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Old 11-29-2005, 08:56 AM
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Default Fastest wrenches, check in...

I'm probably not the fastest in the South, but I figure I can hold my own for a shade tree mechanic Just kinda curious how much time it takes "fast" folks to do certain tasks. Also curious how I stack up against the pros who do it every day.

Last night I was "motivated" to get my cam swapped in the Formula.. I wanted to catch the last episode of the season for Prison Break Including stopping to wash up and eat dinner, I did the complete job in under 2 hours. It was a hair shy of an hour and 45 minutes actual working time. That includes filling the radiator, firing it up and checking everything, etc. It normally takes me about 3 hours taking my time. I didn't swap valvesprings, that takes me about 20 minutes per side usually.

One other time I was motivated, I was able to drive a hot car into the garage, put it up in the air, and drop the transmission out so my buddy the tranny builder could take it with him. That took 45 minutes, and felt pretty fast.
Old 11-29-2005, 09:52 AM
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My bud (BLKWS6) and I have done 30+ cam/spring installs and we average 4 hours start to finish.
Old 11-29-2005, 10:33 AM
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Wanna do my H/C swap.. Just to see how fast you are? Please?
Old 11-29-2005, 11:15 AM
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I was taking my sweat *** time but Fri/Sat/Sun I did a heads/Cam/Header/Y-pipe swap. I figured it out to be 20 hours. This was a virgin car though so certain bolts were still there like the last bolt on the passanger side coil pack. How many of you really put that one back?
Old 11-29-2005, 11:36 AM
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I always put 'em back

FWIW, I have 98 heads, so I'm kinda forced to work those back bolts, and no coil brackets for me
Old 11-29-2005, 12:57 PM
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That's pretty fast. Of course I've done only one cam swap and it took about 3.5 hours total working time. Taking my time, but still I doubt I can do a cam swap in under 2 hours. That's hardcore. Now all you need to do is fix the site in that kind of time
Old 11-29-2005, 01:36 PM
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I've had the heads off in about 2 hours. M6 can be out in under an hour.
Old 11-29-2005, 01:57 PM
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M6 I can have out really quick... Usually 30 minutes or less.. Almost as easy as a Fox Mustang T5, where you don't even have to drop the exhaust The A4 took me 45 minutes, which seemed fast for working on my back and by myself.
Old 11-29-2005, 02:31 PM
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I've done a cam swap (no valve springs) in 45 minutes more than once......6-speed I have had out in under 20 minutes auto about the same maybe a few more minutes.......practice makes perfect
Old 11-29-2005, 02:36 PM
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Buddy and I , Trany down, pulled a flywheel shim off the back of the flywheel. Clutch and trany back up in 45min. On our backs, not bad for droping the trany 4 times that day.
Old 11-29-2005, 02:38 PM
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Does this just apply to Fbodys and street cars?
Old 11-29-2005, 02:50 PM
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Originally Posted by CTSmechanic
Does this just apply to Fbodys and street cars?
Go ahead, flaunt your wrenchedness !
Old 11-29-2005, 02:53 PM
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BTW, I have swapped a TB(coolant lines included) out in the dark in just over 3 minutes. The only reason I know that is I had a phone call just before and just after on my cell I realized the time between em
I can also put a passenger side rear door on an M class Mercedes in under 80 seconds....but thats on the assembly line
Old 11-29-2005, 02:56 PM
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Ok.. gear change on ford 9 inch 6 minutes, trans change approx 8-10(change ratios in trans 20-25 minutes) engine change in and out running 40 minutes, shocks and springs less than a minute, 4 tires and fuel 13 to 15 seconds... this isnt a solo deal takes a few guys....(experenced)
Old 11-29-2005, 03:08 PM
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i need more practice i guess....it takes me about one hour and 45min to drop my tranny. and thats with no distractions
Old 11-29-2005, 03:21 PM
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25 mintues for a complete clutch swap on my 01 ss. (i it did so many times now on mine - nothing gets hung up, no exhaust to worry about or torque arm for that matter!)
Old 11-29-2005, 06:05 PM
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I changed my oil pretty quick once
I take my time. No reason not to. One thing I will say is air tools makes things a hell of a lot faster. The proper tools can save you imeasurable time.
Old 11-29-2005, 07:18 PM
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Takes me two hours to change my mind!
Old 11-29-2005, 07:20 PM
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Originally Posted by 383ss
I've had the heads off in about 2 hours. M6 can be out in under an hour.
I actually kinda watched the clock last time I stripped the engine down to the shortblock. Right at 1 hr. to have the heads on the ground, and another hour to have nothing but a shortblock in the engine bay. All with air tools and no a/c to work around. I have dropped the M6 on the ground in about 40 minutes and had it back in with a new clutch in about 2 hours. Cam swap by itself, dont know. Probably about 3 hours in and out.

Brandon
Old 11-29-2005, 09:37 PM
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i can have the tranny on the ground in 30 minutes by myself

2 hours for a clutch swap, myself.

3 1/2 - 4 hrs remove engine myself, including put car on lift, drop the k-member, put motor on stand and reinstalling the k-member to push the car out of the garage.

install engine driving the car out of the garage 8hrs

cam install, valve spring swap 5 hrs.



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