Learning about cars

How hard is it to learn about an engine and how things work and what they are called in a car? I got a book from the library called auto mechanic fundamentals. Its a great book, and so far I've learned about pistons,piston pins,connecting rods,main bearings,cylinders,blocks,cylinder heads, valve ports,fly wheels,and a few other things. So far, im only on page 10 and im kind of intimidated. There are 569 pages in the book and well, i'm just wondering if you guys who restore your cars know all these things. Do you guys know every piece of an engine or do u guys kind of wing it? Thanx for any replies - Andrew

well the reason i remeber alot about cars is i grew up learning about them. my father would show me what his is doing when he is working on his truck. my friends and i kinda learned from each other. basically what im saying find someone who has the same intrest and learn from them. im not sure if your the same as me but i learn alot more when im doing hands on. i can read all i want but until i accually do the work i will be alittle timid. trust me its really not all that hard if you learn on an older car because every thing is basic. then if you want learn about newer cars. they are the same butthe newer cars are more electronic. well have fun and good luck. chris

Here's what you do, if your truly interested in restoring cars or engines(some of the best techs i know started this way). Go out and find anything with an engine, or just aquire an engine. Get tools; Strip the engine down piece by piece, and either use common sense and try to figure out what it does or look it up, or take it to someone who would know. Continue this until you've got the entire engine stripped down. Scramble up all the bolts and components and put it back together. The best engines to work with are the older V8's(you might also want to get a service manual for that engine for specs) And remember, most components will need to be torqued down with a torque wrench, so make sure you get one. Make sure that when you disassemble, to thoroughly study the component and how it was placed and note anythign unusual about it you dont understand. This is the best way to learn yourself about engines if you have the time and money.

Cool, thanx guys.

You definitely will never understand an engine until you take it apart (and hopefully put it back together again). Nothing beats experience and common sense. Of course, a good book and some decent tools sure help.

Right now I'm taking my go kart engine apart. So far I have removed the carberator and cleans it and removed the spark plug and cylinder head. :biggrin: I feel great. This is my first step to a REAL engine, and I cant wait till I get one to work on.

It's great isn't it. Whatever you do though, do not disassemble the carburetor yet, those are pretty tricky if you get them all apart and dont know what your doing.

Thanx for the tip.

this is kinda off topic, but i also know nothing about building engines, although im lookin forward to building a 454 soon, should i buy a big block and dissassemble it and put it back together? if i can find one cheap enough

I would if I were you, it will give you something to practise on before u take on the real thing and you'll know what to expect when u do the important engine.

That's true. Keep in mind also that big blocks are a lot more expensive to build than a small block.

How hard is it to learn about an engine and how things work and what they are called in a car?

There is quite a lot to know and anyone who says it is easy or intiutive has probably learned it so long ago that they forget how much is involved.

They assume that everyone will just know to ream the ridge at the top of the cylinder when rebuilding an engine or that cylinder walls should not be polished to a smooth mirror-like shine.

If you do not already know these things then it might be a good idea to find an advisor. There are plenty of knowledgeable people at auto clubs and the like. Maybe they could give a few pointers especially if you offer to help them for free.

Whatever you do DO NOT try to rebuild any automobile engine without knowing EXACTLY what you are doing. One little mistake in the bottom end can turn it into a smoking pile of poop. The cost of even the cheapest replacment will make the lesson too expensive. Better to wreck a lawn mower engine first. This can easily be done by using only the book.

I'm interested in learning about engines too. Since I'm not planning on getting my car for over a year I'm planning on learning. Next year I'm taking autoshop but I want to learn stuff before then. Right now I have this great book called "how cars work" it has really basic descriptions of waht everything does, and at the end of each section a quiz. I've learned a lot from this but I really want some hands on stuff. What can I get for not very much money to tinker around with (something with an engine....?)

Edit: Would a gokart/minibike engine work? I just found some really cheap on ebay...

There is quite a lot to know and anyone who says it is easy or intiutive has probably learned it so long ago that they forget how much is involved.

They assume that everyone will just know to ream the ridge at the top of the cylinder when rebuilding an engine or that cylinder walls should not be polished to a smooth mirror-like shine.

If you do not already know these things then it might be a good idea to find an advisor. There are plenty of knowledgeable people at auto clubs and the like. Maybe they could give a few pointers especially if you offer to help them for free.

Whatever you do DO NOT try to rebuild any automobile engine without knowing EXACTLY what you are doing. One little mistake in the bottom end can turn it into a smoking pile of poop. The cost of even the cheapest replacment will make the lesson too expensive. Better to wreck a lawn mower engine first. This can easily be done by using only the book.

I dont think he's looking into learning how to do machining work at the moment, you can learn about an engine without having to learn machine work to. That's in a whole other ball park. He can learn the basics for now, and learn how to machine another time, a lot of people should just start with something simple.

I'm interested in learning about engines too. Since I'm not planning on getting my car for over a year I'm planning on learning. Next year I'm taking autoshop but I want to learn stuff before then. Right now I have this great book called "how cars work" it has really basic descriptions of waht everything does, and at the end of each section a quiz. I've learned a lot from this but I really want some hands on stuff. What can I get for not very much money to tinker around with (something with an engine....?)

Edit: Would a gokart/minibike engine work? I just found some really cheap on ebay...

Anything you can get your hands on. Except a Diesel, those operate differently than regular gasoline engines(i.e. No spark plugs)

We are talking about several different concepts here. I encorage anyone who is interested to read, ask questions, and just get your hands dirty. The "nuts and bolts" about automotives is a fun and rewarding hobby.

The other side of automotives is the serious mechanic or performance enthusiast who whats to achieve the maximum potential from their vehicle. This is a science and an art which take year of experience and education to master.

Anyone can rebuild an engine and get it running, that is a rewarding experience, but to get an engine that delivers maximum HP, reliably for many miles does takes the precision of a surgeon. I have been in the trade for over 25 years, I encourage anyone with an interst to have fun and try to fix your own car, take some course like automotive in school is a great way to begin, but like any profession or skill it takes hard work to become knowledgable and competent.

Anyone can rebuild an engine and get it running,...

By "anyone" do you mean anyone like in somebody's grandmother or do you mean anyone with a grasp of basic mechanics.

Learning to fix a motor can no more be done by book alone then learning to drive by book alone. Neither will give acceptable results.

A true beginner needs access to a real human advisor to learn the fundamentals. Without that "priming" a disaster is sure to follow.

A holey block is an expensive thing.

Methinks Volvord forgets how much he has learned over the decades. Much of what mechanics' call common sense actually only comes from much experience.

Let me give an actual example. My nephew and his friends play paintball and together they decided that polishing the cylinders of their markers would give smoother operation. This is "common sense" to them. What actually happened was that they went from replacing the "O" rings every season to replacing them every day.

My uncle (a mechanic of thirty years) set the idle speed of my '62 Parisienne's 283 2bbl by ear. When I checked it with a tach it was bang on. That don't come from no book.

Nope, I still say the beginner needs a mentor to start with.