For once,farming out a wrench job...??

RRR, I agree, the shop I worked at had 12 'mechanics' nine of which were part swappers (or brake/exhaust guys) the other 3 of us were actual mechanics, I hardly ever fired up the scan tool outside of an initial code grab.

I was also the official/unofficial engine/trans guy. I had been deep inside transmissions at work (had to swap guts in an a518 for a customer due to a broken case, repairing lost reverse in a gm trans for instance) or inside an engine or two (rebuilt a 350 olds, changed out broken pistons in a supercharged mustang) have also watched when service writers sold brand new carburetors to customers, due to "worn out parts" on low mileage smog motors, that shiny new edelbrock isn't going to make that 307 go ANY better.