My question is ?
I went by the ford dealer service garage and they had the cab off the frame of a truck. I did not notice what year the truck was or model super duty ,diesel etc.
I heard at one time they had to remove cab to work on engine.
Do they have to do this still or when they redesigned the truck did this eliminate having to do this?

Thanks
Readgriff

 

I remember being told any major work on a 6.4 liter requires the cab to be pulled

 

It's not as bad as it was, but if you have a lift, it's often easier to do major work when the body isn't in the way. That' never meant you HAD to take the cab off, it's just easier if you do. When I was a kid we had a Pontiac Sunfire. To speed up the oil change you had to take the front right wheel off. You could do it without taking the wheel off, but after assuming that must be some sort of typo I realized it just went faster. A wheel and a cab take a different level of tools though to make "easy".

 

These trucks are designed to make cab removal fairly easy for an experienced tech. Quick connect couplings, etc. It's so much easier to do engine work when the cab is lifted. Most techs would much rather take the time to remove it, and have easy access, that to struggle with laying on top of the engine with scratched up arms and skinned knuckles.

 

I guess I don't understand the concern over pulling the cab, they have the tools to do this, the vehicles are designed for this to be done.
On most vehicles, for major engine work they pull the engine out to work on it; so what is really different?
For a tech to take loose the cab mounts, unnhook steering shaft, and dis-connect a few wiring harnesses and lift cab, then have full access to the engine seems pretty slick to me.
But, they can also access a lot of components by removing the front wheels and then removing the inner fenders and leave the cab on. Any way they do it, on about any modern vehicle, components have to be removed for access.

 

It is also something to give thought to if you add wire runs into the cab, lights and radios.

 

I don't know that my dealership service department has needed to remove the cab on a 2017 yet. I did several weeks ago notice an F-250 with the cab off of it. I think it was a 2013 or '14 model with I think the tech said about 375,000 miles on it. It looks like it would be a lot easier to work on the engine that way.

 

That's something I had not thought about. I'll have to keep that in mind.

 

its MOSTLY due to (ease) access - but the number of hours paid to a tech to perform a repair means they need to be more creative and spend LESS time getting to the part for removal/replacement -

if the job pays 4 hours and it takes 4 hours JUST to GET to the part the tech will be working for free....Its easier to remove the cab than climb all over the engine and fenders to get to the part.

 

There's been at least one 2017 on this forum with the cab off and a pic posted.

 

Both my 05 dually and my 08 250 cc lb had the cab off for various reasons, and both squeaked and rattled ever after. Hoping my 17 doesn't ever require cab off service!!!!

 

My Mech buddy has his own shop and works on a lot of Fords. While it certainly makes it easier to do major repairs to take the cab off, it's still a pain, adds time, and requires equipment to do the work which all adds to the cost... Not a huge deal if it's under warranty.

 

I was looking for info.
This would be a question I would ask a dealer if they have knowledge and the tools to preform this if needed.
If they don't where would the truck be sent to be repaired that does.
I would hope I would never need this done because I'm sure it would be very expensive if it wasn't covered under warranty.
I have a several Ford dealers in the area and I'm trying figure out which dealer would have the best service dept to handle any issues on a 2017 6.7 Super Duty.
I would think it would take some knowledge and special tools to lift a cab off the frame.
This is why I'm asking these questions.
Thanks for the replies so far
Readgriff

 

A 'buddy' of mine is a Diesel Mechanic in an Indy Shop. Works on Fords all day long.

Super Dutys are a hot item down here. Really hot.

People go out and buy a used 6.0l or 6.4l and don't look into the maintenance costs. 4shame.

Anyway, he isn't a Ford guy but he says it's not that tuff to take the cab off. He says it's not a big deal and makes it so much easier to work on them.

He likes Cummins the best of all of them (the 5.9) but let,s face it....... Most Mechanics aren't really car guys. If they are, they're usually Chevy guys because they're about as complicated to work on as a Tonka Toy. And about as advanced.

The Cummins is a decent engine but it comes wrapped in a Dodge.

The Chevy is really not that bad. But -- It's a Chevy.

They give me a rash.

But the Cab-off design on the Ford? I've seen them come off in 2-1/2 hours. But the Shop will most likely charge by the book -- Probably closer to 6-8 hours.

In any casem it's not all that bad because, with the Cab off, it's so much easier and less time consuming to work on the Truck.

Unless you're unlucky or dog your truck, you shouldn't have to worry about for a long time.

But Diesels are expensive to work on...... Really expensive. ALL of them. And don't kid yourself, the Cummins is far from perfect and neither is the Isuzu. Right now, IMO, Ford has the best Engine on the Market.

The reason you see more Ford Super Dutys in the Shop is because they outsell the competition COMBINED. There's just simply more of them on the road. A lot more.

Wonder why that is

 

Not so good for DIY jobs though. Not many have the equipment to remove a cab if working on one's own truck.