Where have you been?

Haven't seen you around the blogs lately where have you been? Oh I'm sorry it's me that has been missing. Our website www.direcfordparts.com has been so busy for the last few weeks that I haven't had time to write in my blogs. I suppose that is a good problem to have considering the opposite. Ford part sales nationwide have been slow for most dealerships but we have taken the bull by the horns and are doing everything we can to grow our business thru difficult times. I won't say it hasn't been a lot of hard work but we have the privledge of serving some of the coolest people in the country. The folks that purchase Ford parts online from our site are fantastic and a joy to work with. Iwill try to stay in touch, in the meantime tell your friends about the number one Genuine Ford Parts site on the web. Direct Ford Parts!

Look What’s New @ Saleen

Ford has given their take on the 2007 Saleen S331 Supercharged F150 and the consensus is that this is one awesome truck. Built with Genuine Ford Parts and enhanced by “the” leader in performance automotive this Ford is a must see. Trying to keep burnouts to a minimum may be a challenge with this 450 HP supercharged 5.4 cubic inch V8. This truck offer the best of both worlds, an interior loaded with creature comforts normally found in luxury vehicles and performance that is out of this world. This is a truck you will want to be seen in and you will look forward to weekend drives and cruising the boulevard as never before.

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Direct Ford Parts Ford News

Ford Motor Company Fund Continues Longtime Support to Cancer Care




Lead Sponsor in Karmanos Cancer Institute's Annual Dinner, May 17, 2008

DETROIT, Jan. 31 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute will upgrade its nurse paging system, thanks to the generosity of Ford Motor Company Fund, according to Nick Karmanos, vice president of development for the Institute.

"As Lead Sponsor for our 26th Annual Dinner May 17, Ford Motor Company Fund will help our nurses provide the best possible care and treatment to cancer patients," said Karmanos. "Ford's sponsorship, as well as its ongoing commitment to cancer prevention, detection, treatment and research, is a tremendous force in our fight against cancer."

Ford Motor Company Fund has been a major supporter of the Karmanos Cancer Institute's Annual Dinner since its inception in 1982. The Annual Dinner, which raised $930,400 last year, remains a significant source of funding for patient care, treatment and cancer research at Karmanos.

"We are pleased to continue Ford's legacy of partnering with the Karmanos Cancer Institute in helping to provide needed care for cancer patients and their families," said Jim Vella, president, Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services. "It's through partnerships like this that we're able to help make our communities better places to work and live."

This year's Annual Dinner is chaired by Pam and David V. Johnson, Victor International Corporation. Held at Stonewood Farms in Clarkston, the event begins at 6 p.m. with a reception, silent auction and raffle, presented by Tiffany & Co. Dinner and evening entertainment by Marvelless Mark follows.

In addition to Ford Motor Company Fund, Compuware Corporation is the Club Sponsor and is joined by other Key Sponsors: General Motors, GMAC Financial Services, HOUR Detroit & Dbusiness Magazine, Kenwal Steel, Kojaian Ventures, Taubman Centers and Victor International Corporation.

For ticket information, contact Sara Heimerl at 313-576-8112.

About Ford Motor Company Fund
Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services supports initiatives and institutions that enhance and improve opportunities for those who live in the communities where Ford Motor Company operates. Ford Motor Company Fund remains committed to playing an active role in the community and working with its associates. It continues to focus on education -- the number-one priority -- creating and implementing innovative new programs that cultivate the skills needed to create tomorrow's innovations. It continues Ford Motor Company's legacy of inclusion and key corporate values, which serve as a common thread that connects each program the fund supports.

About Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute

Based in midtown Detroit, the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute is committed to a future free of cancer. It is one of 39 National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the United States. Caring for more than 6,000 new patients annually on a budget of $216 million, conducting more than 700 cancer-specific scientific investigation programs and clinical trials, the Karmanos Cancer Institute is among the nation's best cancer centers. Through the commitment of 1,000 staff, including nearly 300 faculty members, and supported by thousands of volunteer and financial donors, the Institute strives to prevent, detect and eradicate all forms of cancer. John C. Ruckdeschel, M.D. is the Institute's president and CEO. For more information, visit www.karmanos.org.

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Direct Ford Parts-Blackwood

Lincoln Blackwood
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By: Bulldog1 Rating:
You gota try one!!
06-Feb-2007
You gota try one, cause if you do, you will be sold on it!!!!!

By: Bulldog1 Rating:
What a Great Truck!!
20-Jan-2007
These trucks RULE!! Great looks, great interior is awsome, great engine, great handling, ride!!!! Have driven Chevy\'s and must say, I feel sorry for anyone who has to put up with them... Best advice for you that have this delema, trade and get what the majoraty of American\'s know is the Best!!!

Direct Ford Parts

Road Test: The Saleen S331 Sport Truck
Rolling Thunder: The Saleen S331 Sport Truck Roars to Life
By Mark Williams
Photography by John Kiewicz


Maybe there's something in the water. Maybe the planets are lining up. Or maybe it's just that so many people still remember and miss Ford's muscle-truck masterpiece, the Lightning. Whatever the reason, Ford F-150 performance option packages pushing 450 horsepower have begun sprouting up like weeds.



The first buildup was from Saleen, maker of the S7 supercar, Ford GT, and numerous Mustang models. The big difference between Saleen and other performance-part companies is that Saleen is technically considered an original equipment manufacturer, in many ways on par with GM, Ford, and Dodge. It's the OEM of record with full responsibility for the warranty on the vehicle and considering how extensive its modifications are to a stock FX2 Ford F-150 SuperCab, it should be.



This isn't just a body kit, a few suspension mods, big wheels and tires, and a supercharger bolt-on. Plenty of companies do that, and with the new F-150 still two years away you can expect a few more builders to dip their toes into those waters. Regardless, as the OEM of record, Saleen must put each of its models through the same NHTSA crash-testing regimen, the same EPA fuel-economy tests, and the same governmental requirements as any other manufacturer selling vehicles in the U.S. On the downside, this creates huge headaches for Saleen, as it has to navigate the treacherous legal waters of performance parts and dealer accountability.



Due in large part to its long and friendly relationship with Ford (Saleen built all the Ford GT supercars), Saleen has over 200 dealerships across the country that sell and maintain its newest vehicle (also its first truck), the S331 Sport Truck. Saleen offers two different trucks based off a two-wheel-drive FX2 F-150 SuperCab, each defined by whether it has one of Saleen's custom-designed, inverted, twin-screw-type superchargers mounted to a three-valve 5.4-liter V-8. With a little computer work, an intercooler, matched fuel injectors, and a few other small modifications, the S331 makes 450 horsepower at 5200 rpm and produces 500 pound-feet of torque at 4000 rpm. The supercharged version is the one we spent most of our time driving, and we had a blast.



All S331s (a name inspired by the 5.4-liter V-8's 330-cubic-inch displacement) have specially tuned (and lowered) front and rear springs and new shock absorbers all around, specifically designed to deal with the heavier 23-inch forged, one-piece aluminum wheels holding 305/40R23 BFG high-performance tires. The resulting feel of the lower center of gravity, stickier and wider tires, and added horsepower is stunningly well balanced. On our makeshift autocross course, the steering was vastly improved over stock as the truck's squatty stance and rear-wheel-spinning thrust gave the 5500-pound pickup the sense and agility of a much smaller and lighter sprint car. This S331, which had several of Saleen's top-level performance options, ran 6.7 seconds from 0 to 60 mph, with an unofficial quarter-mile time of 15.0 seconds at 92 mph. It stopped from 60 mph in an impressive 124 feet.

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directfordparts Ford Work Solutions

Ford Work Solutions makes the F-150 smarter and more capable


Ford Work Solutions is an industry-exclusive suite of innovative and affordable technologies that includes four industry-first features:

An in-dash computer, powered by Microsoft Windows CE with Windows Auto, provides full high-speed Internet access, via Sprint Mobile Broadband Network, and works with Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones. The “Built Ford Tough’ computer, integrated into the trucks’ center stack, is equipped with a 6.5-inch, high-resolution touch screen (with stylus), two gigabytes of memory, a secure digital slot for additional memory, a USB port, and a wireless keyboard and mouse.
Tool Link – a Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) asset tracking system created in partnership with DEWALT– helps keep a detailed inventory of the tools or equipment in the pickup box. RFID tags can be fastened to tools or other items; a number of tags are provided with the system, with additional tags available through DEWALT. When the vehicle is started, a pair of RFID antennas, mounted in corrosion- and impact-resistant housings on the inside of the pickup box, scan the box for the items on a pre-programmed inventory list. Hundreds of RFID tags can be read in a matter of seconds.
Crew Chief, a telematics and diagnostics system, links data to a web-based application that can be used by a fleet administrator and viewed anywhere there is Internet access, such as Ford Work Solutions’ in-dash computer.
Cable Lock is a robust locking system developed in partnership with MasterLock® to keep valuable equipment secure in an open pickup box. The strong, eight-foot, 10 millimeter steel cable is easily woven around toolbox handles or through and around items and locked to the truck with a cuff-style clasp. It can be installed on virtually any Ford pickup truck.
Ford Work Solutions will be available later this summer on the 2009 F-150 XL, XLT and FX4, and F-Series Super Duty XL and XLT pickups and E-Series vans. Transit Connect vans join the lineup in mid 2009. Many items will be available for dealer installation to upgrade existing trucks already in service.

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WWW.DIRECTFORDPARTS.COM FUSION

2008 Ford Fusion - Added features and appeal in its junior year


By Gary Witzenburg/autoMedia.com

Ford's midsize Fusion hit the streets in 2005 as a 2006 model and has accumulated more than a few kudos for value, quality and safety. Now in its junior year, Fusion gets more standard features — including anti-lock brakes (ABS) and a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) — plus the (optional; standard on SEL) wondrous new Ford SYNC "total connectivity" communication and entertainment system that enables hands-free integration of Bluetooth-enabled cell phones and portable media players into its audio system via wireless technology and USB connectivity. Other notable optional new features include reverse sensing, a door-mounted keyless entry keypad and interior ambient lighting.

Bold Style
With its Ford signature three-bar grille, athletic stance and creased character lines along its flanks leading to its tall rear deck, Fusion brings bold American style to a midsize sedan segment typically characterized by blandness. That is good timing for Ford, since the class has been heating up of late with a plethora of expressive new entries. A new-for-2008 Sport Appearance Package includes a black chrome grille, a rear spoiler, color-keyed fog lamp bezels, 18-inch wheels and tires, sport suspension, chrome exhaust tips, red seat inserts and red stitching on the seats, steering wheel and center console, and a brushed aluminum radio surround.

Fusion's warmly trimmed interior is quiet and comfortable with convenience features such as a covered dash-top storage bin, a center clamshell armrest, a fold-down front-passenger seat (in SE and SEL models) and one-touch, spring-assisted 60/40 fold-flat rear seats. It also totes a very large trunk, complete with handy grocery hooks. Three interior accent looks are available — wood, carbon graphite or piano black — with or without optional leather trimmed seating.

Spirited Dynamics
Fusion's powertrain choices are a 160-hp 2.3-liter inline four or a 221-horse 3.0-liter V-6. Both aluminum engines boast dual overhead cams, four valves per cylinder, variable intake cam timing and electronic throttle control to optimize both performance and efficiency. The four-cylinder can be paired with a 5-speed manual or optional 5-speed automatic, and with the latter is rated as a Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (PZEV) in California and other California-emissions states. The 3.0L V-6 drives through an advanced 6-speed-automatic transmission.

Fully independent suspensions front and rear give Fusion athletic handling along with a surprisingly smooth ride, and ABS becomes standard for 2008. Very few midsize sedans offer all-wheel drive, and AWD Fusions have earned well-deserved praise on both slick and dry surfaces in Ford's 2007 Fusion Challenge Fusion comparative consumer testing and advertising campaign where Fusion was preferred over both Camry and Accord in Washington, DC and Los Angeles. In our test-driving, we found the four-cylinder more than adequate, the V-6 quite lively, and the Fusion's steering, braking and handling more like European sedans than a typical family car.

Features and Options
The base four-cylinder, 5-speed-manual Fusion S is nicely equipped with variable-assist power steering, tilt/telescopic steering wheel with speed controls, air conditioning, keyless entry, power locks and windows, passive anti-theft system, quad halogen headlamps, speed-sensitive windshield wipers, four-way manual driver seat, rear 60/40-split fold-down bench seat, leather-wrapped shift knob, dual visor vanity mirrors, two-tier center console, dash-top storage compartment, rear-seat armrest with dual cup holders, dual 12- volt power points, four-speaker MP3-capable AM/FM audio with single-disc CD player and auxiliary input jack, and P205/60R-16 tires on 16-inch steel wheels with premium wheel covers.

The mid-range SE adds fog lamps, power mirrors, six-speaker premium audio with in-dash six-disc CD changer, six-way power driver seat with manual lumbar adjustment, fold-down front passenger seat, message center with trip computer, steering wheel cruise and audio controls, dual exhaust tips (with the optional V-6 engine), brake-actuated traction control (with the V-6 and AWD) and 16-inch aluminum wheels.

The top-of-the-line SEL piles on automatic climate control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, upgraded cloth interior, automatic headlights, keyless entry pad, heated outside mirrors with security approach lamps, an analog clock, a compass, an electrochromatic rearview mirror, P225/50R-17 performance tires on 17-inch aluminum wheels, and SYNC.

In addition to the V-6 and AWD, major stand-alone options include an Audiophile eights-speaker sound system, SIRIUS Satellite Radio, traction control (for front-drive models), heated front seats, leather trimmed seats, voice-activated DVD navigation, interior ambient lighting, the new Reverse Sensing System and (co-developed with Microsoft) Ford's industry-exclusive, voice-activated Ford SYNC™ hands-free in-car communications and entertainment system (standard on SEL). Also available on SE and SEL models is a creatively named “Moon and Tune Package,” which combines the Audiophile sound system with a power moonroof.

Safety and Security
Ford is quick to point out that Fusion received the highest possible ratings in both front and side impacts from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in 2007 and in 2006 was named one of the "Best Sedans for Families" by AAA and Parents magazine, based on crash test ratings and family road tests. Its standard Ford Personal Safety System includes six airbags (dual-stage driver and front passenger, front seat thorax side bags and side-impact air curtains), safety belt pretensioners and passenger seat weight and crash severity sensing for the front air bags. Also standard are rear door child safety locks, the LATCH child-safety restraint system and Ford's tire pressure monitoring system.

We liked the Fusion when it was new, and it's only gotten better since. Its pleasing combination of styling, dynamics, performance (especially with the V-6), quality, safety and fuel economy make it highly competitive in today's increasingly tough midsize sedan class.

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