Hey guys:
On the DMD topic, I had the opportunity to talk with a Ford engineer not too long ago at a Ford plant in Michigan. He told me something very interesting: Ford sometimes redesigns a part they know to be faulty, produces it, but then won't tell anyone about it. The reasons he gave me were: 1. Ford can't or doesn't wan't to fix everyones car, but, 2. They don't want to upset enthusiasts hardcore enough about their car that would put in the effort to improve their car. Incidentally, while I was talking to him, he was testing two new dampers in the dyno lab (not duratec dampers).
I also noticed that the damper belt alignment was a little off. I haven't noticed any problems though.
What people have not been talking about is the new duratec oil pan that ford is producing. The reason everybody has been replacing these dampers is because of the potential bearing problems that the supposed "crank whip" causes. As you all know, bearing problems can be caused by oil starvation as well. Here is what I have noticed:
Ford has changed the oil pan's part number three times since 2000. That means one of two things, A: the price was reduced, B: the design was changed.
I can't imagine they changed the deisgn 3 times, nor do I believe they changed the price 3 times. So I bought one, and I am going to investigate what the difference is.
In either case, I am taking mine off (98 SVT) soon and I am going to compare them, report my findings and post pics.