97up-list-digest Monday, March 15 1999 Volume 02 : Number 064



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Ford Truck Enthusiasts - 1997 and Newer Trucks and Vans
Visit our web site: http://www.ford-trucks.com/
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In this issue:

FTE 97up - Re: EXPEDITION: Re:Re: Limos site...
FTE 97up - ADMIN: Web site updates
FTE 97up - Price of Replacement Bumper Valance
Re: FTE 97up - Bed liners
FTE 97up - Re: 5W Tow Capacity
Re: FTE 97up - Re: 5W Tow Capacity
FTE 97up - Orange Peel Paint/ Cat removal
Re: FTE 97up - Orange Peel Paint/ Cat removal
FTE 97up - Mercon V Transmission Fluid
Re: FTE 97up - Mercon V Transmission Fluid
Re: FTE 97up - Mercon V Transmission Fluid
RE: FTE 97up - Mercon V Transmission Fluid
FTE 97up - ADMIN: Tech Article updates
FTE 97up - Spring Sag
[none]
FTE 97up - Trailer tow question
FTE 97up - Re: Proofreading
Re: FTE 97up - Re: Proofreading
FTE 97up - K&N & Dynomax results are in
Re: FTE 97up - Re: Proofreading
Re: FTE 97up - Spring Sag

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Date: Sat, 13 Mar 1999 11:13:18 -0500
From: "Keith Veren"
Subject: FTE 97up - Re: EXPEDITION: Re:Re: Limos site...

I agree, unbelievable site!! They have pictures of a stretch Corvette and a
stretch Hummer!
http://www.ford-trucks.com//lc/lc.php?action=do&link=http://www.craftsmenlimousine.com/plgater.html

Keith

- -----Original Message-----
From: Mike McNany
To: expedition intellisys.net
Date: Saturday, March 13, 1999 10:54 AM
Subject: EXPEDITION: Re:Re: Limos site...


>Thanks, Mark, Just checked out the
>
>http://www.ford-trucks.com//lc/lc.php?action=do&link=http://www.craftsmenlimousine.com/plgater.html
>
>site. WOW! Those navigators look like TRAINS. Actually the 220" stretch
all
>white with 3 66" windows per side looked cool but those with the vinyl
roofs
>were sick. One thing that I found strange is the running boards also
>stretched down the entire length and the 4 X 4 option. Take one of those on
>a fire trail! Yee Haw!
>Mike the exLT
>
>
>____________________________________________
>To unsubscribe send an email to
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>Contact vic san.rr.com if you have problems
>List homepage: http://www.ford-trucks.com//lc/lc.php?action=do&link=http://www.Xpedition.net

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Date: Sat, 13 Mar 1999 16:37:57 -0500
From: Ken Payne
Subject: FTE 97up - ADMIN: Web site updates

The following updates have been made to the Ford Truck
Enthusiasts web site:

- - Pictorial updated. I'm still behind with the pictorials
as we've had tons of submissions lately. If you didn't
get an email stated that your truck is now on the web
site, then it isn't there yet. Please be patient.

- - Although I already announced this, it bears repeating:
Ford Truck Enthusiasts now has access to Ford Motor
Company press releases and has a link on our main page
to these. Get the latest Ford truck news here. This
should be a useful service.

- - Products page updated with several new items.

- - The events page has several new events.

- - The clubs section of the links has been expanded. As
many of you know, Ford Truck Enthusiasts gives free
web space and an email address to non-profit Ford
truck clubs. We've got 3 online now with 2 more in
the next couple of weeks. If you belong to a Ford
truck club, let them know about this offer. There are
no obligations other than a simple link.

On a different note, if you're one of the people who
designed a t-shirt for our contest this past fall, please
email me your mailing address. I haven't forgotten
about the prize pack, just got behind. I have prize
packs ready to mail.

Ken Payne
Admin, Ford Truck Enthusiasts

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Date: Sat, 13 Mar 1999 16:22:13 -0600
From: Landen Stoker
Subject: FTE 97up - Price of Replacement Bumper Valance

Has anyone priced how much it is to order a replacement valance. (The gray
plastic part under the bumper). I got mine a little to close to the ground
today and the ground won :-( I am hoping this is not one of those
outrageously priced items that Ford is so well known for.

Thanks
Landen

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Date: Sat, 13 Mar 1999 16:21:16 -0700
From: Roger J Hutflesz
Subject: Re: FTE 97up - Bed liners

I just had the bed of my F250 coated with the Rhino spray-on liner.

For whatever....... The Rhino dealer suggested that he remove the plate
on the tailgate and spray it separately so If I have to do any work on
the inside of the tailgate (latch) it would be accessible. Good idea, I
took him up on that.

He also removed the 4 "tie-downs" I think they look better not sprayed.
(He said they generally spray over them.)
I also asked him to remove the 2 plastic/rubber "pass -through" covers
in the front of the bed since I have to put my CB antenna wires through
one of them. The covers reinstalled after the spray on with a little
force

All in all he did a very good job and I am pleased. The Rhino dealer is
located in Flagstaff AZ.

Thanks to all who responded to the "Bed Liner" postings.
Regards,

Roger Hutflesz



On Tue, 9 Mar 1999 13:29:11 -0600 George Rigney
writes:
>Neat demo. However, I live in the Deep South, where it rarely
>freezes. I'm
>more concerned about the performance of Rhino vs. LineX when exposed
>to the
>hot Louisiana sunshine. I don't want to load up my bed on a sizzling
>summer
>day and find that my cargo has become a permanent addition to my
>truck.
>Have any fellow Southerners had a few years worth of experience with
>either
>of the aforementioned products? Has there been any melting,
>sticking,
>staining, etc.? I'm going to call and make an appointment this week,
>so
>fast replies would be appreciated.
>
>Best regards to all,
>George
>
>1999 F-250 SD CC V10
>1984 LTD Crown Victoria 302
>1974 Gran Torino Elite 351W
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Charles Abraham [mailto:abrahamc agcs.com]
>Sent: Tuesday, March 09, 1999 11:15 AM
>To: 97up-list ford-trucks.com
>Subject: Re: FTE 97up - Bed liners
>
>
>A co-worker of mine has been investigating various spray-on bed liners
>for
>his Ford Lighting due in at the end of March. At a Rhino shop that's
>been in
>business for some seven years, the owner produced from a freezer in
>his
>office,
>several frozen swatches of spray-on material. One was a Rhino and the
>others
>his competitors. (They all varied in thickness with Ziebart being
>the
>thinnest.)
>
>All appeared to stay flexible at freezing accept for the LinerX, which
>was
>hard
>as a rock. The owner made a big point of this with my co-worker.
>
>Anyone else see a similar demonstration?.
>
>Charles.
>
>"Gallagher, Frank" wrote:
>
>> While you are on the subject of spray-on liners, I would like to
>know
>> about what you guys paid for yours. I called a local
>> Rhino dealer and got a quote of $399. I want to be sure I'm getting
>the
>> best deal if I'm gonna pay that much!
>>
>> Frank Gallagher
>> > ----------
>> > From: Keith Veren[SMTP:Spectrum-EHS worldnet.att.net]
>> > Reply To: 97up-list ford-trucks.com
>> > Sent: Thursday, March 04, 1999 7:19 PM
>> > To: 97up-list ford-trucks.com
>> > Subject: Re: FTE 97up - Bed liners
>> >
>> > Hi chris, I will also ask you (as I did the Judge about his Rhino
>> > liner) if
>> > you could describe the process of getting the Scorpion Liner, how
>> > thick is
>> > it, does it "dent" or is it smooth, how much does it cost, does it
>get
>> > slippery when wet, and can you get the pick-up bed-to-frame bolts
>out
>> > it you
>> > ever want to take the bed off?
>> >
>> > Keith
>> >
>> > -----Original Message-----
>> > From: Chris Patrick
>> > To: 97up-list ford-trucks.com
>> > Date: Thursday, March 04, 1999 5:03 PM
>> > Subject: RE: FTE 97up - Bed liners
>> >
>> >
>> > >ive used both rhino and Scorpion liner... frankly compared to
>> > Scorpion
>> > >liner, Rhino is just black paint. My Jeep is currently Scorp'd
>and
>> > im
>> > >getting my truck done next month..
>> > >
>> > >> I have a rino it is the best thing i have ever seen ! the
>judge
>> > >
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>> >
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Date: Sat, 13 Mar 1999 19:51:46 -0500
From: Gary & Nancy Brinck
Subject: FTE 97up - Re: 5W Tow Capacity

> I've read thru the Superduty literature and can't find the
> answers I need for 5th wheel trailer tow.

The 5W towing capacity is governed by the GCWR, which is 18,000# for your
truck according to the Ford towing guide (I'm looking at a July, 1998
edition). They show a typical capacity of 12,300#, meaning the typical
F250 SD SC V10 must weigh about 5700#. My PSD is otherwise the same as
your truck and it tipped the scales at 5660, according to the delivery
paperwork. However, I've heard on this list that the actual weight is often
a couple hundred pounds higher (adding a bedliner, especially a spray-in,
would account for a lot of that). Never weighed mine to find out - guess
I'll have to do that soon.

The pin weight capacity for a 5W is governed by the truck's total payload
capacity and rear axle rating. Because the 5W pin weight falls directly
over the axle, it gets maximum support from the suspension and there is no
need to de-rate as there is for a conventional trailer which is hitched
well behind the suspension and actually outside the frame of the truck. You
should have somewhere around 2000# of carrying capacity in the rear (out of
a total of about 3000# payload for the entire truck, i.e. the 8800# GVW
minus the weight of truck, fuel and passengers). I think Ford showed my
payload as 2880#, if I remember correctly.

- --
Gary Brinck...
F250 SD SC PSD Auto 3.73LS Longbed
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Date: Sat, 13 Mar 1999 21:55:08 -0500
From: Bill
Subject: Re: FTE 97up - Re: 5W Tow Capacity

Thanks to all that replied to my question of 5th wheel tow
with a F-250, V10, Auto, 4.30LS, Supercab. I now have paper
work from Ford Motor Co. that clearly states the tow
capacity is 14300# and the GCWR is 20,000#. There have been
several changes made in the Ford tow guide since early
1998. I had talked to salesman at 5 Ford Dealers and only 2
had the same answer (both wrong), one dealer has a truck
only dealer, told me the truck would tow over 20K #. By the
way I worked 33 years in a Ford plant and don't understand
why there are so many misinformed people working in these
dealerships. I had one salesman tell me I could not tow a
5th wheel travel trailer with a F-250. Anyway, thanks for
all teh replies.


> > I've read thru the Superduty literature and can't find the
> > answers I need for 5th wheel trailer tow.
>
> The 5W towing capacity is governed by the GCWR, which is 18,000# for your
> truck according to the Ford towing guide (I'm looking at a July, 1998
> edition). They show a typical capacity of 12,300#, meaning the typical
> F250 SD SC V10 must weigh about 5700#. My PSD is otherwise the same as
> your truck and it tipped the scales at 5660, according to the delivery
> paperwork.
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Date: Sun, 14 Mar 1999 00:19:34 -0500
From: Michael Ruth
Subject: FTE 97up - Orange Peel Paint/ Cat removal

Paint is right up my alley! I have a Superduty that has slight orange
peel, and the the best way to fix it is to WET SAND it. NO need to
repaint. You can do a great job if you take your time and do a little
research. I have a detailing company and can lend any advice if
directed to me personally. I DO NOT recommend doing this if your not
positive on the process or not sure if you have a CLEARCOAT finish. And
if you do proceed, try to find a junker to practice on. Most 99
Superduties are clearcoated though.

Can I ask the dealer to remove my cat and perform those changes that
were made to the post Jan 99 models? Nathan, do you know or can you
find out??? Of course I don't want to spend a mint having it done since
I bought the truck once already.
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Date: Sat, 13 Mar 1999 23:50:27 EST
From: KCochran1 aol.com
Subject: Re: FTE 97up - Orange Peel Paint/ Cat removal

In a message dated 3/13/99 11:38:54 PM Eastern Standard Time,
xplorit erols.com writes:

> Can I ask the dealer to remove my cat and perform those changes that
> were made to the post Jan 99 models? Nathan, do you know or can you
> find out??? Of course I don't want to spend a mint having it done since
> I bought the truck once already.

Pretty sure the 99.5 changes cannot be made to the 99's.

Different turbo, injectors, etc. I guess if your wanted to blow several grand
anything is possible, but why ?

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Date: Sun, 14 Mar 1999 12:46:02 -0500
From: jclem
Subject: FTE 97up - Mercon V Transmission Fluid

I have a 98 F150 SC 4.6l w/4R70W transmission. I tow a 5000 lb trailer
with it and am getting ready to do a fluid and filter change on it. The
owner's manual calls for Mercon V fluid. I was looking on Mobil's web
site and Castrol's at their full synthetic products and although both
say they meet mercon requirements, they do not specifically state they
meet Mercon V. I sent a e-mail to Mobil and didn't get a reply. Has
anyone had this question answered? I don't want to guess and risk my
warranty.

Also.... I have a XL model which doesn't have carpeting - just the
rubber mat. Anyone know of a company that sells carpet kits? The
dealer wants about $460.00 for factory carpeting and I could do my
living room and dining room cheaper than that.

Jim


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Date: Sun, 14 Mar 1999 10:57:38 -0800
From: Chuck Haugen
Subject: Re: FTE 97up - Mercon V Transmission Fluid

I have a 97 F250 LD and am changing to 10W30 engine synthetic oil (Red Line)
and checked with the dealer who said OK but not to use synthetic oil in the
transmission while under warranty for liability reasons....just in
case....since I tow close to maximum rating.

jclem wrote:
>
> I have a 98 F150 SC 4.6l w/4R70W transmission. I tow a 5000 lb trailer
> with it and am getting ready to do a fluid and filter change on it. The
> owner's manual calls for Mercon V fluid. I was looking on Mobil's web
> site and Castrol's at their full synthetic products and although both
> say they meet mercon requirements, they do not specifically state they
> meet Mercon V. I sent a e-mail to Mobil and didn't get a reply. Has
> anyone had this question answered? I don't want to guess and risk my
> warranty.
>
> Also.... I have a XL model which doesn't have carpeting - just the
> rubber mat. Anyone know of a company that sells carpet kits? The
> dealer wants about $460.00 for factory carpeting and I could do my
> living room and dining room cheaper than that.
>
> Jim
>
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Date: Sun, 14 Mar 1999 14:09:50 EST
From: CERESJohnG aol.com
Subject: Re: FTE 97up - Mercon V Transmission Fluid

Go through the manual and find the FORD spec number on transmission fluid.
Then go do a match on the back of the can of the fluid you are contemplating.
Worst comes to worst, you could buy the Mercon from your dealer.

As far as the carpeting goes, check J.C. Whitney. I know, I know but sometimes
you find that's the easiest way to go. They have two or three grades of
carpet sets for trucks. Delivery on that stuff is generally about 3 weeks
since that's direct shipped from the factory.


John G.
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Date: Sun, 14 Mar 1999 16:40:12 -0600
From: "Jeff"
Subject: RE: FTE 97up - Mercon V Transmission Fluid

Jim,
Check out Nifty Products Carpets www.niftyproducts.com sold through Summit
Racing Equipment www.summitracing.com I think you will like quality and the
price.
Jeff


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Date: Sun, 14 Mar 1999 17:51:02 -0500
From: Ken Payne
Subject: FTE 97up - ADMIN: Tech Article updates

List member Mark Strickland has submitted a series of
new tech articles to Ford Truck Enthusiasts. You can
check them out on the web site.

Ken Payne
Admin

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Date: Sun, 14 Mar 1999 17:31:08 -0600
From: "Jeff Schapker"
Subject: FTE 97up - Spring Sag

I have a 1999 F-350 PSD, Crew Cab, 4x4, DRW. It seems like my front end sits
a lot lower than it did when I bought it. Is this just my imagination? Are
there any TSB's on this? I was thinking about getting a leveling kit, has
anyone done this?
Thanks, Jeff



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Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 06:21:07 -0700
From: "Matus, Scott A"
Subject: [none]

It seems that proofreading and just proofing in general is not part of Job 1
Quality. Look at the latest sales literature on the F-Series trucks (White
cover). The picture of the chassis is reversed, unless they are building
for England. The brake resivior is on the passenger side.

Scott.
- ------------------------------

Date: Thu, 11 Mar 1999 11:14:06 -0500
From: "Mike McNany"
Subject: FTE 97up - Re: missing options (from manual)

Snip concerning the radio on w/key off
on the Nav, why is the feature mentioned in the Expedition, LD F-series, and
SD F-series manuals?>

Rob, And the answer is................
Cut and paste brain fart!

You'll find small glitches like this in every vehicle manual if the time is
taken to look. And then there's the bonus features NOT mentioned in the
owner's manual like in the expedition how the rear seat radio controls work
with the CD player for 97 &98. Or how to program/deprogram the door autolock
feature in 97.
Mike

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Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 06:35:40 -0700
From: "Matus, Scott A"
Subject: FTE 97up - Trailer tow question

My SD came with a spec sheet in the glove box that was a custom printout
just for my serial number. It stated the information that you are looking
for. Check to see if you have one.

Scott.

- ------------------------------

Date: Fri, 12 Mar 1999 20:44:27 -0500
From: Bill
Subject: FTE 97up - Trailer tow question

I've read thru the Superduty literature and can't find the
answers I need for 5th wheel trailer tow. With the
following F-250 how heavy a 5th wheel trailer will it tow
and how much weight on the pin will it take. F-250 SD,
Supercab, V10, 4.30LS, Auto trans, with trailer tow package,
2 wheel drive, in my books there is a - under this truck.
Does anyone know the weight of the above listed truck?
Thanks, Bill


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Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 09:14:37 EST
From: CERESJohnG aol.com
Subject: FTE 97up - Re: Proofreading

Scott;

I should be the absolute last to comment, I try but an e-mail or word
processor without a spellchecker creates real problems for me. Generally I
find it's because my thoughts are usually about 4 or 5 words ahead of my
fingers.

Having said that I'm not the supreme authority, I would suggest that when
growling about someone else's proofreading, make sure yours is "spot on."
Reservoir is not spelled resivior. By the way, my spellchecker gagged on that,
I had to grab my Websters to check.

John G
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Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 07:02:17 -0800
From: "mlester"
Subject: Re: FTE 97up - Re: Proofreading

John,

I believe Scott was talking about the brochure not your spelling.

Martial
- -----Original Message-----
From: CERESJohnG aol.com
To: 97up-list ford-trucks.com
Date: Monday, March 15, 1999 6:23 AM
Subject: FTE 97up - Re: Proofreading


>Scott;
>
>I should be the absolute last to comment, I try but an e-mail or word
>processor without a spellchecker creates real problems for me. Generally I
>find it's because my thoughts are usually about 4 or 5 words ahead of my
>fingers.
>
>Having said that I'm not the supreme authority, I would suggest that when
>growling about someone else's proofreading, make sure yours is "spot on."
>Reservoir is not spelled resivior. By the way, my spellchecker gagged on
that,
>I had to grab my Websters to check.
>
>John G
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>

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Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 10:06:21 -0500
From: Chris Akers
Subject: FTE 97up - K&N & Dynomax results are in

Sorry if you see this twice...

Well, I finally got my '98 5.4 4x4 all-options luxo-barge back to
the track Friday night after installing the K&N FIPK and a Dynomax
3" cat-back exhaust system that mounts in the stock location. I had
taken my truck to the track back in the fall (on a very similar
day at the same track!) and ran a best of 16.736 80.50.

I was hoping to pick up two tenths from my mods. The first
pass was a 16.514 81.35 so I was pretty happy... the next pass
was a 16.46 80.96, but it was then that I noticed that although
my mods seemed to let the engine breathe easier and rev stronger
to the revlimiter, the factory computer shifted the tranny out
of second gear around 4500 rpm. Next pass I decided to manually
shift ... after blowing that pass from hitting the rev limiter
in 1st (I blamed it on the slush-o-matic tranny that shifts,
eventually when it gets around to it. :-) but holding 2nd gear
through the traps proved worthwile and generated a final
16.418 82.35! The MPH was way up, telling me that the engine
definitely breathes better up top and could probably benefit
from a tranny reprogram to hold the shifts higher. Finishing
the 1/4 mile in 2nd gear is also a killer - the truck would
definitely respond to replacing the factory 3.55 gears with
some 3.73 or 4.1s and still be very driveable.

So, according to some handy dandy performance formulas, it
shows that the combo of the FIPK and dynomax picked up around
13-15 NET horsepower... pretty much what I expected. That's
probably all I'm going to do to the truck performance-wise
since I've got a '67 camaro drag car to spend money on and a
wrecked '95 Z that I bought to put back together. :-)

Hope this helps,
jC. '67 Camaro, '95 Z, '98 F150 - lugnutz.com
- --
Chris Akers mailto:jca celotek.com
Celotek Corporation phone:919-462-1900 x259
P.O. Box 14285 fax:919-462-1933
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709 http://www.ford-trucks.com//lc/lc.php?action=do&link=http://www.celotek.com
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Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 10:40:18 EST
From: CERESJohnG aol.com
Subject: Re: FTE 97up - Re: Proofreading

I was talking about his spelling
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Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 15:53:18 -0500
From: "Keith Veren"
Subject: Re: FTE 97up - Spring Sag

The first thing I did with my brand-new '99 F-350 SuperDuty / V-10 / SRW /
4X4 / SuperCab / LongBed / 3.73LS / Snowplow Option / Tow Option / OffRoad
Option / was get rid of the front springs (only 2-leafs for each front
spring even with the factory snowplow option) and install the TuffCountry
3.5" Front Spring Lift-Kit (my dealer installed them and assured me that
because they installed them and did the front-end alignment all warrantee
coverage would remain in effect). Now the truck sits perfectly level
(checked it with a 3-foot bubble level on the bed-rail while parked on level
ground at a gas station). Additionally, the front-end does not go down like
it used to when I lift my 8-Foot Fisher Snow Plow (850 lbs.), in fact the
front barely drops an inch with the plow up. I am very happy with the kit.
Now the front spring pack looks just like the rear spring pack (maybe 1 less
leaf, I have not counted them). Very balanced looking. They have 2 models
for the F-350 SuperDuties, one for the V-8 and V-10 and a stiffer one for
the 7.3 PowerStroke diesel. After talking to the sales-rep at TuffCountry,
he recommended that I go with the beefier kit made for the diesel because
that would work the best with the snowplow. Furthermore, after driving
around with the snowplow up, the new front springs would "soften-up" a bit
so that it was not too stiff when I drive around in the Spring, Summer and
Fall with the plow removed. So far everything seems perfect, I have taken
off the plow to see how the ride is and it is a little tight, but I like it
like that anyway. I also purchased their 8000 series gas-charged shocks....

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