What to ask a tech swapping your studs??? - Diesel Forum

FoolInjected · 10-09-2007, 04:16 PM

Im having a Ford Diesel Tech at a large Houston dealership swap in some ARP's for me. Thus far our only communication has been through a friend of mine that is his brother. I need to call him myself and get this ball rolling but before I do I need to know if there are any questions I specifically need to ask him to verify his competency?

I know he has done the job before but I am just trying to cover myself here. Anything you can tell me that I should be asking him beforehand?

Thanks.

**teamroper60** · 10-09-2007, 04:33 PM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">but before I do I need to know if there are any questions I specifically need to ask him to verify his competency?</div></div>

While it's never a bad idea to research the competency of an individual you are about to entrust to fix your vehicle, questioning that person directly is a slippery slope I'm not sure I would want to traverse..... Ask the wrong question or use the wrong words and you just might make him mad.... I don't think I'd want to do that right before he starts working on my truck....

You said he has done this job before.... Instead of asking him directly, how about asking his previous customers if they were satisfied with the work?? Seems you are more likely to get the info you are looking for that way without ruffling feathers........

Just my $.02

4x4Mark · 10-09-2007, 04:33 PM

As him if there are any shortcuts he can take to speed things up and reduce your cost. If answers "yes", go somewhere else.

Mark

FoolInjected · 10-09-2007, 04:40 PM

Well he has done it before. I figure he is competent and from what I understand the work will be actually taking place at the dealership. The problem with asking other customers questions is that I dont know who they are and since we are doing this "on the side" I dont know how I could find out.

FireDoug2001 · 10-09-2007, 09:47 PM

Ask some stupied question about 6.0s, headgaskets, & aftermarket studs that you already know the answer too. His answers should tell you what you want to know about the guy.

ralphinnj · 10-09-2007, 10:43 PM

1st, learn what the procedure is supposed to be. For example, I would want to know how far out of true my decks were. If you don't know what that means, its ok, I'll tell you. If the guys who is going to do the work doesn't know, run! What I am referring to is the warped heads issue. A standard activity is to measure the heads to assure they are flat. Ford has a spec, I don't remember what it is (4 thousandths I think), and the head must comply with that variance. If it does not, they are to be milled until they are flat, but there is a limit to how much shaving you can do (I think 8 or 9 thousandths) since that affects clearances. So, if this guy knows what he is doing, and you ask him "can you let me know how many thousandths my decks are out of true?", He should be more than happy to let you know what he finds.

Another thing you can ask him is whether he thinks the moly lube they recommend is important. He should say it is. ARP is very clear in their labelling about the importance of using the right lube.

Last, if he is going to do a bolt by bolt swap, don't waste your time. You want the real deal; heads removed, resurfaced, milled if needed and a pro install job with the right lube and torque-down procedure. Anything less is a sheer waste of time.

Ralph

FoolInjected · 10-09-2007, 10:43 PM

Well I called him. He has done 7 stud swaps for the dealership he works for. Him being the brother of a good buddy of mine he is hooking me up.

I told him I already ordered the ARP studs and asked if the $1000.00 I offered was acceptable. He said yes. I then went on to ask if I should get a new head gasket and he said it is taken care of. I said is that extra, he said no, everything is included. I said "everything?" and he said yes, I am going to take care of anything that could give you a problem.

So basically he is changing my studs, head gasket, egr cooler, and some other things that I cant recall right now all for $1000.00!!!

I guess it really is all about who you know.

FoolInjected · 10-09-2007, 10:45 PM

Ralph, thanks. I am assuming since he is going to be doing this at the dealership that he will be doing it the right way. I will note what you have said and ask him when i call him for the appointment once my studs arrive.

Thanks, you are always really helpful.

My truck has never puked, this is preventative measures I am doing here. Should I be worried that my decks are off? I am assuming that since I have never had any issues that they are indeed true.

ralphinnj · 10-09-2007, 10:54 PM

Most decks are "ok," but some have had issues. I am sure he will check them if he is doing it "above board." You are lucky to have a dealer who will install aftermarket studs. Just beware if it pukes or fails in anyway related to the heads in the future, you will have a hard time getting them to cover it since they can say it was not their parts.

I think it will work out fine for you.

Ralph

Smiley1 · 10-10-2007, 02:40 AM

The diesel tech at my dealer told me he tries to put as many studs on these trucks as he can (customer brings in studs). He is bent out of shape because he believes Ford should be footing the bill! I dont know how many 6.0's he has studded but he hasnt had a single return for a gasket issue.

Thats a tech you have to love.

superdoody · 10-10-2007, 03:17 PM

if he is doing egr cooler, etc. I would assume ford is paying for the job and he is just getting a pay buffer from you for the studs.

I'd be first in line to do it for $1000 if i was already getting paid from ford. Hopefully for him/his dealership your gaskets are actually bad.

fordboyyfm · 10-10-2007, 08:22 PM

.002" is the spec for flatness.