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E0 or E1 ?

todras said:
Errrr no. Only 98's are E0. 98.5 had a handful of changes hence the E1 designation. The same changes lasted until production ended in 00.
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That's what I thought. I was just asking for clarification on CVST1214's assertion that E1 was 98.5 only.

**EDIT** If there were no major changes in 99 & 00 from the 98.5 changes, why shouldn't/wouldn't 99 & 00 also be considered E1s??
 
From Wiki...

1998
  • New design for front and rear fascias, including a chrome grille and larger headlights.
  • 5-speed manual transmission changed from rod shift to cable shift.
  • High-performance SVT version debuts, available only in Silver Frost, Toreador Red, and Black Ebony with Midnight Blue interior.
  • Roof line altered and the rear deck shortened for improved rear seat headroom.
  • Seat recliner is changed from a knob to a lever.
  • Seatbelt for rear center seat is improved from 2-point to 3-point.
  • New center consoles.
  • Glove box light, underhood light, and door handle lights are removed.
Note: In mid-production for the 1998 model, Ford decided to make several more changes to the Contour. This resulted in a noticeable distinction between early and late 1998 Contours. To differentiate between the two, many people refer to the late 1998 model as the "1998.5", or alternatively refer to the early 1998 model as the "E0" and the late 1998 model as the "E1". The mid-year changes are as listed below.
  • SVT was upped 5 hp to 200 hp due to additional Extrude Honing of the primary and secondary intake ports.
  • Base and GL models are dropped, leaving the LX, SE, and SVT.
  • Split rear seats are now available only on the SE model.
  • In-dash clock is relocated to the stereo head unit display.
  • New Cobra-style SVT aluminum alloy wheels.
  • Different strut valving and tires raising skid pad numbers from .84g to .90g.
1999
  • All models are equipped with a slightly larger fuel tank.
  • SVT is offered in Tropic Green.
  • Revised transmission syncros to address an issue in the 98 SVT's.
2000
  • LX model is dropped, leaving only the SE and SVT.
  • Displacement on the Duratec V6 engine decreased slightly, but compression ratio is increased to compensate.
 
I'll make some changes so it reads more correctly.


Ok Wiki should be more correct now.
 
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what does it mean by split rear seat available on SE only,, are they talking about the fold down backs or what?:shrug:
 
todras said:
From Wiki...

[*]Roof line altered and the rear deck shortened for improved rear seat headroom.
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This is what I don't get. If the rear deck was shortened, then why is the rear decklid from my '96 perfectly interchangeable with the rear decklid from my '98?
 
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Since this still needs to be cleared up:

98.5 had the same dashboard as 98. They have warp problems by the steering wheel.
99-00 have the dashboard with the new defrost vent plastics. These are prone to the infamous dash warp as well as the warp problems by the steering wheel.

FWIW any 98+ may have warp near the steering wheel although its owner may not notice. The dashboard is supposed to be nearly flat with the plastic front vent bezel.
For example, this dashboard has warped - you can see the "underside" of the fold. Notice by the corners of the bezel you cannot see the underside of the fold, it it supposed to look like that all around the bezel.
http://i7.ebayimg.com/02/i/000/86/0f/ef85_3.JPG
 
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LLADNAR said:
what does it mean by split rear seat available on SE only,, are they talking about the fold down backs or what?:shrug:
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ok hate to quote myself,,so by what i read the later models didn't have fold down rear seats,,with the exception of the SE. i thought they all had fold down rear seats
 
CSVT1214 said:
CEG Terminology
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It's all in how you read it - you can't take everything so literally . In 98.5 , the Evolution 1 was introduced , AFAIK , it continued till '00 (hence all 98.5+ had E1 wheels , E1 exhaust , E1 ding guards etc) . I've been around CEG since the late 90's (so has Todd) , and it's always just sorta been worded like that .
 
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the E0 has shorter non rounded run around the gas tank and if you put it on a 98.5 or later it hits the gas tank. Trust me I know as mine hits
 
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