OK I was just at my local Ford Dealer's Parts Counter and found out something very interesting. Last week I ordered what the guy at the counter and I thought was the Passenger Side Rubber Splash guard for the inner fender well, we did this because the one listed for drivers side was the little 1/4 piece one Ford put on from the factory. So I get to the dealer today to pick it up and its the 1/4 piece that I got on the Drivers Side from the factory...so the guys looks it up again and theres a note in his parts system.

"Passenger side part #(whatever) has been replaced by corresponding Drivers side part#(same whatever) for all '01-'03 vehicles"

Ford in their infinite wisdom took away a useful part and replaced it with an almost worthless one and they still charge you the same amount of money for it too...so I'm going to investigate the part numbers for inner fender splash guards Pre-2001 and Post-2003 as well as go to my local junkyard to get me one so I can keep all that crud outta my engine compartment.

 

That bites. I'm glad I got mine last year. Hope you find one.

 

I got mine for the drivers side from a junkyard. Pulled it from a '98 pass. side. The front 3 holes lined up perfectly, but after that they were off about an inch and didn't really fit well in back. I just left the little 1/4 shield in the back and cut the junkyard one to fit up to it and it worked out pretty well, at least it covers that big gap up front.

 

Check with any of the guys who have bagged their truck, that is one of the first things to go.

 

Oh thats good to know...perhaps some dealers reported issues with the rubber splash guard and thats why Ford started deleting it and then finally changed parts altogether.

 

i took mine off and dont know if i am goin to put mine back on i post pics after i do my body lift to see if thats what ur talkin about

 

It was cause they are cheap.

 

it was to lower under hood temperatures - allow more air to circulate

 

Yes. For customer satisfaction, Ford has to make a vehicle that can run well in ambient temperatures that range from about -40F to 120F. So it tests in extreme conditions. There is a 100F+ desert test that includes driving, then long periods of idling and "soaking" in a still air enclosure followed by accelerations with driveability ratings. If the vehicle cannot meet Ford's acceptance criteria, changes must be made. On the Ranger, it was the shortening of the shield to lower the underhood temps. Since I don't live in a hot region, I decided to install the longer shield to keep most of the crud out of the engine bay.

 

I never knew that. You learn something new everyday. So another Junkyard part to get... yay!!! Cincinnati Ohio gets in the 100's sometimes but not often. So this would help keep the engine cleaner long for me.

 

Not sure about 2001 - it may have come from the factory with the long shields on both sides.

 

My 2000 has it try looking up that part number.

 

I used an older number when I ordered my DS shield and, guess what? The short part came in - superceded to the new part number. Luckily, the parts guy was helpful and located a leftover at another dealer. I found out later that the passenger side was the same part with the pushpins reversed.

That was last summer. Now, it sounds like you get the short one whether you order the left or right side.

Side note- If you have larger tires, it may be a good idea to reverse the pins and install them from inside the sheet metal instead of from the outside. The factory 31's on the Level II rub on the DS shield in the factory position and will eventually rip it off. Reversing the pins gives about an inch more clearance and hides the upper exposed edge of the rubber.

 

All good stuff to know.
Neil do you have long guards on both sides, I don't remember when we were looking for rubbing with your new tires?

Oh well I think I'll get to the junkyard and see if I can find one, my next big mod is a 15" electric fan, so I hopefully will never have to worry about overheating, even in summer.

 

Imma check to see if i got them, I shouldn't see any engine should I?

 

are yall talking about those rubber type things that hide the upper front suspension area? yea, that area of my engine looks like crap and its bad.