355 30k Labour hours?

I'm sure everyone will be watching, seeing as how I'm such a major pimp-a$$ player in the Ferrarichat world, and obviously have Rob Lay in my pocket, right? I might just ask for a refresher course on how to change my engine lid struts if the search function fails, but that's about it. Peace brutha

 

Peace Cuneo

 

There you go bucking our administration again, there is a new way to do this....Nancy P. said so

 

Hahaha! You guys have been doing this too long!

 

Brian:

Fantastic, well thought-out post. I could not agree more. Becoming an "expert" in any filed of endeavor is a slow pains taking process which requires years of work. Too many take a hedonistic approach and want instantaneous gratification and ability.

 

+1 ............ good advice ................

 

Excellent post. Another point is that just because someone feels like they want to be a mechanic does not mean they have the instinct that is required. That is not something that can be learned. You either have it or you don't.

 

Here is a word from the weasel!

Way back when I worked on piston airplanes at my shop we "knew" that if an airplane had an "owner assisted" annual the year prior that we'd have a load to fix the following year..$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Obviously, cars are much different but keep in mind there are absolute "novice" guys in general aviation that slip some mechanic 100 bucks to sign off their airplane while they "learn" or as they say it "I want to understand my airplane"...

90% of the time it really had nothing to do with understanding and everything to do about money....When we allowed these owners to "understand" their airplane and assist us we typically charged more because they slowed us down...They still complained, because at the end of the day it had to do with money.
Sure there are some that do these things for fun and that's OK too. But keep in mind that the "techs" are where we gain our valuable knowledge from in an affordable way, so be cautious when flaming...Remember, they take offense when you tell them essentially that you don't need them...This is their business, profession, and life...C'mon...




Scary stuff! My point is this, if you intend to learn then by all means "learn" the way the pros do---with your wallet......All in all the "correct" info comes from a tech 90% of the time...Many will argue this point but at the end of the day when the lineage of truthful info is traced it always comes from a "learn by error" experience or it was "passed" to you by a "pro"....Sorry these are just the facts..There is absolutely nothing wrong with this, in fact it makes for a healthy mechanical mind when you "accept" this.


For the record my first engine out took 100 man hours, my third took 60....And that is having "every" tool and a lift...

Admittedly, I lean on Helms/Rifledriver from time to time for advice..As a mechanic I know at the end of the day they have forgotten more than I will ever have the "time" to learn..


And the reverse is true, I doubt highly that "Uncle Jessie" and RD will ever jerk a CF6 off a DC10 because they think its fun. I also doubt that when Dave gets his Maule he'll jump right in and take off!

 

This man speaks many words of wisdom...Listen up!
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Also let's not forget the we spend $20k or more a year just for insurance to house the vehicles we work on and that's just a small part of what goes into owning a top notch repair facility.

 

Spot on....

 

Check this out

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You guys need this sign on the wall:
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As a do-it-yourselfer that has done his own engine out service (348), removing the engine is only the start. You can have the engine out of the car in a Saturday. If all you do is yank the engine, replace the belt, and slap it back in the car, you can have it done in a weekend. But we know that isn't the correct way to do it.

What takes up a lot of time is all of the little "while I'm in there" things that pop up, like:

I may as well detail the engine while it's out,
No sense putting a clean engine back in a dirty engine bay, guess I'll clean that up too,
These valve covers could look better, think I'll have them repainted,
Some of these acorn nuts aren't as shiny as I would like, think I'll replace them all,
Hmmmm..... my shock springs could use some painting, I'll have those done with the valve covers,
Since I have the springs off the a-arms may as well get the shocks re-valved,
I guess I should replace those 19 year old bushing while the shocks are out,
Damn these cranks sensor connectors look jacked, think I'll replace those,
This stupid battery cable bullet connector has been a pain in the ass, that is getting replace for a solid cable,
etcetera,
etcetera,
etcetera,

Catch my drift.

But,

If you are only in there for business, and ignore all the "while I'm in there's" you should be able to have it done in a full week. But play it on the safe side, and leave plenty of time for the other things that pop up, because you know you will want to get them done. In short, leave yourself a few weeks to do the whole thing.

I my case I leave a few months LOL!!! I take my sweet time, don't rush squat, and work on the car when I get the gumption.

 

Careful, Keegan is rumored to be a card carrying member of her fan club being near neighbors and all.....

 

This is good advise and the exact position I found myself in. I took the better part of the winter to do mine. You get a lot out of letting things sink in slowly over time.

 

Do you change the tensioners, or just the tensioner bearings? Does the AC receiver/drier need to be changed during the 30k as well?

 

Good Lord! $12,200 for a 30K major, with no pre-diagnosed problems or extras, is unconscionable. While I generally side with the Ferrari Techs (the good ones) regarding the price paid for their experience and services, there are far too many individuals in every profession over-charging for their inferior services. I think you should send that dealership a case of KY Jelly for their subsequent customers. That being said, I'm a doctor and attorney (even though I only practice Intellectual Property law, not Med Mal), so I guess I'm responsible for the dramatic increase in costs.

 

This doesn't surprise me at all for Canadian F-service on a 355. We have many fewer cars up here and this service less common practice. It would be interesting to ask the actual tech doing the service how many full major 355's he has in his resume.

 

+1

 

Don't forget to include getting some preventive maint goodies from Dave Helms like the Motronic Gold Plated Connector Kit found here http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/vbclassified.php?do=ad&id=124. When its time to do my 30k Major I will be getting this kit and any other items Dave has created and tested that help make the 355 run well between major services.

 

I have a kit myself...That Dave is a real whiz bang!.....


Now, just a question here for the DIY fellas.....How many folks knew these connectors were an issue before Dave??


That , my friends, is why the pro's are important.....

That, my friends, is how a good shop is founded.....


I think at the end of the day Ernie, Goth, myself, and the whole gang know that if you accomplish these projects in the correct manner you trade time for money, which is fine....In the case of a pro (shop owner) he has to turn it quickly and correctly.


That Dave always has some new "cool" fix "cooking" up!!!! Always making the 355 better!
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Yep that ole grey fox(Dave H) is pretty smart(not pretty though..lol)

I got my electrical connector kit and felt like a kid in a toy store...I looked and played around with the tools for atleast 4 days.

Not only do you get a kit but A++++++ support that makes the install a breeze. My email is constantly updated with a wealth of vaulable info.

I knew before hand that the wiring harness connectors had serious issues but Dave not only proved it to me he came up with the complete package to address everyone of my concerns.

Many thanks Dave for making my project a whole lot easier....

BTW, where are my wheels????????????????????.......lol