Stockpile of Unfinished Ford Super Duty Pickup Is Now Visible from Space

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  • JettaKnight

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    So these trucks run without the chips but are just missing the magic bells and whistles and safety features?

    I assume they drive them onto a train, deliver them to these offsite storage places, and drive them to a parking space.
    I wouldn't assume that. They might share parts to get moving, or maybe the whole gauge cluster is missing, or they're having to override a bunch of faults. Could be they were towed.

    I'm in a completely different industry and am facing parts shortages, so it not just one specific function or type of chip; doesn't even have to be a CPU, could be just one transistor.

    Plus, you can't just swap for a different part unless it's a qualified cross. Second sourcing is much harder than it used to be.
     

    Leo

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    I wouldn't assume that. They might share parts to get moving, or maybe the whole gauge cluster is missing, or they're having to override a bunch of faults. Could be they were towed.

    I'm in a completely different industry and am facing parts shortages, so it not just one specific function or type of chip; doesn't even have to be a CPU, could be just one transistor.

    Plus, you can't just swap for a different part unless it's a qualified cross. Second sourcing is much harder than it used to be.
    I don't change micro processors, but I have had some MOSFETS and medium powder transistors on backorder for a while. Even some higher wattage resistors have been spotty. Like you say, any part missing keeps things from working.
     

    JettaKnight

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    I don't change micro processors, but I have had some MOSFETS and medium powder transistors on backorder for a while. Even some higher wattage resistors have been spotty. Like you say, any part missing keeps things from working. I can still get vacuum tubes but they are from China and Russia. 99% of my work uses uses just 5 different tubes so I bought extra last year.
    :faint:
     

    Rookie

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    So these trucks run without the chips but are just missing the magic bells and whistles and safety features?

    I assume they drive them onto a train, deliver them to these offsite storage places, and drive them to a parking space.
    They have this box that plugs into the truck, they drive the truck to the parking spot, and unplug the box to use in the next vehicle.
     

    jkaetz

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    They have this box that plugs into the truck, they drive the truck to the parking spot, and unplug the box to use in the next vehicle.
    Likely a testing ECU that doesn't shut down or go into limp mode because the emissions system's aren't working as expected. Or they're using a diagnostic tool to accomplish the same thing. Engines will run just fine without 90% of the emissions controls.
     

    HoughMade

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    Sure. All those trucks with carburetors and points and 3 on the tree run fine without chips.

    How old are you guys? Anything made after about 1988 won't do jack without the computer. It's not just emissions equipment. It's everything. Little optional things like the entire fuel supply system, ignition, transmission, brakes, etc.

    Everything about newer vehicles (except styling) is better, largely due to computers controls. Sure I remember the "good old days" of carbureted 350s and TH-400 transmissions....with maybe 200 horsepower, usually closer to 180 at 16 mpg highway. They were pretty much rusted out and worn out at 100,000 miles and if you got 150,000 miles, you were likely a mechanical genius, lucky and living right.

    I commute 70 miles every day in a truck with 209,000 miles that gets 22 mpg on the highway, certainly feels like it has all of its original 320hp from 325ci and has never had a major mechanical problem. I'll take the progress.
     
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    mike4sigs

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    They are out in New Haven as well in the old Casad Depot. My cousin who works out there said he believes there is at least 10 thousand parked out there and still rolling in.
    How Many trucks do they build in a day at Fort Truck plant

    EDIT::: i just googled it , And Gm Admits to 1000 or better
     
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    CHCRandy

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    I understand it as the trucks will run without the proper chip, but gas mileage will not be good. They claim some of the Chevy 1500's that have been sold lately are getting 2-3 MPG less than the ones with the original OEM chip, this could be rumor, but it came from Chevy salesman.

    I have been trying to buy a new truck for a month now....I have decided to just wait. Chevy said I can order a 2022 Truck late this month, but it won't arrive until Sept. or Oct. They won't take no more orders for 2021 2500HD's.

    I am gonna wait and sure hope we have a huge inventory come November of 2021 250's or 2500. I don't care if I get a Chevy or Ford, but I just got to have a 3/4 or 1 ton.
     

    sixGuns

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    Family member is waiting on a truck needing a chip too. It was ordered in February. I'm wondering what gas prices will land at...
     

    TheGrumpyGuy

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    I drive past the old Ford plant on Indy's east side every Sunday on my way to church, and this past Sunday saw that they've started piling up Ford trucks at this location. Looked like there was at least 1000 or more sitting there
     

    ghuns

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    Sure. All those trucks with carburetors and points and 3 on the tree run fine without chips.

    How old are you guys? Anything made after about 1988 won't do jack without the computer. It's not just emissions equipment. It's everything. Little optional things like the entire fuel supply system, ignition, transmission, brakes, etc.

    Everything about newer vehicles (except styling) is better, largely due to computers controls. Sure I remember the "good old days" of carbureted 350s and TH-400 transmissions....with maybe 200 horsepower, usually closer to 180 at 16 mpg highway. They were pretty much rusted out and worn out at 100,000 miles and if you got 150,000 miles, you were likely a mechanical genius, lucky and living right.

    I commute 70 miles every day in a truck with 209,000 miles that gets 22 mpg on the highway, certainly feels like it has all of its original 320hp from 325ci and has never had a major mechanical problem. I'll take the progress.
    I used to be one of those guys. Thought a 4 barrel carb on top of a pushrod V8 was the pinnacle of automotive achievement and anything beyond it was just "more stuff to go wrong" with little/no additional benefit.

    Luckily, I can admit when I'm wrong.:D
     

    Ingomike

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    I used to be one of those guys. Thought a 4 barrel carb on top of a pushrod V8 was the pinnacle of automotive achievement and anything beyond it was just "more stuff to go wrong" with little/no additional benefit.

    Luckily, I can admit when I'm wrong.:D
    There are good points on both sides, er maybe thinking since only one side has points, when looked at in the real world where each individual has goals. This applies to all types of vehicles, cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats etc.

    If one buys new and keeps a few years they get to enjoy all the benefits of the technology. Every year of ownership of highly technological vehicles the risk of not being able to fix or repair and sometimes even workaround gets more difficult.

    CIA: A friend had a nice 12yo boat, from the largest manufacturer, that an electronic control panel failed. It was cool electronic gadgetry running required systems, couldn't run without it. Part completely unavailable, part manufacturer out of business, back stocks gone. A retailer of boat parts built a new panel with old school switches, a wiring harness, and relays to replace the computer, panel and thin wires. This is the future for many things.

    This is the future of our cars and trucks. Many vehicles over 15 are already unrepairable. TPTB already do not want you to own vehicles, just get them from them.

    I personally believe that around 2000 was the sweet spot in automotive technology and from there it got to be ostentatious technology...
     

    Cameramonkey

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    I used to be one of those guys. Thought a 4 barrel carb on top of a pushrod V8 was the pinnacle of automotive achievement and anything beyond it was just "more stuff to go wrong" with little/no additional benefit.

    Luckily, I can admit when I'm wrong.:D
    I'm still one of those kind of guys. I was talkign with my sales weasel while having my V6 SUV oil changed. I'm having trouble with it, but the manufacturer claims "its just how it drives" because they cant get the transmission eco and engine eco chips to play nice together. (they both fight to be efficient, causing weird shifting and power issues) I mentioned turning it in when the lease is up next summer and trying a different year. He said that would be perfect because they all have an entirely new drive train so the problem is gone. Except there is no more V6. Moved to a turbocharged 4 cylinder to achieve the same power.

    Nope. No turbo for me. That's just more moving parts to fail. KISS.
     

    Ingomike

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    A $70.000 American truck won't run due to a $40 Asian chip
    If time travel were possible I would exit the hell out of this crap hole we are in right back to about 1955.

    I like think of that time as being before many of the limits of physics applied to normal normal life. For instance, racing was not a spec series because cars will fly off the planet unless restricted.
     
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