best way to learn?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,028
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio Texas
best way to learn?
most of what i know about cars i learned from my brother in law when i was a teenager. i can do basic maintenance (tuneups, replace starter, water pumps, radiators, etc.) and have installed aftermarket ignitions and even done a top end rebuild (valve job). someday i'd like to build my own engine from scratch or do a complete rebuild but don't feel i have the know how to do it.
what's the best way to acquire the necessary skills (aside from becoming a full time mechanic)?
what's the best way to acquire the necessary skills (aside from becoming a full time mechanic)?
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,532
Likes: 4
From: Fairview Heights Illinois, near Saint Louis MO, STL C3 Shark
I rebuilt my first engine with my dad's watchful eye, but I've gotten lots of help from "rebuild a smallblock chevy" book I got at a garage sale. I've seen them at librarys too, or new ones in bookstores. They are really pretty good and have step by step procedures. If you've done a valve job, you'll have no problem rebuilding a complete engine. You've already done the hard part!
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 11,520
Likes: 13
From: CORVETTE 77 385 C.I. TEXAS
I spent my pre-teens wisely studing cars & auto. engineering. Read everything in several libraries, etc. Then it's do it.
Best to know procedure well before starting. A good way to start is to do a cam change. Then build an engine.
I couldn't wait to change the cam & a neighbor kid came over & seeing the engine all disassembled asked it I thought it would ever run again.
It runs tonight.
It ran great. It was my only car & had no one to call & no exp., just books. It was absolutely imperative!
You guys really have it wired w/ the Internet. Have seen some guys jump into things & use the Internet forums to bail them out.
Best to know procedure well before starting. A good way to start is to do a cam change. Then build an engine.
I couldn't wait to change the cam & a neighbor kid came over & seeing the engine all disassembled asked it I thought it would ever run again.
It runs tonight.
It ran great. It was my only car & had no one to call & no exp., just books. It was absolutely imperative!
You guys really have it wired w/ the Internet. Have seen some guys jump into things & use the Internet forums to bail them out.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 7,493
Likes: 1,502
From: Little Rock AR
Do what I did. Buy your first fixer-upper (AKA- "MONEY PIT") then pay a friend of a friend to get it running for you. Be sure to give him the money up front. Then you will get your car torn down for you by that "friend" plus all the education you will ever need on how to reasemble it all by yourself. 
Get a copy of David Vizard's book on how to rebuild your small block Chevy. Read it and have it handy with you as you go. I have a very worn copy in my library and it is about the best book out there on the subject. Keep asking questions here and you will learn a LOT.
-Mark.
Get a copy of David Vizard's book on how to rebuild your small block Chevy. Read it and have it handy with you as you go. I have a very worn copy in my library and it is about the best book out there on the subject. Keep asking questions here and you will learn a LOT.
-Mark.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,662
Likes: 8
From: Knoxville Tennessee
Check with your local vocational school to see if they offer classes. Some even allow you to use your engine in the class. They will walk you thru every step and the knowledge is invaluable. I wish that I could have done that. Uncle Sam taught me how to rebuild jet engines and I retrogressed back to piston engines later. It is a lot of fun and satisfaction doing your own mechenical work. The secret is having the right tools to do the job.
Bernie
Bernie
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,198
Likes: 2
From: Eastern Connecticut
A friend and I learned together on his motor. We both had good mechanical skills, and he thought I was the better mechanic, but I never rebuilt a motor either. He got the books and read them cover-to-cover a few times, then we dove right in. It's not rocket science, just careful attention to details. Joe