97up-list-digest Friday, August 14 1998 Volume 01 : Number 182



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Ford Truck Enthusiasts - 1997 and Newer Trucks and Vans
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In this issue:

FTE 97up - 99 F350 4WD PSD SC LWB LARIAT Question
FTE 97up - Getting Old!
Re: FTE 97up - 99 F350 4WD PSD SC LWB LARIAT Question
FTE 97up - 2 questions, changes and fuel economy
Re: FTE 97up - 2 questions, changes and fuel economy
FTE 97up - F250, V10, 3.73 limited slip
Re: FTE 97up - 2 questions, changes and fuel economy
RE: FTE 97up - 2 questions, changes and fuel economy
FTE 97up - 2 questions, changes and fuel economy
Re: FTE 97up - 2 questions, changes and fuel economy
FTE 97up - Horror stories?
FTE 97up - Anyone home?
Re: FTE 97up - Anyone home?
Re: FTE 97up - Horror stories?
FTE 97up - Re: Nascar Edition
FTE 97up - re: 5.4 problems
FTE 97up - Re: Horror Stories
Re: FTE 97up - Re: Horror Stories
Re: FTE 97up - Anyone home?
FTE 97up - No Spare...
Re: FTE 97up - No Spare...
FTE 97up - STD automatic vs HD automatic option

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Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1998 09:46:08 -0400
From: Donald Denning
Subject: FTE 97up - 99 F350 4WD PSD SC LWB LARIAT Question

Hi everyone,

I have placed an order for a 99 F350 4X4 SRW SuperCab
PowerStroke 8 foot bed in the Lariat trim package
My Ford dealer tells me that I can't order the snow
plow prep package (86M).

I would like to put a plow set up on this.

My question is....

Is the Snow Plow Prep package not orderable because???

1. It is not needed in this configuration?
2. You can't plow with this truck?

I was thinking of just ordering the Heavy front suspension
package (674) instead

Can anyone she some light.

Thanks.

Don

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Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1998 07:02:32 -0700
From: "Johnson, John"
Subject: FTE 97up - Getting Old!

I look under the hood of my new F150 and nothing is familiar! Yeah, I
know, I'm getting old. I have the 4.6 with the towing package and I'm
wondering about getting a computer chip to enhance performance, mostly
so I have more power pulling a horse trailer with two quarter horses.
Shouldn't weigh more than 6000 lb. even with some tack and feed.

I'd appreciate information from anyone with experience with the chips.
I'm pretty ignorant of the subject so any help will be appreciated.
Horsepower/torque improvement, impact on mileage, ease of installation,
cost of the chip, which chip is better (if more than one is available)
etc.

Thank you in advance for your assistance.

John
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Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1998 08:06:42 -0600
From: Matt Adams
Subject: Re: FTE 97up - 99 F350 4WD PSD SC LWB LARIAT Question

I seem to remember having this conversation about a supercab F-150, and
why the snow prep package wasnt allowed on that f-150. I believe it has
something to do with the weak frame of the supercabs (with the doors).
It was never a problem with the previous supercabs as they had no doors,
and the frame was as sturdy as it could be, but apparently it is
weakened by the fact that there is a door there now... go figure, I
could certainly be wrong...

Donald Denning wrote:

> Hi everyone,
>
> I have placed an order for a 99 F350 4X4 SRW SuperCab
> PowerStroke 8 foot bed in the Lariat trim package
> My Ford dealer tells me that I can't order the snow
> plow prep package (86M).
>
> I would like to put a plow set up on this.
>
> My question is....
>
> Is the Snow Plow Prep package not orderable because???
>
> 1. It is not needed in this configuration?
> 2. You can't plow with this truck?
>
> I was thinking of just ordering the Heavy front suspension
> package (674) instead
>
> Can anyone she some light.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Don
>
> == FTE: Uns*bscribe and posting info www.ford-trucks.com/faq.html



- --
Owner of 1998 Ford F-150, Supercab, shortbed Moonlight
Blue 4.6L v8 truck with accessories including but not
limited to: Elephant Bar Euro Style Brush Guard, Hella
500 55W Driving Lights, Bugflector II Bug Shield, BF
Goodrich 285-75/16 A/T tires, Skid plates, VentVisor
door sill covers, door side moldings, 6-disk CD changer,
sliding rear window, Black Smittybilt Nerf Bars, snugtop
hi-liner topper, bedrug bed-liner, off-road decals,
towing package, tail light covers, Gibson catback dual
rear exhaust, Ford Logo hitch cover, and much more!


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Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1998 09:08:26 -0600
From: "Bruce McLeod"
Subject: FTE 97up - 2 questions, changes and fuel economy

Well, I have finally had it with my dodge truck. I want to order a 99 f350
superduty diesel, but have a couple of questions first. Are there any
changes planned to the superduty in the near future that I may want to wait
for? Second, I have heard reports of terrible fuel economy in the 99
diesel, can anyone confirm or deny these (I have heard reports of people
getting 8 mpg loaded)

Bruce A. McLeod, B.Sc., B.Comm.
Magnatech Consulting
Lone Pine Ranching
(403) 277-1839


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Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1998 09:29:36 -0600 (MDT)
From: montblackburn webtv.net (mont blackburn)
Subject: Re: FTE 97up - 2 questions, changes and fuel economy

I wonder what the statistics are on new ford owners who got fed up on
their Dodges? If any body asks me I always tell them the truth--loved
the Cummins too long--should have gotten rid of it before the
transmission went out the second time
Our 99 Powerstroke has 7000 miles on . Same fuel with the same load as
the 92 Dodge. The Ford is quieter and easier to shift(six speed ) The
Dodge had already been in the shop with it's transmission by this time
and they never got it fixed right in my opinion because it didn't sound
right and was always hard to get into 4 wheel drive. My wife couldn't
do it ,in fact. We haven't pulled our fifth wheel yet, just stock
gooseneck trailer, equipment trailer and our popup truck camper.

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Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1998 09:36:05 -0700
From: Don & Bobbi Jones
Subject: FTE 97up - F250, V10, 3.73 limited slip

I am about to order my new F250 with the V10 and 2WD. I would prefer to
have the 3.73 rear end and would like to have it as limited slip. It
appears that the 3.73 limited slip is avialable only with the diesel.
This seems to be because the 3.73's limited slips are in short supply.

Anybody have any idea when the 3.73 ltd slip might be available with the
V10?

Don Jones
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Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1998 09:13:53 -0700 (PDT)
From: Bill Grund
Subject: Re: FTE 97up - 2 questions, changes and fuel economy

In response to Bruce McLeod's post concerning
superduty diesel fuel economy:

I purchased an 1999 F250SD powerstroke in may. Since then I have been
averaging 20.2 mpg, Unloaded hwyway miles, at 65 mph. It came with a
6-speed trans with a 3.73 final drive.
Fuel economy seems to drop off to 18.5 - 19.0 mpg when crusing over
75mph. I am very please with this vehicle.

Bill Grund


- ---Bruce McLeod wrote:
>
> Well, I have finally had it with my dodge truck. I want to order a
99 f350
> superduty diesel, but have a couple of questions first. Are there any
> changes planned to the superduty in the near future that I may want
to wait
> for? Second, I have heard reports of terrible fuel economy in the 99
> diesel, can anyone confirm or deny these (I have heard reports of
people
> getting 8 mpg loaded)
>
> Bruce A. McLeod, B.Sc., B.Comm.
> Magnatech Consulting
> Lone Pine Ranching
> (403) 277-1839
>
>
> == FTE: Uns*bscribe and posting info www.ford-trucks.com/faq.html
>

_________________________________________________________
DO YOU YAHOO!?

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Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1998 11:11:45 -0500
From: "Beaman, James"
Subject: RE: FTE 97up - 2 questions, changes and fuel economy

Bruce McLeod wrote:

> Well, I have finally had it with my dodge truck. I want to order a 99
> f350
> superduty diesel, but have a couple of questions first. Are there any
> changes planned to the superduty in the near future that I may want to
> wait
> for?
>
Some folks have reported that the trailer tow mirrors may become telescoping
in the future. I have not heard when this might happen, neither have I seen
anything official from Ford as to whether this will actually happen at all.

James Beaman
james.beaman lmco.com
Houston, Texas
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Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1998 13:08:45 EDT
From: BlankfortJ aol.com
Subject: FTE 97up - 2 questions, changes and fuel economy

I killed my Dodge order when I heard all the horror stories about the 24 valve
ISB. Glad I did. Just got my F250 4x4 PSD 6 Speed and got 18mpg on the first
tank. Since than combo city, hwy, light and mid towing with a few high speed
75+ runs getting 16-17 mpg. Still only 2500 miles so, it too early to tell
what the real mileage will be.



>>Well, I have finally had it with my dodge truck. I want to order a 99 f350
superduty diesel, but have a couple of questions first. Are there any
changes planned to the superduty in the near future that I may want to wait
for? Second, I have heard reports of terrible fuel economy in the 99
diesel, can anyone confirm or deny these (I have heard reports of people
getting 8 mpg loaded)

Bruce A. McLeod, B.Sc., B.Comm.
Magnatech Consulting
Lone Pine Ranching

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Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1998 12:43:54 -0500 (CDT)
From: "Joseph L. Casey"
Subject: Re: FTE 97up - 2 questions, changes and fuel economy

At about 7,000 miles, I pulled a 14500 lb 5th wheel from Chicago to Colorado
and back. The mileage was between 10.5 and 10.8 when towing. That is at 65
mph usually.

At 1,000 miles I went from Chicago to New Orleans and back and on that trip
the mileage was about 8.6, if I remember correctly. There are a few more
hills on this trip, but I am guessing the difference has more to do with the
amount of mileage.

I don't know of any changes except price. There was, however, a statement
that Ford would offer an exhaust brake sometime now or later. Nothing else
has been said about this. There was a rumor--that the towing mirrors would
have a telescoping feature later. I have heard even less about that. The
first is a prediction and the second statement is truly a rumor.

Joe



At 09:08 AM 8/13/98 -0600, you wrote:
>Well, I have finally had it with my dodge truck. I want to order a 99 f350
>superduty diesel, but have a couple of questions first. Are there any
>changes planned to the superduty in the near future that I may want to wait
>for? Second, I have heard reports of terrible fuel economy in the 99
>diesel, can anyone confirm or deny these (I have heard reports of people
>getting 8 mpg loaded)
>
>Bruce A. McLeod, B.Sc., B.Comm.
>Magnatech Consulting
>Lone Pine Ranching
>(403) 277-1839
>
>
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>
>

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Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1998 14:02:09 -0600 (MDT)
From: montblackburn webtv.net (mont blackburn)
Subject: FTE 97up - Horror stories?

I hadn't heard any horror stories on the new Dodge 24 valve but I
worried about being another guinea pig for them, --not that that might
not happen with my new six-speed ford but at least I'm getting a change
of faces

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Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1998 14:35:29 -0700
From: "Jack Coffee"
Subject: FTE 97up - Anyone home?

Just wondering if this list is active! No messages in last few days since subscribing.

A couple of days ago I bought a 99 Ford F-250 Super Duty V8 Diesel with the quad cab. Imagine my surprise when I got the vehicle home and found there was no spare tire!

The salesman at the dealership plain forgot to tell me about it, and now I'm stuck without a spare, or hoist. Parts tells me that it will take 4-6 weeks to get a wheel and hoist in, and then I'll have to buy a tire somewhere else!

This is the first time I have ever heard of a sparetire being optional on anything!

Anyone else had this kind of trouble?

How about some ideas on where to look for quicker delivery of a full sparetire assembly, including the hoist!?

Papadeaux


Free web-based email, Forever, From anywhere!
http://www.ford-trucks.com//lc/lc.php?action=do&link=http://www.mailexcite.com
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Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1998 16:49:12 -0700
From: Matt Adams
Subject: Re: FTE 97up - Anyone home?

well, this might not be what you are looking for, but I actually have an F-150 with the trailer towing package, and I put in Gibson exhaust, and had no room for my spare. In addition to that, I went from having 235/70-16 tires to
having 285/75-16 tires, so my new full-size spare wouldnt fit underneath. There is a company (Mir-Kyn Enterprises) that makes a hitch-mountable spare tire holder, looks great and requires no drilling or anything. It folds down when
you need to access the bed, and it has a ball on it, so you can still tow with it. Check it out: http://www.ford-trucks.com//lc/lc.php?action=do&link=http://www.truckworld.com/mir-kyn/ or give them a call at 330-628-9384. Pretty cool organization, the whole thing runs $195. If you
decide to get one, tell em Matt Adams sent ya! (Hey, I like refs as much as the next guy) :). Definately a good investment!

Jack Coffee wrote:

> Just wondering if this list is active! No messages in last few days since subscribing.
>
> A couple of days ago I bought a 99 Ford F-250 Super Duty V8 Diesel with the quad cab. Imagine my surprise when I got the vehicle home and found there was no spare tire!
>
> The salesman at the dealership plain forgot to tell me about it, and now I'm stuck without a spare, or hoist. Parts tells me that it will take 4-6 weeks to get a wheel and hoist in, and then I'll have to buy a tire somewhere else!
>
> This is the first time I have ever heard of a sparetire being optional on anything!
>
> Anyone else had this kind of trouble?
>
> How about some ideas on where to look for quicker delivery of a full sparetire assembly, including the hoist!?
>
> Papadeaux
>
> Free web-based email, Forever, From anywhere!
> http://www.ford-trucks.com//lc/lc.php?action=do&link=http://www.mailexcite.com
> == FTE: Uns*bscribe and posting info www.ford-trucks.com/faq.html



- --
http://www.ford-trucks.com//lc/lc.php?action=do&link=http://www.pcisys.net/~mattbert/mattbert.html
Owner of 1998 Ford F-150, Supercab, shortbed moonlight blue 4.6L V8 truck
with accessories including but not limited to (from front to back):
Elephant Bar Euro Style Brush Guard, Bugflector II Bug Shield, BF Goodrich
285-75/16 all-terrain tires, Skid Plates, door sill covers, door side
moldings, 6-Disk CD Changer, 10" 300 watt subwoofer (coming soon), Sliding
rear window, Black Smittybilt Nerf Bars, snugop hi-liner topper, bedrug
bed-liner, Off-Road Decals, Towing Package, tail light covers, Gibson
Dual-Catback Rear Exhaust, Ford logo hitch cover, and much more!


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Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1998 18:51:38 EDT
From: RAMWORKER aol.com
Subject: Re: FTE 97up - Horror stories?

Oh, there's plenty of them ( horror stories ) too high a percentage for my
comfort. If I were to buy a new truck, there's no doubt, PowerStroke, 6 speed,
3.73 gears and limited slip. I'm still thinking about a '99 f 350 PS crew cab
4 x 4 I saw at a dealer in Winslow, Arizona last May while we were on vacation
( Drool :) ) It stickered at $37,900 if I remember right. Let's see...., new
screen name?, FordWorker? FordDriver????

Best Regards,
Robert

In a message dated 8/13/98 3:03:14 PM Central Daylight Time,
montblackburn webtv.net writes:


worried about being another guinea pig for them, --not that that might
not happen with my new six-speed ford but at least I'm getting a change
of faces >>
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Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1998 17:34:44 -0600
From: "Randy Kindler"
Subject: FTE 97up - Re: Nascar Edition

>
>Date: Wed, 12 Aug 1998 19:10:28 EDT
>From: Sen4546 aol.com
>Subject: FTE 97up - Re: 97up-
>I just purchased the 98 nascar edition F150 with the 4.6L V8 and 4speed
auto.
>Everything is pretty much the same as a XLT, but the rear end is a 3.73.
>I have looked in the brochure, the only 3.73 rear end they offer is in the
>F250. I guess my question is what is the difference between the 3.73 and
the
>3.55 rear ends. Any help is greatly appreciated.
Cool! 3.73s in an F150. I always wondered why they weren't available on
F150s. Expeditions are available with 3.73s. It must be an EPA thing. I
believe that it is still the 8.8" rear end, though. Is the NASCAR edition
available in 4WD?

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Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1998 17:45:29 -0600
From: "Randy Kindler"
Subject: FTE 97up - re: 5.4 problems

>, my last fear was put to rest and I took the plunge.
>Picking up my new (well, a 1998 :-) F-150 on >Sunday. I am happy guy.

>Kevin.
Congratulations on your new truck, Kevin. I got my new '98 5.4 3 weeks ago,
so I got pretty nervous when I saw your post and checked out the message
board you mentioned. I saw a couple of posts on this list in the past from
people with the same problem, but Ford replaced the engines. It seems that
with all the 5.4 Expeditions and F250s on the road that if this problem is
as chronic as the people on that list inferred, we would hear a lot more
about it. At least, I hope so. So far, I love my truck and I,m keeping my
fingers crossed.
Randy

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Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1998 20:15:37 EDT
From: RAMWORKER aol.com
Subject: FTE 97up - Re: Horror Stories

Hi John,

Thanks for the information, but I did say "IF." If something happens to the
Dodge, but so far, it's doing well. Talk about a bitter sweet feeling, you
just can't have everything you'd like at the same time. I'd like to have the
truck I saw, but just can't justify it yet.

When I bought my Dodge in December, 1995, I was leery of the new PowerStroke,
and felt that the mechanical Cummins was the only way to go at the time. I
have a deep distrust of electronics. I am MUCH more leery of the new Cummins
24 valve electronic engine than I was of the PS. I feel like the PS is now
well developed and the Cummins is NOT, at least as used in the Dodge, with
this stupid hybrid electronics package. Imagine, a Dodge computer talking to a
Cummins computer, one of them uses OS/2 warp, and the other, Windows! :0

However, my company has some Ford Citibank credits built up that will expire
soon. I will probably post a question about Internet invoice buying question
soon. The Company will tell me exactly what they want and send me to do the
leg work, again......sigh. Last time, it was a Ch*vy, the one company I just
can't abide. And they'll be true to form, what they want, ( a 1/2 ton, no, not
a one ton, they ride bad, bunch of crybabies ) not what they need ( a 1 ton) ,
then they'll want me to use my 1 ton when the 1/2 or 3/4 ( I sneaked that 3/4
ton Ch*vy in on them, hehe, boy, was the boss mad :) ton won't do the job. I
really don't mind the shopping, it just galls me that they don't care about
the kind of truck a steel company needs, just what they'd like to drive.

Congratulations on your new truck! Have you had it long? How are you enjoying
it so far?

Best Regards,
Robert


In a message dated 8/13/98 6:19:44 PM Central Daylight Time, BlankfortJ
writes:


everything for $29,800. It was $500 over invoice. I ordered it from Salinas
Valley Ford in Central California. Crew cab should only be a few grand more I
would think. Check out Edmunds.com.

Hope this helps

John

>>

Oh, there's plenty of them ( horror stories ) too high a percentage for my
comfort. If I were to buy a new truck, there's no doubt, PowerStroke, 6
speed,
3.73 gears and limited slip. I'm still thinking about a '99 f 350 PS crew cab
4 x 4 I saw at a dealer in Winslow, Arizona last May while we were on
vacation
( Drool :) ) It stickered at $37,900 if I remember right. Let's see...., new
screen name?, FordWorker? FordDriver????

Best Regards,

>
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------------------------------

Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1998 20:20:16 EDT
From: RAMWORKER aol.com
Subject: Re: FTE 97up - Re: Horror Stories

Hi List,

Oops, sorry about that last post, it was intended as a personal reply.

Robert
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Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1998 22:21:03 EDT
From: ROBBCWZ aol.com
Subject: Re: FTE 97up - Anyone home?

I bought an E-150 van in 1985 and the spare was optional!
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Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1998 20:07:17 -0700
From: "Alan Wilson"
Subject: FTE 97up - No Spare...

At 10:21 PM 8/13/98 EDT, you wrote:
>I bought an E-150 van in 1985 and the spare was optional!
- -------------------------

You don't need a spare...just get AAA...or use your Road Side Coverage :)
Alan Wilson


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Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1998 21:08:06 -0800
From: "Les"
Subject: Re: FTE 97up - No Spare...

- -----Original Message-----
From: Alan Wilson
To: 97up-list ford-trucks.com
Date: Thursday, August 13, 1998 7:16 PM
Subject: FTE 97up - No Spare...


>At 10:21 PM 8/13/98 EDT, you wrote:
>>I bought an E-150 van in 1985 and the spare was optional!
>-------------------------
>
>You don't need a spare...just get AAA...or use your Road Side Coverage :)
>Alan Wilson
>


Of course you may have to walk out to get AAA and then wait 10 hours ! ;'))

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Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1998 21:51:09 -0800
From: "Les"
Subject: FTE 97up - STD automatic vs HD automatic option

An interesting piece of information regarding the 1999 SD trucks was brought....

---

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