OMG local mechanic shop made me laugh!!!

It's very, very rare to find a Technician like me or that technician you had working on your car, that are in the trenches everyday.

Most of them go in and do thier job, and don't really pay attention to what they're working on, just enough to get the Y, M, M so they can order the right replacement part, it is a job to them, they do the time and go home at the end of the day, the only reason most of them notice the so called Ricer stuff is, as you well know, obtrusive.

Most Mark VIII we so advanced back in the day shops didn't have the equipment nor the trained technician to work on it, and most Mark owners took them to the dealers anyways, they are kind of rare to see in a shop, even now days, the Conti or Town cars are way more common, the Conti would be the closest looking to the mark, and IS FWD.

And just remember, some techs, just like fast food employees, don't take kindly to you making them look like a fool, they may do much more than spit in your burger.

Alot of tech's are still somewhat open minded and will soak new information up like a sponge, because it makes them smarter and more valuable, try being informative, and not rudely over bearing, you might be suprised at the response or service you get the next time around.

Before I went into business for my self, doing my time in the trenches just like them, I always kept my sights on the performance, and rare car model side, this allowed me to reconize certian vehicles when them rolled in the shop, and made me one of the more valuable senior technicians, I did air ride form Lincoln's to Rovers, and Caddy's, all the performance vehicles that came in such as Mudstains, F-Bodies, Vettes, and even heavey line jobs that no one liked.

The best though was, because of my age, and time, that I became a tech, I'm one of the very few that still knows how to rebuild, tune, and identify carbs, I frequently get phone calls even now to have me go through a carb that someone can't figure out, want to through a wrench in the works of a shop?

Take a car over there with a factory carb, and ask them to adjust the choke for you, and watch everyone stand around in amazement as to how they're gonna pull that one off.

Another one, is setting Dwell, take an old shoe box Chevy in the same place and ask them to set the dewll, if someone pulls out the correct adjustment tool, and meter, then have should be atleast as old or old than myself, LOL.

Or use a five gas analyzer to tune/jet a carb.

That's also why on a rare occasion, when a classic would roll in, those also would wind up on my bays, no one knew, or was trained to work on them.

But on the same token, back in the early 80's us technicians, had to stand up or step out on the advent of EFI, I can remember taking McRee Ford technician's to lunch to get info on how to work on them, because the MFG's were not letting the info out trying to keep the cars serviced at the dealers insted of the independants, some of this still happens today.

Another friendly piece of etiquette, most of us haven't been "Mechanic's" since the late 70's very early 80's, we are highly trained, educated and experienced "Technicians", and a lot of us have paper work stating that, not that a piece of paper means anything other than you can pass a test.

But just remember that, and use it the next time you talk to you local-so-called mechanic, and see how much more he'll repect you when you call him a technician rather than something any old monkey with a wrench thinks he is, a mechanic.

That's like the difference between "Cop" and "Officer, Trooper, or Deputy"






Dr. SVO phd - Better living through education.




P.S. if you could read this post, thank an educator like myself or someone who made adifference in your life back in school!
 
You know what's crazy, the 2011 V6 Mustang makes 305 HP now.



Well, I've got to stand up for my Cobra. :cool:

While the Mark VIII certainly used the 4.6L DOHC first, it's NOT a Cobra motor.

The hand built 96-98 Cobra motor has a forged 8 bolt crankshaft, better cam timing, a better intake manifold, and a better factory tune. The result was 305 advertised HP and a higher redline.
 
It's very, very rare to find a Technician like me or that technician you had working on your car, that are in the trenches everyday.

Take a car over there with a factory carb, and ask them to adjust the choke for you, and watch everyone stand around in amazement as to how they're gonna pull that one off.

Another one, is setting Dwell, take an old shoe box Chevy in the same place and ask them to set the dewll, if someone pulls out the correct adjustment tool, and meter, then have should be atleast as old or old than myself, LOL.

Or use a five gas analyzer to tune/jet a carb.


But just remember that, and use it the next time you talk to you local-so-called mechanic, and see how much more he'll repect you when you call him a technician rather than something any old monkey with a wrench thinks he is, a mechanic.


Dr. SVO phd - Better living through education.




P.S. if you could read this post, thank an educator like myself or someone who made adifference in your life back in school!


I agree. I find myself getting pissed about the lack of teaching about R-12 a/c systems, carbs, or even a full hydraulic transmission....Us as Technicians in Training are told its all old and we wont see it hardly at all in the field. I hate it, I understand that the newer systems are more complicated to work on but like you said what happens when a older car rolls into the shop and I dont know what to do???? Then i look like a fool for not knowing the "simpler" systems. I believe the ASE NEEDS to keep pushing that info in our heads or maybe devote a full class to that stuff....well back to studing for my HVAC and Automatic Transmissions ASE's.....wooohooo :shifty:
 
Sounds like you and I should have a talk sometime :cool:





Jeff
 
Well, now, I thnk I still have my translating skills, I'll just have to knock the rust off, kinda like some floor pan I know of :p



That Guy
 
While the Mark VIII certainly used the 4.6L DOHC first, it's NOT a Cobra motor.
I agree w/you, it's not! However the Cobra motor is INDEED a fine tuned MARK VIII motor & that you simply can't argue with!

What bearing did you have replaced?

Maybe a muffler bearing? :D

Damn it Ripped.... you beat me to it! EVERYONE knows those muffler bearings can cause the rear view mirror manifolds to melt if you don't replace them every 10,000 miles!

Gawd I love this place. :lol:

DITTO my friend... DITTO!!!:I
 
:rolleyes: Fresh air in the tires.
I've had some guy ask me about that one before.
 
Sorry, was watching Top Gear. :lol:


Azzez

Best show on TV !!!

I have a habit of calling a certain car part a "deck lid". Anyone guess? :)

And nice story. Seems the mechanic up here are a little more educated. The few that work on my car love to get the chance.

Boot:D

Wana see a clueless mechanic? Go see Jeremy Clarkson! :lol:
The man has no mechanical ability and will resort to using a hammer for all installs or repairs. Funny show though. They just cut their rental car in half with a plasma torch. :lol:

Aslo watching them actually get a car airborn on solid rocket boosters was hilarious! Or when the RC'd a Gee Whiz compact car....... or when Jeremy made the S series Benz with a cement floor and wood burning stove and wing back chairs in it.... :lol: ........ or when they launched a Rolls into a swimming pool.... or the Jag off an aircraft carrier.... :lol: :lol: or launching a Mini Cooper off a ski jump...... drag racing a Veryon and a McClaren F1... that was sex.

Best show on TV. :)

Every Monday night! Love it! My wife even loves it! She says I remind her of Jeremy Clarkson. I don't know if that's a good or bad thing.:rolleyes:

My favorite was when Clarkson tested and talked pure $hit about the Toyota Prius! Crappy little car!!!

Surely you mean the boot.... :)

Hahaha. Beat me to it. And if I'm not mistaken, they call the roof of the car the "hood".
 
Jeremy is quite stupid and has no mechanical ability but he is clever and funny plus the man can drive. Hes a better driver then I am but he does have TONS more experience. He eaither hates a car or loves it. No middle ground for him. And with his love of Ferraris, Astons and Bugattis its nice to see him always loving on a Ford. Sure there are a few like the Lightning that he ragged on, and with good reason. The truck is fast but it should also handle better and have a nicer interior for its premium. And he loved the Ford GT so much he bought one. It was only the aftermarket alarm that made him hate the car.

The last weeks episode he did say "Theres nothing I love more then a fast Ford" and went on to test the Focus.... which he loved!..... of course if we could get that Focus here I would have one too. :lol:
 
Hahaha. Beat me to it. And if I'm not mistaken, they call the roof of the car the "hood".

I could see a convertible's roof being called a hood, but I've never heard the term 'hood' being used to describe the roof of a regular car.

Top Gear is OK, I guess. When I was a kid, it was a proper car information program, somewhat similar to MotorWeek. A few years back, it was transformed into this entertainment show that's light on facts.
 
I could see a convertible's roof being called a hood, but I've never heard the term 'hood' being used to describe the roof of a regular car.

Top Gear is OK, I guess. When I was a kid, it was a proper car information program, somewhat similar to MotorWeek. A few years back, it was transformed into this entertainment show that's light on facts.

+1 but sometimes the cars are nicer then mine, half the time their not.
 
That is why I love working with older technicians in the heart of ford stomping grounds in Dearborn. Some of the guys get sick of me asking questions about the mark viii test mules and engine developement days. But with statements like "we used to see marks with bubbled up hoods and manual transmissions" it's kinda hard not to ask questions.
 

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