ROG100

Started a MM & OPG yesterday and decided to keep an eye on the clock to see how long it really takes.
From parking the car on my ramps, removing the front wheels to laying the cross member on the ground next to the car took 3 hrs and 45 mins.
Leisurely pace and stopped twice for a cup of tea. Used an air wrench.

Next step this morning was to remove the OP. Took about 1 hour and 5 mins.
The majority of the bolts take 5 mins and the last 4 took up the rest of the time.

Going back now to clean up the OP and install the OPG.

UKKid35

Having never done this job before, it wasn't removing the cross member that concerned me, it was replacing it, espeically as I would be working single handed and using jackstands rather than a lift.

Now I know that replacing it is not too big a deal, I would be much less concerned about removing it. However, I'm in no hurry to replace the OPG...

ROG100

Paul,
Came up for a cup of tea.
Not trying to prove anything here just wanted to time the other process instead of guessing it.
I dropped the crossmember on my head - that did hurt. You would think I would learn after doing so many!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have a ton of pics I will post some of them later in case it is useful to someone.
Roger

ROG100

1 Hour and 20 mins to replace the MMs in there cradles and re install the OP & OPG and torque all the bolts.

marton

Oooopppsss

some people paint them with one of those paints that you can use to paint over rust; do you think this is a good idea?

Marton

ROG100

4 hours to button everything up and torque everything down. Fill up with oil and start her up.
That included removing the cross member a second time as I forgot the large plates on the bottom of the MM.
About 11 hours steady work.

Bill Ball

Roger: This sounds like you do not have a 10mm Gearwrench. With a Gearwrench those 4 inaccessible bolts take almost no time at all.

ROG100

Bill,
I do, I do, the bolts are either to slack to use the gear wrench or to tight to use your fingers.
Roger

Fly Navy

Roger - I just received a $1240 labor estimate for oil pan gasket and motor mounts (no parts - labor only!). On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being hardest -- leave it to the pro's - how would you rate the MM/OPG job for the DIY'er? Recommended or stay away? Mike

docmirror

Mike, I'm not Roger, but I know the job fairly well having done 3-ish myself. The answer is about a 5 on the DIY scale. Nothing in the job is particularly difficult, but it's very dirty and without air tools it'll be long and disgusting. For that money, if it were me, I would go ahead and buy the parts and whatever special tools you don't have and do it.

Besides, teh shop will find a way to goof it up, and then you'll have to clean up the mess they made.

The job requires a set of 3/8 drive sockets, ratchet, extensions, some pry bars, a 10mm gear wrench, and a few screwdrivers and pliers. Nothing spactacular about the job, but it is very messy. A hammer and punch would be nice for the tie rods and the upper crossmember bolts but it can be done without that.

Doc

SharkSkin

For that money you could get a tie rod separator, an engine support, a floor jack & stands, an air compressor, an inexpensive 1/2" air gun and a 3/8" air ratchet, and a nice torque wrench. In fact, you could probably get all those for half that estimate.

Having done the job(plus the rack) myself, it was probably 24-ish hours, but that includes lots of fiddling with the rack, tie rod ends, etc and thoroughly cleaning everything and stopping to admire stuff here and there. Throw in a parts washer or steam cleaner(total still under the estimate you have) and you could probably do the job in ~12-15 hours determined effort.

ROG100

DIY is the way to go - if I can do it anyone can.
PM me and I will give you my phone number and I can talk you through any issues you may come accross.
I can also supply the MMs and OPG if you need them.
Roger

Bill Ball

Ah, I got lucky as the bolts had enough resistance to drive the ratchet. Wonder of leaving them for last them putting a little bit of side pressure on the oil pan to pinch the side of the bolts would have allowed the ratcheting action to work. Without a Gearwrench, these bolts are a royal pain. The first one took me 30 minutes, turning one face at a time, until I got a Gearwrench and solved the problem.

Otherwise, your time estimates are right on. My first time, working alone, took me 13 hours including some down time.

ROG100

Bill,
I used a long blade screwdriver to apply some pressure on the head from below while using the gearwrench which helped a bit.
Not a lot of room in there.
Roger

jon928se

What you need is one of these "Gear Wrenches" - they don't have gears just work on friction. Best tools I ever bought

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/pr...s/brand/clarke