My Harbor Freight Investment
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Shadowdog500
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Toyota mechanic
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4 bolts to hold it on the manifold, but..........................alot more than that. 1500 may be too much, but it can be a job... 
devoncoolman
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No its 4 bolts that hold it to the center valley of the engine. 1 v band clamp holding the down pipe. Some hose clamps and hoses. Its not a very hard turbo to replace. Like $400 job plus parts
kctyphoon
Banned
Ok guy, allow me to clarify.. It's 4 "hard to get to bolts" (2 rear pedestal, 2 lower turbo flange) and once the plastic intake, rubber turbo boots, and down pipe are loosened (all band clamps) there are like 4 other bolts that stare you in the face. ( 2 front of pedestal, two on the upper turbo flange) Either way, it's def NOT 12 hours of labor in a professional shop, and I'm tired of being used a people's private ATM cause their tool bills are due. You can't even get an oil change out here w/o someone trying to sell me on cabin / intake filters I changed the week before..
Which is why i do most of my own stuff (within reason) instead of going somewhere else. Anyway, I came to support a thread where someone is making something of themselves, and not criticize other posts.. So can we not get off topic any more than we have?
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Toyota mechanic
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On a Saab; they are a PITA, the oil and coolant lines are time consuming.... it is always more than it looks...
Toyota mechanic
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You didn't just do it yourself why? Seems you have it all figured out, no?
1500 seems high, but it is NEVER as easy as it looks! Been working as a mechanic for 2 decades..........motofool33
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nice story, an inexpensive start that evolved into something bigger. This is what makes this country Great. the Average Joe can go out grab some tools with a small amount of money, work hard and move up the ladder/status to wherever his hardwork and dedication want to stop.
kctyphoon
Banned
You didn't just do it yourself why? Seems you have it all figured out, no?
Because I was still pretty new to diesels at the time, because I broke down an hour away from home and it didn't make sense to pay a high tow bill when I could put that money towards a local shop fixing it, and because normally I will make more money going to my own job rather than taking time off to find out if it was something I was even capable of doing on my own in a reasonable amount of time. OR how bout this - cause I wanted too.
Honestly, no disrespect to the honest guys out there, but your time doesn't impress me.. I work with lineman that have been doing their job for 20 years and they still ****, so 20 years as a mechanic doesn't qualify you as being a good one, and I'm SURE many people will agree. The word professional just means you get paid for what you do, it doesn't mean you are any good at it.
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signcrafter
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Because I was still pretty new to diesels at the time, because I broke down an hour away from home and it didn't make sense to pay a high tow bill when I could put that money towards a local shop fixing it, and because normally I will make more money going to my own job rather than taking time off to find out if it was something I was even capable of doing on my own in a reasonable amount of time. OR how bout this - cause I wanted too.
Honestly, no disrespect to the honest guys out there, but your time doesn't impress me.. I work with lineman that have been doing their job for 20 years and they still ****, so 20 years as a mechanic doesn't qualify you as being a good one, and I'm SURE many people will agree. The word professional just means you get paid for what you do, it doesn't mean you are any good at it.
Can you just drop it? This isn't a ***** thread about you two guys, this is a thread about one guy's tools that is being sidetracked by some silly arguing.
kctyphoon
Banned
Agreed
Nice video... I'm am still amazed at the level of cleanliness your tools show, not to mention the time it must take to keep things at that level of appearance. Hell, if I just look at any tool with a comfort grip it looks like ****. I suspect it's a good thing you are running out of your own shop (I think anyways) if you where working flat rate you would probably go broke.. Lol
Toyota mechanic
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Because I was still pretty new to diesels at the time, because I broke down an hour away from home and it didn't make sense to pay a high tow bill when I could put that money towards a local shop fixing it, and because normally I will make more money going to my own job rather than taking time off to find out if it was something I was even capable of doing on my own in a reasonable amount of time. OR how bout this - cause I wanted too.
Honestly, no disrespect to the honest guys out there, but your time doesn't impress me.. I work with lineman that have been doing their job for 20 years and they still ****, so 20 years as a mechanic doesn't qualify you as being a good one, and I'm SURE many people will agree. The word professional just means you get paid for what you do, it doesn't mean you are any good at it.
Whatever you say
You were the one bitching! I probably am not a good mechanic anyhow I don't argue with people who know everything, and you apparently do. It takes alot to run a shop, there is a reason it cost quite a bit of money. I like this thread, looks like the OP is a very organized, detail oriented mechanic. Mechanic work done to perfection, by a real pro, costs money, or, by all means, do it yourself, results may vary.
Toyota mechanic
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He probably cleans them well, once the job is done; that is what I do. I use my tools, then WD40 and a clean rag, gets them pretty clean before going back in the box. You can get quick at it. When I worked at dealerships, it was tough. Been on my own, similar to John for quite some time. Now I have more time to clean up.
Just because his tools looks clean, sure he still uses them, plus they were new in the pics..! With time they wear some...
Good for him in having pride in his tools, it usually translates 100% to the work done on the vehicle.
Bigblue&Goldie
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John, It's probably been asked, but what do you use to clean your tools?
Toyota mechanic
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+1 I am OCD to a point. WD40 seems to work best for me.
What do you use John?
I have found if I don't let them get that grungy, they clean up easy. When the crude really sticks, I have the WD40 at the bench at all times, and regular red rags....
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kctyphoon
Banned
In the older vids he said he uses goo gone for most of them and then something else similar to simple green (but not simple green) for some of the sensitive handles..
I started reading this thread from the beginning like three days ago. John, congratulations on your success. I definitely don't have anything negative to say about your setup, but that doesn't stop me from being jealous. Also I like the Mac box and think your roll carts would look awesome color matched.
kctyphoon
Banned
Whatever you say
I know, you're saving the world one car at time..
Bigblue&Goldie
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I usually use WD40 as well. Arizona doesn't have a rust problem, but when it's hot out my sweaty hands are enough to cause rust, which is the main reason why I like WD40 to clean with.
Toyota mechanic
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I'm a picky professional mechanic. I get paid well for what I do, and deliver my work with pride, and done 100% I get people in the shop everyday; that know enough to get themselves in trouble. If they don't want to pay.... that is their business. I have mine to run, and that it that.
I side with you on the inflated pricing, I have seen it, in many places I used to work. On the other hand nothing is ever as easy as it may seem. I have seen quick lubes ruin cars over simple things they can't perform! An insured pro, with overhead, that does the job right, is always going to be more expensive than people think.....
A cheap mechanic with poor skills will cost you ALOT more than a expensive, careful mechanic, that always makes sure your vehicle is done right. For those that don't want to pay; that is their decision.
kctyphoon
Banned
I use simple green on most stuff, but I don't have expensive ratchets like some people since this is not what I do professionally. It's cheap and works good with a small scrub brush.. honestly a slop sink with hot water does miracles with any cleaner. If you want a GREAT degreaser, see if you can find Stinger Citrus Cleaner/Degreaser from Unisource.. It's an industrial cleaner. I can put a few capfuls of this in the wash with greasy clothes and will remove just about all of it.
JAKE-THE-TOOL-MAN
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You didn't just do it yourself why? Seems you have it all figured out, no?
You probably already know this but maybe KC doesn't, some shops will way over quote a job simply because they don't want to deal with it.
kctyphoon
Banned
Sorry maybe I wasn't clear, but that wasn't the quote, that was the portion of the bill I was handed for the labor of the turbo swap, which I was told, "won't be much since you are supplying the parts", ( I bought a $700 turbo from a turbo shop across the county) previous to saying go ahead and do it.. When I asked why I wasn't contacted in over a week when the bill that "wasn't going to be much" , crossed the $2,000 mark, I got no answer.
But really, this is another convo for another thread.. My only point is, not ever mechanic is as good and innocent as they claim to be, no matter what they post on websites. ( and I am in NO WAY referring to the OP)
This all stems from me wondering if John was nearby since I'm also in nj and not THAT far from several HF stores. Unfortunately for me, he's moved on to greener pastures.. The inside of my work trucks look like a living room, in comparison to some retards I work with, so I can kinda relate to the obsessive tool box.
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wow john i should have really took more note from you with your fender covers today, removing a seat from a car i had a few fender covers down to protect the doors and frame's but could have used 2 more! now i know to protect the center console and b pillar, you can never be to careful. thanks for giving us an update but i still really wana see that shop with a couple exotic's in it!
bcradio
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Great vids John
Toyota mechanic
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http://www.harborfreight.com/professional-301-piece-mechanics-tool-kit-69312.html
HF's largest tool set has trays of sockets, I think that is what is in John's box....
kctyphoon
Banned
These? HF socket tray organizers
kctyphoon
Banned
I have them, they are decent enough.. Would be nice if they were a little smaller.. But they work, and they were cheap..
dodge610
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Finally made it to HF well what do you think.