Originally posted by MeanGreen2:
Originally posted by Kremithefrog:
Though obviously we disagree on some views, which I'm tired of arguing about,



It's only because my advice is professional, and you're trying to discount it and pretend that somehow it is wrong, because you're not speaking from a professional stand-point.


No it's not. It's because I'm sick and barely can type right now. It is right to a degree, that some correct tools are needed to do certain things on a car. But not again, a piece of metal is a piece of metal when it comes to the cam holding tool, ask anybody on here and they'll tell you if it's long enough/slim enough/strong enough, then it'll work. Though I'm looking at it more from a diy stand point, but I still wouldn't have a problem with a mechanic using a $2 file instead of a $30 piece of metal from ford to keep the cams in the correct position. I don't see any other professionals in this thread, so why are you even talking about what a professional should do? A professional knows what to have/do so you don't have to put it on here. I'd rather help somebody do it themselves. You're the kinda mechanic (like many, not all) that has a know-it-all attitude that would cause me, as a customer, to walk right out of your shop and go else where.

And I don't think the same of all "professionals", I've been to two professional shops, and they couldn't make my CEL go away, but I spent more time with it and got it to go away, and this time stay away. All with my $85 worth of computer scanning software, and my cheap tools/autozone loaner tools.

Originally posted by Kremithefrog:
I agree with what you're telling caltour for the work he is gonna do. I would get the spring and post for the tensioner (not from your local ford dealer usually, even for cheap things like that,



I said local dealer, because it appeared that Caltour was going to his local Mercury/Ford dealer to get his guide pulley anyway.

Actually, it appears he was planning to get the pulley from a dealer in another state, but whatever.

Originally posted by Kremithefrog:
it's still cheaper to go through fordpartsonline or one of the CEG friendly dealers) as a safety measure. I would go ahead and do everything so you know it's done right and you don't have to do it again,, but I guess if you don't have the money then that's not an option.



So would I, but since Caltour claims that everything else looks undamaged, and since it's not an interference engine, won't really hurt to do just what's needed, right now.

Agreed, except it's not fun to go back and do it all again.

Originally posted by Kremithefrog:
Meangreen I could make money doing repairs, but I don't have the proper tools. When I did my timing belt I used my dad's tool, none of which were ford tools, just breaker bars, sockets, and torque wrenches. But I don't really enjoy working on cars that much, but I do love cars, especially engines and suspensions, so I'm going into mechanical engineering.



Good luck...and not saying that you couldn't learn, if that's what you want to do, but unless you specialize in just a few areas, a mechanic or two can get together and spend $100,000 real fast, for just hand tools and a few black boxes, not even counting shop equipment, specialized testers [quality], machines to service vehicles, repair A/C, etc...then you can add another $150,000 - $250,000, easily, if you're not too big of an operation.

Just saying that if working on modern vehicles is your profession, a large tackle box full of basic tools won't get you very far...and for mechanics that do timing belt replacements, consistently, will most likely invest in the proper tools to do the best job that they can, in the most efficient manner possible.



I guess you didn't read/don't know what I said. I'm going into mechanical engineering. It's where I design what you work on.

I have to disagree with you on the price of tools. The average shop owner will spend $100k+, even $200k+ on tools,etc. (this is doing more than just timing belts though,, there are actually plenty of small shops that just do small things like timing belts and spend comparably very little on tools), but the average mechanic doesn't spend that much.

My dad is a diesel truck mechanic and basically is the head mechanic where he works. He has spent a lot of money on tools, but by that I mean thousands, maybe $3k, $4k at most, not 10s of thousands. He has bought used tool boxs to save lots of money but of course only buys new tools. He has enough tools (save for air compressors, computers, lifts,etc.) to do basically anything to a diesel truck, and most passenger vehicles as well. I'm sure he has some specialized tools but ONLY if they are needed and no other tool can be substituted. And somehow he manages to do the job right because he doesn't want trucks coming back in to the shop.

98.5 SVT 91 Escort GT (almost sold) 96 ATX Zetec (i brake to watch you swerve) FS: SVT rear sway bar WTB: Very cheap beater CEG Dragon Run - October 13-15