From: owner-97up-list-digest ford-trucks.com (97up-list-digest)
To: 97up-list-digest ford-trucks.com
Subject: 97up-list-digest V2 #199
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97up-list-digest Monday, July 26 1999 Volume 02 : Number 199



=======================================================================
Ford Truck Enthusiasts - 1997 and Newer Trucks and Vans
Visit our web site: http://www.ford-trucks.com/
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To unsubscribe, send email to:
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with the words "unsubscribe 97up-list-digest" in the body of the
message.
=======================================================================
In this issue:

Re: FTE 97up - Oil Pressure
Re: FTE 97up - Re: EXPEDITION: Gas prices
Re: FTE 97up - Oil Pressure
FTE 97up - Molded Splash Guards
Re: FTE 97up - Oil Pressure
Re: FTE 97up - Re: EXPEDITION: Gas prices
FTE 97up - Bumpers
Re: FTE 97up - Astro Euro-Lids
Re: FTE 97up - Re: EXPEDITION: Gas prices
Re: FTE 97up - New Suspension System
Re: FTE 97up - New Suspension System
RE: FTE 97up - Re: EXPEDITION: Gas prices
Re: FTE 97up - New Suspension System
Re: FTE 97up - New Suspension System
FTE 97up - Fuel Prices
FTE 97up - ADMIN: Web site updates
FTE 97up - ADMIN: New FTE caps

=======================================================================

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

Date: Sun, 25 Jul 1999 09:00:43 EDT
From: ATUMLAW aol.com
Subject: Re: FTE 97up - Oil Pressure

In a message dated 7/23/99 7:53:45 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
dan peaktopeakrealty.com writes:


about 30 seconds after starting it cold. >>

I believe this is the piston slap that happens with some 5.4 L engines when
it's cold. I read in Truck Trend mag that Ford is aware of the problem and
has a fix almost ready, but I've been hearing that for a long time. The fix
involves ripping the engine apart though.
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------------------------------

Date: Sun, 25 Jul 1999 07:07:01 -0700
From: "mlester"
Subject: Re: FTE 97up - Re: EXPEDITION: Gas prices

Southern Calif.

Diesel $1.49
87 Octane $1.39


- -----Original Message-----
From: RSnovi aol.com
To: 97up-list ford-trucks.com
Date: Saturday, July 24, 1999 11:23 PM
Subject: Re: FTE 97up - Re: EXPEDITION: Gas prices


>In a message dated 7/24/99 2:04:47 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
BFunk33 aol.com
>writes:
>
>S. FL avg 1.16 diesel
> 1.44 super
>
>RS
>
> Date: 7/24/99 2:04:47 PM Eastern Daylight Time
> From: BFunk33 aol.com
> Sender: owner-97up-list ford-trucks.com
> Reply-to:
>HREF="mailto:97up-list ford-trucks.com">97up-list ford-trucks.com
>
> To: 97up-list ford-trucks.com
>
> I gotta wonder...
> Here in Phoenix, the prices for 87 octane average $1.30 (as reported); I
pay
> about $1.15.
> Here, there are two distributorss of gasoline; Tosco, and I don't remember
> the name of the other. ALL brands buy from them (or truck their own in at
> high cost). If there were really an attempt to get as much as they could,
> what's to keep the prices from being $1.50, $1.75 or $2.00/gal?
> It's *competition*.
> Anyone who really thinks that profits are too high in the business ought
to
> buy stock in the involved companies.
> Bill
>
> ORIGINAL MESSAGE:
>
> From: "Burt Mann"
> Subject: Re: EXPEDITION: Gas prices
>
> >Here in the SF Bay Area, we're back over $1.70 for regular unleaded...
>
> As we all suspect there's something funny going on here. I live 6 miles
over
> the GA/NC state line and gas is consistently 15 cents a gal higher in NC
> than in GA. However, this last increase only pushed NC up about 10 cents
but
> GA has gone up 20 cents. The good news is that I can still buy it for
close
> to 1.00 a gallon (or 1.05 in NC). I think they're just squeezing us for
> whatever they can get, aka Business as Usual.
> ===========================================================
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>
>
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>(EDT)
> Message-ID:
> Date: Sat, 24 Jul 1999 14:01:37 EDT
> Subject: FTE 97up - Re: EXPEDITION: Gas prices
> To: 97up-list ford-trucks.com
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------------------------------

Date: Sun, 25 Jul 1999 07:16:50 -0700
From: Danny Gaudenti
Subject: Re: FTE 97up - Oil Pressure

>
> about 30 seconds after starting it cold. >>
>
>I believe this is the piston slap that happens with some 5.4 L engines when
>it's cold. I read in Truck Trend mag that Ford is aware of the problem and
>has a fix almost ready, but I've been hearing that for a long time. The fix
>involves ripping the engine apart though.

I don't a 5.4L engine so I have no right to comment, but... How many have
had an engine go bad because of the piston slap? I mean, if the thing is
going to go 200,000 miles slapping all the way, why worry about it? I
certainly wouldn't like the idea of a dealer mechanic tearing into an
otherwise perfectly good engine. If Ford has found that engines with the
slap have a shortened life, then I suppose there is no other option. But
if it's just a noise at startup, why worry about it?

Danny

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

Date: Sun, 25 Jul 1999 10:42:42 -0500
From: Landen Stoker
Subject: FTE 97up - Molded Splash Guards

I have a set of Ford rear molded splash guards for 97 up F150 that I want to get rid of. They are brand new, still
sealed in the package. I figured I would see if any list members were interested. Asking $25.00

Thanks
Landen Stoker

99 Silver F150 XLT, 4.6 V8, 3.55 Rear End, K&N Air Filter, Silver Lund Avenger Bug Shield, XSport Bike Carrier, Alpine 7837
Stereo, Yaesu FT-8100 Ham Radio.

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

Date: Sun, 25 Jul 1999 17:42:51 +0200
From: eh60ip mail.apcnet.com (Don Francis)
Subject: Re: FTE 97up - Oil Pressure

On the piston slap at startup issue:

>Danny said:
>I don't a 5.4L engine so I have no right to comment, but... How many
have
>had an engine go bad because of the piston slap? I mean, if the thing
is
>going to go 200,000 miles slapping all the way, why worry about it? I
>certainly wouldn't like the idea of a dealer mechanic tearing into an
>otherwise perfectly good engine. If Ford has found that engines with
the
>slap have a shortened life, then I suppose there is no other option.
But
>if it's just a noise at startup, why worry about it?

Not trying to be a smartass here, but any knocking sound during any
portion of the engine operation is not a good thing. Piston slap causes
piston skirts to crack, and with enough slapping an elongated crack will
develop in the piston side(s). This crack can develop on both sides of
the piston and worse yet can develop with twin cracks on one side that
will extend up each side of the skirt extension, and in some cases it
will go all the way to the bottom oil ring set. When these cracks get
long enough (cracks on both sides of the skirt) the skirt itself can
break away and fall into the oil pan. Older 302's had this particular
problem with cast pistons, and as soon as you lose a skirt extension
that piston is no longer anywhere near dynamically balanced, and it
significantly reduces the engine life. So, don't accept any knocking
sound. It's not a good thing any way you look at it.

Don

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

Date: Sun, 25 Jul 1999 09:02:54 -0700
From: "Neil Plocek"
Subject: Re: FTE 97up - Re: EXPEDITION: Gas prices

Northern CA. (100 miles north of Sacramento) getting ripped off big time!!!!
87 octane 1.53 to 1.79 per gal
Diesel 1.29 to 1.49 per gal

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

Date: Sun, 25 Jul 1999 17:50:42 +0200
From: eh60ip mail.apcnet.com (Don Francis)
Subject: FTE 97up - Bumpers

Hey folks I'm looking for bumpers for my new F350 that I have on order
(Y2K). I'm specifically looking for the chrome rear bumpers that are
10-12 inches tall in the center and narrow towards the edges. They have
to be able to accommodate the factory trailer tow package (I assume a
Reese Class IV type hitch). Also, I've read that the front bumper will
protect the front end from small birds and raindrops, but anything
larger might lead to grill damage, so I'm looking for a fashionable
front bumper that will actually protect the truck from a fender bender
and not look like something out of Mad Max.

Anyone have any recommendations where I can get what I'm looking for?

Thanks! Don
eh60ip apcnet.com

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

Date: Sun, 25 Jul 1999 11:29:55 -0500
From: "Karl Nyhus"
Subject: Re: FTE 97up - Astro Euro-Lids

> Ronald Palmer wrote:

> Has anyone out there had any experience with
> the Astro Euro-Lids Fiberglass Bed Covers?

Yeah, I had one for a year and a half on my green '97 F150 and I liked it a
lot. The only downside was, since it sits up on top of the bed rails instead
of wrapping down over the sides, it would let in a little water when I would
take it through a car wash. (I left the OEM grey plastic bed rail covers on
so maybe it would have had a better seal if I had taken those off.)

So, why'd I get rid of it? I liked the aerodynamic improvement (gas
mileage), the security of the "big trunk," and the protection from snow and
rain. But there were too many times it was in the way of carrying something
tall in the bed. So I had a Line-X liner sprayed in and traded the Euro Lid
in on a cross-bed tool box and have been happy ever since.

Karl Nyhus, Minneapolis, MN--1997 Pacific Green Ford F-150 SuperCab XL, SB,
4.6L V8, 4WD, 5-speed, 3.08, VDO tachometer, 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, 25 Jul 1999 11:32:17 -0500
From: "pennhead"
Subject: Re: FTE 97up - Re: EXPEDITION: Gas prices

Jonesboro, Arkansas

Regular Unleaded $1.11 / gal
Super Unleaded $1.21 / gal
Premium Unleaded $1.31 / gal

And this is the highest it's been in over a year! (2) months ago, these
prices were $0.89, $0.99, & $1.09, respectively.

I guess we have it better than I thought here in the south!

- ----- Original Message -----
From: Neil Plocek
To:
Sent: Sunday, July 25, 1999 11:02 AM
Subject: Re: FTE 97up - Re: EXPEDITION: Gas prices


> Northern CA. (100 miles north of Sacramento) getting ripped off big
time!!!!
> 87 octane 1.53 to 1.79 per gal
> Diesel 1.29 to 1.49 per gal
>
> == FTE: Uns*bscribe and posting info http://www.ford-trucks.com/faq.html
>

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

Date: Sun, 25 Jul 1999 11:48:43 -0500
From: "Karl Nyhus"
Subject: Re: FTE 97up - New Suspension System

> Ross Smith wrote:
> Do you happen to have anything for leveling the
> front on the '99 4x4/ F250SD/PSD?

Ross, You're not the first to ask about this. My question is, why do so many
people want to "level" their trucks? Have you put a decent load in the back
and seen how far down the bed rides? If it starts level empty, it's really
going to look like it's dragging when it's full. My '97 F150 starts high in
the back but a reasonable load of building materials definitely tilts it
downwards below the front. (Maybe I'm over my payload limit but I don't
think so.)

I do wonder about the front spring setup on the 3/4 ton super duties. I
looked at a V-10 equipped model at the dealer (OK, I can wish can't I?) and
the two (only two) front spring leaves were absolutely flat, with no upward
spring at all. Didn't look right to me.

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

Date: Sun, 25 Jul 1999 13:22:50 EDT
From: RSnovi aol.com
Subject: Re: FTE 97up - New Suspension System

In a message dated 7/25/99 12:46:36 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
snarl goldengate.net writes:


i know it takes about a full load of stuff in the back and a 5K trailer to
get it to level though and i heard the it drives better unloaded with the
leveling kit.

Ross S

Ross, You're not the first to ask about this. My question is, why do so many
people want to "level" their trucks? Have you put a decent load in the back
and seen how far down the bed rides? If it starts level empty, it's really
going to look like it's dragging when it's full. My '97 F150 starts high in
the back but a reasonable load of building materials definitely tilts it
downwards below the front. (Maybe I'm over my payload limit but I don't
think so.)

I do wonder about the front spring setup on the 3/4 ton super duties. I
looked at a V-10 equipped model at the dealer (OK, I can wish can't I?) and
the two (only two) front spring leaves were absolutely flat, with no upward
spring at all. Didn't look right to me.
>>
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------------------------------

Date: Sun, 25 Jul 1999 14:04:24 -0500
From: Dmoore dmoore.com
Subject: RE: FTE 97up - Re: EXPEDITION: Gas prices

You guys should move to Houston, TX -

Diesel - .98 to 1.05 but I usually find it for about .99

David

- -----Original Message-----
From: owner-97up-list ford-trucks.com
[mailto:owner-97up-list ford-trucks.com]On Behalf Of pennhead
Sent: Sunday, July 25, 1999 11:32 AM
To: 97up-list ford-trucks.com
Subject: Re: FTE 97up - Re: EXPEDITION: Gas prices


Jonesboro, Arkansas

Regular Unleaded $1.11 / gal
Super Unleaded $1.21 / gal
Premium Unleaded $1.31 / gal

And this is the highest it's been in over a year! (2) months ago, these
prices were $0.89, $0.99, & $1.09, respectively.

I guess we have it better than I thought here in the south!

- ----- Original Message -----
From: Neil Plocek
To:
Sent: Sunday, July 25, 1999 11:02 AM
Subject: Re: FTE 97up - Re: EXPEDITION: Gas prices


> Northern CA. (100 miles north of Sacramento) getting ripped off big
time!!!!
> 87 octane 1.53 to 1.79 per gal
> Diesel 1.29 to 1.49 per gal
>
> == FTE: Uns*bscribe and posting info http://www.ford-trucks.com/faq.html
>

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

Date: Sun, 25 Jul 1999 20:18:44 -0400
From: "Keith Veren"
Subject: Re: FTE 97up - New Suspension System

Repost:
Even with my 3-1/2 inch front lift, when I load the rear, the rear does not
go down enough to cause the truck to look "rear-low", of course, with an
F-350 you really would have to put a lot in to drop the rear down.
REPOST from last winter of the 3-1/2" lift I had installed: (ps. I am still
pleased with it)

"""Got the F-350 back tonight. Wow! The Tuff Country (www.tuffcountry.com)
front lift kit is great, I am very pleased!! My truck is the SuperDuty
F-350 / XLT / 4X4 / V-10 / SuperCab / SRW / Longbed / Snowplow Package / Tow
Package / Off-Road Package and now, with the new front spring pack, the
thing sits dead level and looks much, much taller. Because I have an 850
pound
Fisher Plow, the representative at TuffCountry recommended that I get the
F2355 Springs (heavier, originally for the F-250/350 with the diesel) rather
than the F-2354 (lighter, originally for the gas engines). The springs have
a nice positive arch, and they really look good, they match the appearance,
number of leaves and arch of the rear springs so things look equal. Also go
the LL264 shock absorbers all around. As I was driving home, I really
noticed the difference in ride, and to my surprise I actually thought the
handling was much better. When I went over dips and bumps and even a little
bit of washboard, the truck did not (as I feared) "bang" or "jostle and
rattle" like one would expect stiffer springs to do; rather, I felt a very
firm, solid, smooth and noiseless compression/decompression (or, as some
like to put it, a vertical positive and negative acceleration/deceleration
action). The only thing I have to think about now is getting out the floor
jack and raising my plow about 3 inches so I can drive into the mounting
brackets!!! (we expect snow here in Massachusetts tomorrow). By the way,
do not try to install the TuffCountry springs yourself unless you are a good
mechanic and have a helper because the springs are very heavy and
installation requires drilling out brackets and re-mounting the sway bar and
the tracking bar, if you mess-up, your safety could be compromised.
Besides, after installation, the front-end must be re-aligned so this is one
job I left to my dealership.

By the way, my dealer was very happy to install the kit and said do not
worry about voiding any the Ford "bumper-to-bumper warrantee because they
installed it. I have had my dealer (Acton Ford) install all kinds of
aftermarket stuff on all three of our vehicles (F-350 / Expedition /
Explorer) and they stand by the installation and vehicle warrantee if they
install it. I think most dealers would do the same (Nathan?)."""""END
REPOST

Keith

- -----Original Message-----
From: RSnovi aol.com
To: 97up-list ford-trucks.com
Date: Sunday, July 25, 1999 1:31 PM
Subject: Re: FTE 97up - New Suspension System


>In a message dated 7/25/99 12:46:36 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
>snarl goldengate.net writes:
>
>
>i know it takes about a full load of stuff in the back and a 5K trailer to
>get it to level though and i heard the it drives better unloaded with the
>leveling kit.
>
>Ross S
>
> Ross, You're not the first to ask about this. My question is, why do so
many
> people want to "level" their trucks? Have you put a decent load in the
back
> and seen how far down the bed rides? If it starts level empty, it's really
> going to look like it's dragging when it's full. My '97 F150 starts high
in
> the back but a reasonable load of building materials definitely tilts it
> downwards below the front. (Maybe I'm over my payload limit but I don't
> think so.)
>
> I do wonder about the front spring setup on the 3/4 ton super duties. I
> looked at a V-10 equipped model at the dealer (OK, I can wish can't I?)
and
> the two (only two) front spring leaves were absolutely flat, with no
upward
> spring at all. Didn't look right to me.
> >>
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------------------------------

Date: Sun, 25 Jul 1999 19:31:25 -0500
From: "Karl Nyhus"
Subject: Re: FTE 97up - New Suspension System

> Keith Veren wrote:
> Even with my 3-1/2 inch front lift, when I load the
> rear, the rear does not go down enough to
> cause the truck to look "rear-low", of course,
> with an F-350 you really would have to put a lot
> in to drop the rear down.

> Ross S wrote:
> i know it takes about a full load of stuff in the
> back and a 5K trailer to get it to level though and
> i heard the it drives better unloaded with the
> leveling kit.

Guess I'll have to get a Super Duty if I don't want my rear end dragging.

Karl Nyhus, Minneapolis, MN--1997 Pacific Green Ford F-150 SuperCab XL, SB,
4.6L V8, 4WD, 5-speed, 3.08, VDO tachometer, 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, 25 Jul 1999 17:31:16 PDT
From: "Scott Matus"
Subject: FTE 97up - Fuel Prices

In Colorado (Denver Suburbs)

Diesel - $1.09 /Gal
87 Octane - $1.25 /Gal
91 Octane - $1.30 /Gal

Scott.


_______________________________________________________________
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------------------------------

Date: Sun, 25 Jul 1999 20:39:15 -0400
From: Ken Payne
Subject: FTE 97up - ADMIN: Web site updates

Ford Truck Enthusiasts web site updates:

Pictorial sections updated:
1. Pre-48
2. 48-52
3. 53-56
4. 97 and newer
5. small trucks
6. Rancheros

Link sections updated:
1. Antique cars
2. Ford trucks - Econolines
3. Performance trucks
4. Offroad trucks

As some of you may know, FTE takes active steps to
combat spam (Junk email). We have the following
measures:

1. for ford-trucks.com email addresses, POP3 login
is required before sending email through our
system.
2. we continually update a database of known spammers
and reject mail from them (13,000 known sources
right now)
3. Where possible, we mangle email addresses on the
web site.

We're pleased to announce that we now have a tool
on the web site (invisible to users) which activates
when an email address harvester hits our site to
try to get email addresses from the web pages. This
tool spits out tens of thousands of bogus email
addresses to the harvester, polluting their database
so badly that it is, in effect, rendered useless.

Also, if you haven't checked out the site in a while,
there is a page which links up to the US TSB/recall
database. You can get TSB and recall information for
Ford trucks and vans all the way back to 1966.

Ken Payne
Admin, Ford Truck Enthusiasts
http://www.ford-trucks.com

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

Date: Sun, 25 Jul 1999 22:36:42 -0400
From: Ken Payne
Subject: FTE 97up - ADMIN: New FTE caps

Fellow FTE members. Over the past year, I've had MANY
requests from members for Ford Truck Enthusiasts to
produce a baseball cap. We finally bit the bullet and
created one.

The cap is two-tone denim, blue jean colored bill with
khaki colored cap. It has "Ford Truck Enthusiasts"
embroidered on the front and the web address. We decided
that a high quality cap for a couple bucks more that
lasts a long time was better than a cheap cap that
wears out. This cap has an adjustable leather strap
instead of plastic and is made of pre-washed denim.
You'll find a picture of it on the web site plus a
link to purchase it. The picture is lousy since all
I have is a cheapo $70 computer cam but we put a closeup
of the logo and denim on the linked page with the
flatbed scanner so you can a close-up of the logo.....

---

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