Quick question to all who do their own work on their car
08-27-2010, 03:24 PM
#1
Quick question to all who do their own work on their car Does anyone else absolutely hate some aspects of installs even with friends, and then later on talk to your friends and mention how much of a fun time it was? Me and a buddy of mine tackled a longtube install as our first venture into the modification world and we literally complained the whole way! Now that we talk about it we just laugh at how much fun it was.
Just wondering if anyone else had similar scenarios, feel free to post them.
Thanks
Justin
Just wondering if anyone else had similar scenarios, feel free to post them.
Thanks
Justin
08-27-2010, 03:42 PM
#2
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I did nothing but cuss, scream, bitch and cry when I replaced my stock motor mounts with poly's... I remember saying to myself every time my wrench slipped off a bolt I'd gladly pay $1000 for someone else to do it. But now that I'm done and not sore anymore I can say, "ya it was hard work, but it was worth it." I definitely feel a sense of accomplishment, and that in itself made it worth the trouble.
08-27-2010, 04:18 PM
#5
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I generally swear quite a bit during installs, as something unexpected usually comes up during the process. I'm always happy I did it afterwords, though. Plus, I'm too cheap to pay someone else to work on my car if I don't have to.
08-27-2010, 05:03 PM
#6
I will NEVER pay someone my hard earned money to do something that I am fully capable of doing myself.
The only things I ever pay someone else for are things that I don't have tools for, (i.e. alignments, weld work, engine machine work, paint, etc... )
And I used to cuss, and throw a fit while working on cars, but I've since learned to chill and take a break when I start to get pissed and come back to it later, it's cheaper that way lol, and 9 times out of 10 the **** that was impossible before just falls into place when you are calm with it, I can't explain it, frustration does weird ****.
The only things I ever pay someone else for are things that I don't have tools for, (i.e. alignments, weld work, engine machine work, paint, etc... )
And I used to cuss, and throw a fit while working on cars, but I've since learned to chill and take a break when I start to get pissed and come back to it later, it's cheaper that way lol, and 9 times out of 10 the **** that was impossible before just falls into place when you are calm with it, I can't explain it, frustration does weird ****.
Last edited by 98RedBird; 08-27-2010 at 05:08 PM.
08-27-2010, 05:15 PM
#7
I think most people starting out will hate it until they finish. Working on a car is a big deal. The pressure of "if you **** this up, what do you drive?" is a lot to overcome when you start pulling parts. Having a backup vehicle has helped me. It seems like no matter what I work on, it takes twice as long as a normal person can do it. It took me around 6-7 hours to change my water pump on my '94 Blazer last weekend. I hated every minute of it, and just when I thought I was done, the cheap paper gasket leaked, so I had to strip it out again. Ultimately, when it was done (and leak free), I felt really good about it. That is just the most recent of several fix-it stories for me. I'm sure my header/catback/intake install on my car will take well over a week at my pace, but I will be very happy when it is all finished and running again.
You just have to determine if the frustration is worth it. For me, it is. The sense of accomplishment and the extra money in my bank account make all the time worth it.
You just have to determine if the frustration is worth it. For me, it is. The sense of accomplishment and the extra money in my bank account make all the time worth it.
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08-27-2010, 06:03 PM
#9
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ALL THE TIME! but dread ever getting back and doing it again. Especially when something really effed up happened the first time around. But miss it just the same..weird eh?
08-27-2010, 08:29 PM
#10
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Now that I have 3 vehicles, I don't stress! I just crack a beer! Then come back another day. But I'll be damned if I'm going to pay someone else to work on my car! Except like mentioned above for certain things. But if I could have access to a alignment computer, I'd do that too!
08-27-2010, 08:47 PM
#11
I have done every single mod myself except for a tune, and im just a kid haha. And like mentioned before, there is no way im going to pay a penny to someone when i can do it myself for free. Not only is it free but its a learning experience, and fun. Learning this kind of stuff can get you out of a bind in the future if your out of money, ect, and need something done to your vehicles.
08-27-2010, 09:49 PM
#12
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Stress? 2 weeks dealing with my stupid drls'.
Oh well, it's stressfull and relaxing at the same time.
What's sad is, when you're done with either a lengthy mod/repair; you hardly take notice to the hard work and end result. You're just happy to be done with it. At least that's how it is with me.
Oh well, it's stressfull and relaxing at the same time.
What's sad is, when you're done with either a lengthy mod/repair; you hardly take notice to the hard work and end result. You're just happy to be done with it. At least that's how it is with me.
08-27-2010, 11:14 PM
#14
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workin on your own car can be a real PITA some times. but when you look at how much a shop would charge you to do the same work compared to the knowledge you gained, it's well worth the effort. i'd rather have some scraped knuckles than have to pay out 500+ dollars to a shop that did some work that i was more than capable of doing myself
08-27-2010, 11:48 PM
#15
My neighbors have found out it's a good idea to stay inside when I'm working on something that wants to be contrary. If I had a lift, they might be able to venture out occasionally - I hate jacking the Trans Am up because it's such a pain in the ***.
I work on my vehicles for two reasons: I like wrenching, and I don't trust most shops not to fubar even the most simple things. Some shop monkey screws my car up, and all it is to him is a manager (maybe) giving him a half-hearted ***-chewing, and that's it, compared to the **** I have to deal with fixing his bumblefucked mistake.
I work on my vehicles for two reasons: I like wrenching, and I don't trust most shops not to fubar even the most simple things. Some shop monkey screws my car up, and all it is to him is a manager (maybe) giving him a half-hearted ***-chewing, and that's it, compared to the **** I have to deal with fixing his bumblefucked mistake.
08-28-2010, 02:07 PM
#19
I think most people starting out will hate it until they finish. Working on a car is a big deal. The pressure of "if you **** this up, what do you drive?" is a lot to overcome when you start pulling parts. Having a backup vehicle has helped me. It seems like no matter what I work on, it takes twice as long as a normal person can do it. It took me around 6-7 hours to change my water pump on my '94 Blazer last weekend. I hated every minute of it, and just when I thought I was done, the cheap paper gasket leaked, so I had to strip it out again. Ultimately, when it was done (and leak free), I felt really good about it. That is just the most recent of several fix-it stories for me. I'm sure my header/catback/intake install on my car will take well over a week at my pace, but I will be very happy when it is all finished and running again.
You just have to determine if the frustration is worth it. For me, it is. The sense of accomplishment and the extra money in my bank account make all the time worth it.
You just have to determine if the frustration is worth it. For me, it is. The sense of accomplishment and the extra money in my bank account make all the time worth it.
