how did you learn?

Post by **hannibal** » Wed Jan 22, 2003 4:32 am

I'm new around here and I was curious about how you all learned to work on engines.Did you guys learn from a relative or friend?I remember someone mentioning they worked as an apprentice in someone's shop. Did anyone else do this?Did anybody just sit down and rip apart an old beater?

I've done some work on cars (not just oil changes), but never opened up an engine. I want to get to that next level. So advice and suggestions are welcomed. Thanks fellas...

Post by **Mayhem_J30** » Wed Jan 22, 2003 4:32 am

i learned the limited 'crude' skills from my father. starting with rebuilding corvettes for car shows and up from there. he doesn't do things the most proper way but he gets it done. thanks to people here at NICO I can fine tune some of those skills and begin to do things to spec...although i have a LOOONNNGGG way to go before i'm anything like most the people here.the opening up an engine would be my next step as well. good directions and confidence is what i lack the most. if i could ever get someone to hold my hand through it once i could probably do it again on my own. i would really love to learn pulling cylinders and replacing rings, valves and all that.

Post by **DAEDALUS** » Wed Jan 22, 2003 4:32 am

I learned after having my wallet raped by an incompetent shop a couple times. I couldn't justify paying them $80/hr to know less than I did and to screw up my car and then listen to them blame the car. The first time I did major work under the hood, I labeled every little thing and took a hundred pictures. So I guess my car is my "old beater" in a way, but it sure gets spoiled. I'm sure glad NICO was here to help me through all the noob snags that I hit along the way. It makes a big difference if you're mechanically inclined and enjoy some aspects of the work. If you're going to be doing a lot of work, then my advice is that you can never have too many tools, and to go ahead any buy the $250 Craftsman tool set rather than run to Sears everytime you need a $7 socket.

Post by **UncleBen** » Wed Jan 22, 2003 4:32 am

well, since i'm only 16 i have never opened up an engine or anything either, but like you, i would really like to learn how do do all of that type of work. i'm in the same boat as chris (mayhem), i just don't have the confidence.

Post by **issanni** » Wed Jan 22, 2003 4:32 am

I'm learning from a friend who's completed several SR swaps and installed several RX7 engines. I'm known as his deciple

becuase I work with him on his car no matter what..rain, snow, cold, wind...you'll find me hovering over his SR hehe. He's going to be helping me with my SR Swap, so I'll be learning more when that project begins.

Post by **Get240DiZzY** » Wed Jan 22, 2003 4:32 am

I want to buy an old car that I can find cheap... $500 or so... pretty much just buy the engine, and tear it apart... just because I can. Then I'll buy another cheap one, take it apart, and attempt to re- assemble it. That's my plan anyway.

Post by **hannibal** » Wed Jan 22, 2003 4:32 am

I'm at the point where I wanna dive in head first. I've been into cars since I was a kid so I have a good understanding of how it all works. But now I'm 23, out of school, and I need to do something hands on. I'm ready to apply all this informatin I've got swimming around in my mind. I just hope it works out as nicely as I have imagined. (probably not!)

And I'll definitely be asking plenty of questions around here!Thanks for your thoughts...

Post by **theTony** » Wed Jan 22, 2003 4:32 am

I am about as mechanically challenged as one can get. I am still learning and I will continue to learn forever. Still, most things I will not tackle myself and leave it to the "experts" or the seasoned DIY'ers. Good thing that around here, you can always get the help and answers you would need, that that in itself is invaluable.

Post by **red240ne** » Wed Jan 22, 2003 4:32 am

I've always loved cars. My mom always tells me that I used to be able to name all the cars when I was 2 years old. I never really knew about the workings of cars though, until recent years. I am currently in Autotech class in high school, where I have learned a lot of skills. I basically got started just from trial and error though. Not the most efficient way, but when you turn 16 and you don't have money to spend on repairs, you don't care.

I also plan on going to Wyoming Tech!!

Post by **dreamsOfSkylines** » Wed Jan 22, 2003 4:32 am

Most community colleges have auto tech classes, I have taken a couple and i read as much as i can off the net. I'm taking a class to learn how to take apart and reassemble an engine over the summer.

Post by **bpmguys** » Wed Jan 22, 2003 4:32 am

I have grown up in the business. My dad owned body shops and my uncle was a tech. After college I realized that a criminal justice degree and I did'nt mix. I reverted back to what I thought I knew. It has taken me over ten years in the business to even start to understand what really happens with a car. I have seen alot of people that can rattle off all of the lingo and think that they know what they are talking about. Not that I am the all knowing, Beleive me. The best tech I have ever worked with had no formal traing other than spending days, weeks and years studing wiring diagrams, flow charts, etc... He did'nt just do what he saw on a flow chart, he searched deeper to understand why. After about 6 years I figured out that is what it is all about. After realizing that, I now feel that I know alot about some things, and hardly anything about others. If you are going to take something apart, great, but understand what, why and how.

Post by **RYNO_s13** » Wed Jan 22, 2003 4:32 am

I'm going to be starting a auto tech class at Miramar college, kindof a step up from garage 101. At the end of the three semesters, POOF!!! ASE cert.

Post by **DAEDALUS** » Wed Jan 22, 2003 4:32 am

Ryno, don't ASE certs require you to have worked in a shop for at least 2 years? I would like to earn some certs too, but I thought I lacked enough hands-on. Thanks for any info.

Website · Post by **diamondj30** » Wed Jan 22, 2003 4:32 am

the hard way.

Post by **RYNO_s13** » Wed Jan 22, 2003 4:32 am

DAEDALUS wrote:Ryno, don't ASE certs require you to have worked in a shop for at least 2 years? I would like to earn some certs too, but I thought I lacked enough hands-on. Thanks for any info.

I'm not sure of the actual length of time, but yes, you do have to have the On The Job. The course at Miramar is basically a classroom session, then an internship, classroom, internship type thing. One of my friends and I are looking at opening a shop sometime in the future, so we're getting into the class to get some formal ed. Kind of the whole, I can do this, but I don't have a peice of paper that says I can type thing.

Post by **Stoneage_Turbo** » Wed Jan 22, 2003 4:32 am

Cars are my life , i eat sleep and breathe cars .

Started a long time ago , i was 9 when dad took me out into the garage to put on a full on perfomance suspension on a 73 vette , then was always drug out there to help him with his racecar , at the time i hated it , didnt like getting my hands dirty , i was a ***** i guess . I began to enjoy it around 12 , started working on moms car at about 14 . Freshman year in highschool i was takeing small engine service (lawnmower engines) the next year i was in deisel as i wanted a challange . My diesEl techer died halfway thru the year so i was then was dual enrolled in a junoir collage for automotive mechaincs , picked up alot there . Went to work for a british car shop as a appritance , wrenching on mostly MGBs and 80s jags , was fed the occasional rolls royce and wrenched on a ferarri 308 (spark plugs). Then went to work for pepboys slinging parts. then joined the military they saw my ASFAB scores and wanted me in mechanics , chose aircraft structure but they messed up the numbers and i ended up being a firetruck mechanic . Worked my way thru all the truck,heavy equip, and automotive shops in our base here . I took ase tests all the way , certified in tranmissons and transaxels ,engine perfromance ,brakes/abs/airbags, and something else that i cant remeber as i got mad one night and threw all my certificates away after a really bad day at work (decided i was done doing mechanics for a living)

This stuff is fun if you can wrench on stuff on your own time with no pressure

Post by **4cefed** » Wed Jan 22, 2003 4:32 am

IwannaS15:

Want a good way to learn cars? Buy a DODGE! You'll have that thing apart every day trying to keep it going. Trust me, I know.

I started out with my CSX. My friend that knew the cars helped me fix stuff. So every time something broke he showed me what to do. After years of tearing stuff apart, I'm fairly competant. Just don't mess with f*rds. They are so not woth the effort.

Post by **FrEaK** » Wed Jan 22, 2003 4:32 am

I took auto shop classes at my highschool

Post by **DenverQ** » Wed Jan 22, 2003 4:32 am

4cefed wrote:
Want a good way to learn cars? Buy a DODGE! You'll have that thing apart every day trying to keep it going. Trust me, I know.

I actually learned on my 89 lebaron convertable!!! it was a white turbo gt. I still have some injectors a turbo and a AIS laying around LOL ahhh the memories

Post by **Stoneage_Turbo** » Wed Jan 22, 2003 4:32 am

"I actually learned on my 89 lebaron convertable!!! it was a white turbo gt. I still have some injectors a turbo and a AIS laying around LOL ahhh the memories"

hmm , wanna sell those? , may need replacemnt parts for this charger in looking at , it might be a GLHS but more likely just a turbo shelby charger , gonna adapt one of those 300zx intercoolers i have laying around to it

Post by **FrEaK** » Wed Jan 22, 2003 4:32 am

Just curious.... when you rip the turbo off a car like that, what do you do with the car?

Like i mean obviously it can still run but, hell, who would buy it... or do you sell it to the junkyard

Post by **DenverQ** » Wed Jan 22, 2003 4:32 am

Actually I replaced the turbo long ago the one I have is the old one, I dont think youll want any parts stoney as they were all bad thats the reason they were taken out.

That was a fun car especially when you get it boostin at 12-14psi hehehehe

Post by **reggiegsd** » Wed Jan 22, 2003 4:32 am

I learned by owning English and Italian sports cars. You either learn to work on them (allot) or you walk.

Post by **hannibal** » Wed Jan 22, 2003 4:32 am

Hey Stoneage, I can sympathize...As a kid, I remember having to help my Dad with any project he was working on, from the lawnmower to the washing machine. I used to hate standing there handing him tools and sh*t. But now I actually appreciate what I learned. (Not a whole lot, he isn't the greatest handyman!)

In high school, I drove an 86 chevy nova then my dads 86 VW vanagon (w/ back seat that folded to a bed!!!). Thats when I realized I knew more than I thought. When you're young and broke, it's surprising what you can accomplish!

Im gonna check out some tech classes.

No thanks 4cefed...LOLNo dodge for me. Im trying to keep this old taurus going til I can afford my 240

Post by **jmillheiser** » Wed Jan 22, 2003 4:32 am

lets see. most of what i learned either from magazines, the internet, and mostly working on my vehicles.

ive been able to do mechanical work for awhile and am now getting more confident working on FI systems and electrical stuff (mostly from hooking up accessories and upgrading my audio system).

the only thing i wont mess with is trannies (too easy to **** up)

engines are all pretty similar and are really pretty simple once you know what does what.

Post by **BuudWeizErr** » Wed Jan 22, 2003 4:32 am

I learned by doing an SR20DET swap. Yes, thats right, aside from car stereos, that was my first underhood experience.

Post by **themadscientist** » Wed Jan 22, 2003 4:32 am

started taking things apart before I could walk, after a while I could put them back together. Not satisfied I started "improving" them. My first engine swap at the ripe age of 12 was forcing a 9-volt battery into a Stomper toy truck that used a AAs. Ran like stink for a couple of feet then torched the motor. Not much has changed. Having an Opel for a first car helped, nobody works on those so I had too!:mad:

Post by **YamaOni** » Wed Jan 22, 2003 4:32 am

The Mad master showed me the way:withstup

Post by **Sopdadope** » Wed Jan 22, 2003 4:32 am

DAEDALUS wrote: If you're going to be doing a lot of work, then my advice is that you can never have too many tools, and to go ahead any buy the $250 Craftsman tool set rather than run to Sears everytime you need a $7 socket.

Very true indeed. Living in an apt sucks, I have no place to work on my car. I've practically been living at my mechanic's shop for the past month or so. I also got a great deal on a Snapon tool set (20% discount because ex-gf worked for Snapon).

I really have a lot to thank NICO for. Back in '97 when I was still just a freshman in HS and started lurking around the Yahoo Infiniti club, I never laid my hands on a wrench. Heck, I didn't even know how to do an oil change. Now, I do absolutely everything; anything from stereo wiring to fiberglass/carbon fiber body work to suspension conversion to TIG welding and fabbing.

The fact that the dealer charges an arm, leg and a firstborn quickly convinced me to head out to bookstores and crack open automotive books and magazines. Now, there's nothing I can't do.

how did you learn?

how did you learn?

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