Where did you learn what you know?

Hey all, I was just wondering where you all learned about engines and exhuast and the crazy stuff I don't understand.

Did you go to a tech school?
Books?
Friends?

AUTOMOTIVE FORUMS?!?!

To paraphrase Thomas Edison...."trying a hundred things, and finding 99 that didn't work" and spending countless hours at the local library, or in the garage, or on the internet, and hanging out with "car people". But most of all, from my Dad. He is responsible for raising me as a car nut, teaching me everything he knew, and encouraging me to learn even more.

Hmm most of those I can do. Library and internet. Good ideas!

Too bad my dad is not at all into cars or home improvement. He's a scholar, but that's okay. He's one of my absolute best friends... And he's very supportive.

This is one of those threads that sort of pops from time to time, I think Iv provided an answer to at least 3 already.

However,

I started working on my own cars because I couldn't afford to pay anyone else to do it.
Then I got a stint as service crew for a customers rally car, then started hanging out at a customers work shop, did some work for him, and even joined a car club.
I have no technical training, or other formal mechanical training though.

Hmm a car club! That's a good idea. I'm gunna look into one. Man there really aren't enough hours in the day.
Chill out time
Internet time
Reading time
Japanese study time
Car stuff time
Godamn!
Kay thank you!!!

All I know about cars I've learned from NewyorkKopter.

Is neworkcopter a member here? A magazine?

Hey all, I was just wondering where you all learned about engines and exhuast and the crazy stuff I don't understand.

Did you go to a tech school?
Books?
Friends?

AUTOMOTIVE FORUMS?!?!

Well I have 50 years at the school of hard knocks.
Watching others and talking to others a good repair manual will help a lot.
But do not believe everything you hear let about half just go out the other ear.
MT

I grew up in my grandpa's shop and hung aroung car crazy people all my life. Then went to tech school. Well, still in tech school..

Thanks dude. Ill keep that in mind during my begginer phases and beyond!

Did you go to a tech school?
Books?
Friends?

AUTOMOTIVE FORUMS?!?!

Yes.

I'm an equal oppurtinity type guy. Why limit yourself to just one area?

My first car was an AMC, within two weeks I knew what ever part was, as I would have to replace them on daily basis ;).

Dont know much right now, but I'm planning on going to UTI, and the local tech school. Also Dylan, try www.howstuffworks.com for a lot of info on engines and such.

My first car was an AMC, within two weeks I knew what ever part was, as I would have to replace them on daily basis ;).

HAHAHAH!!!! Thats great... sorry about that though. I 'inherit" the orange element when I'm 18! I can't wait!

It seems like me and G-man are on the same path,but anyway I helped out my cousin on his racecar(asphalt late model)...and I got some car buddies and im going to an auto mechanics during school,plan on attending UTI and www.howstuffworks.com I like

Hey Lancaster, my least favorite place... Haha... Oh Pennsyltucky. Howstuffworks is awesome! I like it!

find a local shop, it was easy for me... one was right around the corner, and even if I do a lot of oil changes, and a lot of tires, I also get to help out with brakes, alignments, engine problems and so on. Just find somewhere to work and soak in as much knowledge as you can. I've learned so much more than I could have ever imagined.
Chris

There's nothing like experience...

Hey Chris, thanks foryour repky.

How old are you? 'Cus I'm only 14 so that plays into the apprenticeship.(Sp) I just asked my mom and she said there is an independantly owned shop about a 2 minute bike ride from my house. I'm gunna see if they would tech me some stuff. I never really thought of "Jones Automotive."(Car place near me)

Thanks Chris! Ill keep you all posted on how it turns out. I'm crossing my fingers allready haha!

I'm 18 and the 2 minute bike ride is what I do every day. Its truly worth going there, even if you don't make a lot, knowledge is priceless. That sounded like something that would come out of a fortune cookie, but its true. Unfortunatly my shop wouldn't allow me to get a job there till I had my license, so that held me back. But now that I do its great, when I finish up the cars that I get, I just go up to the guys and ask if I can watch, and 8 out of 10 times, they will not just let me watch but they'll tell me to actually do the work with them. Good luck with the job and I wish you the best.
Chris

My dad is a gear head and worked on his own cars as long as he had the tools. Since I could walk and recognize what each tool was I was fetching them for him when he worked on his cars. He taught me a lot about cars and is the reason it is my number one hobby. After that I kept learning by reading books, talking with people who knew more than me, talking on various car forums, and I've actually learned a lot reading Sport Compact Car.

Thanks Chris!I can't wait until I get back to go talk to Jones.

Polygon, could you suggest me some books please? Someone suggested "car hacks and mods for dummies" and I was gunna pick that up today. I used to really be into cars about a year ago and took a break(wet through a lot of shit for a kid... That's all u need to know) anyhow but I learned what little I know right now from Super Street magazine. It focuses a lot on drifting and Japanese street stuff. That's where my interests lie mainly.

I would get a subscription to Sport Compact Car. They have technical articles that are just amazing. Lately they have the making it stick series which is all about the cassis and suspension. I have learned a lot of things I didn't know about the suspension. As for books, here are a couple I like:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0837601436/sr=1-21/qid=1156528930/ref=sr_1_21/104-4196493-6651910?ie=UTF8&s=books

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0837601606/sr=1-1/qid=1156529772/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-4196493-6651910?ie=UTF8&s=books

Thanks polygon. I will check out Sport Compact. I bought an issue of Super Street today. I really like it. I used to read like the bible about a year ago. Its 24 issues for 30 bucks... I think I'm gunna take the plunge. I'm gunna check out those books right now!

Thanks
-Dylan

I learned everything from Automotive forums.

I got most of my knowledge online and from a few friends. the friends didn't really give much good info, good for beginners, then once i learned more i noticed it was complete bs lol.

I've learned most of what i know from here and howstuffworks.com. Most of the really technical stuff, however, i'll learn from university. I'm in electrical engineering at carleton university for now, trying to switch to mechanical (long story but my advice is apply to the course you really want in every university that you apply to, it might come back to bite you in the ass) and if i get stuck in electrical i'll just spend the extra 2 years and get my mechanical engineering degree after my electrical.

Wow 534BC, everything from AF. That's good to know actually. AF is now on my toolbar. This place is awesome!!!!!!!!

How do you go about putting it on your toolbar ?

i think he meant to say bookmarked

Nope, toolbar. If you do not have firefox I HIGHLY RECOMEND(sp) getting it right now. Once you get that heres what you do. Find the page you want to save and as opposed to "Bookmarks" click it and a list will appear. Click "bookmarks tollbar" and BAM!

simple as that.

Nope, toolbar. If you do not have firefox I HIGHLY RECOMEND(sp) getting it right now. Once you get that heres what you do. Find the page you want to save and as opposed to "Bookmarks" click it and a list will appear. Click "bookmarks tollbar" and BAM!

simple as that.

O cool, thats how :)

many thanks

I only use firefox, unlike IE which is hacker-friendly.. I also have AF "search new posts" in my tool bar.

O cool, thats how :)

many thanks

Anytime dude!

FireFox is the way to go!

Wow 534BC, everything from AF. That's good to know actually. AF is now on my toolbar. This place is awesome!!!!!!!!

It was a joke, should've put a smiley, :grinyes: :lol: I learned out of necessity. Something broke, figure out how to fix it any way you can.

i learned at eleven when my dad said heres a car and tools have fun
1969 chevelle ss

I grew up with restoring old tractors with my dad on the farm. My first project was replacing the clutch in a 4020 John Deere like this:

http://www.greencollectors.com/dbs/forty-twenty/images/gallery/ACF1DC.jpg

To get to the clutch you have to split the tractor in two (since the entire transmission/rear axle is one large casting bolted directly to the block/frame) and roll the two parts away from each other. I think I was about 8 when I tackled that one with Dad's help.

We also did normal maintenance on our vehicles over the years ranging from an IH scout, multiple farm pickups from 69 to 78, a few olds and pontiacs, and some AMCs, motorcycles, and snowmobiles. Once in College I bought a 66 Bonneville that looked like this:

http://www.curtisandkim.com/bonny16Eoak2.jpg

I had the 389 rebuilt, but I quickly swapped on some 6X heads, an Edelbrock P4B intake, and a junkyard Edelbrock carb. Now it looks like this:

http://www.curtisandkim.com/nakedbonny1.jpg

It make look like a pile of junk, but its ready for the dip tank. Notice the 8-lug wheels front and rear. Also take note of the modified engine mounts that hold a nice Caddy 500 I built up. The front has spindles and brakes from a 1-ton truck, and the rear axle is a 14-bolt from a Frito Lay panel van. Big plans for this one. In between I fill my time with the other projects (both completed and ongoing) that can be found at www.curtisandkim.com/cars.htm (http://www.curtisandkim.com/cars.htm)

I learned almost all of what I know by riding the shoulders of fine folks like you who contribute to forums and writing tech articles for the net. I've read many automotive engineering textbooks and remember little bits from each one :). Plenty of my knowledge has come from trial and error, but I love reading magazines, surfing forums, and FAQs. I've never had any formal training other than a 4H tractor course when I was about 8. I just love anything with an engine. :screwy:

tech school, lots of reading, books, shop mags, scc and turbo, and experiance, which i only have about 4 years in the field, but i was promoted to asst manager within 1 year. now i just reeally choose what i work on. it's nice.
drew

I started learning when I enlisted as a mechanic in the US Army, then in 2000 I got on AF and started debating/arguing with people much smarter than me and I have been learing ever since. :grinyes: I got a great education and all it cost me is having to create 24 new screen names (some of those smarter people were mods LOL) Oh one more thing I have to give some credit to the book Engineer to Win by Carrol Smith. It is the second greatest written creation in human history and I recomend it to every gearhead.

forums and the internet are an awesome and free way to start learning. then start working on your car. start out with shock/spring install, oil change and simple stuff like that. thats what i am doing, and its working pretty well.

I learned everything I know watching cable T.V. :rofl: