97up-list-digest Sunday, January 3 1999 Volume 01 : Number 329



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

FTE 97up - Re: Clutch Chatter
Re: FTE 97up - which axle ratio
FTE 97up - Rest of Message
FTE 97up - '99 order deadline
Re: FTE 97up - which axle ratio
FTE 97up - Re: '99 F-350 daytime running lights wiring
FTE 97up - Re: what is a 4x2?
Re: FTE 97up - Re: '99 F-350 daytime running lights wiring
FTE 97up - Block Heater
Re: FTE 97up - Block Heater
Re: FTE 97up - Clutch Chatter
FTE 97up - Re: Super Duty Hubs: questions
Re: FTE 97up - Re: '99 F-350 daytime running lights wiring
FTE 97up - limited slip diff.
FTE 97up - Super Duty F250 4X4 tires?
Re: FTE 97up - Super Duty F250 4X4 tires?
Re: FTE 97up - Super Duty F250 4X4 tires?
Re: FTE 97up - Super Duty F250 4X4 tires?

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Date: Sat, 02 Jan 1999 08:03:18 -0500
From: Lee Haefele
Subject: FTE 97up - Re: Clutch Chatter

I have found over the years that most aftermarket replacement clutches
chatter. The Ford (or GM on their own vehicles) replacements work fine.
As to the new F-150, ask the dealer to change the clutch pressure plate
and flywheel.
Lee Haefele
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Date: Sat, 2 Jan 1999 10:41:41 -0500
From: "Keith Veren"
Subject: Re: FTE 97up - which axle ratio

I think the 3.73 limited slip is about the perfect axle. Here is why: If
you want real low grunt, you can put it in 4-wheel low and pull anything, if
you go with 4.30 gears in 4-wheel low you will "rev-out" very quickly and
only gain a little power (it will almost be like a worm drive!), with the
3.73 you have all the power you need (typically) in 4-wheel low. Also, if
you want more grunt on the highway (I have a snowplow - 875 lb.) just turn
off the overdrive. I don't remember the exact RPM at 65 but it is around
2200 in overdrive and 3200 without overdrive. The 4.30 gears would kill
your gas milage (which is only 8 to 10 with the 3.73) and you would find
your transmission shifting a lot more. With the 3.73, you can put it in 1
or 2 instead of Drive and rev the engine to 4000 or 5000 if you want to get
all the power you need. On the highway, the 3.73 is nice and quiet. I also
would think a taller gear (3.23, etc.)

Keith



- -----Original Message-----
From: Karl Nyhus
To: 97up-list ford-trucks.com
Date: Saturday, January 02, 1999 12:05 AM
Subject: Re: FTE 97up - which axle ratio


>> Keith Veren wrote:
>> I have the F-350 SuperDuty / 4X4 / XLT
>> 6.8 V-10 / LongBed / SuperCab / 3.73LS
>> TrailerTow / Snowplow Package / Off-Road
>
>Keith, Do you ever wish you had gotten the lower
>axle ratio? I've read that Ford's new gas engines
>like to rev. Can you give me a representative RPM
>at, say, 65 mph in overdrive? I like the way your
>truck is set up but am thinking about getting the
>lower axle (due in large part to the "econo" axle
>ratio I have now). Thanks.
>
>Karl Nyhus, Minneapolis, MN--1997 Pacific Green
>Ford F-150 SuperCab XL, SB, 4.6L V8, 4WD, 5-speed,
>3.08, LT255/70R16D BFG All-Terrain T/A on steel,
>Better Built toolbox, Line-X spray-in liner,
>rust-proofed, undercoated
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Date: Sat, 2 Jan 1999 10:49:11 -0500
From: "Keith Veren"
Subject: FTE 97up - Rest of Message

Sorry, my message got cut-off, as I was saying, on the highway, the 3.73 is
nice and quiet. I also
would think a taller gear (3.23, etc.) would start to take away power by
keeping the engine below the power band when in overdrive on the highway.

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Date: Sat, 2 Jan 1999 11:03:34 -0500
From: "John H. Bethea, P.E."
Subject: FTE 97up - '99 order deadline

I intend to order a '99 4x4 SC this Spring. Does anybody know when Ford
stops accepting orders for the '99s? Finances prevent me from ordering
right now, but I don't think I can wait until Fall '99 for the '00
models..........unless somebody knows of design changes worth waiting for.

John

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Date: Sat, 02 Jan 1999 16:15:39 GMT
From: alannorthstar mindspring.com
Subject: Re: FTE 97up - which axle ratio

On Fri, 01 Jan 1999 23:01:06 -0600, you wrote:

:> Keith Veren wrote:
:> I have the F-350 SuperDuty / 4X4 / XLT=20
:> 6.8 V-10 / LongBed / SuperCab / 3.73LS=20
:> TrailerTow / Snowplow Package / Off-Road
:
:Keith, Do you ever wish you had gotten the lower
:axle ratio? I've read that Ford's new gas engines
:like to rev. Can you give me a representative RPM
:at, say, 65 mph in overdrive? I like the way your
:truck is set up but am thinking about getting the
:lower axle (due in large part to the "econo" axle
:ratio I have now). Thanks.
:
:Karl Nyhus, Minneapolis, MN--1997 Pacific Green

Karl.... what do you mean by the "econo" axle ratio?
If you mean a low ratio, for low engine revs, you could hardly
get a lower one, could you?

As to the Ford engines liking to rev -- I think you're right.
And I think it has to do largely with emissions control. When an
engine lugs, it's running pretty dirty, and they have to limit
that electronically in order to keep things within limits the
catalytic converter can handle. =20

Also, when an engine is running in medium to higher revs, it's
generally running 'cleaner'.

I have a Ranger with the 3.0 engine and the 4-speed OD
transmission, and I'm not real happy with it because it doesn't
have lots of low-end torque, and it revs way high trying for any
'interesting' acceleration. Think I should have opted for a much
bigger engine!

Later,
Alan
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Date: Fri, 1 Jan 1999 19:01:31 -0600
From: "Bud Feuless & Miki Magara"
Subject: FTE 97up - Re: '99 F-350 daytime running lights wiring

Y'know... I've never really understood this whole daytime running lights
thing...

Back near the end of World War II, the Army was experimenting with various
methods of camouflage. They found that the most effective way to hid a tank
in the middle of the desert, at that time, was to cover it with headlights
and turn them on. This, of course, refers to covering the whole vehicle,
not just turning on the standard lights. Myself, I have found that running
lights really help only if they contrast strongly with the overall color of
the vehicle. In other words, I find a black truck at day, running his
lights easy to see. I find a tan truck at day, running his lights either
less easy to see or not improved.

Did someone out there actually do some ground-breaking research on this
topic at some time? Is there real reason or evidence behind this that got
the whole country interested? Or, is this another marketing ploy... like
low cholesterol (eating cholesterol has no direct correlating impact on
serum cholesterol, you're putting it into your stomach, not injecting it
into your blood) and today's low fat foods (that often have twice the
caloric content due to increase carbohydrate/sugar content, pure sugar has
no fat, try living on it for a few weeks and see if you lose weight!).

Regards, Bud


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Date: Sat, 02 Jan 1999 11:30:57 -0500
From: Gary & Nancy Brinck
Subject: FTE 97up - Re: what is a 4x2?

what actually is a 4x2
how does it differ from a regular truck?

First number refers to the total number of wheels on the vehicle, 4 in this case.
Second number is the number of drive (powered) wheels), 2 in the case of a "regular"
truck, 4 for 4-wheel drive, etc.
So a 4X2 has 4 wheels of which 2 are powered - in other words - a regular truck.

A big tractor might be a 10X4, but you seldom see that written.
- --
Gary
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Date: Sat, 2 Jan 1999 11:45:30 -0500
From: "Keith Veren"
Subject: Re: FTE 97up - Re: '99 F-350 daytime running lights wiring

I believe studies were performed in Sweden and Canada. DRLs improved safety
by a statistically-significant amount.


- -----Original Message-----
From: Bud Feuless & Miki Magara
To: 97up-list ford-trucks.com
Date: Saturday, January 02, 1999 11:24 AM
Subject: FTE 97up - Re: '99 F-350 daytime running lights wiring


>Y'know... I've never really understood this whole daytime running lights
>thing...
>
>Back near the end of World War II, the Army was experimenting with various
>methods of camouflage. They found that the most effective way to hid a
tank
>in the middle of the desert, at that time, was to cover it with headlights
>and turn them on. This, of course, refers to covering the whole vehicle,
>not just turning on the standard lights. Myself, I have found that running
>lights really help only if they contrast strongly with the overall color of
>the vehicle. In other words, I find a black truck at day, running his
>lights easy to see. I find a tan truck at day, running his lights either
>less easy to see or not improved.
>
>Did someone out there actually do some ground-breaking research on this
>topic at some time? Is there real reason or evidence behind this that got
>the whole country interested? Or, is this another marketing ploy... like
>low cholesterol (eating cholesterol has no direct correlating impact on
>serum cholesterol, you're putting it into your stomach, not injecting it
>into your blood) and today's low fat foods (that often have twice the
>caloric content due to increase carbohydrate/sugar content, pure sugar has
>no fat, try living on it for a few weeks and see if you lose weight!).
>
>Regards, Bud
>
>
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>

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Date: Sat, 2 Jan 1999 11:59:33 -0500
From: "Keith Veren"
Subject: FTE 97up - Block Heater

My stable of Vehicles ['98 Expedition w/5.4L V-8 / XLT / 4X4 / etc., '99
F-350 6.8L V-10 / XLT / 4X4 / Snowplow Package, and my wifes '98 Explorer
5.0L V-8 / XLT / 4X4 / etc.] all have the engine block heater (very handy in
Massachusetts, it was -2 F. last night). I plug all three in on very cold
nights. It really makes a difference!! Warms right up when you start the
engine! I appreciate ford offering the factory engine block heater but why
do they make it so difficult to use!! Because the cord is so short, the
plug is barely accessible, and can be pulled-out only about 1 inch from the
front grill. On a cold, snowy night with gloves on it is difficult to hold
the plug and connect it to the extention cord. They should add at least 6
to 12 inches of extra cable so you can pull the plug away from the grill and
not have to fight with it in the cramped quarters of the front grill. Also,
Ford should add an indicator light to verify the heater is on, currently,
there is no way to verify it is on (I suppose you could crawl under the
vehicle and touch the engine block by the heater) until you start the
vehicle and see it warm-up quickly. Any sugestions??


Keith

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Date: Sat, 2 Jan 1999 12:28:28 EST
From: RAMWORKER aol.com
Subject: Re: FTE 97up - Block Heater

All of the block heaters (factory or after-market) that I've seen look alike,
electrically, regarding the plug on the freeze plug portion anyway. If nothing
else, you could just go to the parts store or order from JC Whitney to get an
after-market unit with it's universally long cord and just replace your cord.
You can just coil up the excess, and leave free just the amount of slack that
you'd like to have. It shouldn't cost over $20 and an hour of work, if you can
find a warm place to work this time of year.

Best Regards,
Robert

In a message dated 1/2/99 9:04:09 AM Pacific Standard Time, Spectrum-
EHS worldnet.att.net writes:

> Because the cord is so short, the
> plug is barely accessible, and can be pulled-out only about 1 inch from the
> front grill. On a cold, snowy night with gloves on it is difficult to hold
> the plug and connect it to the extention cord.
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Date: Sat, 02 Jan 1999 13:57:02 -0400
From: Mark MacDonald
Subject: Re: FTE 97up - Clutch Chatter

At 09:12 PM 1/1/99 , you wrote:

Thanks everyone who gave me insight on this problem, it is really
interesting to see the different opinions/methods etc. It is very much
appreciated.

I have tried different clutching techniques. I consider myself one of the
"quick release" 'types, as opposed to someone who drags the clutch out. If
I let it out any faster, I would be leaving black marks on the pavement
:-). I think that the clutch doesnt chatter as bad, or at all if I were to
let it out slowly and let it slip a lot. I think thats where the guy who
worked on my truck was different. He would let the clutch out about 1/4 the
way, and let the truck roll up to speed before letting it all the way out.
As I said before, I consider myself a person that engages quicker. IMHO
slow clutching results in more slippage, and increased wear.

I think this is one of those things Im going to have to accept. Besides
this minor annoyance, it works superb.

Thanks again to all, and all the best in 99.



>Frank, as I mentioned in my previous message response for this thread,
>sometimes you must experiment with technique. In my experience most cases
>of clutch chatter result from slow engagement and incorrect (too little)
>accelerator. Do not take this as a comment on your particular shifting
>ability, the fault is in the clutch design, not the driver's input. Almost
>any type of clutch action (slow, medium or fast) should result in smooth
>operation if the clutch / pressure plate / flywheel / throwout bearing /
>pilot bushing / clutch fork / transmission input shaft / etc. "system" is
>properly designed. I am just recommending a method that I have found
>reduces and/or eliminates chatter.

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Date: Sat, 2 Jan 1999 11:02:41 -0600
From: "Bud Feuless & Miki Magara"
Subject: FTE 97up - Re: Super Duty Hubs: questions

>Thanks Nathan -
>
>To confirm, contrary to what the service manager said, I can go from
>2WD to 4WD (high range) at speeds above 20mph while the hubs are in
>"automatic" - it wouldn't be of much value if I can't.
...

Soooo... are there any disadvantages to running the SD in 4WD "auto" for
extended periods of time? This sounds similar to the ESOF on the Explorer,
once you back up to unlock the hubs, that is, where the transfer case will
remain in motion with the hubs unlocked.

Also, anyone heard if the ol' blue oval will be coming out with AWD for the
SD's? This would be absolutely wonderful for towing. I've run a couple of
AWD vehicles with large trailers (for their GVWR) and it has seemed to add
as much stability as DRW.

Thanks in advance, Bud


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Date: Sat, 02 Jan 1999 15:14:16 -0500
From: tsaint erols.com
Subject: Re: FTE 97up - Re: '99 F-350 daytime running lights wiring

I find DRL's effective on all colors of vehicles, especially in low light
situations such as cloudy and/or hazy days. Motorcyles are much more
conspicuous with the lights on.
As for studies...there have been studies done. Do a web search on daytime
running lights and you will find lots of hits with pros and cons on them.

>From the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety:

"Numerous studies indicate DRLs reduce crashes. A 1985 Institute study
determined that commercial fleet vehicles modified to operate with DRLs
were involved in 7% fewer daytime multiple-vehicle crashes than similar
vehicles without DRLs. The study included more than 2,000 vehicles on U.S.
roads. A 1986 fleet study in Saskatchewan found that DRLs reduced daytime
two-vehicle crashes by 15%, which amounts to a 28% decrease in all
two-vehicles daytime crashes. The Vehicle Information Center of Canada
reports that DRLs reduce the frequency of collisions by 4 % among four-door
vehicles and 6% among two-door vehicles. Studies in Scandinavia show DRLs
reduce daytime multiple-vehicle crashes. "


+
At 07:01 PM 1/1/99 -0600, you wrote:
>Y'know... I've never really understood this whole daytime running lights
>thing...
>
>Did someone out there actually do some ground-breaking research on this
>topic at some time? Is there real reason or evidence behind this that got
>the whole country interested? Or, is this another marketing ploy...
>
>Regards, Bud
>
>
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>
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Date: Sat, 02 Jan 1999 16:55:51 -0500
From: steve semenick
Subject: FTE 97up - limited slip diff.

in lay-man's terms, what is a "limited slip differential"? what are the
advantages (this might be answered with the explanation) and
disadvantages? thanks, steve semenick

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Date: Sat, 02 Jan 1999 21:24:22 -0800
From: Gene Ball
Subject: FTE 97up - Super Duty F250 4X4 tires?

Anyone know what is the biggest tire I can put
on a stock premium rim? I think the rims are 8in wide?
I believe the tires 265-75-16. Think that's about 31.5 in tall
and 8in wide foot print! I would like to get a tire that is 2in
taller and 2 in wider!!! I will be wanting an A/T tire!
Has anyone made a tire change like this?
I have checked a few tire stores 16in A/T tires seem to be hard to find,

that are 33 to 34in tall and 10in foot print?
I also would like to lower the back of the truck
2ins, to make it sit close to level.
So any help here would also be appreciated
SD./ F250/ Crewcab 4x4/ Shortbed/ Lariat/V10/ LS3.73
Gene

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Date: Sat, 02 Jan 1999 19:53:08 PST
From: "Frank Spor"
Subject: Re: FTE 97up - Super Duty F250 4X4 tires?

I just got the summit performance pickup truck catalog today.....It is
full of "those sort of things"

Frank



______________________________________________________
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Date: Sun, 3 Jan 1999 00:40:43 EST
From: RSnovi aol.com
Subject: Re: FTE 97up - Super Duty F250 4X4 tires?

In a message dated 1/2/99 10:27:29 PM Eastern Standard Time,
granvill megsinet.net writes:

I believe they have a TSB for people with problems pulling 5th wheel/gooseneck
on a 4x4, that they change rear blocks to 4x2 set up. 16 in should not be
hard to find its a pretty common size, pretty sure BFG or Michelin (same
company) makes one.

Ross S
99 F 250 XLT/PSD/SC/ 4x4
9sec93cobra

Anyone know what is the biggest tire I can put
on a stock premium rim? I think the rims are 8in wide?
I believe the tires 265-75-16. Think that's about 31.5 in tall
and 8in wide foot print! I would like to get a tire that is 2in
taller and 2 in wider!!! I will be wanting an A/T tire!
Has anyone made a tire change like this?
I have checked a few tire stores 16in A/T tires seem to be hard to find,

that are 33 to 34in tall and 10in foot print?
I also would like to lower the back of the truck
2ins, to make it sit close to level.
So any help here would also be appreciated
SD./ F250/ Crewcab 4x4/ Shortbed/ Lariat/V10/ LS3.73
G >>
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Date: Sun, 3 Jan 1999 00:41:36 EST
From: RSnovi aol.com
....

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