Obviously some on here are techs..... For those of us that aren't (I drive a big truck) how would you rate your mechanical ability ?

I've never tried to do anything I haven't eventually been able to figure out , but doing some of the stuff that others seem to jump right into kinda freaks me out.

I'd love to be able to throw my cab off , rip into my motor , slap a new head gasket & ARP's on, and probably could but..... And it's a BIG but..... What if you get to the point of no return and it's in your garage in a 100 pcs.

Guess my real question is to the guys that did that kinda stuff for the first time on your own truck , what was your expirience like before that compared to after ? And did anyone just flat out get "stuck" and what did you do ?

For me it's more of a confidence issue than a lack of mechanical ability.... How about you ?

 

Just keep in mind that somebody just like you built it in the first place and if you get in over your head there's always going to be somebody who can stitch it back up (for a price).

You can do it, just have a little faith in yourself.

 

Same as you with the confidence instead of ability, being that when i bought my first diesel back in march I was def intimidated and gun shy on tearing mine apart but I couldn't afford to pay someone to put a piston, head and 5 injectors in it. But with the wealth of knowledge on here and lots of time it really wasn't that bad just slow. now when I do something I realize that if I get stuck then just refer to this site and will usually find the solution

 

It's most defiantly a confidence think, you just have to convince yourself that you can fix/upgrade what ever the project is. Like High Binder said, someone put the truck together...not a machine. With a forum like this, I've spent allot of time reading about what I need and specific things to be aware of when I've worked on mine. I found a digital camera is very handy. As your taking it apart, take pictures....LOTS of 'em. That way as your putting it back together if you get stumped...you can go back & look at the photos to remind yourself how it looked before you started. I learned that trick from a buddy on a late model 302 we were rebuilding for a '68 Bronco.

 

ive been a hd diesel mechanic for a long time,so naturally these light duty engines kinda threw me off at first,but if you take your time and do everything per the book,youll have a happy engine,knowledge,and a fatter wallet!.

 

As long as you know the basic engine components, your good. Just take pics of what you take off, worked for me.

 

Agree with all of the above. I installed the Bullet Proof Oil & EGR Cooler, 4 injectors, and HPOP by reading through here and asking questions. Before that the most maint I had done on my vehicles was change the oil, brakes, rotors, and air filters...

Took a lot of pictures and I went very slow. I also put every nut, bolt, washer, and anything else that came off into a ziploc bag and attached it to the part it came off of. And boy was I nervous each time I turned the key the first time... To my surprise it started and has run perfectly since...

 

I remember the first time I did my EGR cooler and OIL cooler.

Took 3 hours to get my turbo off alone! Now its a 20-30 minute job.

When I did my headstuds, I have never been into a motor that deep, but I have taken many small engines apart, so I gave it a shot.

I have touched almost everything in my top end of my motor, I don't have any problems taking it apart.

I would admit being worried about digging into the bottom end though.

 

I have always worked on my own cars an truck all my life. All were gassers. This is my first diesel. I did alot of reading on here before tearing into it to do my studs an gaskets. I can tear apart an rebuild a small block chevy gasser no problem. But have to say I was kinda scarred when I tore into my truck. But I figured, what the hell it's onky nuts an bolts. So I tore into it an only took a few pictures, should have taken more. When I started puttin it back together, found out it wasn't to bad. Everything went right back together. An I was nervous the first time I tried to start it. But after a few tries she fired up an she rans better now than before.

Just have to have confidence in ur ability to do it. Just think of it as nuts an bolts just like a gasser.

On a side not. My wife freaked out when she seen all the parts to my motor sitting in my shed. She didn't think I would ever b able to put it back together an it run again. But I showed her.

 

I would have to agree with the OP and the posters replying. The REALLY great thing about this site is that you have people here that do this for a living. AND there isn't much that has gone on with these trucks that hasn't been seen before. I have been here a short time and I am seeing identical things posted, like questions etc.

I am no auto mechanic let alone a deisel mechanic. I am a Nuclear Instrumentation and Controls tech. I calibrate, adjust and fix Electro-Mechanical things. I am not intimidated by tools and working on things. I want to know how it works and why it does what it does though.

Fortunately for me, I am in a position with a job that allows me to be able to have the big stuff done by a Ford dealer or garage. I can afford it.... to a point.

That aside, I think having a game plan of what you want to get done, searching the forum for the maintenance you want to do, gleaning photos and information posted and also taking your own photos as you go would make almost anything you want to do-doable, tools and equipment provided.

The pictures aside from helping you reorient things also helps if you get stuck. Post the picture from where your at with a description of the problem your having and I bet you get all the help you need.

Tell you what, I'll do it if you will! I need to change out a couple of rotors and brake pads. Additionally I saw that during that, it is a good time to repack the needle bearing in the auto four wheel drive hubs. I have never done this sort of thing before. But I can save myself about $5-600 bucks if I do it myself.

Wadda ya think? You game?

Eric

 

Sorry I have to tell this story, makes me proud of my ol man...

My first time taking something tecnical apart was when I was 7 years old. My dad gave me a Holly 4 barrel and said "heres your tools take it apart for me" oh the devistation and fun, I got my first tool box with everything I needed.
I finished taking anything and everything I could off that carburator including the butterflys and linkage. left it all on the floor for my dad to inspect beaming that I did a good job he said " now put it all back together" well I didnt get it back together and while I stood in the kitchen my nose in the corner my dad put it back together, and said "Cmer son, now take it apart again and this time pay attention to what your taking apart and how it works"
it took me longer to take apart, trying to remember what was what. I failed once more to dissasemble and reassemble, on the third time I got it.

15 years later I did a complete tear down and rebuild on motor I was going to throw in my car "to go fast". it was the first time I ever got into the bottom end of a motor. needless to say that childhood lesson a good lesson.

I guess what im saying is as long as you dont break stuff and you know where everything goes and how it works you should be good. the best thing to do is just get in there and pull one part at a time. go slow dont rush it, double check your Torq specs and a camera is one of the best tools a mechanic should have, plus you can make a report out of it and post it up here with lotsa pics for all us Newbies!

 

I sure hope not, otherwise, we 6.0 owners are worse off then I originally thought.

Everyone one pretty much has summed everything up quite well. The only thing that I would add as I didn't see it (but it could have been there) is that don't get frustrated, nervous, scared while you are in there. You "lose" your cool after you already started getting in there that could do far more damage. This goes back into have confidence and take your time when you are doing work. It'll all work out and don't let it worry you if it takes hours or even a day or two more to get something done compared to someone else.

 

well hey when I did mine I put 7 of the 10 injectors in upsidedown.
really the truth is simple I have never met someone that could do something I can not. I have however met people who will do things I have no wish to try.

 

I am a Nuclear Machinist. I sometimes have to work on Radioactive valves and components wearing 2 pairs of gloves and sometimes do this while wearing a respirator. Other times I'm upside down working on a valve with only my fingertips and surrounded by 400F piping and steam in my face. Naval machinery sucks when it breaks

Anything I do on my truck is easier...except Transmission work. Those things just suck

My biggest factor is time. Not alot to go around. So truck has to wait