Standard and Metric

[zensius]

Can anybody tell me why my Explorer is both Standard and F'ing Metric? It makes working on it a chore, both at home and especially on the trail.

 

[Cartman]

Because the rest of the world has realized that the metric system is better and Ford just like every other US company has realized the metric system is the future so they are slowly going that way but it takes time because of how expensive it is to switch over.

 

[tbomb]

Originally posted by Cartman
Because the rest of the world has realized that the metric system is better and Ford just like every other US company has realized the metric system is the future so they are slowly going that way but it takes time because of how expensive it is to switch over.

the metric system better? get outta here i hate metric. complicates things. PennDOT (pennsylvania dept. of transportation) tried to switch over to metric a few years ago, and it was an utter failure - i guess it makes less of an impact when ford says, "lets switch to metric, but lets only change half the connectors on our vehicles."


and to answer zensius' question; because theyre ford and nothing is easy with them, heh.

 

[TarHeel085]

somethin tells me that, ITS TO PISS PEOPLE OFF. and it works real well, as i experience the last couple of days. doin my 4dr leaf conversion, the u-bolts were 18mm. the one size that is stupid as hell. i had to go to sears, cause the only metric sizes they put in tool boxes are 17 & 19mm, its really gay.

 

[Jim F]

Chevy isn't any better. I don't know how many times I've had to search through the tool box for a 9/32" socket.

 

[zensius]

Atually I had the same problem with the 18mm on mine. It seems that half the stuff under the X is an 18. I ended up using a six point standard and lucked out. I hate not having the right tools. But both of my socket sets, Craftsman and Husky don't have an 18mm!!! This Ford rpoblem can't be because of cost. THe metric thing began in the early eighties. They must have run out of their supply standard sized nuts and bolts by now. Pick a size and stick with it!

 

[Campo]

I'm not an expert on this but the way I understand it is...
The Reason Ford uses both metric and SAE is because not all of the parts for the X are built here in the states. the engines, chassie, doors, seats etc are all made in some other country, then assembled here.

so basically if the engine block is made in Germany all the holes in it would be metric threaded so when they bold on the intake that was made in the states they have to use metric bolts, but since the intake was made in the states, anything that bolts to the intake will be SAE threaded..etc..etc..etc.. or something like that..

Were the only country (That I know of) that uses SAE everyone else uses Metric..

 

[Stephen S]

Campo may be partially correct about the systems of measurement.

But it is true that we are one of the few countries to use the old English system of units. The metric system greatly simplifies things. The rest of the world HAS realized that the metric system of units is easier and less complex. Everything is just a multiple of 10, force and mass units are different, etc. People in the US are just so used to working with the English system of units, nobody wants to learn the metric system. I've learned both throughout my high school and college years and I can tell you, the metric system is MUCH easier to work with.

As far as fasteners being mixed on the same vehicle, aside from Campo's thought, I have no idea.

 

[HuiDaddy]

oil plug-19/32. WHAT THE HECK is 19/32?!?! i've tried EVERY metric socket, stripped the plug had to get another one. WHO THE HECK SELLS 19/32!!!

fortunately i found a rusty 19/32 socket at the bottom of the box of rusty sockets. im one lucky guy. =)

 

[BislamJoe]

I can usually find the socket or wrench size I need in my rusty socket drawer. Seriously - I have been told that it's because the 4.0 was designed with SAE measurements, but it was designed in Germany, and somehow that screws things up.

Man, I sound retarded. I'm going to go read about this before I do something dumb like that again.

 

[BExplorer]

Little history

I dont have any date but in some past time, some years ago , almost all the planet wanted to switch to metric system. So the American governement started a joint program with Canada to convert to metric mesurement. At some point in that process tha Canadian seeing American not changing asked why??? The answer was ... to expensive... what th f$%?. So history says US started the conversion and now WE are paying because US did not convert, every time we buy mesured item WE have to convert to SAE to get our order trought (comercially speaking). And YES metric is alot easyer, when searching for the next socket because the one you have is too small, all you do is add 1mm. With SAE it depend on what grade your kit is 8th, 16th,32th and sometime 64th, so to get higher than 1/2 by 1/16 it is 9/16, buy by 1/8 it's not 10/16.... it's 5/8. All I'm saying is you need math school to understand.

No offense to people using SAE, I do use it when framing thing, because wood is sold in SAE. But when cutting for my project I use Metric.

 

[Campo]

19/32 is the size of the drain plug????????

I just used a trusty cresent wrench..

But I don't remember if it was SAE or Metric....

 

[tac0meat]

metric tires piss me off! i got 31x10.50x15 but my freind has 255/60 r16 so its like what? uhhm, 255 millimeters wide and 60% of 255 equals somethin then i multiply that by 2, and then add that to 15 inches and thats how tall his tire is. now if thats not confusing i dont know what is

 

[2001ExpSport]

Originally posted by zensius
Can anybody tell me why my Explorer is both Standard and F'ing Metric? It makes working on it a chore, both at home and especially on the trail.

Because Ford has too many chiefs and not enough indians. I love my truck, but Ford really sucks. If you look up LAME in the dictionary you'll see the blue oval there.

Plus, metric is much easier. It is all multibles of ten. Why to 12" make a foot? why not 10"? Metric is much eaisier.