Are the Screws an Bolts and Nuts of the Late F-150 Models 1999 ->
Metric or in the Fu.... Imperial System?

Don't missunderstand me, i'm Working everyday with Imperial Screws, Bolts and Nuts.
(Aircraftmechanic)
but i hat it, because i can't estimate what size a screw is.
i can it in metric.
but in this system it isn't "guess"
you have to "memorize"

in Metric system the next higher is 1mm greater.
in Imperial the next higher of 3/8 ???? 7/16 9/16 (i don't know, i have to try it) and this is what i hate.

 

99 and up a mixed with both metric and standard

 

on my 04. everything is metric except a couple trim bolts.

 

On my 08 its rare for me to grab a imperial socket for the truck.

 

Ah, but who can offer one of the many reasons why? Free forum posting who anyone that does!

 

Because we're American. We don't need it to be easy for it to be easy. Fractions are very basic math.

 

sure, fractions are really easy.
but when u are not growen up with iperial wrenches.
And never get touched with fractions in technical works, then u will never get aligned with it.
If the Wrenches are well ordered and step by step the greater is the next, then its easy.
but when u lie under the Car, with a Handfull wrenches.
then it is not so easy.
then try and error is the only Methode to find the correct one.

Because, it is not noticeable which is between 7/16 and 3/8 and then "Have i a wrench between it?" 13/32 or so.... and this is what i hate.

12mm fit not correct, try 13mm oh its fine.
this is much better.
u just have to count, and u see, a missing size.
AND this is impossible in the imperial System.

this is what i don't understand, this system is really complicated:
but All these other things are Made for idiots (sorry you are not meant).
for Example:
Objects in the Mirror ar Closer than it seems ! (who doesn't know that)
Don't dry your Pet in the Microwave Oven!
Do not touch the Running Belt on the engine!

every thing is explained,
also general knowledge.

MCDonalds:
Caution, Content may be Hot.
I hope so, when i order an Coffee.

Are all these things so foolproof, because the proceedings?
Or why?
I Mean every Body knows that a fresh coffee is hot.
and thats no good idea to touch running Engine Parts.

on the one hand funny, sad on the other

 

Or, from a chainsaw manual:

Do not attempt to stop chain with hands or genitals.

Do not use the chainsaw when angry or in an agitated state.

If it's a product made for sale in the US we have all sorts of idiotic warnings that have to be put on products because at some point someone sued for just that reason, the warning wasn't there, they got a sympathetic jury and they won their case.

I REALLY don't want to know what idiot tried to stop a chainsaw by sticking it between their legs.......

On the topic of sockets/wrenches:

if you have 3/8, 7/16,1/2", 9/16, ad nauseum, basically a standard SAE socket and wrench set, you should be fine. It's very odd for Ford to use oddball fasteners on the trucks. Just do the reverse of someone trained with SAE tools....If it looks 3/8, and I know it's metric, I'm grabbing a 10mm. Through practice you can get used to estimating sizes.

As to why the mix exists? Ford has been sourcing parts from Canada for ages, and Canada uses the metric system. On my Pontiac, if the part was made in Canada, it had metric hardware, if it was made in Detroit it had SAE hardware. Got to be a real PITA around the engine compartment.....

 

Oh i always use itin angry mode, becaus its make me angry, when i hav to cut something.... ;-)

Back to SAE and metric.
Its not the Problem to rate a Nut or screw size.
The Problem ist to know/find the SAE with rated mm in mind.

but this is the smallest Problem

Much more difficult is it with treads.
it is not everytime possible to see on first sight if it is SAE or metric.

andthen these fuc.... Inbus
At Aircrafts are some Inbus metric an some SAE,
and this is always try and error, to find the correct one.
especially at small inbus.

 

Estimating threads on sight I can't help you with.

I can, however, sympathize.

One of the machines I work on has ONE sae bolt in it. ONE.

I can just picture the engineers sitting around saying "How can we screw with the techs on this one......"