Easiest to work on?

A common theme among many late model vehicles is tight, cramped, bloody knuckle inducing engine bays. For many of us doing our own general maintenance working in increasingly cramped quarters is no fun. And it's not limited to "compact" sized vehicles. Is there such a thing anymore as a vehicle with an engine bay that's not packed tightly like a sardine can? I'm thinking in terms of vehicles built within the past 10-15 years years.

I recall my grandparents '66 Chevy Biscayne with the straight six. There was so much room you could stand in the engine bay with both feet on the ground. Even my '90 Plymouth Voyager (2.5) things were pretty accessible for general maintenance.

A vehicle designed for a larger engine than installed. Our V6 Grand Cherokee has all sorts if room between the engine and radiator.

The easiest I have ever touched is a, Jeep liberty. Gobbs of room around everything.

Toyman01 wrote: The easiest I have ever touched is a, Jeep liberty. Gobbs of room around everything.

Surely you jest? My wife's friend had a radiator hose blow out on one and I spent 30 mins just trying to find the other end? You'd have to have the hands of a disfigured carnival worker to get In there!

familiarity is everything.

In reply to Trackmouse:

I changed the radiator and hoses in ours in less than an hour. Upper ball joints took under an hour. Power steering pump and hoses took 1.5 hours. My wife can change the plugs in 45 minutes. Even the power windows I have fixed were pretty easy.

I still don't like the thing, but it has been easy to work on.

Subarus are still crazy-easy to work on. I recently did timing chains (not belts) on one in about 2 hours.

6 cyl version of a full size pickup

Honda S2000. Remove the airbox in 1' and you can sit inside the engine bay.

Fullsize truck with a v6.

NOT an lt1 c4 vette

It's not an RX8 either. I'm sorta having to do gymnastics to replace the ignition wires...

In reply to BoxheadTim:

Get a lift. Then it is super easy.

Plugs are easy to access with the driver's front wheel removed, too.

One of my tech friends said RX-8s are pretty awesome to work on, like he did a clutch in one in 45 minutes. By his description, you unbolt the PPF and a certain connection in the exhaust, and everything swings down, then you can just zip the trans off with long extensions, Clutch off, clutch on, zip trans back on, PPF back on, add fluid, out the door.

Back in the early 80s, I had a 1965 Mustang. My mother's uncle came to visit one day. He was the retired service manager of his brother's Ford dealership. When I opened the hood of my car to show him, he said, "Oh, you've got that damned V8 in there..."

In reply to Woody:

I did spark plugs in a '66 with a 351W once.

Once.

289s are more pleasant to work on but that is like saying getting hit in the head is more pleasant with a sledgehammer instead of an axe. It's still going to suck.

In reply to Knurled:

The plugs were easy, but the ignition wires are really fiddly and it doesn't help that one of them appears to be about 1/2" too short. I reinstalled them four times, carefully routing them each time...

Knurled wrote: Subarus are still crazy-easy to work on....

I popped in here to say this. Unless of course you're talking about changing the spark plugs on an '05-'09 Outback with the EZ30. Hands. Will. Not. Fit.

My race car is a 1st gen rx7 and have yet to find a POTA on the car. Disk brakes are a bit of a stupid arrangement but otherwise a lot of room.

Dusterbd13 wrote: NOT an lt1 c4 vette

Or a 4th-gen F-body with an LT1. I still have PTSD from doing plugs on my 95 Z28.

Fox body Mustangs are pretty easy, IMO. Even with the V8, everything is pretty reachable.

Someone may say I'm crazy, but my wife's 02 Audi A4 has been great so far... I haven't had to pull the nose yet to do anything major, but the fact you can amazes me.

But, what we are really talking about is how well as given make/model is engineered. Was it intentionally designed to be maintained? Some are some are not...

I used to have a 1980 Mazda 626, the only car I ever bought brand new. One great thing about it was the oil drain plug and oil filter were both accessible from the top, so I didn't have to jack it up to do an oil change - just slide the drain pan underneath, then slide it back out after I was done.

To me, my Bugeye Sprite. Almost everything comes apart with a minimum of tools and is rebuild-able, instead of just needing replacement. The entire wiring harness only has 40-some wires in it. I guess the trade off is that you need to work on it more often.

Although, a Spitfire might beat it as you could sit on the front tires while you work on it. (then again, the spridget has a solid rear for added simplicity).

Probably doesnt correlate to what the OP was seeking, but it has been absurdly easy.

As for modern... I have a mustang, a Impreza, and a Miata. I have had an E30, a 280zx, a 91 Grand-am, and an Aerostar. Out of all those...

I have replaced engines, pulled transmissions, done timing belts (while involved, its not overtly hateful like some other cars)

My 1st gen Mr2 was pretty easy. I got to where I could pull the engine in about an hour and a half.

Not a VW. When the shop manual says you have to remove the bumper and both fenders for an alternator job, you should walk away.

Most of the Toyotas I've worked on have been a breeze, but they also weren't really considered "late" model. But up through 07 have been a breeze. Most of them have a very forward engine along with big bays and not a lot of guards, shrouds, and covers to make things pretty and get in the way.

Even late model trucks are a pain. The windshields are so sloped that reaching simple things like spark plugs, intakes, and emissions equipment means using a ladder and dislocating an elbow.

My 05 GT Mustang has tons of room in the engine bay. The first time i opened the hoid and could see through to the pavement on both sides of the motor i fell in love. It may be the easiest car I've ever worked on, and that includes a 70 Impala and an F100