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-   -   Checkbook mechanic or DYI? (http://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/1087610-checkbook-mechanic-dyi.html)

rusnak 03-05-2021 02:15 PM

WUI if we're being honest, especially if it's something easy like a tune up.

Aurel 03-05-2021 02:22 PM

DYI all the way for me. No one other than me has touched my 911 for the past 18 years (except for state inspection), the engine has been rebuilt twice (top then bottom) by yours truly, and it runs great.

I don’t work on our modern cars though, not a fun hobby like the 911.

Bob Kontak 03-05-2021 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rusnak (Post 11248756)
It took 2 days because I kept changing the ride height until I was happy with everything.

That looks real nice. Good job.

MikeD930 03-05-2021 04:16 PM

I'm a DIY guy. It seems whatever work that were done on our daily driver cars there's always something that was done improperly (too tight fasteners by using their favorite tool such as an impact gun) or messed up (jacking car under body seams which usually ended up folded). Right now I'm replacing the engine (blown head gasket plus high mileage) in my wife's front wheel drive Cadillac along with replacing front axles, front struts among other things. Our mechanic refused to do that job and my wife don't want to get rid of it. Yep...more money is being sunk into it than it's worth.

fastfredracing 03-05-2021 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeD930 (Post 11249802)
I'm a DIY guy. It seems whatever work that were done on our daily driver cars there's always something that was done improperly (too tight fasteners by using their favorite tool such as an impact gun) or messed up (jacking car under body seams which usually ended up folded). Right now I'm replacing the engine (blown head gasket plus high mileage) in my wife's front wheel drive Cadillac along with replacing front axles, front struts among other things. Our mechanic refused to do that job and my wife don't want to get rid of it. Yep...more money is being sunk into it than it's worth.

eew , are you engine outing that at home ?

rusnak 03-05-2021 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak (Post 11249728)
That looks real nice. Good job.

Thanks for the compliment, Brother!

MikeD930 03-06-2021 06:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fastfredracing (Post 11249829)
eew , are you engine outing that at home ?

Yep...this Cadillac is one of the worst car I've ever worked on. It's being done at home (I have two attached garages so there's room to do this work even though I don't have a lift).


Removing engine/trans/subframe:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1615044426.JPG


Removing engine:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1615044426.JPG


New rebuilt engine waiting to be installed:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1615044426.JPG

Dan J 03-06-2021 03:14 PM

In the 80's at the very busy dealer where I worked (Traynor Fairfield,Ct)
If you couldn't do 2 930's services in a day you were a chump and your fellow techs would not allow any corner cutting It was a great group
Now one would take me a week:rolleyes:

Tishabet 03-07-2021 10:36 PM

I only break out the checkbook for stuff requiring specialized equipment or very specialized skills. I bought my first car in 1994 and to date the only work I have ever farmed out was ABS, alignment, mounting and balancing tires, and rebuilding a transmission. Everything else is all me, from oil change to installing the rebuilt transmission to doing body work and a window-out repaint.

As I get older though my feelings on this are starting to soften a bit... I get joy from working on my old stuff, but all of those vehicles were acquired for "fun." I may start breaking out the checkbook for the grocery getter etc.

slow&rusty 03-08-2021 04:33 AM

I do all my own wrenching.

My mantra? I can screw it up three times and still come out ahead financially versus paying an indy.

One of my recent project deep dives (Porsche 928 repair HVAC and a bunch of other issues). I shudder to think how much a Porsche Indy would charge for this

https://scontent.fhou1-1.fna.fbcdn.n...b3&oe=606A8278

Shaun @ Tru6 03-08-2021 04:36 AM

^^^ I definitely want to talk with you about dash removal!

slow&rusty 03-08-2021 05:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6 (Post 11252180)
^^^ I definitely want to talk with you about dash removal!

Anytime my friend! I've also done a full gauge pod removal and installed a new printed circuit board for some of the gauges that fell sleepy, and sure enough they all sprung back to life!

Shaun @ Tru6 03-08-2021 09:44 AM

We will need to talk later this spring/summer. I'm pulling an S4 motor apart this week to get some wrist pins so I can finally get my engine back together.

flipper35 03-08-2021 10:22 AM

I can DIY most, but I hate chasing electrical issues.

Glen funny thing on the drive shaft. I took one into the local shop and I was barely in the door and he said "You have a Mopar you need modified!" I said kinda. I have an a833 going to a Ford 9" and here are the sizes. I need it 8.5" yoke to yoke. He said "Take off 8.5 inches?" I said nope, 8.5 total.

I was impressed he could tell the drive shaft from 30' away.

GH85Carrera 03-08-2021 11:15 AM

When I took my Elky in for that driveshaft balance I had a weird vibration that had to be a driveshaft. The old universal joints were high mileage, so I asked for new u-joints as well. They called and said I needed a new yoke, and the transmission seal was leaking. They showed me the old yoke, and it had a grove worn in it. Damn thing wore out after only 370,000 miles and cost me 20 bucks for a new GM one.

The vibration was gone baby gone when I got it back from that. Money well spent. I certainly can't balance the driveshaft, even if I got it out, and I would have no way to get it to them with no driveshaft in the Elky. It will not fit the 911, and the Macan is not for hauling dirty car parts.

aigel 03-08-2021 11:57 AM

The 911 valve adjustment will be much easier if you have a lift, so your friend doing 3 / day isn't that fast, really.

DIY is the way to go for savings and convenience. You can save a lot if you don't have to buy new cars every 3 years or pay for higher mileage repairs at a shop. Even simple stuff is worth it IMHO. An oil change I can knock out in 10 minutes without leaving my home. All supplies shipped to my door and even the used oil now is picked up curbside by my waste management company.

G

RWebb 03-08-2021 02:14 PM

The real money you save DIYing your own oil change is in not having the plug fall out later on...

OldSpool87 03-08-2021 02:37 PM

I like to think about all the money I saved on slotted rotors when I put my brake pad on backwards on my daily driver:

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...6dc69fe991.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk


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