Ultra Family and Hauler Mobile

[Dieselwrencher]

I purchased this from a board member and this is going to be my wife's daily driver and the vehicle we take on trips. We have 2 kids right now and a third on the way. So, an Excursion with 3rd row seating seems logical. This was a V10 auto truck and has 4:30 gears. My plan was to take the VE 24V from my 76 Chevy and put in this. More on that later. So, I want this done sooner than later and I decided to buy engine mounts. This was the first time I have done this on a conversion of my own. I called up Auto World and talked to my lady friend Dawna. She got them to me in 3 days!

Last weekend my brothers moved trucks around and on Monday morning last week we put the Excursion in the shop. I installed the Auto World engine mounts, and then set the engine in the truck. Tuesday I finished installing the engine in the frame, and put my tach tone ring on. I then decided to see if the engine would turn over since it's been sitting for a while since I rebuilt it. Son, of, a B****. That was a big no............. Now what? I gave thought to putting a 12v in it but the only one I have is saved for the 72 project of my brothers. Luckily I have 1 more 24v complete without fuel system. It has high miles but ran good and didn't smoke. So on Thursday we moved stuff around and got the other 24v in the shop. We also tore apart the old engine. Water got in it and #6 cylinder was rusted pretty bad. I tried cleaning it and honing it, but it's too bad. When we pulled the pan there was water in there and the crank and rods are really rusty. The cam is really rusty too. Nick and I got the engine broke loose too. It's really weird, the cam and crank gears had hardly any rust on them. The injection pump gear was really rusty though. Must be the different mixture in the metals? IDK

So right now I'm in the process of swapping the new 24v over to a VE. The injection pump is at the pump shop. They're waiting for a 3200 gov spring, and I'm going to order a Denny T Stage 2 fuel pin. I'm hoping to have the engine in the truck by the end of the week and get cracking on it. I have 4" exhaust and an aero tirbine muffler for it, a rebuilt 47RH, a single disc billet torque converter, and a rebuilt 241DHD small out put for it. I'll be using a Procomp black pump for a lift pump with a 24v filter head for fuel/water filter. I'm going to put 3:55s in the rear end for now. I'm hunting for a D60 for the front, but in a hurry. I need to get it going and then reccop some funds before I get to that point. Here are some pics.

[Clyde65]

I so admire guys like you, I would be so apprehensive to even buy that truck let alone put a diesel motor in it. The Ex really looks nice too. was the old motor blown or?

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by Clyde65

I so admire guys like you, I would be so apprehensive to even buy that truck let alone put a diesel motor in it. The Ex really looks nice too. was the old motor blown or?

Thanks Clyde. The engine was removed for another truck before I got it. The way this got to where it's at is; Either the front drive shaft cardinal joint locked up, or the transfer case bound up. The front drive shaft broke the transfer case in half, then proceeded to break the trans case, and whopped the frame putting a goudge in the upper frame flange, which set off the air bags and broke the windshield. The guy I got it from purchased it from the owner. Kind of weird the guy sold it as he was a Ford Service Tech. Oh well, works great for me.

[Dieselwrencher]

Today I didn't get much done on it. I did hook up the battery and test the blower motors, rear window vents, front and rear windows, power locks, and I got the radio working too. This thing even has a 6 disc CD changer, and it had 5 free CD's in it, and the changer works. Sweet!

[Ackattack]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Today I didn't get much done on it. I did hook up the battery and test the blower motors, rear window vents, front and rear windows, power locks, and I got the radio working too. This thing even has a 6 disc CD changer, and it had 5 free CD's in it, and the changer works. Sweet!

Any good CDs? Ha ha.

I looked at buying a 7.3L Excursion but they're kinda hard to find and cost too much for what you get. We ended up getting a suburban, but really wish we would have stuck with the crew cab 1/2 ton we had....oh well....guess that's why I ended up building my '97.

[Dieselwrencher]

Aerosmith was about the best one I saw. Crew cabs are nice, but are hard to fit 3 car seats and 2 adults plus any groceries if your bed is open.

[Mattman2010]

Been looking forward to this build man. Maybe Ill get to see it in a month and a half!

[6BT 56]

I have been wating to see this as well. Looks like a sweet project. You sure found just the rite truck to start with . How do you think the 24V Rotary pump motor will work ? Have you done this before ? Where did you get the custom inj lines ? Keep up the great work.

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by Mattman2010

Been looking forward to this build man. Maybe Ill get to see it in a month and a half!

Yeah you will. We had better be driving it around by then. For real.

Originally Posted by 6BT 56

I have been wating to see this as well. Looks like a sweet project. You sure found just the rite truck to start with . How do you think the 24V Rotary pump motor will work ? Have you done this before ? Where did you get the custom inj lines ? Keep up the great work.

I think it'll be great. Nope, this is the first one I've done. More air flow than a stock VE 12v which will go along with the extra fuel added from the fuel pin and turning up the pump. Once I get it timed where I want it, it should be fine. Cheaper swap than a P-pump, and more reliable too. I had the lines bent at Scheid Diesel. Too bad they didn't use coated lines to start with. Because now they are rusty. They surprisingly fit better than the P-pump lines they do. Not real happy about any of the P-pump conversion lines we've gotten the last year and a half................

[jbclassix]

Congrats on the 3rd! How far along are you? We are at 31 weeks with our 3rd... Excursions are the only SD I like. Please tell me you are keeping the pre-07 front end on it.

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by jbclassix

Congrats on the 3rd! How far along are you? We are at 31 weeks with our 3rd... Excursions are the only SD I like. Please tell me you are keeping the pre-07 front end on it.

Thanks! I believe she is at 32 weeks. I've got to get this thing running soon.

Yes, I'm keeping the original grill and bumper. I'm thinking about putting 07 clear style head lights in it though. I'm not sure how it'd look with the HD ones on it.

[Mattman2010]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Yeah you will. We had better be driving it around by then. For real.

I've seen your dead lines fly by in no time before. Maybe this will be different.
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[Ackattack]

I just have 2 kiddos, so they fit in the CC no problem....we're going to call it quits on the kiddo production :P we don't want to be outnumbered.

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by Ackattack

I just have 2 kiddos, so they fit in the CC no problem....we're going to call it quits on the kiddo production :P we don't want to be outnumbered.

[6BT 56]

Me too . I've been sleeping face down ever since our 2nd showed up

[RatRod68]

24V VE pump Excursion?? I'm in.

sorry I haven't called. Been trying to get the crawler done for this weekend. I'll give you a shout after the holiday

[Dieselwrencher]

Been busy working on this thing, trying to locate parts and get a move on. Last weekend we got the engine put back together. I got the injection pump back and installed it as well. I painted the engine Saturday night and worked on odds and ends on the engine Sunday.




Sunday we had big storms coming all afternoon. Guess what? My wife finds out we have to pick up some furniture from her Grandmother's home and it had to be out by the end of the night. We rounded up my buddy Spencer and my brothers and we went furniture hauling. We get there and everything still has stuff in it. We were going through the garage with my sister in law and Spencer asked about the pop machine burried in the back. Long story short, we struck a deal on it. We sent Nick and scott to go borrow a small trailer so we could bring it home. While they did that I helped my wife remove stuff from a hutch and a cedar chest. I get the stuff loaded up and Spencer shows me his radar on his phone. He says, "Buddy, I haven't seen Purple on there in a long time!" We look to the NW and holly chit fire! About that time Nick gets there. We move vehicles, back the trailer in and proceed to move this pop machine. I tell you what, that SOB should be a safe! It's hella heavy! We get it loaded up and it begins to rain. We jet, and of course we get stuck behind some slow goers...... We stopped at my place to unload our furniture, then went to the shop to unload the safe. We get it inside and then I go over to start shutting the shop up. I got things ready before we left to put the engine in the Excursion. I finished jacking the engine hoist and we were starting to push the Ex into the hoist. My daughter decided she was going to help push Mom's truck.



We pushed it forward and fought the engine in the engine bay. These really need to go in with no valve cover, but I didn't want to get debris in the engine, and we were trying to beat the storm!




We leave and start heading home and my wife stops at Caseys. I was like WTF. It's now pouring and blowing 60mph+. She needed gas, she was almost out! I was following her in the truck, so I ran over to stay with the kids while she went in to get milk. While she's in there i'm watching the awning watching it sway. I was about ready to move the car and she finally came out. We go to leave and she circles and parks under the awning again. I'm really getting peeved now. I drive back around and remembered her wipers are inop. SOB! I made her switch vehicles with me and then I drive home with no wipers, no glasses, and a fogged over windshild because the heater core is leaking. We made it home safe but were drowned like rats!

[Dieselwrencher]

Monday I dug the transmission out that I got from the Colorado Kid, AKA RyanRoo. Thanks buddy! It's a 47RH that was rebuilt by Phoenix trans. I put my DPC single disc billet torque converter in it, installed the gear selector arm and throttle pressure arm, and Nick and I stuck it in. We then bolted the transmission cross member in and it was time to go to work.




Wednesday I didn't have any of my parts so I didn't get much done to it. I installed my new LH battery tray, and cleaned the A/c comp. Wednesday night my brother Scott crawled out from under his rock and removed the axles and carrier. He also dropped the 42gal tank that is 3/4 full of that nasty gas crap.



This morning I got the transmission mount half done, got the fan and belt on for test fitting, installed the temp sender and oil pressure sender, and finally got a turbo to fit in there.




I'm going to keep going on it and would love to have it running by end of next weekend. We'll see if the rest of the little odds and ends show up. There's still a lot to figure out and get finished.

[jbclassix]

Sounds like a fun story man. What I would give for rain again! I hope you can keep the momentum up on this build. Momma's truck always comes first here too.

[Zane M]

I am looking forward to seeing this one complete. I think Excursions are cool, and you are making this one better.

[ryanroo]

This thing is sweet! i fully expect to see it in CO sometime! i really like that color and have always had a bit of a thing for the excursions. they just look better than the trucks with the SD body lines. now get that sucka done so the little lady will leave you alone to finish the Longhorn.

i had another body guy come out and give mine the once over for a estimate. said we should be able to get color on the cab and clip by the 4th of july. might even want to do some horse trading for my other K20! ill catch up one way or another!

[ryanroo]

oh, i just found a Ex being parted on the denver CL. says 373 front axle... i assume that means 3.55 and the dude is a tard....

just sayin

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by ryanroo

oh, i just found a Ex being parted on the denver CL. says 373 front axle... i assume that means 3.55 and the dude is a tard....

just sayin

Nah, it's prolly 3.73. They quit 3.55 with the old body style and now only have 3.73, 4.10, and 4.30. Pretty dumb if you ask me. Was it a D60 front?

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by ryanroo

This thing is sweet! i fully expect to see it in CO sometime! i really like that color and have always had a bit of a thing for the excursions. they just look better than the trucks with the SD body lines. now get that sucka done so the little lady will leave you alone to finish the Longhorn.

i had another body guy come out and give mine the once over for a estimate. said we should be able to get color on the cab and clip by the 4th of july. might even want to do some horse trading for my other K20! ill catch up one way or another!

That would be awesome! There would be hope for The mountain event huh?

[1985-GMC]

Sub'd for the rest of the build.

I saw this one a while back, not sure if you've seen it yet. There's probably a hand full of them out there.

dodge ram 24v cummins ve pump conversion - YouTube