Lauren Woods asked:


The Navistar International Corporation earlier announced that it is suspending the production of the Power Stroke(R) diesel engine that it builds for the Ford Motor Company. The suspension of this production is the alleged dishonoring of the terms of agreement under which the engines were manufactured.

Navistar has been the exclusive diesel engine supplier for the automaker’s heavy duty pickup trucks since the year 1979. Earlier, the company built a new 6.4L Power Stroke(R) diesel engine that complies with this year’s emissions standards. Aside from complying with the 2007 emissions standards, the new diesel engine is engineered to increase performance, durability and fuel economy.

Navistar said in a statement that it pays its suppliers and employees under contract terms and that it expects Ford to honor the terms of its agreement the same way. The Warrenville, Ill.-based engine manufacturer is the exclusive diesel engine supplier for Ford’s heavy duty pickup trucks. With the said contract dispute, critics in the industry predict that the production of some of Ford’s bread-and-butter trucks would be greatly affected.

Any interruption of the Ford SuperDuty production would be ruinous for the automaker. Ford is still under pressure and the recuperation period could take longer than expected. It can be recalled that Ford just launched a redesigned SuperDuty line, and the big trucks are among the most popular and profitable vehicles in its lineup. Any disruption could mean a more enduring loss. It is not as undemanding as Lincoln cold air intake manufacture disruption - the controversy includes its pride vehicles, no less.

Ford, on the other hand, said that Navistar is the one violating the contract. Moreover, the automaker added that a decision by key supplier Navistar International Corp. will not disrupt production of the Ford SuperDuty pickups “in the near term.” The automaker would not say how long it could keep its truck lines running if the recalcitrant vendor holds out.

“Ford has always honored the agreement and will continue to do so in the future,” said Ford spokesman Tom Hoyt. “We have been working very closely with Navistar for many months to resolve these contract issues.”

Ford has enjoyed leadership in the manufacture of pickup trucks. The said excellence has been etched in the Ford brand for more than a couple of decades. Navistar believes the new Power Stroke 6.4L diesel engines it supplies Ford provided the latter the opportunity to maintain or improve its standing in the truck manufacture and industry.

In January, Ford sued Navistar alleging that the latter was not complying with warranty cost-sharing agreements and that it had unjustifiably increased prices on its diesel engines. The suit also stated that the engine manufacturer had threatened to cut off shipment if Ford did not pay the new prices for its engines.

The diesel engine manufacturer also announced that it will stop producing the .4-litre Power Stroke at its Indianapolis and Huntsville, Ala. Factories. Nevertheless, Navistar added that the Huntsville plant will continue production of the mentioned product for other customers.

This is not the first time that Ford is pestered by supplier problems that eventually threatened important vehicles. It can be recalled that bankrupt Collins & Aikman Corp. suspended the shipments of some auto parts to Ford factory in Hermosillo, Mexico. The said circumstance created a halt in the production of the Ford Fusion.



TATAR

Dominik Hussl asked:


When it comes to comfort when riding a aftermarket bike seat is a must. Motorcycle Seats are produced by a variety of manufacturers. The main ones being Sargent, Corbin and Mustang. When choosing a motorcycle seat there are really two factors that come in to play. One is definitely the look of the seat on your bike and the other is the comfort level that can be achieved by the upgrade. Most of your bike seats these days are made of a memory cell foam or some such material that is highly durable. It will actually almost act like a second shock absorber. I upgraded from my stock bench to a Corbin seat and it was a night and day difference.

Corbin Seats use a material called comfort cell foam which is built to be firm so even after hours of riding it wont sink, where your stock bench’s foam would loose firmness within 30 minutes and you would be sitting on the plastic pan that the bike seat is made from. Sargent seats are either covered with leather or a synthetic material that is made to look like leather. No matter what you ride Corbin will have a bike seat that is made to fit your bike. Almost all motor cycle manufacturers have a Corbin upgrade that will bolt right on available to them. This goes for cruisers as well as sport bikes alike.

Sargent motorcycle seats also come in a variety of flavors, however their selection tends to lean more towards sport bike owners then cruisers. Sargent also caters to the exotic bike owners. Seats are available for makers like Aprilla and Ducati. This manufacturer uses a material called super cell foam in their seats which is designed to give incredible comfort even for long distance rides. Not only does this manufacturer make one hell of a comfortable seat the quality and looks are also part of the package making this one of the premier makers of seats in the world. Little things like synthetic material that imitates a carbon fiber look or the Italian flag being sown in to the front of the seat make this not only a comfortable bike seat but also a great looking upgrade that help give your bike a custom look.

Mustang motorcycle seats are mainly available for cruiser’s instead of sport bikes. Mustang manufactures many a motorcycle seat that is made to look like the old school bike seats that you would see on bikes from the 60’s, 70’s & 80’s. They are great if you are trying to achieve and old school look for your chopper. Not only do they make the saddles they also make sissy bar pads and backrest. Mustang currently has motorcycle seats available for Harley Davidson, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha and Victory Cycles. Mustang seats are made with special controlled-density foam therefore assuring riding comfort even on long rides.

When you do decide on a bike seat no matter who the manufacturer is it is always recommended that you find out about the manufacturers warranty. Also with some seats extra hardware is required to mount it on to your bike. I think most important of all is that you get some feedback from others that have similar seats. You can find reviews online at different social sites that are geared towards bikers.

For details on all the Motorcycle Seats we carry please visit our online parts catalog for full descriptions on all products.

Our main location is located in Houston, Texas with warehouses located throughout the United States that enable us to deliver parts and accessories to all 50 states including New York NY, Los Angeles CA, Miami, FL. Chicago, IL. Denver CO., El Paso, Texas, Dallas TX, San Antonio, TX, Austin, TX, Boise ID, Atlanta GA, Raleigh-Durham NC, Washington DC, Albuquerque NM, Huntsville AL, Fayetteville AR, Norfolk VA , Madison WI.



ALEXANDRE

Anthony Fontanelle asked:


In the effort to decrease the amount of greenhouse gases emitted by vehicles, various companies have undertaken research and development of alternative fuels. Another step that car manufacturers are taking is making their vehicles more fuel efficient. Such is the step has already been taken by the Ford Motor Company in their partnership with Navistar International Corporation. In the said partnership, Navistar supplies Ford with Power Stroke® diesel engines.

The engine is one of the most advanced diesel engines in the world today. Thanks to the research and design team of Navistar, they have succeeded in producing a diesel engine which has a significantly lower amount of greenhouse gases in its emission. Not only does the Power Stroke® engine decrease the amount of hazardous gases in its exhaust, it also offers a great performance. So good that trade editors have given the Power Stroke® equipped Ford F-250 great reviews. The design of the engine provides a huge amount of torque which diesel engines are widely known for. This torque gives vehicles great acceleration and enhances their off-road driving capabilities. This is, of course, important for trucks and SUVs.

It seems that with the partnership, Ford is on its way to maintain its leadership in the diesel engine powered vehicles market. But a recent development has shown that Ford is in danger of losing the Power Stroke® advantage for their vehicles. This is because Navistar International Corporation recently announced that they will halt the production of the said diesel engines because Ford has “stopped honoring the terms of agreement”. Navistar stated that they are paying their suppliers and employees under the terms of the contract and that they expect the Ford Motor Company to do the same.

This particular roadblock in Ford’s way must be resolved swiftly in order for them to continue their leadership in the diesel engine powered vehicles market. Since the company has been sliding down for the past years, they need to fix this problem immediately if they want to take advantage of the revolutionary Power Stroke® diesel engines. After all, these engines have already been making waves in the industry, and the public is eagerly waiting to get their hands on a Ford vehicle equipped with the said engine.

It can be remembered that Ford has posted low sales figures for January of this year and they are expected to perform not so well this month, and a problem such as this will only make matters worse for the Dearborn, Michigan based car maker. Since they are known for producing large trucks and SUVs tough and reliable as EBC rotor, the use of a diesel engine is a good step since the prices of gasoline has been unstable and can rise upward once again just like it did last summer. Aside from the increasing prices of gasoline, another problem that the Power Stroke® diesel engine addresses is the strict emission standards set by the government. Thanks to the design of the engine, the exhaust system traps most of the harmful gases rendering them harmless. This clean efficiency of the engine would no doubt increase the popularity of Ford trucks and SUVs.

The massive 6.4-liter Power Stroke® diesel engines are being produced by Navistar in their plants in Indianapolis, Indiana; and Huntsville, Alabama. Both these facilities will put a stop immediately in the production of the advanced diesel engine. They will not produce a single engine for Ford until the problem is resolved. And this will take negotiations between the two companies. While the problem is being resolved though, Navistar’s Huntsville plant will be producing engines for Navistar’s other customers.



CONSTANTINO

Glady Reign asked:


Toyota has clearly succeeded in creating a mark in the global market as it has become the world’s largest automaker by revenue, production, sales and profit. Founded in 1937 by Kiichiro Toyoda, it’s tradition of building trucks dates back to the second World War when it manufactured simple every Toyota truck for the Japanese Imperial Army. Although the company previously focused on looms, being formerly known as Toyoda Automatic Loom, its new division eventually concentrated on the production of cars. Until now, Toyota is still involved in the textile industry and it still makes automatic looms that are now fully computerized as well as electric sewing machines that are available worldwide.

North America is a major automobile market for Toyota, particularly for the various models of the Toyota truck. In fact, the company has five major assembly plants in North America—at Huntsville, Alabama, Georgetown, Kentucky, Princeton, Indiana, San Antonio, Texas, and Buffalo, West Virginia. Meanwhile, a new one is being built in Blue Springs, Mississippi. These assembly plants are responsible for the production of the company’s vehicles that include every Toyota truck and sedan. Aside from the design and assembly of these comfortable and reliable vehicles, Toyota is also responsible for the development of components, like the Toyota truck parts, that feature innovative technologies. Some of these advanced characteristics that many drivers love, like the exceptionally durable Toyota Truck parts, are the first mass-produced hybrid gas-electric power system, a four-speed automatic transmission that is electronically controlled and has buttons for power and economy shifting, an eight-speed automatic transmission, and the Advanced Parking Guidance System or, quite simply, automatic parking.

Like Toyota’s legendary Hilux, which has been tagged as “the indestructible car,” the 2007 Toyota Tundra is yet another example of a reliable Toyota truck. Having a towing capacity of over 10,000 lbs, a payload capacity of over 2000 lb, and a new 6-speed automatic transmission, the latest Tundra is offered in three engine types. All distinctly powerful in their engine capacity and power, the Toyota Tundra has become quite a success. It is now the best selling foreign full-size half-ton truck. As affirmed by Edmund.com, which awarded the Tundra as the Most Significant Vehicle of the Year and as the Most Wanted Full-size truck, there is just no going wrong with Toyota trucks.



VANDERFORD

zee001 asked:


The Power Stroke is a family of turbodiesel truck engines sold by Ford Motor Company for the Ford F-Series trucks, the Ford Econoline van, the Ford LCF commercial truck, and the Ford Excursion SUV and built by Navistar International Corporation (International Truck and Engine Corporation).

The Ford Power Stroke name was given to the 7.3 liter diesel engine when they added electronics and direct injection to the 7.3 Liter IDI Turbo engine. Power Strokes are built in two different locations, Indianapolis, Indiana and Huntsville, Alabama. In 2004 the EPA mandated a change in diesel engine emmissions in all registered vehicles for on highway usage. Due to this dramatic change the 7.3 liter Power Stroke has to be laid to rest. In came the 6.0 liter Power Stroke to make its mark on the world. This model will be replaced January 1, 2007. Ford will start using a 6.4 liter engine due to another emmisions change at the beginning of 2007. This new engine bumped the horsepower up to 350 and torque to 650. Many more changes will take place with the usage of the 6.4 liter Power Stroke. Two major changes will be the fuel and oil. The fuel required will be Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (15 PPM sulfur). The fuel is backwards compatable to the beginning of time. The oil will be classified as CJ-4 vs. the previous CI-4. CJ-4 oil must be used in all diesel engines requiring the USLD and is backwards compatable to approx 12 years for all diesels. (since Ford started using the Power Stroke name). For those of you needing an oil for older trucks you will still be able to get the CI-4 oil.

There have been three different engines offered under the Power Stroke name:

F Series and Excursion Applications

*

o 1994–2003 7.3 L

o 2003–2007 6.0 L

o 2008– 6.4 L

E Series Applications

*

o 1994–2003 7.3 L

o 2004–current 6.0 L

LCF (Low Cab Forward) Application

*

o 2005–current 4.5 L



SPEAK