97up-list-digest Sunday, May 23 1999 Volume 02 : Number 137



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

RE: FTE 97up - a question about towing (engines and EPA bashers)
Re: FTE 97up - Rear window removal
RE: FTE 97up - a question about towing (engines and EPA bashers)
FTE 97up - Radio Dash Kit & Harness FS
FTE 97up - Re: Electronic Ratio Adapter, was Speedo Recalibration
RE: FTE 97up - a question about towing (engines and EPA bashers)

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Date: Fri, 21 May 1999 09:27:52 -0700
From: Ken Peterson
Subject: RE: FTE 97up - a question about towing (engines and EPA bashers)

>Hmm... You think I should have to pay more money for gas if I want to drive
>the vehicle of my choice which happens to be a big truck. I respectfully
>disagree. I hope you don't mind if I decide what I drive to the corner
>market to get a gallon of milk. To keep this short I'll just say that I
>cherish the freedom I have to make such decisions.

Gee, what a great society this makes. Each person acting as if they're the
only person on the road and as if the recources we all must share are
unlimited.

You should cherish freedom, indeed, to make *sensible* decisions in an
increasingly crowded world. The ol' frontier mentality, real popular here
in Oregon, doesn't hack it anymore.

Where I used to live, my neighbor over the rear fence used to let his kid
run around in circles with an unmuffled dirt bike most afternoons after
school. His response to a civilized and gentle complaint? "It's my
property. I'll do on it what I like." It took a couple of sheriff deputies
to disabuse him of this notion, and the problem went mostly away.

I have had middle-class neighbors who put their dog into the back yard and
then go to work all day. The lonely dog barks neurotically at every falling
leaf, sometimes for an hour or more. I have a home office. Their response?
"Not my dog! Not my problem. No, you can't have my work phone number."

In our household, the smaller vehicles are almost always used for errands
and short trips. Jeez, this seems so *obvious*!
- ---------------
Ken Peterson, Portland, OR
1998 F-250LD Lariat, extended cab, short bed, 4X2, 5.4l, class-3 tow options
LT245X16/steel rims, 4W disks + ABS, load-leveling rear suspension.
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Date: Fri, 21 May 1999 09:06:32 -0700
From: Ken Peterson
Subject: Re: FTE 97up - Rear window removal

>There are two tabs on the metal where the window
>attaches that are supposed to be removed or bent down on trucks with the
>slider.

Nathan, please could you give a hint where these tabs are located on the
window cutout?
- ---------------
Ken Peterson, Portland, OR
1998 F-250LD Lariat, extended cab, short bed, 4X2, 5.4l, class-3 tow options
LT245X16/steel rims, 4W disks + ABS, load-leveling rear suspension.
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Date: Sat, 22 May 1999 11:07:15 -0700
From: "Phil Rosenkranz"
Subject: RE: FTE 97up - a question about towing (engines and EPA bashers)

>>>SNIP
> Gee, what a great society this makes. Each person acting as if they're the
> only person on the road and as if the resourses we all must share are
> unlimited.
>
> You should cherish freedom, indeed, to make *sensible* decisions in an
> increasingly crowded world. The ol' frontier mentality, real popular here
> in Oregon, doesn't hack it anymore.
> ---------------
> Ken Peterson, Portland, OR
> 1998 F-250LD Lariat, extended cab, short bed, 4X2, 5.4l, class-3
> tow options
> LT245X16/steel rims, 4W disks + ABS, load-leveling rear suspension.
> == FTE: Uns*bscribe and posting info http://www.ford-trucks.com/faq.html

This exactly the reason I drive 5500 lbs Expedition! I'm not the only
person on the road. Why would I want to subject my family to driving an
economy "wheel chock" for other inattentive drivers to use for target
practice? I need to watch out for these clowns, because the nightly news
shows that they are not looking out for others.

My most important resources are limited. I can not afford to loose any of
my family in the name of "Great Society".

Just my thoughts, take them for what they're worth.

Phillip Rosenkranz

Note: This post may contain misspellings, grammatical errors,
disorganized sentence structure, or may entirely lack a coherent theme.
These elements are natural to the process of writing, and will only add
to the overall beauty of the post.

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Date: Sat, 22 May 1999 20:16:31 -0500
From: Landen Stoker
Subject: FTE 97up - Radio Dash Kit & Harness FS

I took possesion of my new 99 F150 XLT this week, and discovered my dash
kit and wiring harness for my Alpine Stereo is not compatible with a '99. So
I figured I would see if any fellow list members could use them. The dash
kit is made by Metra, very nice quality one, not one of those cheap
unappealing ones. It looks like it belongs in there. The wiring harness is
for a 98 sound system, (except Premium) will work with most Alpine stereos,
mine is a 7837. The dash kit will fit any standard style DIN radios. I would
like to get $15.00 for both of them. If you are interested or have any
question please feel free to email me.

Landen Stoker- Lousiana
99 Silver Metallic 4.6L SB XLT, 3.55 Axle, 255/70/R16 Goodyears, color
matched LUND Avenger Bug Sheild. (More to Come Guaranteed)


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Date: Sat, 22 May 1999 23:16:10 EDT
From: RAMWORKER aol.com
Subject: FTE 97up - Re: Electronic Ratio Adapter, was Speedo Recalibration

Hi Guys,

I've got my correction box and thought I'd pass on the experience so far.

The box is about the size if a cigarette package, there are no exterior
features except for a glued on wiring diagram. No mounting provision is
furnished, so you're on your own there. The cover of the box is retained with
four screws which must be removed to access the dip switches. There are two
sets of dip switches, the first set has four switches that adapt the unit to
your vehicle, it allows for two or three wire vehicle speed sensors or a
three wire transducer. Once again you're own your own to determine whether
you have a speed sensor or transducer, I was fortunate to have the factory
service manual and it says right there in it "Vehicle Speed Sensor," makes
life easy for a dummy like me! The second set of dip switches are for
calibrating the speedometer. That works by determining the odometer error and
checking the provided table for the proper settings. There is a very large
range of calibration allowed, from a high of 250% to a low of 30%, you can
fix that speedometer right up.

There are four wires to be connected, the usual power supply and input and
output for the speedometer, the box comes with about 18" of wire, so you'll
have to get some extra wire and a fuse holder.

Customer service seems quite good, I received the unit two days after
placing the order. I started the project this morning (Saturday) and had the
questions below and E-mailed them this morning, I got the response this
afternoon. I'm impressed, I didn't expect any response at all until at least
Monday. See the quoted verbiage below for the exchange with Abbott.

Best Regards,
Robert

>Mounting the ERA in the passenger compartment would be preferred, up under
>the dash out of the way. It can be mounted in the engine compartment, away
>from heat, but would have to be sealed with some type of waterproofing like
>silicone. The current draw of the ERA is very small and a 3-5 amp fuse
>would be quite sufficient.

>At 11:37 AM 5/22/99 EDT, you wrote:
>>I've received the ERA box and have a couple of questions:
>>
>>1. Is it required that the box be mounted in the passenger compartment?
>>
>>2. I believe that the unit should be fused, would you give me the necessary
>>fuse size please?
>>
>> Best Regards,
>> Robert
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Date: Sat, 22 May 1999 20:36:54 -0700
From: Ken Peterson
Subject: RE: FTE 97up - a question about towing (engines and EPA bashers)

> Why would I want to subject my family to driving an
>economy "wheel chock" for other inattentive drivers to use for target
>practice?

Unless you are standing still when they hit you (unlikely), a lighter,
nimble vehicle gives you avoidance-maneuvering possibilities no 2.5-ton
truck can even attempt! I own an excellent-handling truck, an F250-LD 2WD,
and I am fully aware that at 60-70mph I can best be described as a
ballistic projectile that will reluctantly obey steering commands, given
anough time and forsight -- most unlike your average Passat or Subaru
Legacy. (Of course, there are light cars that also fir the description of
"ballistic projectile." It's sensible to pick one that's better than that.)

Reminds me of my parents: as they got elderly and more frightened of fast
traffic, they bought a huge Buick Electra 225, figuring that if were going
to have an accident sooner or later, they might as well win the collision
game.

I'll also add the following aside: My 1998 F250-LD 2WD (mine has rear air
suspension) handles exquisitely for a 2.5-ton truck and makes for a
non-fatiguing touring vehicle on the highway. Correcting front-wheel toe-in
to zero helped a lot -- it was hideously toed-out as delivered. Dealer said
it was "within spec." Hmpf!
- ---------------
Ken Peterson, Portland, OR
1998 F-250LD Lariat, extended cab, short bed, 4X2, 5.4l, class-3 tow options
LT245X16/steel rims, 4W disks + ABS, load-leveling rear suspension.
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End of 97up-list-digest V2 #137....

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