I did ask this question 1st in my Chapter and got one good recommendation, but he's 120 miles and a mountain range away.

I'm looking for an independent mechanic to do most the "bullet-proofing" work on my 6.0 (I can't physically do the work). This would include:

Coolant Flush ( with distilled H2O at least the last flush) and switch to ELC, Install Fumoto valves since that's the time to do them,
New BP EGR cooler
New OEM Oil cooler (even tho mine might be ok)
STC fitting change to new one
Screens that come w/ two above
Dummy Plugs and Stand Pipes

I have a recommendation from a friend but in talking with the tech, am not quite comfortable with how he does some things: One is the coolant flush, where he only does tap water (but w/ a VC-9 flush) and says it should be done every year. He didn't relate to the block plugs or Fumotos at all -- I think he thought I was talking about pulling all the freeze plugs, since he said it'd be huge money as he has to pull the motor..? Second was he said yes do the dummy plugs but don't bother with the standpipes? Says if they don't come out in one piece it's another hour+ per side to pull the HPO rails.

His "ballpark" estimate was around 20 hours (he's thinking only an hour or two for the flush his way).

Upside is he's 25 miles away, was a Ford dealership diesel tech until they closed the doors, only works on Fords and mostly on Diesels, and welcomes or even encourages me to bring my own parts (that's a huge savings).

I'm hoping the general 6.0 forum group might have some leads I could talk to, closer to Auburn, CA the better. Sinister is 20 miles from me -- haven't tried calling them yet as I'm not sure if I'll be buying anything from them...

Thanks in advance

 

Based on the comments in red I would find someone else. I wouldn't want someone cutting their teeth on my dime.

 

I agree, but he did do pretty much the same bullet proofing to my friend's '04 and that friend 1st found this guy as a referral... There can't be only one independent competent 6.0 mechanic in the area, but how the heck do you find them if not a place like FTE?

 

craigs list.... then again maybe not

 

You know, you're only 1800 miles or so away and I've still got friends I should visit in Houston, so don't tempt me into driving down and parking in your driveway

I'll bring parts and beer or root beer or whatever you require...

 

Well lets see I COULD come down and stay at my sisters in La Habra Heights for a week.
I have the tools and books.

Sean

 

Crap Sean, BOTH of us have bad backs! Who would we get to do the work?! I mean now that we have the beer and tools and parts, oh and I'll bring some ergonomic lawn chairs too

 

That is what the brother-in-law is for and an extra large bottle
of Percocet® Drugs work wonders and it not like the heads are coming off
How far away are you from there?
I am still toying with the idea.

Sean

P.S. How do you like the kitty avatar?

 

I'm a good 400 or so miles from so cal (La Habra). I'd rather we find somebody close to me, drink cold ones with ice packs on our backs while the job is done (and I pay a fair rate for the work), you provide quality control, and then you head on down to see your sister....

I can't believe all good mechanics are in Canada for criminy sake! (ok, M Chan anyway).

On edit: We have a bunch of cats and my wife does cat rescue work. THAT is one big cat! Is it that new breed that is just getting going we read about??

 

Bella is a F1 Savannah. That is the cross between the African Serval and domestic
house cat (larger breeds most times) She is a bit more than a 50% do to back breeding.
She is more like 65% Serval (that is the wild part) BTW she is 20Ld and tall enough
to look onto the counter when she wants to look from the floor. BUT she is friendly.
She hisses like a snake and chitters when playing. Funny cat for sure.

Anyway if you were closer to La Habra I would say lets do it. Tacoma to So Cal is
only a 18 Hr drive.I think I could do it in 4 days without over stressing myself
and what not. That is if nothing odd were to pop it's ugly head up on us. I think
it's time to build a top side creeper for myself. That would make the job so much
more easy. The other option is a scaffolding so you could lay out on a deck and
not have to bend at all. Just reach in and do the work. Thoughts keep leaking out
of my brain. Too many drugs or nothing to do. I vote on nothing to do.

I just re-watched the videos and saw a possible way to maybe pull more oil out during
a normal oil change if the pressure port is in-place. Some thing I am going to look at
on mine when I do the EGR cooler replacement with the BPD one.

Sean

 

THAT's the one! how cool that you've got one and she is a beauty! And Bella being just a name that brings up vampire and fang kinda' thoughts.,,

But we are getting carried away here and boring the people that just want to work on their 6.0s. And that maybe is the problem here: I need to find a Ford forum where lots of folks talk about bling and not do-ing. Kinda' like one of the Mercedes forums lets say...

I (at one time) could have done this work and loved doing it. I HATE having to trust someone else to do it right, and my guess is that's like most of the folks here. I'm not a charity case tho and just want to find a fair and knowledgeable 6.0 tech.

Cheezit might have it right and I should cruise Craigslist or put out a wanted ad. Or I need to just figure out how to work this out with the one single mechanic in all of northern California that can do the work (like should I do a flush/fill of coolant after? I can do that kind of work)

 

Scott, In Manteca Acosta automotive jessie is the diesel guy, I will look up the number for you if you like , I think we are 1 1/2 hours apart, and I have scaffolding if not, Sean that cat has gotton very big,does it play nice?

 

At this point, unless I get another member here with a more local wrench, I'm thinking I'll drive the 25 miles and take a look over this one guy's shop and talk to him in person. My concern is if something by chance isn't right with the work, I'd like to have the mechanic be nearer...

Thanks tho, I was pretty sure you guys had some good shops in the valley...

 

I could always make a trip back home

 

No prob , next choise would be west Coast Diesel in concord, I know little to far (they know our trucks), Good Luck My Freind . pm if you need #s