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Date: Thu, 26 Mar 1998 04:53:22 -0700 (MST)
From: owner-fordtrucks97up-digest ListService.net (fordtrucks97up-digest)
To: fordtrucks97up-digest ListService.net
Subject: fordtrucks97up-digest V1 #36
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fordtrucks97up-digest Thursday, March 26 1998 Volume 01 : Number 036



=======================================================================
Ford Truck Enthusiasts - 1997 And Newer Trucks Digest
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=======================================================================
In this issue:

Re: Ford Tech ["Miller, Eric M." ]
RE: Ford Tech ["Chad Royse" ]
RE: head restraints on the crew cab seats - part 2 ["Chad Royse"
RE: Lug Nut Torque on an aluminum wheeled F150? ["Chad Royse"
Misc. noises & questions ["Eric Elliott" ]
Re: 50th Anniversary Blanket [BigFords1 ]
Re: Ford Tech [BigFords1 ]
Re: head restraints on the crew cab seats - part 2 [Ken Payne
97 exhaust..........Wheel lug nut torque ["Ron Joyce"
Re: 97 exhaust..........Wheel lug nut torque [Shawn Utz
re: head restraints [Rich Cower ]
Bob Rewey, "Voice of the Customer" at Ford (wow) [Rich Cower

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Date: Wed, 25 Mar 1998 07:44:04 -0500
From: "Miller, Eric M."
Subject: Re: Ford Tech

>>From: "Mike Smith"
>>Subject: Re: Ford Tech
>>
>>I was told by my friendly Ford dealer that Ford is planning to make a
>>"suburban" fighter based on the F350
>>SD truck chassis, We will have to wait and see.
>>Mike

I believe it was two weeks ago - in Autoweek. There was a spy photo of
this vehicle parked next to the suburban. Can you say HUGE? The
comparison in size was about the same as the Explorer vs. Expedition!

Eric

98 F150, Lariat, SC, Flareside, 5.4, ORP, TTP, captains, CD, slider,
keyless entry/alarm, Chrome Westin's, DeflectaShield Magnum, K&N,
Ventvisors, & Gibson Muffler.

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

Date: Wed, 25 Mar 1998 08:46:56 -0500
From: "Chad Royse"
Subject: RE: Ford Tech

You can find some info on the Suburban fighter in several past issues of
TrailerLife.

Chad

- -----Original Message-----
From: owner-fordtrucks97up ListService.net
[mailto:owner-fordtrucks97up ListService.net]On Behalf Of Miller, Eric
M.
Sent: Wednesday, March 25, 1998 7:44 AM
To: 'fordtrucks97up ListService.net'
Subject: Re: Ford Tech


>>From: "Mike Smith"
>>Subject: Re: Ford Tech
>>
>>I was told by my friendly Ford dealer that Ford is planning to make a
>>"suburban" fighter based on the F350
>>SD truck chassis, We will have to wait and see.
>>Mike

I believe it was two weeks ago - in Autoweek. There was a spy photo of
this vehicle parked next to the suburban. Can you say HUGE? The
comparison in size was about the same as the Explorer vs. Expedition!

Eric

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

Date: Wed, 25 Mar 1998 08:53:44 -0500
From: "Chad Royse"
Subject: RE: head restraints on the crew cab seats - part 2

I really do understand your concern, and I don't blame you. But also, the
truck you described is one of the biggest and heaviest you can get. It
would take a very large vehicle to ever hit you hard enough to seriously
jolt the passengers.

Again, I am not mocking you. I think it's great that there are still people
out there who take that much responsibility with their family. Now I'm
really itching to get on my soap box about parents who drop there kids off
at malls and what-not, like it's a day care, and then wonder why they turn
out they way they do. But I'll stop there.

Good luck,
Chad

- -----Original Message-----
From: owner-fordtrucks97up ListService.net
[mailto:owner-fordtrucks97up ListService.net]On Behalf Of Rich Cower
Sent: Tuesday, March 24, 1998 9:11 PM
To: 'fordtrucks97up listservice.net'
Subject: head restraints on the crew cab seats - part 2


We called the 800 number too on this head restraint thing - no luck. The
"answer" we got was "we don't whythey were removed, we don't know if there
will be any change in the future" and what was absolutely amazing - is the
customer service representative - and her supervisor (Margaret - no last
names given) insist there is no other phone number or person you can talk
to at Ford Motor Company in North America about this problem.

She did say she would send Email to someone in marketing and let them know
about the head restraint issue.

I've cancelled my order on the 99 Super Duty (Crew Cab, DRW, 4X4). I think
it's a great truck - but as I've said before I won't put my children in a
vehicle that I believe is inherently unsafe - and the rear seat of these
trucks is unsafe in a rear end collison.

rich cower




+-------------- Ford Truck Enthusiasts - 1997 and Newer --------------+
| Send posts to fordtrucks97up listservice.net, |
| List removal instructions on the website. |
+----------------- Site: http://www.ford-trucks.com -----------------+

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

Date: Wed, 25 Mar 1998 09:04:37 -0500
From: "Chad Royse"
Subject: RE: Lug Nut Torque on an aluminum wheeled F150?

Hey '.',
What kind of "wheel play" are you suspecting a '97 or '98 of having?

Chad

PS I like 7-Up too, but you should give us some sort of name, nick, or
handle. Just a suggestion.

- -----Original Message-----
From: owner-fordtrucks97up ListService.net
[mailto:owner-fordtrucks97up ListService.net]On Behalf Of .
Sent: Wednesday, March 25, 1998 1:55 AM
To: fordtrucks97up ListService.net
Subject: Re: Lug Nut Torque on an aluminum wheeled F150?


Bash the thing all you want, you're paying for it :-)
I had to jack my rig upt tonight to check for wheel play. The jack had a
pamphlet in it'storage module that gave the torque. I believe that the
torque
for the wheel nuts in my F-150, 4.6,4X2 is a range of 85-115 ft. blbs. You
need to check me on the figures though.


Wotsa Wuck


Ann Mitchell wrote:

> What's the lug nut torque on a 1998 16" dia. aluminum wheel on an F150
4wd?
> Can you believe that the owner's manual doesn't give this very basic
> information? I have a 1992 Explorer and the owner's manual for that was
> very informative for that type of information. The new F150 manual is
void
> of relevant technical information. It's great at describing the mind
> numbing process of programming the windshield wipers to go variable speed
> intermittent, and void of what torque to use when you rotate or have to
> change a tire. Go figure.
>
> Do any of you 1998 F150, 4wd, auto trani, supercab, styleside owners hear
a
> faint but constant sound that sounds like pinging whenever you go over
> 30mph? I am trying to isolate the noise. I know what true pinging sounds
> like, but this seems to be wind dependent not throttle. The sound doesn't
> seem to change pitch or speed when I accelerate but it definitely makes me
> think the engine has a ping. Has anyone else experienced this?
>
> Have you noticed how much sand gets packed under the doors on the F150?
> I'll bet the door bottoms don't last too long with the salted sand we have
> here in ME. Don't get me wrong, I'm just trying to figure out my new toy.
> I thinks its a great truck. Strong engine (4.6L), nice looks, great
> handling, nice truck. I'm not trying to bash it just figure it out.
>
> +---------




+-------------- Ford Truck Enthusiasts - 1997 and Newer --------------+
| Send posts to fordtrucks97up listservice.net, |
| List removal instructions on the website. |
+----------------- Site: http://www.ford-trucks.com -----------------+

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

Date: Wed, 25 Mar 1998 13:57:11 -0600
From: "Eric Elliott"
Subject: Misc. noises & questions

Hello,
Can you recommend a book on the 5.4 engine? Other Ford owners have mentioned
strange engine sounds that usually fade as the engine warms. My 5.4 sounds
different some times after cold start. I can't recognize the various pump
and valve noises.

Some of the engine emission control components named in the EVTM manual
don't mean anything to me. Where can I find a good explanation of the
emission control operation theory?

My third door seems noisy. Kind of like noise from an open window.
Passengers have remarked about the noise also. After 3000 miles, I found
that the top latch never had been latched. Just slam the third door for
consistent top latch operation. Still the noise is heard. I suspect the
exhaust vent behind the rear seat back on curb side of truck. Is this a
common noise?

During the first 4000 miles, my F250LD had a clean exhaust pipe. After
leaving the central CA coast, I noticed my tailpipe had a black coating.
Carbon that was being burned is now coating the pipe. What changed?

Eric

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

Date: Wed, 25 Mar 1998 17:35:14 EST
From: BigFords1
Subject: Re: 50th Anniversary Blanket

I have a 50th anniversary blanket, my dad gave it to me when the dealership
sent it to him. He is a very good customer. He's in love with Ford but he
won't admit it.

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

Date: Wed, 25 Mar 1998 17:45:08 EST
From: BigFords1
Subject: Re: Ford Tech

I have seen pictures of a "Suburban Fighter" called the "Crew Wagon". It is up
to a foot longer than the suburban . And comes with all the cool Ford engines:
5.4 V-8,
6.8 V-10, 7.3 Power Stroke V-8(my favorite). I would like to attach a picture
but I have already been lectured for attaching pictures.

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

Date: Wed, 25 Mar 1998 19:08:00 -0500
From: Ken Payne
Subject: Re: head restraints on the crew cab seats - part 2

At 06:10 PM 3/24/98 -0800, you wrote:
>We called the 800 number too on this head restraint thing - no luck. The
>"answer" we got was "we don't whythey were removed, we don't know if there
>will be any change in the future" and what was absolutely amazing - is the
>customer service representative - and her supervisor (Margaret - no last
>names given) insist there is no other phone number or person you can talk
>to at Ford Motor Company in North America about this problem.
>
>She did say she would send Email to someone in marketing and let them know
>about the head restraint issue.
>
>I've cancelled my order on the 99 Super Duty (Crew Cab, DRW, 4X4). I think
>it's a great truck - but as I've said before I won't put my children in a
>vehicle that I believe is inherently unsafe - and the rear seat of these
>trucks is unsafe in a rear end collison.
>
>rich cower
>

Serious question: how old and how tall are your children?

Unless they're teenagers (or soon to be), head restraints
can't possibly an issue. If this makes this truck
inherently unsafe, then by your criteria 99% of all autos
are unsafe because the vast majority do not have head
restraints in the back seat.

Ken

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

Date: Wed, 25 Mar 1998 17:34:46 -0800
From: "Ron Joyce"
Subject: 97 exhaust..........Wheel lug nut torque

Hi Guys & Gals
Change muffler tailpipe configuration from 97 to 98
The TSB for the WARRANTY repair is # 97-26-13
+ Ford WILL cover ALL costs

+ It is a NEW system from the cat back - not a 'cut and paste'
repair to the pipe alone

I believe the correct wheel lug torque for the 16 inch aluminum rims on the
97 f150 is 100 ft lbs.......I use a star wrench and torque i'm down as tight
as I can.
Ron

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

Date: Wed, 25 Mar 1998 17:57:59 -0800 (PST)
From: Shawn Utz
Subject: Re: 97 exhaust..........Wheel lug nut torque

Ron writes:

Hi Guys & Gals
Change muffler tailpipe configuration from 97 to 98
The TSB for the WARRANTY repair is # 97-26-13
+ Ford WILL cover ALL costs


Unless I missed it, what Trucks does this apply to?
Simply the F150, or all, or ?

- -Shawn
'97 F350 PS CC LB

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

Date: Wed, 25 Mar 1998 18:28:20 -0800
From: Rich Cower
Subject: re: head restraints

Ken - a serious answer:

The boys are 8 and 9, with a little one in a car seat. I have a 16 year old
daughter that
needs to ride back there too. With the exception of the baby, they are all
tall enough that their heads would impact the rear window in a rear end
collision. I've put them in the back seat of a 99 Crew Cab on the lot and
verified this. It was also in our intent to keep this vehicle for a long
time - and these kids aren't going to get any smaller.

I have to disagree, the cars we've looked at (volvo's, bmw's and even the
hummer) have head restraints on the rear seat. The big difference is in a
car - when the head snaps back it does not hit a glass window. I'm sure you
can see the difference in a head hitting nothing vs. a head impacting the
rear window of a pickup. It's whiplash vs. head trauma. I drive a Volvo
now, my wife (and kids) usually ride in our 97 Crew Cab Ford (with
restraints on the rear seat). Saftey is very important to us.

My question is more basic - why did Ford remove this saftey feature - it's
in our 97 but not in the 99. Adding it - it wasn't in our 99 F350 Crew Cab
- - and then removing them appears to
be a bad move. I'd like to see the memo's and minute meetings on that
decision. Unfortunately, it'll take someone getting hurt and then using the
discovery process to pull them out of Ford with a court order. I just don't
want it to be my kids who are the injured parties.

Again - this a great truck. I won't knowingly put my kids in an unsafe
vehicle - and the
backseats on the 99 Crew Cabs are not safe. I've had no luck in calling
Ford, emailing Ford, talking to my dealer. I'm owned Fords trucks for many
years - and fortunately - I've never had to try to deal with their
"customer service" group. It stinks.

rich


>Serious question: how old and how tall are your children?

>Unless they're teenagers (or soon to be), head restraints
>can't possibly an issue. If this makes this truck
>inherently unsafe, then by your criteria 99% of all autos
>are unsafe because the vast majority do not have head
>restraints in the back seat.

>Ken

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

Date: Wed, 25 Mar 1998 18:43:59 -0800
From: Rich Cower
Subject: Bob Rewey, "Voice of the Customer" at Ford (wow)

The other night I found a web site at Ford that I posted my "head restraint" questions to.
Here is the reply from Bob Rewey "Voice of the Customer" -

Thank you for visiting Bob Rewey's "Voice of the Customer" web site. We
received your message, but unfortunately this is not the correct department
to address your issue. For assistance, please contact Ford's Customer....

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