I'm helping a friend sell this beast for his dad. His dad is one who can take a car apart and put it back together in the dark. He takes very good care of his vehicles. My understanding is he purchased the truck with 100k mileage, and only put 45k himself. All upgrades were added by the dad. Front seats and steering wheel are the only items that may be considered for recovering. Contact Keary (son) at 281-808-0418 text or call. Asking $19500. Houston area

2001 Ford Excursion 7.3L Diesel 4x4 Limited

145,700 Original Highway Miles
2-Owner
Non-Smoker/Adult Owned
Limited Package
XM Radio
Automatic Transmission
Leather Seats
Factory Suspension replaced with new F-250 Springs (2" lift)
Helwig Rear Stabilizer Bar
Top Gun Dual Bilstein Steering Stabilizer
New Front and Rear Calipers, Rotors, and Pads
DP Tuner
High Flow Air Intake
4" Exhaust

Vehicle in great shape, well maintained

That is awesome! GLWS

She's a beaut, Clark

Just curious. How much did something like that cost when new?

Is the high resale value these consistently have mostly because:

1 - They don't make them anymore

and

2 - They are just freaking beasts?

It's just cool to see something that you can own for a long time, use the hell out of it, and still get some quality money for when it is time to sell.

Tree Hugger said:

---

Just curious. How much did something like that cost when new?

Is the high resale value these consistently have mostly because:

1 - They don't make them anymore

and

2 - They are just freaking beasts?

It's just cool to see something that you can own for a long time, use the hell out of it, and still get some quality money for when it is time to sell.

---

Because the 7.3L is known for going long service intervals without major rebuilds. Only needs normal maintenance like filters and good clean fluids. They will need glow plugs, GP wiring harnesses (part of the Valve cover gaskets) and a sensor here and there.

There are many companies out there that will 'make' you an excursion out of your exisiting truck. Custom Autos By Tim is one of better known outfits.

They are beasts, but they're also dinosaurs. The 4WD Excursion never got the coil spring front suspension, and its still safety technology thats almost 20 years old. Dont get me wrong, I think they're cool as hell and I'd rock one, but you have to also take in consideration like every older vehicle, regardless of mileage, that everything else wears from time. Rubber parts like belts, hoses, body mounts, seals, other things like sensors, radiators, heater cores, solenoids etc all will require attention.

If you're not scared, have tools and can DIY and aren't bothered by renting a car or hitching a ride with a friend in case a weekend project spills over to wednesday, I'd say do it.

Its not just Excursions. I see it in a lot of other car forums I frequent. The 80 series land cruisers are like this now. Many guys buy a rig in decent shape for $10-20K, justify it as a 'no car note/it'll run forever/nostalgia/easy to work on' but the first time the fuel pump relay fails or the PHH bursts on their way to take the kiddo to soccer practice or to get their PSL from Starbucks, they get on MUD and post about if they should sell it because its a POS. Most recently its on the Mercedes Diesel forums. Last week a guy posted that he traded his 2013 Nissan Sentra for a 1981 Mercedes 300SD with only 81K miles. Later we find out the odometer has been broken (common issue, if he just searched), someone pulled a carfax and its had 81K on it since 2003. To top it off, he works as a grocery store stocker, so his budget for repairs/mods is $43.88. But he starts threads on 'mods' like cutting a hole in the hood for exhaust, and how to get more power out of the engine. Everyone is telling him to 'baseline' the car (get it back to stock running condition, address all maintenance items, leaks etc), but he's going to autozone for a Spectre Air filter and some cheap chinese silicone clamps and deleting the air filter assembly.


Anyway, didn't mean to derail.


TL;DR: Older vehicles are cool if you have the time and patience and money to keep them on the road.

1agswitchin4lanes said:

---

Most recently its on the Mercedes Diesel forums. Last week a guy posted that he traded his 2013 Nissan Sentra for a 1981 Mercedes 300SD with only 81K miles. Later we find out the odometer has been broken (common issue, if he just searched), someone pulled a carfax and its had 81K on it since 2003. To top it off, he works as a grocery store stocker, so his budget for repairs/mods is $43.88.

---

I did something similar over 10 years ago when I bought an 83 240D from an extended family member for $900 to save miles on my A4 so that the warranty lasted longer. The AC never worked, which I was told it did, and then the slave cylinder went out and cost me $600. I had the money to fix it but it sucks paying for a repair that is 66% of the vehicle cost.

Still want another W123 but either a wagon or a coupe.

drumboy said:

---

1agswitchin4lanes said:

---

Most recently its on the Mercedes Diesel forums. Last week a guy posted that he traded his 2013 Nissan Sentra for a 1981 Mercedes 300SD with only 81K miles. Later we find out the odometer has been broken (common issue, if he just searched), someone pulled a carfax and its had 81K on it since 2003. To top it off, he works as a grocery store stocker, so his budget for repairs/mods is $43.88.

---

I did something similar over 10 years ago when I bought an 83 240D from an extended family member for $900 to save miles on my A4 so that the warranty lasted longer. The AC never worked, which I was told it did, and then the slave cylinder went out and cost me $600. I had the money to fix it but it sucks paying for a repair that is 66% of the vehicle cost.

Still want another W123 but either a wagon or a coupe.

---

I always laugh when I read an ad on the forums or CL and it says "AC works, just needs a recharge" usually means there is a large leak or the compressor is blown out.

Yep.

I took it to an old MB shop and they wanted $1,500 to replace the compressor so I said No. Dude that bought it fixed the vacuum leak in the door to get the engine shutoff fixed and the AC started working. FML...

"Just curious. How much did something like that cost when new?"

My dad bought one exactly like this new in 2001, I believe the total was $44k give or take before tax. I sold my last 7.3l excursion 4 years ago, I've been lusting after another for a while now but the price for what I would use it for doesn't make sense for me.

1agswitchin4lanes said:

---

Tree Hugger said:

---

Just curious. How much did something like that cost when new?

Is the high resale value these consistently have mostly because:

1 - They don't make them anymore

and

2 - They are just freaking beasts?

It's just cool to see something that you can own for a long time, use the hell out of it, and still get some quality money for when it is time to sell.

---

Because the 7.3L is known for going long service intervals without major rebuilds. Only needs normal maintenance like filters and good clean fluids. They will need glow plugs, GP wiring harnesses (part of the Valve cover gaskets) and a sensor here and there.

There are many companies out there that will 'make' you an excursion out of your exisiting truck. Custom Autos By Tim is one of better known outfits.

They are beasts, but they're also dinosaurs. The 4WD Excursion never got the coil spring front suspension, and its still safety technology thats almost 20 years old. Dont get me wrong, I think they're cool as hell and I'd rock one, but you have to also take in consideration like every older vehicle, regardless of mileage, that everything else wears from time. Rubber parts like belts, hoses, body mounts, seals, other things like sensors, radiators, heater cores, solenoids etc all will require attention.

If you're not scared, have tools and can DIY and aren't bothered by renting a car or hitching a ride with a friend in case a weekend project spills over to wednesday, I'd say do it.

Its not just Excursions. I see it in a lot of other car forums I frequent. The 80 series land cruisers are like this now. Many guys buy a rig in decent shape for $10-20K, justify it as a 'no car note/it'll run forever/nostalgia/easy to work on' but the first time the fuel pump relay fails or the PHH bursts on their way to take the kiddo to soccer practice or to get their PSL from Starbucks, they get on MUD and post about if they should sell it because its a POS. Most recently its on the Mercedes Diesel forums. Last week a guy posted that he traded his 2013 Nissan Sentra for a 1981 Mercedes 300SD with only 81K miles. Later we find out the odometer has been broken (common issue, if he just searched), someone pulled a carfax and its had 81K on it since 2003. To top it off, he works as a grocery store stocker, so his budget for repairs/mods is $43.88. But he starts threads on 'mods' like cutting a hole in the hood for exhaust, and how to get more power out of the engine. Everyone is telling him to 'baseline' the car (get it back to stock running condition, address all maintenance items, leaks etc), but he's going to autozone for a Spectre Air filter and some cheap chinese silicone clamps and deleting the air filter assembly.


Anyway, didn't mean to derail.


TL;DR: Older vehicles are cool if you have the time and patience and money to keep them on the road.

---

This was a solid rant.

Quote:

---

If you're not scared, have tools and can DIY and aren't bothered by renting a car or hitching a ride with a friend in case a weekend project spills over to wednesday, I'd say do it.

---

This is truth. I had to borrow my FILs car to finish my HPOP project. I just replaced the glow plugs, their harnesses and the valve cover gasket. Re-torqued injector hold downs and rocker pedalstool bolts. When I was just about done I knocked a tiny screw driver into the engine compartment, took me 30 min to find again.

Yep, the struggle is real. The Volvo is in the garage because of some kind of brake issue I haven't had time to troubleshoot. Coolant is also still going somewhere that I can't find when the car heat cycles. It doesn't happen while the car is hot, and it also doesn't leak when it's cold but it's going somewhere to the tune of about a pint ever other week. Haven't had time to take care of a couple of small things on the 560SL yet and put it up for sale either, but it runs and drives ok.

Really I wouldn't mind selling both of them and picking up my brother's '06 TSX with a 6 speed. Since going back to driving the Celica I've forgotten just how much more I like driving something small and nimble.

You ever gonna tell us a price on the 560SL?

I had a similar issue on my old explorer. The only thing I could think was a hair line crack in heads that leaked coolant into engine. When cold, it would leak in; when warmed up, crack filled by thermal expansion.

But I would have to fill radiator a gallon or so a month (maybe less if driven a lot or cycled a lot - hot/cold/hot/cold). I took the heads off, but didn't replace them. I think I found a spot that could be it, but hard to tell.

But no leaks on the ground, no big tell-tale puff of white smoke, no sweet smell inside. Just missing fluid.

~egon

1agswitchin4lanes said:

---

I always laugh when I read an ad on the forums or CL and it says "AC works, just needs a recharge" usually means there is a large leak or the compressor is blown out.

---

Oh Jeebus, I also laugh at these. The other thing I love on Craiglist are ads for old motorcycles. It will have a picture of a dust encrusted, pigeon pooped on bike with a torn seat cover and water in the gauges and it will say something to the effect of: "Ran when I stored it 9 years ago, should just take a carb clean and it will run."

Uh, no. Small chance you are telling the truth. More likely it is seized and the wiring is a mess from rats.

The Fife said:

---

Yep, the struggle is real. The Volvo is in the garage because of some kind of brake issue I haven't had time to troubleshoot. Coolant is also still going somewhere that I can't find when the car heat cycles. It doesn't happen while the car is hot, and it also doesn't leak when it's cold but it's going somewhere to the tune of about a pint ever other week. Haven't had time to take care of a couple of small things on the 560SL yet and put it up for sale either, but it runs and drives ok.

Really I wouldn't mind selling both of them and picking up my brother's '06 TSX with a 6 speed. Since going back to driving the Celica I've forgotten just how much more I like driving something small and nimble.

---

I have also since purchased a 91 560SEL to add to my collection of Mercedeseseses.

Going to the paint shop soon. Mechanically its very well sorted, I will need to rebuild the SLS pump and paint, the rest is all cosmetics. Also has euro true duals on it. Will post pics after I get it out of paint.

drumboy said:

---

You ever gonna tell us a price on the 560SL?

---

Probably asking about $8K but expect to sell for less. We had our second kid 2 months ago so everything has been a little bit of a mess. It falls into that gap between the cars that have always been garaged and are $15K+ and the project cars with driveability or title issues at $5K.

The good, it's in great driving condition with no signs of any maintenance or repairs coming due. I've taken it to Texas once or twice and also up to Maryland (I'm in Charleston). Owned 6 years, caught up a lot of deferred maintenance. Tires, engine rubber, intake manifold gaskets, timing chain guides, some worn suspension bits, flex disc, ... Everything works but cruise control. All spares I stockpiled + original wheels to be included. I don't want leftover parts in the garage once it's gone.

The not so good - It has a 4 year old convertible top but the way these things fold up when stowed lends itself to small holes being worn in it. This one is getting frayed. The hard top weighs 100lbs and Mrs Fife is small so it stays on. Cracked dash under cover (they all crack). New compressor and A/C "just needs to be recharged" - bad o-ring at dryer. Seat leather needs to be replaced along with the wood piece on the console. E-brake light switch occasionally sticks. Repainted in the original color at some point but quality is never as good as factory.

I was planning on buying sheepskin seat covers because there's no ROI for reupholstering it, changing out the bad o-ring, vacuuming and recharging the A/C, and resoldering the circuit board for the cruise control since that's usually what the problem is.

Dr. Doctor said:

---

I had a similar issue on my old explorer. The only thing I could think was a hair line crack in heads that leaked coolant into engine. When cold, it would leak in; when warmed up, crack filled by thermal expansion.

But I would have to fill radiator a gallon or so a month (maybe less if driven a lot or cycled a lot - hot/cold/hot/cold). I took the heads off, but didn't replace them. I think I found a spot that could be it, but hard to tell.

But no leaks on the ground, no big tell-tale puff of white smoke, no sweet smell inside. Just missing fluid.

~egon

---

Mrs Fife overheated it when the inlet pipe decided to leave the rest of the radiator a few miles from home. She called to let me know there were a whole bunch of red and yellow lights lit up on the dash but don't worry, she's almost there. That was 40-50K miles and 8 years ago. I assumed it was a warp in the head but compression is great when tested hot or cold.

It shows none of the usual signs of a bad head gasket and a shop pressure tested the cooling system while cold and couldn't find anything. When I drove to Charlotte and back (3.5 hours each way) it didn't lose anything that I could see, but with the 16 mile round trip to and from work you have to add coolant about as often as gas. This one has me baffled.

1agswitchin4lanes said:

---

The Fife said:

---

Yep, the struggle is real. The Volvo is in the garage because of some kind of brake issue I haven't had time to troubleshoot. Coolant is also still going somewhere that I can't find when the car heat cycles. It doesn't happen while the car is hot, and it also doesn't leak when it's cold but it's going somewhere to the tune of about a pint ever other week. Haven't had time to take care of a couple of small things on the 560SL yet and put it up for sale either, but it runs and drives ok.

Really I wouldn't mind selling both of them and picking up my brother's '06 TSX with a 6 speed. Since going back to driving the Celica I've forgotten just how much more I like driving something small and nimble.

---

I have also since purchased a 91 560SEL to add to my collection of Mercedeseseses.

Going to the paint shop soon. Mechanically its very well sorted, I will need to rebuild the SLS pump and paint, the rest is all cosmetics. Also has euro true duals on it. Will post pics after I get it out of paint.

---

Aren't those Motronic? I would've gotten a newer one like yours if I knew the older ones were K-Jet. The whole system is just a massive pain in the ass to troubleshoot and I ended up just replacing everything.

Looking forward to seeing pics!

Still K jet. Lol. This one has been completely resealed. Just has a teeny tiny shudder at idle. New motor mounts would probably mask it.

Agree with all that. I love those old Excursions and wish I had one. A friend of mine sold his old one last year. They bought it brand new with a V-10, and put about 300k miles on it hauling their three kids all over North Texas when they were growing up. I also love those old Navistar diesels.

I just sold my 1992 F250 non-turbo 7.3 last year. I bought it brand new for $20k. Put about 300,000 miles on it. Aside from a few fuel leaks the engine still ran ok, but vehicles just wear out after a long while. Texas sun and heat will break down anything plastic. The last five years of running that truck required fixing something at least once a week, and with two kids I just didn't have the time to keep up with it anymore. Since a lot of parts were no longer in stock that meant I had to go to pick n pull. That usually meant a solid afternoon or more to get used parts. Finally sold it for $800. I think I got my money's worth out of that truck

The 7.3 has a cult following. I am a ford diesel guy but don't get it. I'd pay no more than about 8k for that excursion. It's old. My FIL has. F350 7.3 that has 300k on it and he's almost ready to GiVE it to me because I do all of my own repairs and maintenance in my shop. Even free I'm not likely going to take it if he can sell it to some fool for 5-10k.