2021 Ford E-Series Information

[Long & Winding road]

Yeah I figured it was around 5000 RPM. I try to say south of 4300 if I can help it (sometimes it will downshift and shoot up much higher than I like so I lower my speed immediatly). I dont like hearing the engine rev that high.

[Peterrrr]

Originally Posted by 16ACE27

Don't gamble; verify you have a KEY1 and KEY2 wire in the radio's wiring harness. If you don't have those wires (which a quick search shows Axxera radios do not) then it won't work.

The radios do have them. I installed this on mine. Take a look of this post. http://www.thorforums.com/forums/f27...dio-14455.html

[Chance]

Here’s a view of new radio (I assume this is the base radio) with steering wheel controls.

A feature I like even more is telescoping steering wheel. The (new to me) information confirms some questions I had. Other than new engine, I doubt there’s much significantly new mechanically, but there are lots of electrical and electronic upgrades.

Note footnote regarding this being pre-production interior.

[Chance]

This is a bit more info from Ford. Among other features, I like that all alternators seem rated fairly high (210 and 240 Amps) and even better the dual alternator option.

[Long & Winding road]

Great info, thanks Chance.

I sure hope some of the RV manufatures pick the loaded up chassis for the more expensive class C's and for the Axis/Vegas if Thor continuous to make them.

I like all of the options most of the time ....but thats just me.

[Chance]

Some of us who would like to see higher fuel economy from Class Cs (particularly smaller ones) may find this information interesting. Perhaps the “economy” tune along with 4.10 gears will make a significant difference, particularly if engine is more efficient than V10 to start with.

[The_Breeze]

Originally Posted by Long & Winding road

Not much info on the net about this new 7.3 V8 Gas engine.

"The all-new 7.3L gas V8 is a “big block” push-rod engine that is designed for low-end power and efficiency according to Ford. Unfortunately, Ford has not yet specified the power numbers for any of the latest engine options in the 2020 truck".

"Pickup truck world is intrigued by the introduction of the new 7.3L gasoline V8 engine. The engine is referred to as a “big block” with an iron block, push-rod valve design, port injection, and more. There is just one gaping hole in the specs sheet. Ford did not announce any power specifications for the engine.

Let’s take Ford’s current 6.2L gas V8 as a baseline. It’s rated at 385 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque. Here is the power and torque per liter of displacement for the current engine.

385 hp / 6.2L = 62.1 hp/L
430 lb-ft / 6.2L = 69.4 lb-ft/L
This is just a rough estimate. Let’s see what the bigger 7.3-liter engine may be capable of.

62.1 hp/L * 7.3L = 453 hp
69.4 lb-ft/L * 7.3L = 506 lb-ft
453 horsepower and 506 lb-ft of torque is a very impressive estimate, considering that Ford’s own 6.8L gas V10 has a maximum torque rating of 460 lb-ft."

"What if the numbers could be even better? What if Ford is able to get a 10% improvement in flow with the 7.3L? This will push the 7.3L V8 estimates to: 482 hp and 557 lb-ft of torque.

The 7.3L V8 will make its debut in the 2020 Ford Super Duty (F250 and F350) trucks later this year. The engine will be mated to Ford’s new 10-speed automatic transmission."

I guess we will know more later this year on the TP and TQ and MPG rating?

I'm thinking engine/tranny swap for my rig. Playing wait and see.

[The_Breeze]

Originally Posted by Chance

Some of us who would like to see higher fuel economy from Class Cs (particularly smaller ones) may find this information interesting. Perhaps the “economy” tune along with 4.10 gears will make a significant difference, particularly if engine is more efficient than V10 to start with.

I have no idea why they would consider a 4:56 on a cutaway chassis unless the rig is constantly crawling through high mountain passes. 4:11 seems a little bit much too. Wouldn't 3:73 suffice with a lower tranny gear you could employ?

[Chance]

The following note applies to table I posted above:


“All 2021MY E-Series vehicles have a 7.3L Gas engine which is certified using the Heavy Duty Engine Protocol (Dyno Cert), and therefore do not require Frontal Area or Unloaded Vehicle Weight Restrictions in order to meet emissions standards. However, there are Frontal Area Restrictions required to maintain optimal vehicle performance in all conditions. If the Frontal Areas in Table A are exceeded, engine output may be reduced in extreme situations to maintain safe operating temperatures. The vehicle may be completed up to the “Standard” max frontal area with no SUB radii restrictions and up to the “Enhanced” max frontal area if the radii restrictions in Figure A (for Cutaways) and Figure B (for Stripped Chassis) are followed.”


I think it’s important because it gets around some of the issues Thor and other companies had when they started using E-450s in place of E-350s due to emission restrictions; which were so ineffective anyway — to say it nicely.

Anyway, looks to me like smaller and lighter motorhomes can remain on E-350 chassis and not be limited by frontal area and associated aero drag restrictions.

[Chance]

Originally Posted by The_Breeze

I have no idea why they would consider a 4:56 on a cutaway chassis unless the rig is constantly crawling through high mountain passes. 4:11 seems a little bit much too. Wouldn't 3:73 suffice with a lower tranny gear you could employ?

That’s a good question. Specifications I’ve seen so far show the new 7.3L V8 in a SuperDuty can have higher GCWR than required for a small Class B+ or Class C even when equipped with 3.73 gears, so I’d guess it might work OK. On the other hand taller and taller gearing has diminishing returns on improving fuel economy, so going from 4.56 to 4.10 should make greater difference than from 4.10 to 3.73.

For smaller aerodynamic Class B+, this engine may just be too large for optimum fuel economy. I’d like to see a small B+ that can deliver 12 MPG consistently (on average), but I’m not sure whether this 7.3L can do it. We’ll see before long.

[Chance]

For reference, here’s a table showing E-Series chassis availability for E-350 and E-450 by wheelbase and weight ratings (GVWR) — since it keeps coming up in different threads.

This is 2021 ModelYear, but hasn’t changed much. Previously it was 6.8L V10 or 6.2L V8 in lieu of Premium or Economy 7.3L V8 engine choices, respectively.

[Bob Denman]

If I'm reading that right: it looks as if the 450 chassis weighs less than the 350...
(Or have my eyeballs let me down?)

[Chance]

No, you’re not reading it correctly. The E-450 weighs a little over 200 pounds more than E-350, for the Cutaway that is.

Difference for Stripped chassis is less, assuming you’re comparing same engine and wheelbase.

Engine difference is obviously more than a “tune”. Software doesn’t weigh much.

[Bob Denman]

EThe eyballs get another "F" for the day...
Thanks for clarifying things.

[The_Breeze]

Originally Posted by Chance

No, you’re not reading it correctly. The E-450 weighs a little over 200 pounds more than E-350, for the Cutaway that is.

Difference for Stripped chassis is less, assuming you’re comparing same engine and wheelbase.

Engine difference is obviously more than a “tune”. Software doesn’t weigh much.

With the numbers they're pulling out of the ecoboost, is a six pack on the horizon?

[Chance]

Originally Posted by The_Breeze

With the numbers they're pulling out of the ecoboost, is a six pack on the horizon?

What would you gain? Fuel economy wouldn’t be significantly better at highway speeds where motorhomes spend most of their time. The 7.3L V8 should be a simpler engine and more durable too.

It would not completely surprise me if in the future Ford made a 6-cylinder version of the 7.3L V8, which would be around 5.47L in displacement, but I doubt that will happen. A modern large-displacement pushrod inline-6 would be sweet, but it would be too long even for truck applications. One of the best Ford truck engines ever was the 300 cubic inch, 4.9L, inline-6.

[Bob Denman]

The 300-Six was good... but that was a very long time ago.
Besides: they never got the fuel mileages that today's computerized fuel management systems can muster.

[Chance]

Originally Posted by The_Breeze

With the numbers they're pulling out of the ecoboost, is a six pack on the horizon?

By the way, Ford is now starting to offer the EcoBoost engine option in the 2020 Transit Cutaway chassis which means buyers who love EcoBoost engine will be able to get smaller and lighter motorhomes with it. Ford also beef-up Transit chassis a bit, so it’s rated up to 11,000 pounds GVWR. That's the same as previous generation Sprinter, so similar-size and -weight motorhomes should be available soon on Transit Cutaway.

I’m old school as far as truck engines go, so a Super Duty pushrod V-8 is more to my liking. As they say, EcoBoost is Eco or Boost, not Eco and Boost. In a motorhome you’ll have the power and torque of a larger engine, but rarely will you get the fuel economy of a smaller engine because motorhomes make the engine work hard most of the time. That’s partly why Ford didn’t create a new EcoBoost for large trucks, and developed the 7.3L V8 instead.

[Bob Denman]

My Missus just ordered a 2020 EcoSport... So is it an "Eco"; or a "Sport"?
Certainly not both!

[Chance]

Originally Posted by Bob Denman

The 300-Six was good... but that was a very long time ago.
Besides: they never got the fuel mileages that today's computerized fuel management systems can muster.

Hence why the word “MODERN”. Just like 7.3L is a modern version of a pushrod large-displacement V8 like the old 460 cubic inch (7.5L) of the same time period.

Besides, if we see a large 6-cylinder at all, it’s more likely to be a V8 with two cylinders missing, like some previous GM, Ford, and Chrysler 90-degree V6 engines.