Near the top of my list for hardest to work on is the V6 Contour/Mystique/Cougar. Big (externally) DOHC V6 jammed into a compact sized chassis, FWD configuration.
Easiest/Hardest cars to work on?
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2016 Honda Accord LX. Previous: 2004 Deville, 2000 STS
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My dad use to have a 1981 ford F250 for his farm truck. Had the 302 in it. HUGE engine bay. Could climb up into it, put your feet on the engine mount, while you sat on top of the fender, and that was easy. I remember changing a Fuel filter with my dad once on there, and from start to finish, the filter was plain as day in our sights with out taking anything apart.
I've always liked working on the straight six engines on jeeps. From the old 4.2 carbed engine that I believe originated when AMC owned jeep. Either AMC or Kaiser. That's the engine my dad had in his jeep wrangler from the say he bought it brand new in 86 as one of the first ever wranglers off the lines for the 87 model year. He put 300k+ miles on that engine and NEVER even had to rebuild it once. I dont think he ever even had to remove the head ever. But then again, it wasn't a weak aluminum block/head. Cast iron. Then in 91, they started putting the much more familiar 4.0 straight six in the wranglers, which is what every wrangler I had, had. Just about the same as the 4.2, still cast iron, but now fuel injected with a lot more power. But those 4.0s where easy as hell to work on. All 6 spark plugs right in plain view. But on 98, jeep switched the 4.0 from cast iron to a much weaker aluminum.
Now, I haven't had to work on my STS yet, but it looks like with the V6 there's plenty of room to work on it, once I remove all the plastic trimming.
I've always liked working on the straight six engines on jeeps. From the old 4.2 carbed engine that I believe originated when AMC owned jeep. Either AMC or Kaiser. That's the engine my dad had in his jeep wrangler from the say he bought it brand new in 86 as one of the first ever wranglers off the lines for the 87 model year. He put 300k+ miles on that engine and NEVER even had to rebuild it once. I dont think he ever even had to remove the head ever. But then again, it wasn't a weak aluminum block/head. Cast iron. Then in 91, they started putting the much more familiar 4.0 straight six in the wranglers, which is what every wrangler I had, had. Just about the same as the 4.2, still cast iron, but now fuel injected with a lot more power. But those 4.0s where easy as hell to work on. All 6 spark plugs right in plain view. But on 98, jeep switched the 4.0 from cast iron to a much weaker aluminum.
Now, I haven't had to work on my STS yet, but it looks like with the V6 there's plenty of room to work on it, once I remove all the plastic trimming.
I hear people whine and complain on the Sebring convertible forum that "they're so hard to work on!" and "it's so cramped!" I'll admit, shoving a V6 in an engine compartment that's similar to the size of a Neon's engine compartment (cab forward...) is annoying, but when I see them bitching about it, I'm like "stop your bitching." and attache a picture of a N* engine compartment. :lol:
It's pretty easy to work on my car, for the most part. The water pump being driven by the timing belt thing is pretty common in Chrysler products from that era. It's irritating. There are spots where it's really difficult to get to, given that it's such a tiny space, but it's simple and quick for the most part. I can get my intake manifold off in about half an hour, taking my time, so long as I can get that one damned bolt out from the back.
It's pretty easy to work on my car, for the most part. The water pump being driven by the timing belt thing is pretty common in Chrysler products from that era. It's irritating. There are spots where it's really difficult to get to, given that it's such a tiny space, but it's simple and quick for the most part. I can get my intake manifold off in about half an hour, taking my time, so long as I can get that one damned bolt out from the back.
LH.... <3
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That's actually quite typical - has been for decades.
Easiest was my old 91 Caddy with the 350 TBI. Loads of space under the hood. Only problem is that I am too short to reach certain parts of the engine since the car was so wide, had to get out a step stool.
‘66SDV,‘76FWB,CDV, SDV,‘77 BRTZ‘78CDV,FWB,‘90,‘91x2,‘92FWB,‘98,‘00,‘05 DTS
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^^^ Spark plugs are no picnic on a '91 Brougham with a 5.0. You have to go through the wheel well to get one or two of them and it's still difficult.
02 Escalade | 02 Corvette "Goldilocks" | 03 Blazer 4x4 | 92 Caprice Wagon LS1/T56
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This. I am tall enough to get to the plugs in the wagon, but some things I have to peer over it. Normally I put a towel or rug down on my front bumper, stand on that, and kneel on the fan shroud. :lol:
I'll also say, Corvairs don't seem too bad either. Kinda fun, actually.
Easiest? Most of the recent FWD GM Ecotec cars. Fantastic powertrain to work on, solid chassis cars.
Yea sir. My folks had a first gen LHS when I was a kid and it did have decent room. But wow what a POS. They bought a 94, first year for the LHS, when it was just one year old, and from day one, nothing but problems. Hell, the month they bought it we drove from Ohio to las Vegas for a family vaca, and as we were going thru the rocky mnts, the AC started blowing ice outa the vents. Then the compressor froze up. Lol. Ever been to Vegas in middle of summer with no AC? Lol. Not fun. They eventually traded it for a new Lexus which they never had a single problem with for 230k miles. LolJesda said:
so much want!!!!lh.... <3
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