Car Knowledge and How You Got It

[XujinkoSky]

Topic. Can you tell me how you learned what you know now about cars in general (tune ups, mechanics, cars, specs, different engines, each individual part of a car, etc.). I was hoping for different approaches than my current one, which is going to sites that explain things like howstuffworks.com and various automobile forums and sites.

Thanks,
~Mike

[GTR2b]

First I was taught by my father who was a hot-rodder during the late 50's. Even before I got my driver's license, I restored a 1971 Ford Ranchero with the 256hp H.O. 302 and began learning how to drag race at Seattle Int'l Raceway. During that time, I learned about staging strategies, track conditions, tree reading and launch control, also ideal shift points. Once I had learned the basics, I began learning about suspension setups, engine tuning and basic fabrication. Then I started taking Automotive Vocational Classes which over the next 4 years learning more advanced concepts. While in school I worked at two Service Stations, a Ford Dealership's Service department near Seattle and finally an early tuner shop called "Super Shops" near Seattle in the late 90's.

I also began street racing in the cities around 1990. Loooong before it was cool to do so and there wasn't the law enforcement presence that you see today.

Over the last 15 years I have built a total of 5 cars myself and helped out on countless. Obviously this number would have been much higher but a 5 year stint in the Navy and an eroding interest in performing custom fabrication has put a big damper in many of my prospective projects. Also, for several years, I didn't have a place to work on one any more even if I wanted to.

Don't be thinking that the internet is the only source of information about cars... ever and here's why. When you have someone teaching you something in person, there is a lot of accountability there because if they are wrong, you will go back to them and tell them so. On the internet you can make a website that will say just about anything you want. Anominity breeds disshonesty so take most of what you read with a grain of salt. If you want to learn, go buy a toolbox and start wrenching with a good book to guide you. Or, the best and most obvious choice is to go to school.

Either way you chose... get off your computer and put your head under a hood.

[zzpza]

having something break and not having enought money to take it to a garage was how i started. now i just do it for fun or so i can spend the money elsewhere. if it's a PITA of a job, i don't mind paying a garage to do it.

[VQuick]

I just read the forums, rarely posting. Found almost everything I wanted to know. Hardly had to ask any questions. Try it.

[ZZII]

I just read magazines and have conversations with my friends. I went from not know the difference between a V6 and a V8 to just looking at an engine and know what's in it. Not to mention knowing several engine codes.

[jmrev]

ive read forums, magazines, video games, and friends, along with web search.

[EvoCrazy]

Well, what got me into cars, was seeing one person with a very clean modded Accord in my area. Thats when Fas And Furious came out, and I was interesteed in seeing what people were doing to there cars. So, one day I search it on the net, and slowly started getting into it.

I started learning little facts here and there, but I was learning from my RICER causin, who really doesnt know shit himself. I was learning all the wrong things, and if it wasnt for my friend I would have been a ricer.

Well, one day I come across a site called RPMmotoring.com, and lied to the to ask about sponsership, they asked me what I wanted to do to my car. He knew I was a kid then, and didnt know what I was talking about.
So, he told me to call him for any questions, and over the next year I would learn SO many things, I never thought I would know. I got out the FWD fad, and I started hating ricers.
He introduced me into drifting, (before it became bastardised like it is today) and well, I likied it.
So, now I get my info from magazines, internet, and mostly from him.
Hes very anti-rice, and he knows WAY more than I can even imagine.
But, latly for the past 3-4 months his site, and phones were down, and I cant get in touch with him. Check out the site at www.RPMmotoring.com.

[EvoCrazy]

Oh, BTW, that Supra in the backround is the first Supra in the US to have a REAL widebody from AB-Flug. When its done, it should have BIG HP.

[XujinkoSky]

Thanks guys. I appreciate the help. I've been petitioning my HS library to get more mechanical books in so I can read up on that and as for my HS goes, it doesn't have any mechanical class. I am thinking of either doing both a college and a vocational college to learn about cars or, if the college has the class, I will take that instead so when I -do- go to the USMC I won't be spending most of my time learning about cars and actually focusing on my USMC job, whatever that may be. But I have a long way to go, and as far as I am concerned, I have nothing but time and time is what it will take. That and patience, aswell as a loving brother who will teach me anything and everything he knows. He's been with me 110% of the way and I am greatful because without him and his Jetta 1.8 Turbo, I would have never been introduced into the import scene. SRS the game was also a huge contributer to my fancyness with Skylines, but I loved them even before that just not as much now.

Do you know any books, by name or author, that you know will help me with generals and specifics of cars that I can request the library to get? Right now all they have is Chilton's.

Danke,
~Mike

[EvoCrazy]

Well, there is a book my friend kept trying to get me to read. It teaches you about turbos, and he tells me it will help a lot. Dont know any though.

[RazorGTR]

My stepfather owned an auto repair shop and I worked there for a while full time and then part time. That got me the basics, but most I've picked up either working on my own cars, or hanging out with tuners and builders. People who would be considered experts with them.

[taranaki]

When I was a teenager [many moons ago] I leaned a lot from my father,who was a full time mechanic for a large fleet of cabsHe had a preference for Vauxhalls, but I was a BMC man...Yup,I owned Minis,1100's,1300's and even a Maxi. I briefly owned a Crayford-bodied Wolseley Estate[about 3 days actually,I got sold a pup there].
From there Iwent to Ford Cortinas and Capris, tinkering with an Essex powered Capri for drag racing until I grew out of it,and went for the severley tacky look of a 1980's customised Cortina with the obligatory Celica 5 speed gearbox conversion and mags and fluffy dice.....

I gave away my car obsession when I got married, not 20 years on,I'm just starting to pick little bits up again.Got to say though,theres much more to take into consideration with the newer cars.Glad I have a tame mechanic to hand when the going gets ugly.

[XujinkoSky]

Haha, seems like you all grew up with mechanics or friends that were mechanics. I've got only my brother who is a bartender and going to college for IT, so not a great deal of knowledge there about cars indepth. But I guess I will have to be the starting man in my family for cars and hopefully my sons/daughters will get into it aswell some day. For now, I'll stick with learning the basics in any way I can. Thanks a lot guys, you've given me great options. I truly appreciate it.

~Mike

[Amril]

Well me I played NFS Underground and wanted to learn more about how they all worked rather than Stage 1 engine kit and +5 horsepower for putting the greddy sticker on :P. So I searched the net and am building up knowledge and I'm currently learning to drive (man the clutch can be a b***h when your learning).

[XujinkoSky]

Hahahah Amril, I hear ya. Sticks are hard to learn at first, but it is easy when it comes down to it. Just remember to let go of the clutch a bit faster on inclines and give more gas... I kinda peeled out on that one while my brother was teaching me how, lol. What started to get me into cars and engines was Street Racing Syndicate. They did the import scene very well in the game, though, even if a 1.9s 0-60 skyline isn't possible, it was a good game either way.