you have become accustomed to the thrill of the new vehicle that you will be looking around to see what improvements you can add. A few suggestions, with the minor items first:

The stock wipers at 19" are too small to wipe a good portion of the glass. Replace your wipers with 24" Bosch wipers. There are two grades for this wiper; make sure you get the heavier version. You will be surprised by the difference.

Get 2' of black 5/16" fuel hose. Get underneath and on the passenger side, just above the cross member, you will see a steel tube. Put the hose on the tube. Don't need a clamp if you use 5/16". Cut off the hose about an inch below the frame cross member. The first time you change fuel filters you will see why this change.

At your first tire rotation, apply a thin coating of never seize to the hub. If you ever have to change a tire on the road you will appreciate this. The tire rims almost weld themselves to the hub. I have had to use a sledge hammer to get them off before I smartened up.

Change your oil after the first 1000 miles and every 3000 thereafter unless you go with Amsoil or Delvac 1. Add a Fumoto oil valve. These trucks go through a lot of oil changes and the convenience of the valve is well worth the $20.

Change your driveline fluids to true synthetics. I use Mobil products but would be just as content with Amsoil. The PSD's generate a lot of torque which translates into heat. The driveline components are well tested by these engines and the extra 100 degrees that synthetic driveline lubricants will tolerate before failure is cheap insurance. I would make the change after 2500 miles and would change the trannie filter as well. Some have reported better shifting and mileage with the change. I can only say maybe.

You will read a great deal about chips and may conclude that only the power freaks get into those modifications. When you understand that Ford "detuned" these engines, that is to say modified them to put out less power than the engine is capable of, in order to avoid a much higher level of warranty claims on driveline components, you will realize that "chips" may make sense, depending on your use and expectations. I installed a PPIII on each of my rigs and really like the immediate 50+ increase in power and torque and the firmer tannie shifts. Since I don't tow anything I have not added guages. If I was doing it over, I would go with the Western Diesel chip even for non-towing applications. I would stay away from the high performance "extreme" chips however.

Suspension. The one shortcoming of these vehicles is the suspension system. Fortunately, it is correctable with about $500 and some weekend labor. The steering stabilizer is too small. Replace with a Rancho 5406. There is no real stabilizer bar. Crazy but true. Add a Helwig bar. The OEM shocks are completely inadequate. If you value your life, don't try to sqeeze a "few" thousand miles out of them. Numerous posters have reported dangerous episodes caused by the shocks. The front springs are inadequate as well-- they only provide about 1/2" of lift between the spring pack and the frame bump stop. (Go out and look, you will be surprised). You will bottom out frequently as a result of this setup. There are several options to fix. Add a leaf, Timbrens, or x code replacement springs (these springs are Fords snow plough package springs that are also used on the 550 trucks). I paid $220 for the springs and installed myself.

The headlamps are not the best. However, do not use a higher wattage JC whitney type 9007 bulb. I have tried that route and discovered higher wattage does not translate into more or better light, but the higher watt bulbs

DO burn out your headlamp connectors. I don't think anyone has found a satisfactory fix yet.

Long, but hopefully helpful.

[H ED S]

I to want to welcome you to the X land yacht group and the forum and look around and enjoy it as we all do . [img]images/icons/laugh.gif[/img]

One other thing that I can think of and it does not cost anything. Take the cross bars off the rails on the luggage carrier on the roof. Unless Ford has changed the design they will wear your paint . They rest on the top and sand will get under them . Not one of Ford's better Ideas [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img].

Take care and you are going to love that tank and it's going to take at least a month to get the BEG D off your face ! ! ! ! ! !

Take care bro.,

[turbodave]

Jeeeez! Great replies,and thanks for the welcome guys!!!!
Sounds like the first things on the to-do list will be the roof cross bars, shocks, and a stabalizer bar!!
Then I can think about a chip, been hearing great things about the Western Diesel chips. I don't want to hot rod it, just up the power somewhat.
Being a Buick Grand National fanatic, we just can't keep from chip changing [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

Thanks again for the warm welcome!!

[JADFPE]

TurboDave - Welcome and congatulations on you new rig. Looking forward to your input.

[turbodave]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by JADFPE:
TurboDave - Welcome and congatulations on you new rig. Looking forward to your input.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


Thanks!! I'm looking forward to learning!!

[Bill Tifft]

TurboDave,

I have had the Hellwig rear anti-sway bar and Billstein shocks added to my rig. I'm in your neighborhood (Del Mar). Let me know if you would like to come and take a look. Mine is a PSD 4x4 but you'll get the idea. I got the parts and had the work done through Off-Road Warehouse in Kearny Mesa. Congrats on your new rig. I've had mine for 18,000 with only minor pesky interior warranty problems!!

-Bill-

[turbodave]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Bill Tifft:
TurboDave,

I have had the Hellwig rear anti-sway bar and Billstein shocks added to my rig. I'm in your neighborhood (Del Mar). Let me know if you would like to come and take a look. Mine is a PSD 4x4 but you'll get the idea. I got the parts and had the work done through Off-Road Warehouse in Kearny Mesa. Congrats on your new rig. I've had mine for 18,000 with only minor pesky interior warranty problems!!

-Bill-<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


Thanks Bill !!!! I appreciate the offer, and I'm glad there's a list member close by!!