| Pages:
1
2
3 |
castaway$
Senior Nomad
Posts: 742
Registered: 7-31-2007
Location: Gold Hill, Oregon
Member Is Offline
Mood: Fish on!
|
|
Diesel mechanics
The commercial diesel mechanics are very good we needed one in La Paz and the chevy dealership suggested the guy and he was excellent.
Live Indubiously!
|
|
|
DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
|
|
Somebody has to keep all those fishing boats tuned up.
|
|
|
Pompano
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8194
Registered: 11-14-2004
Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
Member Is Offline
Mood: Optimistic
|
|
Ruben's in Loreto was good a few years back...can't say about nowaday's. He did good work on my Cummins.
Maybe a Loreto nomad can chime in on him or others?
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
|
|
|
BigWooo
Senior Nomad
Posts: 579
Registered: 1-2-2007
Member Is Offline
|
|
I used Ruben a month ago to replace leaking transmission lines on my Chevy Diesel. He's a great mechanic, but he readily admitted that the newer
diesels require many specialized tools that he doesn't have access to.
|
|
|
Roberto
Banned
Posts: 2162
Registered: 9-5-2003
Member Is Offline
|
|
To ensure best mechanic support in Mexico, I recommend anything with a Cummins. The engine is virtually the same as the ones in the older vintage
diesel cruisers you see down there. Plus no electronics needed. I love my Ford, which is approaching 200K trouble-free miles, but I don't think I
would buy one if I were contemplating living down there. If you DO pick a Ford, make sure it's the 7.3L diesel, and take good care of the tranny by
not letting it overheat and changing the fluid frequently.
|
|
|
monoloco
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6667
Registered: 7-13-2009
Location: Pescadero BCS
Member Is Offline
|
|
There is a Cummins/Onan service center in La Paz.
|
|
|
Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8813
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
Member Is Offline
Mood: Full Time Residents
|
|
soulpatch...get a new one...end the pain
what did you work your entire life for...repairs?
|
|
|
tripledigitken
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4848
Registered: 9-27-2006
Member Is Offline
|
|
Good advice Roberto. I would also advise adding a transmission cooler to the 7.3.
I installed one of these on my ford.
http://www.transmissioncoolers.us/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Scr...
|
|
|
Roberto
Banned
Posts: 2162
Registered: 9-5-2003
Member Is Offline
|
|
Yes, an additional cooler is a good idea. I also have an outboard cartridge filter and use synthetic transmission fluid (Amsoil) on my truck. These
are all effective in keeping the temps down. But, I also have a transmission temperature gauge and when that fluid starts to go over 250 degrees, I
STOP and let it cool down. I used to tow a 14,000 package (boat) up and down the peninsula, and this approach has worked for me.
Amsoil is more expensive, and probably not available locally, but worth it IMO. If you ever have to rebuild it, there is a guy in El Centro who is a
magician. Also expensive, but his transmissions are bullet proof. When you're travelling in the middle of nowhere with two small children, that money
could not be better spent.
|
|
|
monoloco
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6667
Registered: 7-13-2009
Location: Pescadero BCS
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by Bob and Susan
soulpatch...get a new one...end the pain
what did you work your entire life for...repairs? |
The older ones are much simpler and more reliable, plus
the new ones are north of 50k and will lose a great deal of their value in a very short time. I have had several and the most reliable one was my 91
Ford F250 with the non-turbo 7.3. I have a 2000 F350 now and the motor has been great, but I have had to replace most of the running gear in the first
100k miles.
[Edited on 3-20-2011 by monoloco]
|
|
|
unbob
Nomad
Posts: 407
Registered: 8-7-2006
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by Roberto
... there is a guy in El Centro who is a magician. Also expensive, but his transmissions are bullet proof. |
Name and contact info for the guy in El Centro?
I pass through EC on every trip to BCS and would be great to have a name there in case of trans trouble.
Muchas gracias, Rob(erto)
|
|
|
msteve1014
Senior Nomad
Posts: 947
Registered: 12-2-2006
Member Is Offline
|
|
John Wood transmisions. Not cheap, but known as one of the best.
http://jwtt.com/
|
|
|
fishabductor
Senior Nomad
Posts: 800
Registered: 5-29-2010
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by monoloco
| Quote: | Originally posted by Bob and Susan
soulpatch...get a new one...end the pain
what did you work your entire life for...repairs? |
The older ones are much simpler and more reliable, plus
the new ones are north of 50k and will lose a great deal of their value in a very short time. I have had several and the most reliable one was my 91
Ford F250 with the non-turbo 7.3. I have a 2000 F350 now and the motor has been great, but I have had to replace most of the running gear in the first
100k miles.
[Edited on 3-20-2011 by monoloco] |
x2 as the new diesels require low sulfur diesel...something not found in BCS.
I sold my 97 f250 diesel with a 5sp, which is what you want as the autos are POS and have lots and lots of problems. We have a 95 f250 diesel that has
been in 3x now with a blown tranny.
Diesels are also heavy and beat the crud out of you on washboard roads. I run f150's, the new one being a 2wd prerunner with a 7.5" long travel
kit...it is so cushy.
|
|
|
fishabductor
Senior Nomad
Posts: 800
Registered: 5-29-2010
Member Is Offline
|
|
I only buy old trucks...since after a yr in baja they will be beat. My "new" prerunner f150 is a 2001.
that and old trucks help me try and live like a king...but I am working king in baja. It is an illusion, the king part at least.
|
|
|
mojo_norte
Senior Nomad
Posts: 725
Registered: 2-14-2006
Member Is Offline
|
|
I 3rd the manual transmission for reliability which probably means an older (pre Y2K) truck also. Can you even buy a new truck with a manual
transmission?
|
|
|
Roberto
Banned
Posts: 2162
Registered: 9-5-2003
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by msteve1014
John Wood transmisions. Not cheap, but known as one of the best.
http://jwtt.com/ |
Yup, that's the one. He apparently now has a package that's $2900 + $400. That's below a Ford dealership, though not by much. But one of the best, as
has been said. Do a search for John Woods Transmissions, and you'll see how many folks praise this guy.
|
|
|
tripledigitken
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4848
Registered: 9-27-2006
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by Roberto
| Quote: | Originally posted by msteve1014
John Wood transmisions. Not cheap, but known as one of the best.
http://jwtt.com/ |
Yup, that's the one. He apparently now has a package that's $2900 + $400. That's below a Ford dealership, though not by much. But one of the best, as
has been said. Do a search for John Woods Transmissions, and you'll see how many folks praise this guy. |
Roberto,
How do the warranties compare?
Ken
|
|
|
Roberto
Banned
Posts: 2162
Registered: 9-5-2003
Member Is Offline
|
|
I believe the JW is 3 years/50K miles. I don't know what a remanufactured transmission from Ford offers. I DO know that I will never go to a Ford
stealer anywhere in my immediate area (San Diego).
Check out this "review" http://www.fourwheeler.com/techarticles/drivetrain/129_0710_...
|
|
|
monoloco
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6667
Registered: 7-13-2009
Location: Pescadero BCS
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by mojo_norte
I 3rd the manual transmission for reliability which probably means an older (pre Y2K) truck also. Can you even buy a new truck with a manual
transmission? |
Mine's a 2000 F350 and it has a 6 speed manual transmission.
|
|
|
fishabductor
Senior Nomad
Posts: 800
Registered: 5-29-2010
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by monoloco
| Quote: | Originally posted by mojo_norte
I 3rd the manual transmission for reliability which probably means an older (pre Y2K) truck also. Can you even buy a new truck with a manual
transmission? |
Mine's a 2000 F350 and it has a 6 speed manual transmission. |
you still have all your teeth...or have some rattled out?
I thought my 97 f250 HD 4x4 diesel was going to give my wife a miscarriage. My wife hated it, but my dentist loved it!
|
|
|
| Pages:
1
2
3 |
![[*]](images/xmbforum/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
