I got lucky when it comes to these jobs. I had an elderly customer come in with his F-150, 74k miles, and it needed a timing set. Instead, he wanted a brand new engine no matter how much I tried to convince him otherwise. He said it would likely be the last vehicle he ever owned. I did the swap and he gave me the old engine. Outside the vehicle this job is pretty easy. I rebuilt that engine and since then every time another one comes in, I just swap out engines and rebuild the next one. It’s worked out great for the last 6 years. A revolving long block LOL.

The incessant phone ringing was the owner of the Expedition wanting to know if their vehicle was done yet.

Ray, I appreciate your interactions with your co-workers, you are supportive and humorous. As well your approach to challenges is positive. You are teaching me to not be a cranky old man.

I just realized/discovered that the apropriate sound when plugging/unplugging USB devices on Windows PC matches the telephone du-do-du-di-du tune perfectly. Great satisfaction for my inner child. My thanks and humble gratitude, Ray

There was a MAD magazine cartoon where Don Martin characters were doctors and nurses congratulating one another on a surgery for facial reconstruction. They have the patient all wrapped. Then, one guy turns around and there's a platter on the table with the patients nose.

"Spalding get your foot off the boat" should be your immediate response to any co worker who interrupts you.

Hi Ray love your sense of humor , because what you do can be insanely difficult and stressful . Techs do not get the credit they deserve

Your chain drive ratchet was invented by tank mechanics in North Africa in World War II. I have an old drawing of this tool and some of the guys using it. It saved many hours of labor on a particular repair.

Good to know I'm not the only one who is still working while I'm at home. I goto bed and try to sleep but end up rebuilding things in my mind looking for any errors.

Ray, I love your content. I am one of the unfortunate owners of a 5.4L 3-valve. This video is like watching game tapes from your rival teams in school. I am just preparing myself mentally for the onslaught to come.

Really appreciate your work Ray, especially being a retired 77 yr old mechanic with bad arthritis in my fingers, time goes by fast! getting old sucks!

Kudos Ray on this job. This was NOT an "intermediate" mechanic job. Very impressive keep up the good work!

Sipping my coffee and watching Ray. Charging up to start another productive workday.

This is well beyond my ability to complete this job. I could not keep track of all the bolts and where they go plus get my fat fingers into the tight areas. You are "The Man" for this job. Much respect goes to you. The valve keepers install was epic in my eyes. This job with its high level of difficulty is why i enjoy your videos. This is one of your best videos, Ray! :)

The slow motion the the wobbley swivel 8mm Socket was epicb @23:08 @Rainman Ray's Repairs

Hi Ray I'm no macanic but I have learned so much you are an inspiration to the next generation of mechanics, your knowledge of of cars and trucks is very amazing I appreciate everything you do. Keep up the good work my friend

Love the way you keep your sense of humor in an otherwise tough situation.

Hearing you do the the phone Do-De-Do in lightspeed mode, priceless!!!!

I'm not a mechanic, but I can really relate to the first start. It's the exact same thing I get for the first power-on after building a computer (that's what I do).

I wish I had some one like you to maintane my car. Great work Ray.

You are a very brave man. I once considered being a mechanic. My tuition was paid to a tech school in Indianapolis but life intervened. Pregnant girlfriend...I became a firefighter a few years later but still work on cars. The complexity of today's cars is daunting. Take care and know that you are very talented

to babble or NOT to Babble.....that is the question. The more tired ya get or discouraged you babble. Been there when doing A/C Turbines on RF-4B's back in the day. Choice words were heard non-stop a couple of times. I feel your pain and attitude for it is real. Hang in for "It Does get Better Ray."

Every superhero needs a sidekick! I think that if you do end up getting your own place you should take on Petey. Petey for sidekick!

I feel you Ray, about the going back over the job in your head. I have worked on aircraft for 22 yrs and every big job I've done, I've gone through that same process.

I can't believe they didn't replace the original oil pump with the high volume Melling. That was the first thing with the new phasers. Truck had 110000 . Ran it for 10 years put on an xtra 205000. Purred like a kitten when I sold it . The guy so far has put another 50000 on it with no problems. See fordmakemeloco. Best ford mechanic on the planet.

We're making sure that that gear is facing The right way.

Followed this massive valve gear job, you have so much patience, very thorough , envy your tool kits. Great job. Cheers from Australia.

The bare bearded bear, beared down on the bare wood, which could barely bear the bear's bare weight. Another fun "B" word. Cheers- (inspired by the right, valve-cover, and the blue, blow-molded...something).

You have way more patience than me. Not much made me crabbier than standing on my head in an engine compartment.

Ray's 6 am video notifications is my alarm clock

I'm so impressed with your memory and your skills! Thank you for my coffee this morning!! Do de doo doo!

I'm impressed that you remembered the 2 dabs of sealant after placing the valve cover into position.

I worked in commercial nuclear power as an Instrumentation & Control Technician and later when my body just would not support doing the physical work of a craft I entered Technical Engineering where I wrote Impact Statements defining what the impact would be of the work and most likely possible impact due to personnel error influenced by proximity to other equipment and/ or shared power distribution. The scope of work, what was allowed by the craft based on impact and work instructions and the detailed work instructions that also allowed lead way to the techs. I too ran through that crap in the way home and after getting home until I satisfied myself I had made no errors. We also assigned retest requirements to make sure the repaired/reworked equipment functioned as per station technical requirements. It was exhausting at times. Quite often the work I planned would be performed in evening evening ir midnight shift and the operations shift supervisor or superintendent would call me at 1-3 AM asking a question and I could tell him the answer and where to find it in the work package. Many would say to me, what do you do stay awake waiting for us to call you don’t sound like you were woken up and had to gather your thoughts and I guess that’s because my thought train never redd as let shutdown. And, man does that negatively affect REM sleep. Shut down your mind and relax, REM sleep is necessary to continue to function at your peak

26:00 "It looks like a Morgan Freeman skit in here." Priceless!

I put a motor on a car and went to start it. Crank no start. I had to be at work at 3. It was 2. I went to call a friend for a ride. Before I picked up the phone. No cell phones at the time. I noticed the rotor on the bench. I made it to work.

Quite the busy dooo deee dooo day. I like your description of Post (automotive) Tech Stress Discombobulation at the end.

Ray, when putting in the rollers, just place them in 'the spot' and instead of compressing the spring, wedge/force them onto the stem with ....yes. zee prysen bar !

I've done the job 5 times in my head, but when I get to the shop, none of the work has been done! Lazy night shift! :)

Plus 1000 on the tite reach adapter. They are brilliant in those tight spaces and as they are chain drive you can torque them quite a lot. Cheers gaz

WOW i thought i was the only one that when i close my eye at night my brain won't switch off from the job I'm doing an I'm still fixing it in my head! lol

It's so nice you're on point with your videos in the morning...

Great series of videos on the 5.4 3-valve !

Ray you make me wished I lived in Florida so you'd work on my cars.

Nice job Ray. Tuff job on that dang 5.4 3v.

Awesome video series, love the detail.

I like that chain driven tool is an excellent one for your tool box. Excellent work as always.

I am an old man who USED to be a mechanic. When vehicles could be worked on without being a rocket scientist. I applaud you for your knowledge and attention to detail. If I was a young man today, I would choose another profession. Newer vehicles are a royal pain in the ASS. Most vehicles before 1990 were easy to repair. Keep up the good work just, open your own garage and make the money you deserve for all your hard work.

Did it again Ray ..watched all 3 videos..Great job again..as a novis mechanic leaned alot cheers Ray...and make sure you have a good day 😊

I bet that chain driven adapter was made just for that job. Excellent work as always Sir. 💯👍🏼

Fantastic stamina Ray...You are a Super Hero....

I like work so good! I can drop off to sleep watching Ray work .

I like that most manufacturers have gone to the rubber valve cover gaskets with a groove in the valve cover in place of the cork gaskets they used way back then.

Love the high speed do dee do dee do, lol seriously great work Ray

Love watching mechanics work on old time gas engines....

Glad to see people who are capable and willing to repair these engine.

I think we need a "Sing it, Petey!" shirt.

YAY! The super-duper extra-long spark plug socket! My day is complete!

An honest and hard working mechanic, thanks for being you!

93rd! GOOD MORNING RAY! Roger in Pierre South Dakota

So what you're saying is, to shorten the valve cover bolts and then tighten them further to stop the leak :)

Thank Goodness! If I had waiting an additional 2 minutes, I would have seen where you added the sealant! Great Job Ray!!

Bah ha ha ha... The sound of the phone and the Do de le Do's in fast chipmunk motion is hilarious...

"Takes a licking and keeps on clicking"🤣 Greetings from Lake City 😎🇺🇸🌴

Your last few minutes of this were the best. Everyone, and every occupation, experiences this Ray. Highly recommend that everyone watches till the end!!

28:55 Haha.. I love 'Hyper Squirrel on Meth' Ray!!

Just simply a great video as always!

sweet tool Ray

Oh wow thank you for sharing this. Most mechanics would hide this mistake.

bobbin ..talking to myself....after three videos and endless screws and parts I WILL BE WALKING ON THE CEILING

Thanks for all the play by play on this and I do admire your skills and the care with which you do your job. I know criticism is the last thing you want to hear after three days on this job. However, I need to point out that was way too much dielectric grease on those coil packs. The dielectric grease, which is an insulator, should make a seal between the boot and the ceramic of the plug. With that much on the coil packs you risk having some on the connection between the coil pack and the plug top which could lead to misfires and/or shorten the coil pack life due to the increased resistance. It's best to apply a small amount to the inside of the boot so it will help seal the ceramic of the plug with the boot but not make contact with the top of the plug when inserting the coil pack.

Listening to this in the background gives so many giggity moments.

It's blue so you know it's good. Breaking Bad!

Ah, I fell for the old: "Battery died while I was stuffing the silicone" trick.

Oh, what a frustrating job!! I felt so sorry for you struggling with it. I suffered nervous exhaustion during your collet trouble. I guess it would be an expensive repair. You are a talented technician! Glad I am now retired!

The word has been out on that 5.4 3 valve for quite a while. I'd say you are taking chances trying to repair it. Nevertheless, you do nice work.

I’m just as tired as Ray is. I can feel his exhaustion. Been there. Done that. Can’t say I liked it.

Cool ! A Milwaukee Hammer 🔨 Watched you tap that cover plate back with it ☺️

Alvin and the chipmunks CLICK, Priceless!

Bro i lived like this for the longest and came up with the best solution. Double check everything. Even if your confident you did it. Get the ratchet and double check the torque.

Now be honest, who else actually giggled at the x2 "do dee doooos"? 😁

was trying to figure out why you didn't sound like your normal chipper self - then i realized this vid is from the days before your shop opened. No Wonder! one day of self employment beats a life time of working for others. that chain drive socket offset thinger is definitely cool -

When my dad was turning wrench’s he would use a rubber hose to get the spark plugs started so he wouldn’t cross thread them.

Good vid! Just thought it was funny when you sound like Cousin Itt from the Addams Family when you fast fwd in light speed! Funneee as hell!!! Luv it!

keep up the great work mate

I like that chipmunk voice when you run the clip on FF mode.. :)

Ray, there is a wonderful solution for the end of day review and admonition process…it is called Scotch and it works beautifully.

A lot of techs are glorified paid Parts cannons. I like that you actually try to diagnose things before throwing the easiest part possible at it blindly hoping it’ll fix itself.

That offset chain extension is amazing i just got a set on Amazon

Waiting for the day you set up a mission impossible style harness for working on vehicles like this where you have to climb on in 😁

Very helpful video. I enjoy watching your vids. Also, I hope you have received and enjoy your package.

I used to dream about replacing head gaskets on Maximas. It sucks working all day, then working all night in your head. You wake up the next morning and feel like you never slept.

Love your Chipmunk voice!!

Cool Tool… @ 5:55 I saw that ratcheting crows foot and said “cool”. Then I thought “Ya know what would be even better? Some kind of chain driven ratcheting attachment for threading in the bolts..” Then wouldn’t ya know, he brought out something just like I was imagining… I just love it when things like that happen.

I've had one of those 3/8 ratchet xtension thingys in my Amazon wish list for some time, just might get it now.

Going back together alot smoother then it came apart but that's how it always goes on engine work and most work on the entirety of a Vehicle @Rainman Ray's Repairs

I understand ray those jobs are tuff

The wobbliest wobbly that has ever wobbled 9:10

I could listen to that high speed Chipmunk voice all day long.... Really should of done a Do-De-Do at high speed.

Always fun to watch Ray almost lose it but not quite.

I just love that "duududuududuu" when the phone rings