When did Ford start using metric?

[Tom_C]

I installed a Bestop Trekstep today, and in the instructions in the required tools it listed metric. I was ready to bitch about a product for American cars using metric, because that's what Americans do. Well, when I started in I found all the truck bolts I needed to remove were metric. I was sort of shocked because I wanted to piss and moan. Damn you Ford for denying me!

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[Big Blue]

If I remember correctly. Ford was one of the first US manufacturers to use metric fasteners. I bet Phil can give us details.

 

[Tom_C]

I'm fine with it, just curious when American manufacturers (I assume all) started using it. Never owned an American car, since I drove my mothers (not mine) ford maverick, and not the truck of course.

 

[rang19ca]

I think Ford has been using metric for over 30 years.

 

[Tom_C]

I think Ford has been using metric for over 30 years.

Whoa. Alrighty then.

 

[Ranger Dave]

Pretty sure my ‘84 Ranger had some metric stuff on it. That was back when they shared the truck platform with Mazda

 

[Mcssls]

Around 1980

 

[spartan0078]

 

[Cabose-1]

Well, ford has been using metric for a long while now. All American companies have. Ford chevy dodge kind of a mixed bag of metric and American measurements. Vw uses torx ? so.....just keep spare 10mm sockets around

 

[66F100]

My biggest complaint is mixing standard and metric on the same vehicle! So annoying!

 

[Dahveed]

SAE fasteners on cars is a thing of the past. There isn’t much point to even having SAE tools if all you work on is cars.

I know on my ‘90 Bronco the factory transmission pan said “METRIC” in giant letters for one reason or another.

 

[JaysOnTheEDGE]

Love when the aftermarket accessories use sae fasteners. Damn have to go digging for my sae socket set now lol

I work on Japanese copiers and all of the screws are 5.5mm. Like how did they come up with 5.5mm

 

[Tom_C]

i grew up in an era where metric was being taught in school, but most of life was still standard.
I've grown up to be a mixed bag of craziness.

i constantly flip between the two

is that a good thing....not really.

I'm not opposed for the US to move to metric. But, since we haven't, and not owning American before now I was sort of shocked. I was being facetious saying I was pissed, but I was surprised.

 

[FloggingBishop]

Love when the aftermarket accessories use sae fasteners. Damn have to go digging for my sae socket set now lol

I work on Japanese copiers and all of the screws are 5.5mm. Like how did they come up with 5.5mm

That’s basically 3/16

 

[Frenchy]

I installed a Bestop Trekstep today, and in the instructions in the required tools it listed metric. I was ready to bitch about a product for American cars using metric, because that's what Americans do. Well, when I started in I found all the truck bolts I needed to remove were metric. I was sort of shocked because I wanted to piss and moan. Damn you Ford for denying me!

So to my understanding it was in the mid 1980's that the big 3 started to use metric. It was a slow phase in process but it did happen and i think fully complete by the mid 1990's.

Also SAE doesnt mean American. It stands for Society of Automotive Engineers

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