small-list-digest Thursday, February 25 1999 Volume 03 : Number 051



=======================================================================
Ford Truck Enthusiasts - Ranger, Explorer, Bronco 2 and Aerostar
Visit our web site: http://www.ford-trucks.com/
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
To unsubscribe, send email to:
majordomo ford-trucks.com
with the words "unsubscribe small-list-digest" in the body of the
message.
=======================================================================
In this issue:

RE: FTE Small - Hey Ken, stereo list maybe
FTE Small - More troubles
FTE Small - Re: Good Things About Aerostars
RE: FTE Small - Explorer - Engine Pinging
FTE Small - Re: Re: Ranger vs F150 vs SD 4x4
Re: FTE Small - Hey Ken, stereo list maybe
RE: FTE Small - Hey Ken, stereo list maybe
FTE Small - Re: ranger tonneau covers
Re: FTE Small - Re: ranger tonneau covers
Re: FTE Small - Re: ranger tonneau covers
Re: FTE Small - In which I Praise my Aerostar
FTE Small - Sensors
Re: FTE Small - Re: ranger tonneau covers
Re: FTE Small - More troubles
FTE Small - Re: Ranger Bed Cover
Re: FTE Small - Explorer - Engine Pinging
Re: FTE Small - Explorer - Engine Pinging
FTE Small - Re: Peak vs RMS power

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

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

Date: Wed, 24 Feb 1999 06:58:21 -0500
From: J Cope
Subject: RE: FTE Small - Hey Ken, stereo list maybe

Now, the biggest thing to remember is that for the most part, you aren't
going to overpower your speakers, most people underpower their preakers,
thus blowing them..
[]
I had the same thing explained to me. The less power you send to a
speaker, the less control that speaker has. Speaker cones like to move in
and out in a straight line. When too little power is put to speakers, the
cone starts "wobbling" and moving around instead of just in and out, thus
tearing the cone and damaging the speaker...

JC

== FTE: Uns*bscribe and posting info http://www.ford-trucks.com/faq.html

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

Date: Tue, 23 Feb 1999 07:55:47 -0500
From: Steve P
Subject: FTE Small - More troubles

OK I did some looking around on the firewall for some type of
resister/impedance module for the Blower fan motor control... Perhaps my
eyes are going bad, but I don't see anything but the plug that connects
to the motor itself, and another that plugs in closer to the heater core
area... The only "modules" I see are located on the fenderwall beside
the air filter. Exactly where is this item located again?? I have no
manuals for the truck yet.

The 2.9L still seems winpy to me even though the distributer has been
rebuilt, new cap/wires/plugs/filters and pickup coil. There are no
codes being thrown, however I feel this engine should be a bit more
peppy. Some of the power loss may be from the lack of downshifting
causing the engine to lug along in too high a gear, but from a standing
start the engine just isn't up stuff.

What, if any, modifications has anyone done to increase the performance
of the 2.9L ?? I found an RV Cam from Competitions Cams that claims to
boost Tq. and HP from 1500-5000rpm which sounds decent... I've also
found a "chip" listed for the B2 but its for a different year, so I am
wondering if anyone has triad any of this stuff?

I want to thank everyone who responded to my power and blower troubles,
unfortunately noone had a solution for my downshift trouble... Oh well I
guess I will ask Ken for some insight from the Drivetrain page.

SO after all this what did I find today in the driveway? A nice green
puddle under the fan/W.P. area... Guess I will have to brave these
bitter sub-zero temps and change the W.P. tomorrow.
- --
=============================================
Steven Parker
dragon64 ntcnet.com
ICQ UIN#1801529
=============================================
Monte Carlo SS Thunder!
http://www.ford-trucks.com//lc/lc.php?action=do&link=http://www.ntcnet.com/~dragon64/Monte_SS.html
'87 MCSS ZZ4 "Incarcerator" 13.88 e.t.
'97 T-Bird 4.6L "Blackbird"
'87 Bronco II
=============================================

"There Is No Replacement For Displacement!!!"

"Information is gushing at you brain like a firehose aimed at a teacup!"

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
== FTE: Uns*bscribe and posting info http://www.ford-trucks.com/faq.html

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

Date: Wed, 24 Feb 1999 08:44:32 -0500
From: "Mike McNany"
Subject: FTE Small - Re: Good Things About Aerostars

Snip
6) Blends in with rush hour "soccer-mom" suburban traffic.
7) You can live in it if you ever lose your job.
8) When you die, they can bury you in it.
9) You can take the back seat out and use it for extra seating at the
Thanksgiving table for up to three adults.
10) It's not a Chevy.>

Hey, I resemble the #9 remark! When I got divorced and was transferred 500
miles, I unbolted and stacked the seats and between the Aerostar and the 18
1/2 ft boat I hauled all I got out of the divorce except my drums and RX7.
I DID use both of the rear seats for my initial living room furniture. I'm
the guy who had his 88 Aerostar bought used w/16K and sold w/70K w/no
unexpected maintenance.
Mike


== FTE: Uns*bscribe and posting info http://www.ford-trucks.com/faq.html

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

Date: Wed, 24 Feb 1999 08:48:48 -0500
From: J Cope
Subject: RE: FTE Small - Explorer - Engine Pinging

A '91 eh? I think the best remedy for that would've been to drop the cash
on a BII a year earlier... But seriously, I've heard of engine ping being
a sign of worn rockers, which certainly could be the case in an 8 year old
truck.

JC

- -----Original Message-----
From:Ken St.John [SMTP:ken integrityonline3.com]
Sent:Wednesday, February 24, 1999 1:15 AM
To:small-list ford-trucks.com
Subject:Re: FTE Small - Explorer - Engine Pinging

I have a '91 Explorer that only pings in the morning, with the accelerator
all the way to the floor, and climbing a hill (or on a hot day in the
summer). I've replaced all the sensors myself because Ford gave this a
"clean bill of health". The advice I had on this site in the past was to
replace the EGR valve. The '91 doesn't have this. I also have a
"hypertech
chip" but have removed this with the same results. I use 91 Octane and if
use anything less, it really pings! But, the big question is...why does
this only occur in the morning or on a good hot day? I'm in Utah with an
altitude of 4500 ft. above sea level.
Any suggestions on this?

Ken
- ----------
From: "Wayne"
To:
Subject: Re: FTE Small - Explorer - Engine Pinging
Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 20:14:09 -0800

Mine has never pinged, I have the same vehicle. Wayne.
- -----Original Message-----
From: Neil Brownlee
To: small-list ford-trucks.com
Date: Thursday, February 18, 1999 6:14 AM
Subject: Re: FTE Small - Explorer - Engine Pinging


>Hi, just a small question .... what in 'pinging', I have an Explorer and
was
>just wondering...I am from the UK BTW.
>
>Neil
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From:
>To:
>Sent: 18 February 1999 12:56
>Subject: FTE Small - Explorer - Engine Pinging
>
>
>>
>>
>>I have a 98 Explorer with 4.0L SOHC and 7000 miles. When I accelerate
>>moderately I get severe pinging. The manual says use 87 octane - I've
>tried
>>some different brands but always have the problem. It gets a little
>better
>>when I use 89 octane. I brought it to the dealer and they said all the
>>computer codes came up neg. (Of course they did not test drive it because
>then
>>they might have accidently identified a problem). My question - Is this
>>pinging normal for these engines (Just Fords way of making sure they
don't
>last
>>too long) or is there something I can have done to fix it?
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>== FTE: Uns*bscribe and posting info http://www.ford-trucks.com/faq.html
>>
>
>
>== FTE: Uns*bscribe and posting info http://www.ford-trucks.com/faq.html
>

== FTE: Uns*bscribe and posting info http://www.ford-trucks.com/faq.html



== FTE: Uns*bscribe and posting info http://www.ford-trucks.com/faq.html

== FTE: Uns*bscribe and posting info http://www.ford-trucks.com/faq.html

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

Date: Wed, 24 Feb 1999 08:58:58 -0500
From: "Mike McNany"
Subject: FTE Small - Re: Re: Ranger vs F150 vs SD 4x4

SNIP
challenges or the somewhat (usually) decreased gas mileage and extra workout
washing & waxing outweighs the positives of full-size. Everything else
being equal, I think most people are much more happy with the bigger
vehicles.>

Have to agree w/Keith, I really liked my 92 exploder, just wasn't big or
powerful enough. That's why I got a 98 Expedition. Similar in concept, just
BIGGER and STRONGER in every respect. 8 ADULT passengers, too. No regrets.
Mike


== FTE: Uns*bscribe and posting info http://www.ford-trucks.com/faq.html

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

Date: Wed, 24 Feb 1999 08:19:20 -0600
From: "Greg Hopper"
Subject: Re: FTE Small - Hey Ken, stereo list maybe

i think that one thing no one has mentioned yet is exactly how important it
is to make sure your speakers are not receiving signals they cannot handle.
if you send your 3/4" tweeters 60HZ tones meant for your subs, those
tweeters are not going to last, underpowered or overpowered. i personally
believe that it is just as important to cross all your speakers over at
proper points as it is to make sure they are not overpowered...
just a thought...
dave



Now, the biggest thing to remember is that for the most part, you aren't
going to overpower your speakers, most people underpower their preakers,
thus blowing them..
[]
I had the same thing explained to me. The less power you send to a
speaker, the less control that speaker has. Speaker cones like to move in
and out in a straight line. When too little power is put to speakers, the
cone starts "wobbling" and moving around instead of just in and out, thus
tearing the cone and damaging the speaker...



== FTE: Uns*bscribe and posting info http://www.ford-trucks.com/faq.html

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

Date: Wed, 24 Feb 1999 06:20:45 -0800
From: JJ Thomas
Subject: RE: FTE Small - Hey Ken, stereo list maybe

I've been doing audio engineering for about 10 years (professionally,
longer as a hobby) and that is the first time I have heard that. Given
what I understand of how speakers are made and assembled, I do not see how
speaker wobble is possible.

What destroys speakers from an under powered amp is clipping. When you
crank up your amp, and it has no more to give, it lops of the top and
bottom of the signal (clips the signal) and in doing so sends DC to the
speaker. It is the DC that burns out the voice coil. It does not make any
physical changes to the speaker, well unless you send it lots of DC...

You can run a speaker with a 1mV signal, so long as the amp does not start
clipping. In all my years I have never seen a speaker torn by clipping.
But I have seen many speaker voice coils damaged by clipping, including one
night that I blew out about nine drivers. I had help from the power
company though. They drop one of the phases to the club, the voice coils
were smoked before I knew what happened. Also why I won't touch QSC amps,
they have no under voltage protection... but that is another topic.

- -Julian - wearer of many hats

At 06:58 02/24/99 -0500, you wrote:
>Now, the biggest thing to remember is that for the most part, you aren't
>going to overpower your speakers, most people underpower their preakers,
>thus blowing them..
>[]
>I had the same thing explained to me. The less power you send to a
>speaker, the less control that speaker has. Speaker cones like to move in
>and out in a straight line. When too little power is put to speakers, the
>cone starts "wobbling" and moving around instead of just in and out, thus
>tearing the cone and damaging the speaker...
>
>JC
>
>== FTE: Uns*bscribe and posting info http://www.ford-trucks.com/faq.html

== FTE: Uns*bscribe and posting info http://www.ford-trucks.com/faq.html

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

Date: Wed, 24 Feb 1999 12:40:38 -0500
From: Donald Canavan
Subject: FTE Small - Re: ranger tonneau covers

I got the greatest soft cover for my 98 ranger. It doesen't have snaps like most
tonneaus do. It has a plastic lip that tucks into the frame of the cover. It
opens like a ziplock storage bag, and is twice as fast to close as the
traditional snap on models. It is made by La Bra. I am very happy with it. let
me know if you want to know more.

>Date: Tue, 23 Feb 1999 20:52:27 -0600
>From: "Randy Collins"
>Subject: FTE Small - ranger tonneau covers
>
>i'm looking to buy a cover for the bed of my 98 ranger. not sure if i want
>a soft or hard cover. any recommendations/experiences? appreciate the
>feedback.
>
>ran
>== FTE: Uns*bscribe and posting info http://www.ford-trucks.com/faq.html



== FTE: Uns*bscribe and posting info http://www.ford-trucks.com/faq.html

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

Date: Wed, 24 Feb 1999 10:02:52 -0800
From: Thom Cheney
Subject: Re: FTE Small - Re: ranger tonneau covers

Donald Canavan wrote:
>
> I got the greatest soft cover for my 98 ranger. I am very happy with it. let
> me know if you want to know more.


yes.... let's hear more. I am also in the market for a tonneau for my
'97. How water resistant is your La Bra? I live in Portland, OR & we
get some occasional rain.

where did you get yours? and how much? any drilling involved in the
installation? is it secure (meaning, can anyone steal it off the back
of my truck once installed?)
- --
Thom Cheney
tcgrafx... among other things
== FTE: Uns*bscribe and posting info http://www.ford-trucks.com/faq.html

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

Date: Wed, 24 Feb 1999 10:03:27 -0800
From: "Alan Wilson"
Subject: Re: FTE Small - Re: ranger tonneau covers

What are those tonneau covers for anyway?

Donald Canavan wrote:

> I got the greatest soft cover for my 98 ranger. It doesen't have snaps like most
> tonneaus do. It has a plastic lip that tucks into the frame of the cover. It
> opens like a ziplock storage bag, and is twice as fast to close as the
> traditional snap on models. It is made by La Bra. I am very happy with it. let
> me know if you want to know more.
>
> >Date: Tue, 23 Feb 1999 20:52:27 -0600
> >From: "Randy Collins"
> >Subject: FTE Small - ranger tonneau covers
> >
> >i'm looking to buy a cover for the bed of my 98 ranger. not sure if i want
> >a soft or hard cover. any recommendations/experiences? appreciate the
> >feedback.
> >
> >ran
> >== FTE: Uns*bscribe and posting info http://www.ford-trucks.com/faq.html
>
> == FTE: Uns*bscribe and posting info http://www.ford-trucks.com/faq.html

- --
Alan Wilson - Wilshire Associates, (310) 451-3051 x3750
(310) 260-7350 Direct
(310) 458-2842 FAX


== FTE: Uns*bscribe and posting info http://www.ford-trucks.com/faq.html

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

Date: Wed, 24 Feb 1999 13:05:56 -0500 (EST)
From: "Frank Bures"
Subject: Re: FTE Small - In which I Praise my Aerostar

On Tue, 23 Feb 1999 21:47:57 -0500, Tim Turner wrote:

>rgstein pacbell.net wrote:
>>
>
>> >
>> Tim -------------------------------------------------------------------
>> No there are some good things about them and even some relatively
>> trouble-free ones on the road.
>> Me --------------------------------------------------------------------
>> What? Tell me. I'm desperate!
>
>Umm.. the tire size is common so it's not an expensive tire? They sold
>so many that Junk-yard parts are readily available? Amazingly enough I
>do work on some that are relatively trouble-free (so far!). I guess
>they were all made of components manufactured on a Wed.!

I have one, 93. 90,000 miles on it without single problem!


Frank Bures, Dept. of Chemistry, University of Toronto, M5S 3H6
fbures chem.toronto.edu
http://www.ford-trucks.com//lc/lc.php?action=do&link=http://frank.chem.utoronto.ca/electronics

== FTE: Uns*bscribe and posting info http://www.ford-trucks.com/faq.html

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

Date: Wed, 24 Feb 1999 10:47:07 -0800
From: Adam McLaughlin
Subject: FTE Small - Sensors

After reading the list about O2 sensors, I replaced mine in my 1988 BII. It
had 158 K M on it... Still the original sensor. I'll know more about the
gas milage when I go to the filling station next week. While I am at it,
and have a day off, are there any more sensors or valves that should be
replaced to inscrease my gallons per mile?

Thanks,

Adam
Adam McLaughlin KD6POC
KD6POC JPS.net
http://www.ford-trucks.com//lc/lc.php?action=do&link=http://www.jps.net/jmclaugh/adam2.htm
ICQ #6147499
No-SSB International #1,000,178
NO-QRP International #1,000,006
AIM "Screen Name" is: kd6poc
"We are the dreamers, and we are the music makers"

== FTE: Uns*bscribe and posting info http://www.ford-trucks.com/faq.html

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

Date: Wed, 24 Feb 1999 20:16:24 EST
From: FrdRngrLvr AOL.COM
Subject: Re: FTE Small - Re: ranger tonneau covers

I also looked into the soft covers, but I ended up going for the hard, just
for it's ability to hold up to the elemants (i am a vol fireman, and sparks
occasionally faal on the bed) But oher than that, I would have probably gone
with the soft, cause that cover get heavy after a long day of work..

Jim
96 Ranger "wave"

Has anybody figred out what the wave is yet?
== FTE: Uns*bscribe and posting info http://www.ford-trucks.com/faq.html

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

Date: Wed, 24 Feb 1999 21:52:24 -0500
From: Tim Turner
Subject: Re: FTE Small - More troubles

Steve P wrote:
>
> OK I did some looking around on the firewall for some type of
> resister/impedance module for the Blower fan motor control... Perhaps my
> eyes are going bad, but I don't see anything but the plug that connects
> to the motor itself, and another that plugs in closer to the heater core
> area...

Look in the box that houses the blower, evaporator and heater core;
about halfway down you'll see a 4 connector plug and that's it. Remove
the connector and two screws hold the resistor block on. (A swivel may
be handy.)

TT
== FTE: Uns*bscribe and posting info http://www.ford-trucks.com/faq.html

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

Date: Wed, 24 Feb 1999 19:23:38 PST
From: "Joe Mitchell"
Subject: FTE Small - Re: Ranger Bed Cover

>Date: Tue, 23 Feb 1999 20:52:27 -0600
>From: "Randy Collins"
>Subject: FTE Small - ranger tonneau covers
>
>i'm looking to buy a cover for the bed of my 98 ranger. not sure if i
want
>a soft or hard cover. any recommendations/experiences? appreciate the
>feedback.
>
>ran

First, let me say that I am in the process of trying to find a
fiberglass cover for my 91, so far all I have uncovered were 800 and 900
bucks, special order. (yes, that sucks)
Anyways, I currently have a soft vinyl cover and I would have to say
that a fiberglass is the way to go. Why?
1) no flapping around at speeds of 10+ mph
2) just plain looks better, IMO, blends in more w/ vehicle
3) One word: Secure. You cant really put anything valuable under a
softy. Of course, some fiberglass covers come w/ out locks...some...

Those are pretty much the reasons why I wanted a fiberglass. If you're
looking for which is cheaper, the vinyl cover, of course. But trying to
keep one clean in the dust storm that is Texas can be a challenge. Just
thought I'd toss in my 2 cents, for what its worth...
Joe

______________________________________________________
== FTE: Uns*bscribe and posting info http://www.ford-trucks.com/faq.html

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

Date: Thu, 25 Feb 1999 00:36:29 EST
From: Ding060297 AOL.COM
Subject: Re: FTE Small - Explorer - Engine Pinging

To ken ...i had similair problems with my 96 explorer and i had to drop my
thermostat to 160 degrees with the hyperchip to get it to run without pinging
to death..that and use 91 octane..( i personally believe that 160 is a bit low
so this spring when i put the chip back in i'm gonna try a 180
thermostat)....i take it out every winter because i feel its to low and
doesn't achieve enough heat....to burn moisture and warm the
cockpit................ding
== FTE: Uns*bscribe and posting info http://www.ford-trucks.com/faq.html

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

Date: Thu, 25 Feb 1999 00:38:06 EST
From: Ding060297 AOL.COM
Subject: Re: FTE Small - Explorer - Engine Pinging

Also ken:: as JC wrote about bad lifters its possible but i highly hghly
doubt it....ding
== FTE: Uns*bscribe and posting info http://www.ford-trucks.com/faq.html

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

Date: Wed, 24 Feb 1999 21:59:26 -0800
From: Pat Brown
Subject: FTE Small - Re: Peak vs RMS power

Matthew writes:

> To be honest to you, peak power and RMS are pretty much the same thing,
> it's just that RMS has an electrical name to it ( Root Mean Square )
> when you work the electrical numbers out, the crap comes out pretty much
> the same.

Well, let's see. For DC or a square wave, that's true. The "Crap" comes
out
pretty much the same. But, most of our music is comprised of sine waves,
and
the crap becomes pretty different. In fact, for a nice perfect sine,
peak
is 1.414 times the rms power, which is not the same. For any other
waveform,
you need to go through the math, or get a peak/rms power meter. Oh yeah,
peak
power has an electrical name also. It's called "Peak Power".

> I have an '89 Bronco II, and I have a JVC cd player/changer
> control/and receiver with a 35 watt amplifier.... it sounds great in the
> truck, but if you want a little more power consider a seperate
> amplifier, you can use it to make your radio's amp work less, because if
> you really look at it, the amplifier in the rado is really small, a few
> transistors and capacitors, while the amplifiers are much bigger and
> better equipped to handle the heat.

Yup. Good advice. Just remember that power ratings on amplifiers are
pretty questionable. Kind of like horsepower ratings on compressors
down at sears, for a while power ratings are measured at the absolute
peak output just before the whole thing melts down. At a computer show
the other day, I saw a pair of speakers advertised at 480 watts, over....

---

To access the rest of this feature you must be a logged in Registered User Of Ford Truck Enthusiasts

Registration is free, easy and gives you access to more features.
If you are not registered, click here to register.
If you are already registered, you can login here.

If you are already logged in and are seeing this message, your web browser is blocking session cookies. Change your browser cookie settings to allow session cookies.