Do you work on it yourself?
New User
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 24
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Do you work on it yourself?
I read a few posts and all I see is "I'll take it to the shop" or "I took it to the shop", I thought the pride in a Ford was the fact that owners work on them themselves. I have to say, the reason that most of you have problems is because you trust the shop too much with your vehicle. Eric
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 326
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Do you work on it yourself?
I don't know about others but I do most of my own work provided I have th nessecery tools. Sometimes it pays to have the shop do it, like changing ball joints in an 85 F150.
I do all my own engine, tuning, bodywork etc.
RCC
I do all my own engine, tuning, bodywork etc.
RCC
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 458
Likes: 0
From: Rolla USA
Do you work on it yourself?
Easy Eric i make my living working on these things LOL But i agree there are alot of things i do that the owner would be able to do . But rememmber new technology take new eqiupment and it is costly
Trouble
Trouble
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 763
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From: home
Do you work on it yourself?
People still do their own work but not as many as there were back 25 years ago. I started doing mine in 1965 when I swapped a 352 cu inch engine under a pine tree with my Mom's help. It was either do it my self or no car. I buy the shop books and study them. I do my own body & engine work. Only twice in the last 25 years have I taken a car in for work that was not warranty work. One was for a E4od rebuilt and the other a sensor problem. my son, a computer engineer bought his 88 Bronco II while working thru college and does all his own work. If they had software out for the pre 96 Fords it would help as I have plenty of computers and I am a computer consultant with a house full of geeks. Bottom line is, people still work on their cars but with out the computer hook up it is tougher to isolate faulty components.
92 F150 XLT ext cab
93 AWD Aerostar
89 Bronco II
74 Ford Maverick 150K miles (bought new) no major engine work
92 F150 XLT ext cab
93 AWD Aerostar
89 Bronco II
74 Ford Maverick 150K miles (bought new) no major engine work
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 1,586
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From: Linwood, N.J. USA!
Do you work on it yourself?
Eric, I do a lot of the work myself. I also have a part time mechanic who has worked on every size Ford to all other brands. There are sometimes where unless you have a machine to plug your truck in to see whats up, you will replace everything that could be a possible problem but not the main problem. When I got into this stuff, things were very simple for me to repair. Now, today the trucks are more computerized and it can be more costly doing the process of elimination theory. Sometimes you get it, sometimes you don't. I log or memorize what breaks on on truck and use that to repair the same on another truck. I myself have learned a lot from watching others. I have learned that if I am not sure about something, it cost me LESS money to have someone who knows what they are doing repair the vehicle. The main key is to have someone who know's what they are doing and that they are a reputable person. I owe a lot to my friends Dave and Bud, who showed me top to bottom on trucks for the past 20 years.
Jakegypsum // Ford fleet, soup to nuts
Jakegypsum // Ford fleet, soup to nuts
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Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2000
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Do you work on it yourself?
Eric,
read more posts!...many friends here work on their trucks for a few reasons..one is that they have to because of family needs and others to maintain or build their dream ford truck/bronco.
do you have any hints or or info to help some out? any experiences to save some time and money? or any parts or extra tools no longer needed?
be well dude!
read more posts!...many friends here work on their trucks for a few reasons..one is that they have to because of family needs and others to maintain or build their dream ford truck/bronco.
do you have any hints or or info to help some out? any experiences to save some time and money? or any parts or extra tools no longer needed?
be well dude!
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Postmaster
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 2,719
Likes: 1
From: Lee's Summit MO
Do you work on it yourself?
There's something's that are cheaper, and just better to have a shop do it. I need to eventually replace a rear main seal. I hate having to pay for the labor. But if I tried to do it myself, it would probably end up costing me over three times the cost.
Tools
Time
Parts
Not to mention experience.
Pastmaster's 1993 XLT 5.0 E40d 3.55LS Normal Cab/Long bed Loaded from the factory with aid of...MSd 6a ign/s.p. wires, blaster coil, Hypertech Chip, K&N filtercharger, Cat-back dual exhuast w/o mufflers, 3.5", echo tips, Accel distributor cap, Dark Mocha over light mocha. 5% Dark tint, Alpine Cd player/remote, Pioneer speakers.
toydestroyer1(No Email Addresses In Posts!)
Tools
Time
Parts
Not to mention experience.
Pastmaster's 1993 XLT 5.0 E40d 3.55LS Normal Cab/Long bed Loaded from the factory with aid of...MSd 6a ign/s.p. wires, blaster coil, Hypertech Chip, K&N filtercharger, Cat-back dual exhuast w/o mufflers, 3.5", echo tips, Accel distributor cap, Dark Mocha over light mocha. 5% Dark tint, Alpine Cd player/remote, Pioneer speakers.
toydestroyer1(No Email Addresses In Posts!)
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
Do you work on it yourself?
I try to work on my truck as much as possible for two reasons, experience and cost savings. But, recently, since I'm in the construction industry, (electrician), and time is money, I was very pleased to learn that a mechanic friend of mine was building a house. He was more than willing to trade a rebuilt 460, installed, for my services as an electrician. We both got what we wanted.
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 3,172
Likes: 4
Do you work on it yourself?
Eric , You have to take into consideration everyone here at FTE has varying skill levels . The greatest part of this forum is we share our experience & skill . Sometimes an owner cant do the required work , regardless of how easy it may seem to the rest of us . Sometimes they just need a helping hand to aim them in the right direction which is a big part of this forum . I sure dont know it all & usually learn something from other members all the time . If someone says they need to take it in for service , offer them your opinion or experience so maybe they wont have to . The day may come when you need to ask one of us a question that is puzzling to you but is second nature to one of us . Im sure you offered your ideas to the person asking about taking their truck to the dealer to check the belts your advice on checking the belts ? Its always better to help than to criticize , Right ?
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 931
Likes: 0
From: Stanton, Suffolk England
Do you work on it yourself?
I do all my own work on my vehicles. Sometimes I would like to take it to the shop (ie. Cold outside, Raining like mad, don't have time, etc.) but unfortunatly I can't afford that option. Sure if I really needed to I would but truth be known as a mechanic by trade I enjoy doing the work. Some people are not as mechanicaly inclined as others so they need to take it to the shop. This does not make them any less blue than the rest of us here. The pride is not in working on a Ford, the pride is ownership. If I wanted something to stay broken all the time I would drive a chebbie. 
Brad Godkin
1986 F350 CC/SRW
6.9liter/C6
Brad Godkin
1986 F350 CC/SRW
6.9liter/C6