New Member, checking in!

[OokeyIkky]

Hello everyone. Recently moved to the St Louis area. Just got a 2000 XLT with ~168k. Some things inside and outside to fix but in general i'm pretty happy with what I got for what I paid. I was looking for a second vehicle since my wife is going to start driving soon and used to have a 93 Explorer that served me well. Started looking at Explorers, then Expeditions just for fun. I don't know I got in the Expy and was real comfortable and relaxed.

I usually lurk forums as I don't generally have much to add. Might post some pics in the future if I figure out how to put them into the posts at the right size. Happy to have the forum!

 

[SOLISIMO]

Welcome!

 

[GAINMOB]

NIIICE...i have an 04 pushing close to 100K...

welcome

 

[Canadian Expy]

Welcome post some pics

 

[walnuts4x4]

welcome to the forum... and to cure being a lurker look at http://fordexpeditionforum.com/showthread.php?t=206&page=349 and post random stuff...lol

 

[OokeyIkky]

Some pics

Hey all. Got the car titled and registered yesterday. Here's some pics:



Both sides have dents. Apparently the guy's wife had a rough time when she started out driving it

The steering wheel was really worn down and I didn't feel like I had a good grip when driving.


So I got a cover. Problem solved. I remembered when I was a kid my grandma had a cover on her 89 Maxima that got laced up around the wheel so I tried to get one of those but didn't see one.

 

[OokeyIkky]

Some rust

When I was looking over the vehicle I noticed some rust underneath.



I've lived most of my life in southern california and i've owned vehicles while living in midwest Texas and Las Vegas, NV. I was never too concerned with rust. Now, living in Illinois just outside of St Louis i'm more aware of it as I see cars and trucks with their wheel wells rusted through and some others generally looking like Rust-eze fans from the movie "Cars". Not really sure how much is normal and accept, and at what point I should do some preventative maintenance.

I saw this when I bought the Expy on both sides behind the rear wheels:

Thought to myself "well that's a pretty thin and short bit of metal, couldn't cost too much to just replace" Already been around the site reading about the lower control arms rusting out and the prices from Ford. I figure i'll get the aftermarket ones if i'm going to have to spend that much money.

I didn't notice this until the day after I got it though and it has me a bit conerned. These pics are from the very front, ideas?

In other news, there's a little bit of play in the front driveshaft:


Maybe it has something to do with this sound I hear at low speed? It happens intermittently, in reverse and in drive, increases in frequency as I step more on the pedal. You can hear it here as I go into Drive and start moving.



I'm not bummed out by any of this at all. I knew I was buying used and i look forward to working on this beast

 

[BakerEdition]

Welcome to the group

Nice Having you as part of the group...gotta love that dam road salt...