theoldwizard

The Mod 35 and the Lincoln/Jag 3.0L V6 are both DAMB. IIRC, the Lincoln/Jag V6 ran the water pump off of the back of the left cylinder (same as Duratec 25 and 30). The Mod 35 has the water pump in the valley (I've been told you have to remove the entire front end accessory drive to replace the water pump. Ouch !) Also, Mod 35 uses a die cast aluminum block.

I stand corrected by both igor and J-150 !

Mr Mullay recently got the same exact feedback from some very highly respected journalists ! Not certain what he is going to do about it.

Interesting analysis ! Most folks in this demographic are buying the Edge or Freestyle. I've talked to several people who have children younger than 16. They are adamant. They all still want 2 power sliding doors and a power rear lift. The Flex is probably too big for Gen X or Gen Y types.

It sure does if you are trying to pulll a trailer ! The Honda Element can only tow 1500 lbs.

Correct ! Don't expect to see this engine until 2011-12. Mostly because of the current contract with Navistar does not expire until them. The contract has a "guaranteed volume" clause in it. If Ford can get out of the contract earlier (and I'm betting they are working on that), that program will get pulled ahead.

You have a lot more guts than I do ! Personally, I give Ford only a 50/50 chance of lasting longer than 2 years ! They have mortgaged all of the corporate assets to get them enough cash to get through 2007 and 2008. If they don't make profit in 2009, they will go chapter 11 ! One of the big reasons I am so negative is the huge number of talented, experienced engineers who walked out the door on 2/28/2007 (including me!). I don't think they have enough engineers left to pull off what they have committed to in 2009-11MY, especially in the Powertrain Controls area. Word is that Kuzak, Fields and Mullay are not getting the whole story from engineering. The low level engineering management are scared to death and the mid-level are committing to timing that I don't think can be achieved. A lot of this is simply due to the "musical chairs" that have been going on for the past few years.

Lot's of powertrain issues (especially on the new PowerShift transmission). I'm not certain that they have nailed down where it will be built (probably not in a UAW plant !)

I disagree ! The Astro/Safari (and the old Aerostar) were small rear wheel drive vans. The Transit Connect is front wheel drive (see Transit Connect ) In Europe, the Transit Connect comes in short and long wheelbase and the only engines are 4 cylinder turbocharged diesels. I don't know if North America will get both wheelbases and the window version (called Touneo Connect in Europe) or what engine. Don't look for it until 2009-10 MY. I know a guy who is moving to Europe to work on the NA version of the regular Transit. No plant for manufacturing has been designated (but I'm guessing that UAW would have a hard time competing against Mexico/Brazil !) Don't expect it to hit the US until '11/'12.

Where did you ever hear that ! The Mod 35 took much longer than a year to design and tool. I know the guy who design the block machine line and he worked on that for about 4 or 5 years. Anyone who thinks there are any similarities between the Mod 35 and the (still in production) Mod 30 has never looked under the valve covers or even at the external coolant connections (Mod 30 is for East/West only; Mod 35 can go North/South if required).

Absolutely not ! With twin turbos and all the extra emission controlls, it just does NOT fit ! Ford spent a lot of engineering dollars to try to keep the 6.0L through 2010, but now has officially dropped that program. No diesel for E-Series until 2010-11 and then it will be the "mid-size" from the F150. The all new, Ford designed diesel might show up in 2012.

Will ANY customer want it with the added cost/complexity ! GTDI is based on Bosh technology already in production on some VW. This system has all of the cost and complexity of a diesel fuel injection system (low and high pressure pumps, high pressure common rail, direct injectors, etc, etc). Add in the complexity of twin turbo (how do you balance pressure from side to side?) and you have a "whole lot of bells and whistles" that can go wrong ! Give my NA V8 any day !

Not so obvious ! This one of those EPA "credit" deals. Because the 6.4L exceeds the current standard, Ford can continue to put 6.0L in E-Series. At least for a short period. Don't expect a diesel back in the E-Series until 2010-11 and it will be the new "mid-size" at first. Look for the "all new", Ford designed, big diesel in 2012.