How many real mechanics do we have...?

[Bartman39]

Want to hear a short but sweet run down of what you do in addition...

Dont be shy...

 

[MiataNC]

You need an option for dealer/local shop Techs that have moved on to different careers.

 

[lsd]

I'm an aircraft mechanic, does that qualify me
I could probably pass the ase tests with ease.

 

[Bartman39]

You need an option for dealer/local shop Techs that have moved on to different careers.

Then you should pick what matches you the best because isnt it like riding a bike...? You may not be current with things in your new career but still have the general know how and even if you dont do your own work you still know how and cant be BS`d...

 

[Bartman39]

I'm an aircraft mechanic, does that qualify me
I could probably pass the ase tests with ease.

To be honest they should make a whole bunch of different ASE patches with jokes under them... Would mean more to me... Been through 3 different ASE certified techs over the past couple of years and they could`nt cut it... So recently hired a younger guy with good exp. and NO ASE certs and guess what...? I`d rather pay him $100 per hour than have 100 of them at $1 per hour... Not to say there are not any good ASE guys out there but most of them are very settled in where they are... Some do get a raw deal or are being screwed over but the guys that are floating for most part are not worth hen shit on a pump handle...

 

[herm0016]

where is the " working on cars all my life, stock car racing, drag racing, frame off resto's" option? you do not need to work in a shop to be a "real mechanic" many of the shop monkeys i know can't do anything with out a book and diagrams and procedures.

 

[alkemyst]

I'm real b@by!@!!@! don't even need a jack to change the bolts on my tires.

 

[lsd]

To be honest they should make a whole bunch of different ASE patches with jokes under them... Would mean more to me... Been through 3 different ASE certified techs over the past couple of years and they could`nt cut it... So recently hired a younger guy with good exp. and NO ASE certs and guess what...? I`d rather pay him $100 per hour than have 100 of them at $1 per hour... Not to say there are not any good ASE guys out there but most of them are very settled in where they are... Some do get a raw deal or are being screwed over but the guys that are floating for most part are not worth hen shit on a pump handle...

Oh I totally agree with you, It's the same in my field. It's also part of the larger argument of value of degree's and other certs they push in this day and age.

 

[Pulsar]

Want to hear a short but sweet run down of what you do in addition...

Dont be shy...

I have 8 years engineering components and component assembly lines (spark plugs, air cleaners, alternators, maf's), 5 years engineering assembly (4.6L 5.4L 6.2L) and 4 years engineering machining (conrods, blocks, cranks and heads).

I'm not a mechanic, but I know which end of the wrench goes where.

 

[Bartman39]

I have 8 years engineering components and component assembly lines (spark plugs, air cleaners, alternators, maf's), 5 years engineering assembly (4.6L 5.4L 6.2L) and 4 years engineering machining (conrods, blocks, cranks and heads).

I'm not a mechanic, but I know which end of the wrench goes where.

Pulsar... Very good to know your here... Have a question for ya too... What was the deal with the Ford 5.4L 3 valve setup...? Have a few of those in the fleet and the frick`in spark plugs are like holy hell to remove and break more often than not plus you have to have a special tool to remove the piece left in the head...? I see they used 2 piece plugs but you can get 1 piece which from what I`ve seen cures this problem... Also was the 3 valve design a stab at making more torque or...? Only lasted for a short time I think unless the newer 5.4`s have the option...?

 

[Bartman39]

where is the " working on cars all my life, stock car racing, drag racing, frame off resto's" option? you do not need to work in a shop to be a "real mechanic" many of the shop monkeys i know can't do anything with out a book and diagrams and procedures.

Then you should fall into "C"...

 

[exdeath]

3 valve was a compromise to get 4v performance with a simpler SOHC design.

My father is a mechanic by trade for over 30 years. I grew up knowing about cars, and have always done all my repairs and modding on my own, have a decent collection of tools at home, etc, but never actually worked at a shop for a pay check. I've never had to take my car to a shop to diagnose or repair something I couldn't, but I don't hesitate to take my car in to a specialist who can do something cheaper and faster than I can on my back in my home garage (eg: tire mounting and balancing, dyno tuner specializing in my exact vehicle, 4 wheel alignments, etc)

 

[Gillbot]

I like the shade tree myself.

 

[Bartman39]

James...! The Z28 man :thumbsup:

Hey how goes the nitrous project...? Havent kept up with that one...?

 

[GoatMonkey]

Does an armchair mechanic count?

I live in a condo with rules against working on your own car. I know enough in theory to give out some bad advice on the internet.

 

[Pulsar]

Pulsar... Very good to know your here... Have a question for ya too... What was the deal with the Ford 5.4L 3 valve setup...? Have a few of those in the fleet and the frick`in spark plugs are like holy hell to remove and break more often than not plus you have to have a special tool to remove the piece left in the head...? I see they used 2 piece plugs but you can get 1 piece which from what I`ve seen cures this problem... Also was the 3 valve design a stab at making more torque or...? Only lasted for a short time I think unless the newer 5.4`s have the option...?

The sparkplug setup on the 3V is notorious. Carbon would weld the plugs in place and make them very difficult to remove. That was corrected in later iterations, but the early ones: yuck.

The 3 Valve design was a compromise. It didn't have the costs of 4 valves (which usually require dual overhead cams instead of single in most cases). When it went VCT, it only required a single VCT module because of the single camshaft, etc.

It was a great idea to extend the life of the 5.4L motor - the 5.4L modular was very old. It didn't make the power of the newer V8's in it's displacement, but the 3V setup let it compete for another half-decade at least until the new designs like the 3.5 ecoboost and 5.0 liter could get in place. The 3V 5.4's were still bullet-proof and made a bunch of Ward's top-10 engine lists over and over again.

Ford stagnated their engine design for too long - prior leadership with different objectives. The new leadership really seems to get it. Good engines, but past their prime a bit. That's been fixed now. Good lord do I want a new Mustang GT =).

 

[Bartman39]

Does an armchair mechanic count?

I live in a condo with rules against working on your own car. I know enough in theory to give out some bad advice on the internet.

Cool... A virtual mechanic...:thumbsup:

I figure one day it will be kinda like stuff in the movie Minority Report...? Just punch in the vin code and it links wireless and has about 50K sensors that display a full 3D view of everything including broke stuff and worn out parts... Of course then just push "fix it" and a gang of nanodes do the job... Wow...? That puts me out of job...!


Thanks Pulsar very informative... Like the new tech for sure not like the 80`s when there were no cars made in the USA with more than 200HP and that was fudging a bit...

^

 

[CraigRT]

Trained to be a mechanic (truck and bus) but work in IT. I couldn't find work.

I love working on my cars..

 

[SooperDave]

Over 20 years with a wrench in my hand just about everyday. Started in 1987 as an auto mechanic and worked for a few independant shops over the next 6 years. The next four years I spent working for specialty shops building drivelines, diesel engine machine shop, R&R transmissions, and alignment shop. Got in to construction and have been a heavy equipment mechanic for 13 years now. In the time before the time before I worked for a Miracle body and paint shop, the service department of a Honda M/C dealer as the gopher/driver/whatever guy, and a year doing circuit board testing on defective returned boards for a specialty electronics company. There is a little more but this is the relevant stuff.

 

[iGas]

Does a refrigeration mechanic & mechanical plumber (pipefitter/gasfitter/heatpump specialist/instrumentation) count as a mechanic?

 

[Bartman39]

Possibly...?

Do you know what an IAC is...? Or what a 3 circut Dominator is...? (kinda a trick question) :sneaky: Might ask what where a Torrington bearing would be used in an engine...?

No internet searching either


Not that these would qualify or disqualify you but some I thought of off the top...

 

[Bartman39]

Over 20 years with a wrench in my hand just about everyday. Started in 1987 as an auto mechanic and worked for a few independant shops over the next 6 years. The next four years I spent working for specialty shops building drivelines, diesel engine machine shop, R&R transmissions, and alignment shop. Got in to construction and have been a heavy equipment mechanic for 13 years now. In the time before the time before I worked for a Miracle body and paint shop, the service department of a Honda M/C dealer as the gopher/driver/whatever guy, and a year doing circuit board testing on defective returned boards for a specialty electronics company. There is a little more but this is the relevant stuff.

Man could use you for sure...! Or know of several places around here that would also... BTW one of my best friends is called SuperDave which is also the name of his machine shop... He is building a Cummings 6BT 5.9 for me right now for a 200LC excavator...

 

[alkemyst]

Does a refrigeration mechanic & mechanical plumber (pipefitter/gasfitter/heatpump specialist/instrumentation) count as a mechanic?

You hawt? Maybe we can roleplay.

 

[Gillbot]

James...! The Z28 man :thumbsup:

Hey how goes the nitrous project...? Havent kept up with that one...?

It goes to a stop. Work and kids aren't allowing much time. :-(

It really only needs a little bit done to be useable but i'm picky and keep redoing things. I really need to bite the bullet and pick a day to just finish it soon or i'll never get to use it before the season ends.

 

[Vette73]

Pulsar... Very good to know your here... Have a question for ya too... What was the deal with the Ford 5.4L 3 valve setup...? Have a few of those in the fleet and the frick`in spark plugs are like holy hell to remove and break more often than not plus you have to have a special tool to remove the piece left in the head...? I see they used 2 piece plugs but you can get 1 piece which from what I`ve seen cures this problem... Also was the 3 valve design a stab at making more torque or...? Only lasted for a short time I think unless the newer 5.4`s have the option...?

If anybody has any of the 5.4s still in use change the plugs out to champion plugs, not the autolite/motorcraft ones.
The champion ones are 1 peice design you speak of so they don't have the same problems as the autolite/motorcraft ones. They cost a little more but are well worth it if you save yourself from haveing to remove 1 broken plug.