The FORD Lounge

[85lebaront2]

They have been great to deal with. Due to Labor day being Monday the 7th and BayPort not open on weekends (they go by the shipyard's schedule) if they are not in a position to get it to Suffolk before around 5:30 PM (CU closes at 6:00 PM) then it will end up being Tuesday.

[swampedout]

Started a new job this week, the company drives Ram work vans. The owner warned me to go easy on the transmission, they had one replaced already last year. I almost told him of course a Rams gonna have transmission problems but its only my 2nd day. I like to slowly unfurl my snark and sarcasm.

Other news: got married at the end of July, just a small covid style ceremony.
And my landlord is selling the property so my wife and I looking up financing options for rural land. So far we had a good response from Texas Ag Credit but the local credit union we are members of are swamped due to Corona stuff. We are in a decent position to buy but we cant get a traditional mortgage on it so thats why we have to shop around alot for rates.

[ArdWrknTrk]

Congratulations Sam!  🎉 (and Mrs. Sam)

Yeah, strange times we live in.

Can/do you want to share what you're doing now?

No need for specifics...

[Gary Lewis]

Yes, congrat's to both of you!  Exciting times!

And I agree with you, save the snark for a few more days.  Perhaps your boss is the one that picked the Ram trucks.  (Did it ever occur to you that running around with a sign that says "Ram" on the back of your vehicle is like the old "kick me" signs?)

[swampedout]

 I had not considered that. I hope the company insurance takes that into account!

Ive started working for a chimney inspection company, so far just doing basic service calls. I actually took a slight drop in pay to work for the company but I like the way they do things and soon will be making more $..

[85lebaront2]

Well, update on the Flex in NC, after going back and forth with the digital product specialist, including a delay while they replaced a seat (he said center, but I suspect passenger) due to a bad motor, today he sent me a picture of the damage caused by the one reported accident. All of the pictures on their website are carefully taken to not show the left rear quarter. This is what he sent this morning at 10:00 AM:

If he had informed me when we were first discussing the vehicle and even spoken on the phone, I would have asked for an estimated cost for repair, then forwarded the info to my good friend who owns a MAACO franchise in Hampton VA.

While this was still going on, Mary found a white 2009, with the exact same interior as our 2011 less the power folding rear seats for $5500, still has the trailer tow and when we went to look at it, an apparently aftermarket remote start and the factory RKE system.

The only issues I found were master cylinder will creep down at light application, center front console lid is broken (seems to be a common problem), the navigation and everything else touch screen looks yellow (like nicotine stain) and the right front fender is pushed in about 3/8" right where it comes against the bumper cover. Headlight "glass" is a little cloudy, but it seems to have the same HID lights ours has. I left a deposit with them, and they will replace the master cylinder before I pick it up, they will take the Taurus in trade but at less than the other dealer.

[Gary Lewis]

Glad you found the other one.  You don't want to be dealing with that seller - they are shady.

[ArdWrknTrk]

🤬

Really?
When will these used car salesmen get a clue?

I see that this generation doesn't have the weird Cylon visor for a grille and headlights.
I retract my statement about them looking weird.

[salans7]

Reminds me of the time I went to look at a 2010 Ranger at a dealer two hours away. I was disappointed to find one mismatched tire, a broken tail-light lens, a sloppy shift lever, and obvious signs of rust which was covered up. It was a Canadian truck, so that explained the rust, and the mismatched rear tire was on the same side as the broken tail-light, so that made sense as well. What really steamed me was their refusal to replace the tail-light. The truck was at a Ford dealer, and they supposedly had performed a 110 point inspection. Apparently a broken light lenses were not part of that inspection. And it made no sense to me why a Ford dealer couldn't order in a <$100 replacement tail lamp for a seven year old "Certified" $15k truck to please a buyer who was ready to buy the truck that day. The truck was actually lesser optioned than mine, the only positive of the truck was that it was 4x4. It was enough to cause me to walk, and I poured a small fraction of that $15k into my 2003 and made it as reliable as I could.

[jdavidsmi]

It’s been a couple of weeks since the low oil pressure issue with the 84, and I have not touched it. DW thinks I’m spending to much on “that” old truck, that’s why she named it Jolene. Have not told her about the motor issue. She told me I needed to paint the top of the cab red, so she would have red hair. The 86 may become a higher priority, glad I had not started stripping off. But I do need to find a fuel tank switch.

We have been gearing up to start the harvest, corn and soybeans. Looks like we will start the first of next week, so that is all we will be doing for the next month or so.

Our son and his wife in Ireland have completed the self isolation and setting in. Classes start next Wednesday they are looking forward to it.

A couple of years ago the window in our motor home started leaking, one of the weep hole was plugged. Anyway it messed up the panel below the window. Thought it would be a good time to replace the panel, can no longer get the same wallpaper. So I ended up getting a sheet of 1/8” paneling and putting the back facing out. Now waiting for the DW to tell me what color I’m to paint it.

What else is going on, the slave cylinder for the clutch on my 1990 gold wing starting leaking, waiting on a rebuild kit, decided to rebuild the master at the same time. Missing some good riding weather.

[Nothing Special]

My wife is a crafter, so she's always looking for new things to make.  So yesterday she asks me if I have any old tires laying around.  This is what you can do with a worn out BFG Mud-Terrain!

[1986F150Six]

Great idea!

[85lebaront2]

I picked up the white Flex today in Norfolk, only one key which can be an issue. I drove it to Hampton to get the headlights done, but, my friend with MAACO shop was two men short and swamped. I then went over to a lock shop in Newport News that I have dealt with for over 40 years, they do not stock the integrated remote keys as there are too many variations, but were able to cut and program a none remote head key for me giving me (a) a second key and (b) the ability to now add additional keys once the actual key is cut (it takes at least 2 working keys to add more using the vehicle's own system to accept them).

Mary found a pack of two blanks on eBay for right at $23 delivered so once they come in I will probably bight the bullet and let Preston Ford in Keller cut them with their nice automated machine.

[Gary Lewis]

Keys!  That reminds me the battery on the one for Blue is low.

Anyway, first impressions on the Flex?  Is it what you were looking for?

[ArdWrknTrk]

Preston was the name of the carburetor shop, wasn't it Bill?

[85lebaront2]

Yes, it was Fred's brother's middle name, James Preston Pennington. This is a chain of dealerships mostly on Maryland's Eastern Shore, they bought Kool Ford.

[salans7]

Found this picture in an old thumb drive. I believe this was taken right before my high school graduation as that is what I wore for the ceremony. It's hard to believe that was already ten years ago. I was still a relative newbie on Eff Tee Wee, the F150 wasn't even 4x4 swapped yet, and it was still a few months before I bought my 2003 Ranger (second picture). It's crazy how time flies and priorities change. The truck I thought I would have forever (F150) is long gone, and in it's place is an even better truck that I won't be afraid to scratch.


 


Same guy, ten years later, with much taller trucks.

[Gary Lewis]

Yes, either you are shrinking or the trucks are growing.  

Anyway, cool shot.  I remember that kid from Eff Tee Wee.  

[salans7]

Definitely not shrinking, that's for sure.

[Danny G]

SOOOOO..... I have located a 1984 Bronco 4x4 XLT, its two tone tan it appears to be relatively rust free, 4speed manual transmission and 351w HO engine, completely stock untouched here in SC. Rose wood interior, power windows and doors. I will have pictures when I get home. I am going to call him in the morning and possibly make arrangements to bring it home.