[59elcooldsuv]

I learned most of the basics by watching/helping my Dad. He was a "survival" mechanic, meaning that he HAD to fix the car to go to work on Monday - couldn't afford to pay someone to do it.

After that, I read every tech article in every car magazine I could get my hands on. I also had a greater Auto Mech teacher in High School. He had a home-built 34 Ford Coupe street rod (that he started when he was your age) and he made sure we understood basics that apply to all engines. I ran into him at a state-wide rod run a few years ago. He's still driving the same coupe.

Another of the things that helped me was that I always enjoyed reading the Chilton's manual. I know that sounds goofy, but if you're really interested in cars it can be entertaining just to go thru it and look at all the diagrams, charts, read the captions, etc. Visit a swap meet, find the guys selling old books & magazines and ask for OLD Chilton manuals. The new ones aren't nearly detailed enough.

Look for books like Holley's "How to Repair & Tune Holley Carbs" - you'll learn a lot about WHY a carb needs this or that.

One of my favorite magazines for tech was Circle Track. I don't know if Smokey Yunick is still writing for them, he's gettin pretty old, but I'll bet Herb Adams is. Smokey is like a 'god' to racing engine-builders and Herb is an expert on chassis design.