Friday, Mar 16, 2007 at 19:27
Ford Boggers, this is old news, but it is good of Brian to give you a reminder now and then about the things we can forget about.... And I will add to Brians reminder here:
1) Not only your top radiator hose, but even more common is check the bottom radiator hose. In converting the 7.3 PSD Fords, they added an extra steering arm as the box went left to right sides. The design of the bottom radiator hose did not account for that and there is minimal clearance at best. I have seen many, including my own 2003, that were rubbing... Buy both as spares.. (why?)
2) On any Ford over about 2 years old, I consider radiator hoses to be part of the spares kit, just as important a spare serpentine belt, or other belts if so equipped, a spare CPS, and a half dozen fuel filters incase you get a bad batch of fuel.... These are mandatory spares for the Outback, for ALL vehicles, (less the CPS), but belts, radiator hoses, fuel filters, and any other common maintenance part depending on the vehicle itself... Trust me, I carry more than that. If you wanted to go overboard, you could get into things like a glow plug relay, and a few other bits that if bought from the U.S. do not cost that much... I even got a full set of glow plugs for my last f-350 for $9 each, that were about $80 here at the time (years ago) ... Aftermarket vrs OME? In this case they were the same glow plug just re-badged. Many Manufacturers just put their own badge on the same product and charge more, when it is just packaging and actually the same source.... Per Point #3:
3) Reminder 3, these parts are available from a friendly Auto parts shop in the U.S. for about 1/4 the price of Factory ones here, and Air Mail makes is still less that 1/2 the cost for most things. On vehicles past warranty period and even some before, almost everyone uses Aftermarket parts. They are guaranteed to as good or better, but in the U.S. they are about 1/4 to 1/2 of the Ford Genuine parts. Like here when a Toyota Filter costs $50 from Toyota, and $15 from Fleetguard, a guaranteed aftermarket quality filter (actually better)... And where to get them?
4) For the American trucks specifically: See TIP # 19 from 6/2005 on keeping packages under the $150 to $200 U.S. escaping Duty, Customs, and GST. I still do it all the time for parts and supplies, even on my new King Ranch full import F-350.. I just got the Tow Boss, duty free, and a case of Mercon SP (latest Ford synthetic fluid for the new transmission on the new Fords since 2003 in the U.S. the 5R110 Auto) Yours is the 4R100 Transmission even through 2006 here so this fluid is not applicable. However, the point is that Air Mail added on, is still half the cost or less. A CPS here from Ford was last quoted at about $400, and one mailed here with air mail onboard and currency conversion was still about $150...
Best Regards from the Ranger.... Take care of your horses, so you don't end up in hostile country on foot... !!!
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