2008 In Person - Diesel Forum

svt2205 · 12-12-2006, 04:35 AM

Wanted to post that I got to check out a 08 F450 6.4 Lariat crew cab dually yesterday while picking up my new 07 F150 at my dealer in NH. Ford was there with the engine cut aways, a full truck cut away and the awesome F450 tow vehicle and trailer. First impressions are this truck is MUCH better looking in person vs the photo's we've all seen posted here and other places on the internet. Yes the light arrangment is going to take a little time to adjust to, but it's not bad. The Super Duty embossing on the upper grille and dash look much better then I expected. I also like the new corporate dash arrangment.

I know I've read what others have said regarding how quiet the 6.4 is, but until you hear it, you wont believe it. It still sounds like a diesel, which is a good thing, but it's only as loud as VW TDI at idle.

I was able to talk with the Ford guys, there for a show and tell type training class on the new truck. They stressed to me that the technologies used on this new engine aren't new, they've been using this stuff (and I wish I could remember exactly all they said) Europe for some time. They also said that much of the info floating around on the internet on the new truck isn't as all that accurate. One of the Ford guys commented that the F450 they were running averaged 8 - 10 mpg towing the 16 - 18K trailer.

One story these guys told me was Ford put a bunch of engineer's out into the Texas oil fields with some of their SD trucks. The engineer's got to see first hand some of the abuse these trucks experience. It was funny to hear that more then one engineer commented that we don't design the trucks to handle that.... Being an engineer I laughed at the idea of their design engineers not understanding what conditions their applications are subjected to.

Last thing I found interesting, was that Ford apparently monitors this site. News to me, but I'm sure it's not to many of you.
Was really great to see the new truck and talk with these guys, however, I had already signed the papers for my new 07 so it's going to be a while before I can buy the new SD.

Just wanted to share all that I learned yesterday.

jmcholden · 12-12-2006, 06:26 PM

If they moniter this sight then tell them to sh-- or get off the pot with the price and availability info already!

guardrail22 · 12-12-2006, 10:44 PM

did you happen to see a tour schedule for the exhibit trailer they were pulling?

svt2205 · 12-13-2006, 07:56 AM

Didn't notice any schedule or anything.

And if they monitor, you just did.... LOL

Pappy19 · 12-13-2006, 05:29 PM

"Last thing I found interesting, was that Ford apparently monitors this site. News to me, but I'm sure it's not to many of you.
Was really great to see the new truck and talk with these guys, however, I had already signed the papers for my new 07 so it's going to be a while before I can buy the new SD."

Interesting info about Ford monitoring this site. About 3 years ago the wifer and I took the Grand Canyon train from Williams, AZ to the Grand Canyon. The guy and his wife across the isle from us both worked at Ford. She was a draftman and he was a truck designer/engineer. We had a very interesting discussion on the one hour trip (both wives were mad at us). Anyway, I gave him TDS's web address and he said he was going to start monitoring it. At the time we talked there were all those problems with the 6.0 and they knew about most of them. I told him we discuss much more than just how to mod these things and that he could get some really good ideas about the public perception of their products on this site. I don't remember his name, but maybe he does look at this site once in a while. Maybe he'll learn something, I know that I sure have.

jmcholden · 12-13-2006, 06:45 PM

It would certainly be in Ford's best interest to moniter this site and others. They should make thier techs moniter it too, maybe they could all learn something about customer service! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img]

magnus1 · 12-13-2006, 07:00 PM

https://www.fleet.ford.com/truckbbas...ngsessions.htm

frobozz · 12-13-2006, 08:32 PM

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https://www.fleet.ford.com/truckbbas...ngsessions.htm

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Hey, that's some good info!!

No more A/C blend door THHWWWWWACK!!!!! questions around here, since they're going to electric actuators instead of vacuum. And better side window defogging will be a very welcome improvement too.

Duncan

frobozz · 12-13-2006, 08:36 PM

And a drain *lever* on the HFCM (see page 14) - hallelujah!!!!!!

Duncan

MT765 · 12-13-2006, 08:51 PM

You can change the exhaust after the DPF, but you can't change the "difuser" tip? Thats wierd how they say it helps cool the exhaust that much.

Good pictures though. And the drian lever!

svt2205 · 12-13-2006, 09:24 PM

That's great stuff.

jkovatch4 · 12-13-2006, 11:10 PM

the page on the exhaust, where it says can not be changed. does that mean can not be changed to meet regulation, or can not be changed because it will not run properly?

HideOut · 12-13-2006, 11:39 PM

man thats awesome

SOOO much stuff. I wish the 6.7 cummins was available on the 450. Maybe this 6.4 is gonna be ok. We'll see

frobozz · 12-14-2006, 08:40 AM

[ QUOTE ]
the page on the exhaust, where it says can not be changed. does that mean can not be changed to meet regulation, or can not be changed because it will not run properly?

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I'm still getting the vibe that it can't be changed because it will melt adjacent cars' paint and set small dogs on fire, if it doesn't have the cooling vents...

Duncan

mlhaynes8302 · 12-14-2006, 09:59 AM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
the page on the exhaust, where it says can not be changed. does that mean can not be changed to meet regulation, or can not be changed because it will not run properly?

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm still getting the vibe that it can't be changed because it will melt adjacent cars' paint and set small dogs on fire, if it doesn't have the cooling vents...

Duncan

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LOL SIGN ME UP THEN! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]