Some crabbing about 'modern' cars

[DrEntropy]

So friend/neighbor's wife has a Toyota Venza. V-6, transverse mounted. Started missing, running rough. He had a friens with access to a diagnostic computer with the right software check it and found #3 coil pack was bad. That sucker is on the rear bank, the intake plenum needs to come off to access it. A bolt in the BACK of the plenum must be removed, only enough room to get one of my skinny forearms behind it and use the Braille Method to locate and fit a tool on it. Most of an HOUR spent fiddling and fussing to get it out! Took no time to R&R the coil pack and secure all back in place... except that bolt.

grumble grumble grumblegrumblegrumblegrumble

 

[Grantura_MKI]

Not meant to be worked on anymore.

 

[HealeyRick]

 

[waltesefalcon]

I have a rule that I do not work on transverse mounted engines for anyone.

 

[Grantura_MKI]

No 308 Ferrari for you, them.

 

[Popeye]

I’m an engineer, and I resemble that remark!!

Seriously, simply walking in the manufacturing floor and have a few beers with shop folks taught me tremendously. Never say your design is “complete” until you have built it on a manufacturing floor yourself.

Even so, I still do silly things…

 

[DrEntropy]

Even so, I still do silly things…

I doubt you'd design anything that would include encasing a wear item inside a "lifetime-of-the-unit" component.

 

[Popeye]

Thanks but I’m lucky, most of my work Is high speed rotating machinery. Nothing is “inside”. But I’ve still designed some doozies - and probably will once and again! (Setting bearing and rotating part clearances is usually the tricky bit. Analogous to thrust bearing clearance in an engine. Trying to simplify the stack up error of components is the name of the game.

 

[DrEntropy]

Thanks but I’m lucky, most of my work Is high speed rotating machinery. Nothing is “inside”. But I’ve still designed some doozies - and probably will once and again! (Setting bearing and rotating part clearances is usually the tricky bit. Analogous to thrust bearing clearance in an engine. Trying to simplify the stack up error of components is the name of the game.

Goin' deeper into th' weeds here; bearing tolerances. For a short while I worked for the steel company my dad & his dad spent their lifetimes in. Bearing stock in the form of seamless tubing was sold to the likes of NDH, Delco, Timken. All lost to foreign makers in the '70's and '80's. Is there a discernible difference in quality/longevity/tolerances from older to newer bearings you've seen?

 

[Popeye]

Interesting story! Our bearings all are made in the US of A; mostly in Waukesha, plus some in Buffalo and Rhode Island. However, I’m sure raw materials are globally sourced, but because all machining happens domestically - and QC issues are resolved before we get the parts, I can’t speak to quality.

But fasteners, ie nuts and bolts and NPT fittings, increasingly come from overseas, and require additional sealants, etc. No fun!

 

[DrEntropy]

Mike, PM sent.

 

[waltesefalcon]

No 308 Ferrari for you, them.

There are exceptions to every rule. For instance, a 308 GTB would be one, or if Salma Hayek needed my assistance I'd work on anything she were driving.