theoldwizard
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Posts posted by theoldwizard
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I just bought two hundred shares of Ford stock and maybe will buy more in the next week... I think Ford is going to gain traction in the near to midterm, two to five years....
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.
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So .. start the clocks .. the Fiesta is coming ...
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 !)
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the Connect fills the void left by the death of the Astro/Safari as a work truck
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.
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It only took about a year to retool for Duratec 35 production and get it ramped up.
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).
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How is the development going on the Hurricane??
Before I walked out the door on 2/28/2007, there were some serious issues with the "valve disablers". At least one engine had failed on the durability dyno. Lots of time left to fix this issue.
The addition of VDE (variable displacement engine) is one of the reasons BOSS is so late. The original Hurricane did not have VDE and the boys in the Glass House would not approve any "big" engine program without it (seeing as GM and Chrysler already have it in production). Actually, the whole 5.8L program came about because they think that the Mustang can run most of the EPA city/highway cycle on less than 8 cylinders !
I havn't seen any BOSS heads, but the old Hurricane heads had HUGE valves !! Hence the need for 2 plugs (no place else to put them).
Don't hold your breath on the DOHC/4 valve. It's coming but who knows when, especially given the current staffing (lots of PTO and PTE engineers retired; I hear even some who stayed now work for the "competition" !) and financial position Ford is in.
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The 6.4L diesel will go in the new E-Series and that calls for a big-assed grille, Ford apparently designed the grille around the largest cooling system that will be offered and is using it on all E-series not just the diesel.
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.
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will fleet buyers (buying stripper F150s with a 6 cyl) want the complexities of a twin turbo base engine?
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 !
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Obviously or they wouldn't make any.
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.
Ford fast tracking in house diesel
in F-Series SuperDuty Forum
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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.