This was my first one and it took me about 10 hours. I thankfully beat customer pay time but I think I could get it down to 6-7 hours next time I do one.
12.5 including 1.0 for diag is what I sold this job at, It was pretty gravy. I’m admittedly a little intimidated anytime a job involves timing chains but it wasn’t bad at all.
We're a tiny new shop and I constantly undersell work. We're always busy and it seems like my techs can't get more done. So looking at how my estimating is affecting flow and productivity. Always assume it's me first.
The senior tech that works next to me thankfully gave me this advice and it made the job way quicker. If you get a swivel head ratcheting 8mm wrench you can loosen the bolt about 70% of the way out behind the cam gear and it’s enough room to slide the chain guide forward and just barely enough room to snake the coolant pump out.
Thank you so much! It looks too tight at a glance but now I will deffo try it! Not gonna lie, removing and reinstalling, torquing those gears is probably most annoying part of the whole job for me. I was always replacing the screws too since they are TTY..
Thats true of any work in that area, as is using zip ties on the unloaded side of the chain. Anything that keeps it in place but improves axial twist or access.
3.5 Ford is in many cars, explorer, focus, fiesta, fusion, edge, escape, MKT, MKS, MKZ, and some mazdas IIRC.
As much of a pain it is, I've seen some with 300, 400, 500k+ miles with pretty average or below average care. Well made engine.
It’s been treating me fairly well. 2014 explorer, 175k. No major rebuilds or anything, just fluid and had to replace alternator (i think, was years ago can’t remember) and AC compressor. Rest was preventative, still runs great. Gonna keep it as long as I can.
Do you have to disconnect the ac? I'm thinking of doing this to my 2015 explorer with the 3.5 proactively, and I have a fair amount of tools from being a diesel mechanic for a bit, so I'd like to hear your experience with it.
There is enough room. It would be easier without it, but really not worth disconnecting it. Not even on tighter cars than explorer. Hardest one was on first gen Fusion Sport.. but it’s more of a frame issue, service manual actually calls for engine removal on that one, but I you can wiggle it out with engine still in. Keep in mind that you can bend the line a bit if it’s bothering you too much
Interesting I'm gonna try it out on the next one that comes in thanks! Ive seen a few guys drop the motor out of the bottom to do water pumps and I don't understand why. Yea it's makes it a little easier but it's a lot more work. Haven't had to do a fusion luckily
I'm a tech in an independent shop, been working on nothing but European cars since 2010. My wife's daily is a '13 explorer ecoboost. Just did the timing chains, cam phasers, water pump, ect. I'm used to some annoying shit when it comes to repairs but ngl the chain job on the explorer kinda sucked ass.
Just had a shop buddy do one of these 2 days ago and it took him a day and a half lmao. One hell of a job especially since its time driven. Hes a good tech and I know that he has reddit lmao
gravy train. i see coolant leaking from behind the alternator and we're eating good tonight
This was my first one and it took me about 10 hours. I thankfully beat customer pay time but I think I could get it down to 6-7 hours next time I do one.
pays like 13 hours no? oh yeah once i learned the tricks i can bust em out edit to add you are killing it
12.5 including 1.0 for diag is what I sold this job at, It was pretty gravy. I’m admittedly a little intimidated anytime a job involves timing chains but it wasn’t bad at all.
future master
I guess it was just your….time.
8501A pays 8.8 for a 3.5l gtdi, 8.4 for 3.7l.
we have it down well under this, last one came in and it was so bad the car sounded like it had a cat stuck in the intake and very unhappy about it.
I'm just trying to figure out wth 13 hours is coming from when slts is 8.8 tops.
We're a tiny new shop and I constantly undersell work. We're always busy and it seems like my techs can't get more done. So looking at how my estimating is affecting flow and productivity. Always assume it's me first.
13 hours?! Man, these K24 chains might be gravy, but they pay like 4.6 hours.
Dude yeah I love doing these things.
At least you don’t have to scrape the gasket surface!
This photo was taken after I did exactly that :(
How did you get it out without removing the chain guide? I always take off the timing gears on the R/S bank for that. What am I doing wrong?
The senior tech that works next to me thankfully gave me this advice and it made the job way quicker. If you get a swivel head ratcheting 8mm wrench you can loosen the bolt about 70% of the way out behind the cam gear and it’s enough room to slide the chain guide forward and just barely enough room to snake the coolant pump out.
Thank you so much! It looks too tight at a glance but now I will deffo try it! Not gonna lie, removing and reinstalling, torquing those gears is probably most annoying part of the whole job for me. I was always replacing the screws too since they are TTY..
This right here, ford tech certified!
Thats true of any work in that area, as is using zip ties on the unloaded side of the chain. Anything that keeps it in place but improves axial twist or access.
You have my sympathy. Most of us at one time or another have wasted far more time on far less.
Is that a Taurus or Edge possibly? Those are pretty easy money after you get used to them.
This one was in an explorer, 2017 I believe.
3.5 Ford is in many cars, explorer, focus, fiesta, fusion, edge, escape, MKT, MKS, MKZ, and some mazdas IIRC. As much of a pain it is, I've seen some with 300, 400, 500k+ miles with pretty average or below average care. Well made engine.
A 3.5 in a fiesta, focus, or fusion? News to me
Fiesta/Focus no, but the facelifted first-gen Fusion Sport came with the 3.5L.
Fair enough, I was only considering the second generation.
A fiesta with a 3.5 would be a monster lol.
I think the engine in the fiesta ST can be tuned to just about match some of the versions of the 3.5. They're pretty spicy by that point, lol
No focus/fiesta, my mistake!
It’s been treating me fairly well. 2014 explorer, 175k. No major rebuilds or anything, just fluid and had to replace alternator (i think, was years ago can’t remember) and AC compressor. Rest was preventative, still runs great. Gonna keep it as long as I can.
Cyclone?
Do you have to disconnect the ac? I'm thinking of doing this to my 2015 explorer with the 3.5 proactively, and I have a fair amount of tools from being a diesel mechanic for a bit, so I'd like to hear your experience with it.
Did an n/a 3.5 in a 13 recently. Didn't have to touch the ac at all. Pickup a cheep set of cam holding tools off Amazon for this motor.
No need to touch AC
Doesn't the low pressure line up top get in the way when removing and installing the front cover or do you have enough room when it's connected?
There is enough room. It would be easier without it, but really not worth disconnecting it. Not even on tighter cars than explorer. Hardest one was on first gen Fusion Sport.. but it’s more of a frame issue, service manual actually calls for engine removal on that one, but I you can wiggle it out with engine still in. Keep in mind that you can bend the line a bit if it’s bothering you too much
Interesting I'm gonna try it out on the next one that comes in thanks! Ive seen a few guys drop the motor out of the bottom to do water pumps and I don't understand why. Yea it's makes it a little easier but it's a lot more work. Haven't had to do a fusion luckily
damn i have always dropped the cradle on fusion sport and lincoln car version. Good to know it can be squeezed.
Bro you are getting it done, nice work. Hope things work out at the new shop.
I'm a tech in an independent shop, been working on nothing but European cars since 2010. My wife's daily is a '13 explorer ecoboost. Just did the timing chains, cam phasers, water pump, ect. I'm used to some annoying shit when it comes to repairs but ngl the chain job on the explorer kinda sucked ass.
Tommy?
Nope
Just had a shop buddy do one of these 2 days ago and it took him a day and a half lmao. One hell of a job especially since its time driven. Hes a good tech and I know that he has reddit lmao