How'd you learn it?
How'd you learn it? 
03-27-2008, 09:27 PM
#3
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Its just a matter of getting over the "Im gonna mess something up hump" start off easy changing oil, fuel fiter, etc... The more you do the more comfort you will have for bigger things. I diddnt even change my own oil before I got my Camaro, now ive installed my own Lt's and the exhaust system and lots of other things up till now. You learn more and more every time you get into your car.
03-27-2008, 09:50 PM
#7
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Like said above "just do it." When **** breaks I do a little reading on here, then go attack the project. I bought my Z28 when I was 17 and basically only knew how to change the oil. I've learned a lot since then. I've done a clutch, headers, intake manifold, motor mounts, and tons more small crap. In the beginning pulling my trans to change a clutch/ slave cylinder would've seemed impossible, but from doing it myself and learning a ton in the process I am never intimidated by a job. I never have and never will pay to get my car worked on. (except for my duals because I cannot weld yet)
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03-27-2008, 09:50 PM
#8
Read and research mostly. I am 19 and did my cam swap, valvesprings, longtubes, converter, and pretty much everything thats done to my car, all on my own. Just dont be scared to ask questions and tear into it. Have confidence and go for it. I also work at a local speed shop where I learn more and more every day.
03-27-2008, 09:51 PM
#9
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I started by "helping" my older brother work on his cars when we both lived at home. He taught me the basics and he was the type of guy that could tear anything down and figture out how to put it back together. So I decided that if he could do it so could I. I won't lie, there were times it took me quite awhile to put the car back together but once you figure out how a car works you'll be surprised at how simple they really are.
03-27-2008, 09:53 PM
#10
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get ur learn on Read a tone of car mags. specifically Hot Rod, Car craft, Chevy Hi Performance. Mags like that are geared (pun intended) 
toward the amateur mechanic aka "grease monkeys". If you really want to learn alot read the tech Q and A in the back of those mags. Alot of it will go over your head at first but the more you read the more some of it will begin to make sense. The one drawback, is only classic American cars are shown, if you are really into the import scene that is. Although the first "hot rods" were flat head four bangers the predecessor of modern import power plants.
Don't get me wrong the other mags like Car and driver motor trend and the like are good but are more into driving stock cars and generally expect their readers will pay to have someone else to work on their car/perform mods. They are a good source to keep up with new technologies tho.
Another resource is the web. Ls1tech perfect example. People talk about what has worked for them and speculate what can work for you.
Like anything talk with people who know more than you and you will learn more. And don't be afraid to take a look inside your car. Buy the shop manual for your car and it shows you how to do basic maintenance for your car. Chilton’s manuals are a good resource too.
All else fails ask a question.
In time if you are really into it you'll be debating the volumetric efficiencies of the penta valve DOHC Ferrari V10 vs the mechanical sustainability of a OHV V8 or other such meaning less yet entertaining car guy cloud talk.
toward the amateur mechanic aka "grease monkeys". If you really want to learn alot read the tech Q and A in the back of those mags. Alot of it will go over your head at first but the more you read the more some of it will begin to make sense. The one drawback, is only classic American cars are shown, if you are really into the import scene that is. Although the first "hot rods" were flat head four bangers the predecessor of modern import power plants.Don't get me wrong the other mags like Car and driver motor trend and the like are good but are more into driving stock cars and generally expect their readers will pay to have someone else to work on their car/perform mods. They are a good source to keep up with new technologies tho.
Another resource is the web. Ls1tech perfect example. People talk about what has worked for them and speculate what can work for you.
Like anything talk with people who know more than you and you will learn more. And don't be afraid to take a look inside your car. Buy the shop manual for your car and it shows you how to do basic maintenance for your car. Chilton’s manuals are a good resource too.
All else fails ask a question.
In time if you are really into it you'll be debating the volumetric efficiencies of the penta valve DOHC Ferrari V10 vs the mechanical sustainability of a OHV V8 or other such meaning less yet entertaining car guy cloud talk.
03-27-2008, 09:53 PM
#11
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ya i feel the same way about this... when i first got my car, i didnt know **** about it... and not sayin i still do know everything about it, but it just helps to understand more about it when you actually tinker with it or just read up about it... i was afraid to work on my car till i just got the concept of its my car, and i dont care what others think of it besides me... and after i did the job of removing my whole steering column to replace the turn signal switch, everything else just seemed to be a whole lot easier because i just go at it stress free, and if something breaks or doesnt go the way i would like it to, its not the end of the world... and the money saved working on it myself can now go to new parts, or the ones i broke accidently along the way lol
03-27-2008, 09:55 PM
#12
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Alot of cars and truck are diffrent I've been working on junk for 10 years but when it came to my car I did alot of reserch when it was time to make it faster. Information Is a big help thier have been several times where I have found out stuff I could have done diffrently or better. Like brake jobs I've done 100's of them but thier are little things you can do to make it faster and prevent future problems. Using the right tool for the job the right products. But you learn buy doing it.
just want to show the different types of car mags 
03-27-2008, 10:48 PM
#15
Don't do complex projects on your daily driver. If you do mess up, you can find the info to correct it and do it right. Being "under the gun" to get your ride up and running cause you need to get to work tomorrow is not good. 
Just chipping away at it will help you learn a lot.
Just chipping away at it will help you learn a lot. 
03-27-2008, 11:09 PM
#18
Wow a thread in the "Newbie Tech" section without a single "read the stickies."
There are several ways to learn and most of them have been stated but hands on armed with some book knowledge is the best approach IMO. Also the stickies actually do have some useful info and links in them.
There are several ways to learn and most of them have been stated but hands on armed with some book knowledge is the best approach IMO. Also the stickies actually do have some useful info and links in them.
03-28-2008, 12:17 AM
#20
TECH Fanatic
My dad and some of my gearhead friends growing up. I guess I started working on cars because we drove alot of beaters and they were always breaking. After I got a job and some cash I was able to begin working on cars to make them cool and not just to fix them so I could get to work.