George Ivanov, the third works around the clock. One of the many young men in the US who is never at idle. A couple of times a year, he releases the build tools and sets off into the swamp with his dream machine. An uncompromising Ford Excursion turbo diesel of just over 400 horses. by Krantz
Swamp trolls. The world’s largest SUV manufactured under five years. George Ivanov, the third has enlarged his. In the rear, Ford Sterling 10.5 axle. In the front a Dana 50. The wheels measuring 15×15 inches
He smiles broadly George from Fort Myers. The heat has returned and the gang is gathered. South Florida’s coldest month is January with an average daytime temperature of 23 degrees Celsius. Then George mounts houses in Naples and the Ford stand quietly on Slater Drive. In February, the heat is back and in March the party will start with a mean temperature of 26 degrees Celsius during the day. Then rises the blood of young guys, oils are checked, freezer bags are filled. Winter is over.
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We meet George Ivanov III and his wife Rachel Savage when they come rolling with wheels stinging half a meter outside the fenders. On the trailer, they have an equally beefy pickup belonging to his friend.
-Where are you going, asks Worldkustom?
We join in the gang and the journey goes out in the swamp where several buddies already have started the barbeque. The music plays from joining boom boxes. The atmosphere is relaxed yet speedy. Gone are the managers and controllers and stop dates. Gone are the long commute and overnight stays in the camper. Right now is Saturday, when normally are working, and tomorrow is another day off. It’s just unbelievable! There is an eternity until Monday.
Sweden !! Well, that’s cool. Hi everybody. Five minutes later the cars in the green meadows in the mud, ditches and sandy swamp roads.
They rattle of chains and clamping hooks when the experienced hands snatches of cars towed trailers from towing hooks.
A t-shirt comes off in Swedish manner in the country where you always have clothes on.
We climb into George Ford. The view is magnificent up here two meters above the ground. Maxed out journey with all the luxury available over meter-deep trenches. This did everything but climbed trees
Welcome in the apartment. Leather upholstery in two tonesand inlaid cherry wood.
The menus are scrolled on the screen and the sound starts pumping out of the speakers.
-I have mounted sofas from a Cadillac Escalade ‘couse they have TV monitors in the headrests screams George pointing backward in the bright, spacious, leather luxuary room.
Ford Excursions first model year was 2000. When it was introduced it was presented as the planet’s biggest SUV. Over 50,000 cars were sold directly and Ford were satisfied. This was the car for those who needed super space and a super heavy tractor. To try to compare with a Chevrolet Suburban is not duable.
The Suburban is a large car with large spaces and cargo capacity while Excursion is a rough look forklift! A truck guise of a passenger car. Everything is coarser and the roar is also truck-like. Chevrolet Suburban is forgiving with its torsion. Ford Excursion is a beast on leaf springs. Motorvice you could initially receive the immortal Triton V8 engine, a V10 or the beloved 7.3 diesel.
7.3-liter Power Stroke engine is a marvel of torque and durability, and many Americans put themselves in nothing else than a Ford. The six liters motor that followed had a problem the first year, 2003. It was enough to kill the rumor. Ivanov the third switched back and turbo, revised diffuser and turned up the pump. Bang, volume, torque, reliability, simplicity, and power on a plate.
2003 a newer version of the Excursion. 7.3-liter diesel engine with mechanical pump 235 horses without turbo was now gone and instead offered Ford a 6.0-liter European-designed, computer-controlled International turbodiesel that gave the whole 325 horses but had problems with injectors and reliability. The name International for it was built by Navistarfabriken formerly known as International. The engine had problems with the US fuel that is richer but also “dirtier” than the European. The injectors on the first model year was another problem. 2005 6.0 engine with good reputation was already ruined. 2010 Ford decided to move back its engine-building to Ford in the development of a new engine.
Second floor. Rachel Savage upstairs in that brutal Ford, here in the strongest version of the luxurious equipment package.
2005 the frontwas updated to more resemble Ford truck layout. George has picked the best from all model years of the 2004.
The front has been updated. He has been a year ahead of the appearance and two years back with the engine selection. International Motor ripped out and the legendary workhorse 7.3-Powerstroke was lifted. It was updated with larger injectors and a Banks Turbokit which kicks up the effect with a few hundred horses. He yanks it in drive and recharges the grass in a long turn that adds a black ring of exhaust gases around the gang. The truck is now providing over 400 high-torque horses.
The height has been achieved by raising kit containing raised springs on top of the axle. The axles are angled up towards the distribution box and joints struggle with uneven circumferential speeds, the steering is struggling with the wheel angles and shock absorbers are struggling to fit with tires measuring 15 x 42 x 20th
Upward-facing axles and knots that have to struggle with different peripheral speeds but hey, there are factories producing universal joints.
“The cars” was delivered in three equipment versions. The basic model was amply equipped with ps and pw, upscale sound system and nine seats in which they rear had its own heating / AC system.
The next step, Eddie Bauer Edition, containedtwo tone interior and ultimately Limited which in addition to this also had the interior of cherry wood.
Cadillac sofa with built-in screens for those who get to sit “in the trunk. The SUV has six screens in total. A sound system of 1 KW matching the images.
In 2005 sales were down at 16,000 vehicles. They consumed simply too much fuel in the new, environmentally conscious times. Ford pulled the plug but what a fantastic car they created.
For those who want the greatest and the gravest is only one thing. Ford Excursion. An uncompromising beast that lived on Earth for a very limited time. Low milage cars can be screened recurring in the US advertising sights. You do not buy an Excursion to commute. You buy it because you can.
The broad-shouldered trucks rolling into the camp, and the dust settles. The sun is still hot. Hugs exchanged. Refreshments will arrive and it started to smell grilled meat. It is time for Worldkustom to leave and let the hard-working Americans and their families get to enjoy the exceptionally long weekend with two days off in a row
I tried to call George Ivanov, the third later in the evening to ask which tranny he chosed. The previous four-speed automatic transmission that belonged to 7.3 motor or the five-speed came that in 2003? He did not answer.
-That he did right.
