When it comes to cars what can you do / have you done.

[fangsport]

there's bugger all i won't have a crack at, poverty is a great inspiration

essentially done the full build on the rally car including lightweight loom, built engine/diff, cut and fitted rollcage (wouldn't trust my welding there!!), shortened front end by 8", do most of my own paint/panel (it's only a rally car ).

i would have liked to have been trained in aspects of mechanical/engineering, but teaching yourself does has some rewards after the frustrations.

[DRFTIN]

i'm good at trying to do things and messing them up
with a bit of help i've pulled the motor out of my car twice, and just pulled most of it apart. work are re building it for me though, i could make it up like i usually do but dont really want to pay for any major broken bits
have changed over suspension and brake parts successfully so there are some things i can do

[FXGT]

I'm between Basic and Standard... but i picked Basic.

[vvega]

there's bugger all i won't have a crack at, poverty is a great inspiration

words to live by

[GGnz]

Have a guess...

I put Basic and Standard..
Own Stereo, Brake Pads, Filters, Oil Changes, Boost Controllers etc etc

Im the same except Brake pads. Have an idea how but would probably $&#$% it up.

[EVL20V]

removed and installed replacement engine in old lancer RWD with mate.



removed a couple gearboxes (1 FWD, 1 RWD - morris au! )
helpd rebuild a gearbox - the one i #@$@#$!
removing manifolds/replacing new gaskets etc
servicing - oil changes/filters/leads blah blah
car audio
random electrical - airhorns/looms/radars/lights
interior install/removal
body work/prep .know how to do paint, but only have 95% tools required
can remove a tyre from a rim

if only i had a decent welder i could rangi up a few zorsts

gud day.

[Ae92typeX]

yea, done the lot at one time or another...still more to learn, but then again theres plenty of paid mechanics out there whom I know the same can be said for.
biggist limiter is $$$- I cant afford machines like alignment tools and such...although you can do a basic alignment with string, screws, wood and a bottle! ...go the old school

[Punter]

...although you can do a basic alignment with string, screws, wood and a bottle! ...go the old school

Yea i've done the same, string wood and chalk.

[fangsport]

...although you can do a basic alignment with string, screws, wood and a bottle! ...go the old school

Yea i've done the same, string wood and chalk.

plenty of sawdust on the multi-purpose workshop foor does the same trick

[AE91Sprinter]

second last would be me, but i dont really consider myself there with newer cars - old car engine/gearbox installs are a piece of piss, if you've got half a brain, a hoist, a manual and a decent toolkit you can do near on anything. I rebuilt my first car before i knew how to drive (rwd mazda 1.5) - and my short stint in motorbikes started the same way with a 50$ bike being rebuilt.

Im finding EFI etc to be a fair bit more of a challenge though. Just replaced the CV's on my sprinter the other day, that was an interesting experience - and messy. If i can get my hands dirty, I'll do it - learning experiences are always useful.

the search function on this site is crazy, no matter what i search for it comes up with the same threads!

[darkmyst]

I think it takes a good 10 or so years to know everything about cars...

Like my dad, hes been working on them all his life nearlly and he still gets confused sometimes.

[Malcolm]

I think it takes a good 10 or so years to know everything about cars...

everything?

heard a great saying a few years ago, that I definitely think fits well in this situation:

"When I started my degree I thought I was pretty smart
After my first year I thought I must just about know everything
By the end I finally learned enough to realise just how little I know"

...or something - but you get the drift.

When I was 16-17ish I thought I knew just about everything about cars, and now I realise I don't know sh*t

[Silent Knight]

When I was 16-17ish I thought I knew just about everything about cars, and now I realise I don't know sh*t

Your 'Sh*t' knowledge about cars surpases mine by easily more than 10 fold. What does that say about my knowledge?

[Malcolm]

maybe it just says I'm better at bluffing/faking knowledge?

[Silent Knight]

maybe it just says I'm better at bluffing/faking knowledge?

Ok I'll go with that one since it makes me allot smarter!!

[Ako]

Its like my Dad says to me when he comes round to fix my fck ups - "Having a little bit of knowledge can be a more dangerous thing than having none at all"

Its that little bit of knowledge which persuades us monkeys it really is a good idea to pull apart that gearbox/engine/turbo... Then go "uh oh" once you're looking dumbfounded at the pile of parts in front of you

Course, you come out of it now knowing that thing you didn't know before, so ya get there in the end

[XERO]

Im going with standard installer, because i know how to do my own sounds, but then again ive helped pleanty of mates doing engine swaps... oh yeah and i can weld up a front end for a super saloon? plus been doing the whole speedway stockcar thing, so i can change an engine in a stock car or a midget and the such... there easy as to do anyhows... there made to come straight out

[101_fun]

Between cheque book and basic...on my way to being basic anyway.

Having wasted most of my life before discovering the joys of cars, I know sadly not much about doing my own maintenance and modding.

I am trying to learn what I can on my own though, and i'm hoping I might meet someone to learn off....in christchurch......with their own workshop and tools....and has access to cheap parts....and has a lot of patience...

*ahem*

[peas]

I do most things myself. If I don't know how I just give it a go anyway. Currently have done, brakes and all usual servicing bits, turbo replacements, suspension replacements, various bits and pieces like clutch hydraulics.
ICE is a piece of piss for me... going back to my first car and the crude attempt at door pods and parcel trays... looked good enough for someone to steal
About to embark on the turbo conversion of the GZE, just buying up all the necessaries... that may be a learning curve

[touge rolla]

i voted standard but am becoming an engine swapper/gearbox changer/clutch. but haven't finished doing it yet