i am going to be ordering a 06 e450 cutaway v10 and want to know what the aux battey and the frame pucks/spacers are used for?

 

We are just getting going on the 05s. I guess you are planning ahead? 06s start production in maybe August?

 

Normally it is around August. This year the 2006 will start in April. The final assembly of the van/cutaway takes place in Lorain (the plant I work at) but it's being closed and the production is being moved to another location. That's forcing the model change to occur earlier than normal.

In the chassis dept. the frame pucks are what the bolts holding the body run into. The aux. battery is probably set up to help run aftermarket items. That's about all I can add for the battery.

 

Dude-
What else can you tell us about '06 E-series? I assume it'll have the 5R110 transmission, but will the V-10 have the 30 valve head that the Super Duty pickup guys are raving about? Someone in another forum said his local dealer had told him that the E-350 was due for a "complete make-over in 2006" whatever that means. My local dealers are absolutely clueless as usual.

 

Bob,

What you see now on the road is what you'll get in the 2006. Before the announcement of my plant closure, the date for the re-design was for the 2007 model. With any significant financial investment involved in moving this thing, it's now anybody's guess as to whether that will still happen or if it will get pushed back some. It's due though. This current body style has run since 1992.

As to the V-10 I don't know about that. I've not heard one word mentioned regarding any changes in the 10 for the '06 model. My bet would be no. The F-Series gets all the goodies. It takes some time for the E-Series to get it. Ford's never been quick to bless the vans with the newest technology...or so it seems. The van still uses the old I-beam front ends that were removed from the F-Series about 8 models ago. The big 15 passenger sized vans will get a stability system in '06 to assist in preventing rollovers. That's about the end of 'new' features for the upcoming model. I'll ask about the V-10 from someone in that dept. and see if it's coming or not.

 

well as of friday i ordered an 05, but i dont think the dealers are up to par on the e series cutoff and did not enter it into the system.

supercrewdude, i assume since the plant is shut down that no more 05 will be made so i will have to get an 06

 

you have until march 4th to get an order in, that is the cutoff date according to jeff at van bortel.

 

SuperCrewDude, what department do you work in, I've visited the plant quite a few times as a former Ford employee and now a supplier.

 

I'm in the trim department.

 

We're still running '05's till some time in April. Harold says March 4 is the cutoff and that sounds about right. Lorain tentatively is scheduled to work until our Christmas shutdown and then begin production in Avon Lake when that is over, but that could change by a month or two ahead of that.

 

i got the march 4th date from jeff at van bortel, confirmed by my dealer after i pointed out he needed to get off the whatever he was sitting on and get my van ordered. '06 starts order april 18th. where is avon lake?

 

Avon Lake is roughly 20 miles give or take East of the Lorain plant. It's currently putting out the Mercury Mariner. It ran the Nissan Quest, Mercury Villager, and Escape prior to that. The Mariner is headed to Kansas City to join the Escape, Avon then gains the production from Lorain for the time being. Word is at this time nothing is scheduled there either after the 2007 model so we're on shaky ground here in northern Ohio.

 

you don't think they would send van production to ol' mexico?!? i am so big on us keeping our work and profits here.