I'm a new Ford hater!

A friend of mine came over yesterday to help me with my Escort (I need to pull the head and see if it's OK. If it is, I'm putting a gasket in). I have to say that it is remarkably poorly engineered. It took us about 30-45 minutes to pull the alternator.

That's because the quarters are so tight the only way you can get it out is by unbolting the power steering reservoir, pulling it out of the way as far as you can, and yanking the alternator out, while praying that you don't break the power steering reservoir. We couldn't believe that was what we needed to do so we spent that time looking for another way to get it out.

The alternator was just the first of several things we ran into. You have to unbolt a motor mount just to get to the timing belt. Suffice it to say if I put this thing back together it's getting a new belt, because I sure don't want to go through all this again.

My friend is a long-time Ford hater, and I see why now. I'm just learning some of the deeper stuff in the engine; I've replaced accessories (alternators, water pumps, etc) on other vehicles before, but I've never done anything further in. It boggles the mind that I would need to put another essential component to safe driving (the PS reservoir) in danger to replace an alternator. I can't imagine trying to do that on the side of the road.