97up-list-digest Monday, May 24 1999 Volume 02 : Number 138



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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)
FTE 97up - Re: a question about towing (engines and EPA bashers)
FTE 97up - Gear Swapping
FTE 97up - The Ultimate Driving Experience
FTE 97up - f-150 5-speed manual transmission
FTE 97up - Motor oil in summer
Re: FTE 97up - Motor oil in summer

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Date: Sun, 23 May 1999 14:39:06 -0500
From: "Karl Nyhus"
Subject: Re: FTE 97up - a question about towing (engines and EPA bashers)

I would appreciate hearing from anyone who has swapped gears to improve or
regain performance.

I started with the 29" stockers (235/70R16) and 3.08 gears, which run my
4.6L V8 at lower RPMs than most of you run at. I have swapped in 30" tires
(255/70R16) which, of course, have lowered my RPMs even further.

The truck is still driveable (that 4.6 is a great little engine and I dont
tow anything), but Id like to accelerate faster and that has me thinking
about a gear swap.

The two most obvious ways to go would be:
(1) upgrade to 3.55 gears and keep the 30" tires I already have (isnt this
the most common setup on new Ford trucks?)
(2) upgrade to 3.73 gears and swap in 31.5" tires (265/75R16) (this would be
similar to the ORP tire and gear combo) .

Some things I wonder about:
(a) Nothing Im thinking of doing will increase my horsepower, so what will
I actually get from the gear swap?
(b) I know some have put tires as big as 285/75R16 on their trucks. Is the
suspension of the F150 up to dragging around bigger tires (with steel
wheels)?
(c) How about 3.73 gears with my current 30" tires? (I think this combo is
available on the LD F250.) Would it improve unloaded acceleration or just
increase towing capacity? Would I be giving up too much top end speed?

Thanks to anyone who can share info on some or all of these questions.

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: Sun, 23 May 1999 17:51:13 EDT
From: BFunk33 aol.com
Subject: FTE 97up - Re: a question about towing (engines and EPA bashers)

I disagree.
I now drive a '99 Expedition.
I traded in a '91 F-250HD SC truck for the X.
That truck was hit six(!) times, and the other drivers' insurance companies
paid off each time, with no arguments (for those who wonder, that means the
crashes were not my fault).
Not in *ANY* case would driving a smaller, more nimble vehicle have allowed
me to avoid the crashes, and in at least two cases, would have meant serious
(or possibly fatal) injuries on my part. In the truck, the only injuries I
suffered were minor bruises.
During that time, there were *NO* crashes for which I was responsible.
There is no way I will trust my safety to a small vehicle if I can help it.
There are simply too many people driving who do not know what they are doing.
Until the laws of physics are repealed, the bigger, heavier vehicle will
protect it's occupants better than a smaller, lighter vehicle will,
regardless of what the safety idiots tell us. Crush space is only good to a
point; beyond that point, mass tells.
Bill Funk


ORIGINAL MESSAGE:

> 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.)

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Date: Sun, 23 May 1999 17:22:05 -0500
From: "Karl Nyhus"
Subject: FTE 97up - Gear Swapping

Sorry, I forgot to change the subject line on my last post. Should have been
something like "Gear Swapping".

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Date: Sun, 23 May 1999 21:06:48 -0500
From: Steve
Subject: FTE 97up - The Ultimate Driving Experience

Howdy guys,
I've been away from the lists for a while, but I have some
information I hope some of y'all can make use of. Last week I was able
to go to the BMW Ultimate Driving Experience. It is a free 2 hour class
that teaches basic high performance driving skills. The first 30 min.
or so are in a classroom setting, then the rest of the time is in a new
3 Series with a professional driver. You get to take about 10 laps and
get feedback the whole time. And they stress NYC & NYT (not your car &
not your tires) so don't worry about hitting cones or burning rubber.
The dates left for this year are in the northeast, Boston, D.C., and
Philly.You can get Info etc. at www.bmwusa.com . It was definitely a
great experience and hopefully a few of ya'll will be able to go.
- --
Steve #1

'99 F150 Regular Cab 5.4 4X4
'97 Mustang GT
'87 K5 Blazer 350 4X4

"I don't think we should give free room and board to criminals."
"I think they should have to run twelve hours a day on a treadmill
and
generate electricity. And if they don't want to run, they can rest in
the chair that's hooked up to the generator." Andy Rooney


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Date: Sun, 23 May 1999 22:10:10 -0700
From: Jon Lam
Subject: FTE 97up - f-150 5-speed manual transmission

We have a 1997 F-150, 4.2L, 5sp, 3.55LS. Does anybody know what kind of
transmission is in this truck? is it a Mazda? or is made by some other
company?
I also plan to tow a small trailer (approx 3000lbs), do I have to worry
about the transmission?

Jon

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Date: Sun, 23 May 1999 22:15:01 -0700
From: Jon Lam
Subject: FTE 97up - Motor oil in summer

I have 1997 F-150, 4.2L, 5sp. The factory recomends using 5W-30 motor
oil all year round. We are planning to do some towing in the summer.
Should we stay with 5W-30 or should we change to 10W-30 motor oil?.

Jon

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Date: Mon, 24 May 1999 01:45:23 -0500 (CDT)
From: "Douglas R. Floyd"
Subject: Re: FTE 97up - Motor oil in summer

>
> I have 1997 F-150, 4.2L, 5sp. The factory recomends using 5W-30 motor
> oil all year round. We are planning to do some towing in the summer.
> Should we stay with 5W-30 or should we change to 10W-30 motor oil?.
>
> Jon

IMHO, and this is off the top of my head, it shouldn't matter, as both
have the same viscosity (sp) when hot.

- --
Douglas R. Floyd |
| Quote coming soon.
Disclaimer: |
I speak for myself, not IBM. |
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End of 97up-list-digest V2 #138
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