Your Mechanical knowledge/skill, what can you do, how have you improved?

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starletsam

Member +
i did a year of mechanics at college but tbh pretty much mucked around all year and didnt think i'd learnt alot..at the time if asked a question i would struggle to answer but using this site helped me loads to bring all the info to the surface.its in my head just sometimes takes a clue to bring it back now and the guides on here help massively done pretty much everything to my car apart from remove an engine now lol would happily try anything on my car.i enjoy working on my car i just dont like the price for parts lol
 
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CTR_Timmy

Member +
In the past I have always paid mechanics to undertake fitting mods but in 2009 I decided that i wanted to be able to build a track ready classic car. Now thanks to IMP owners club/Haynes Manual/Auotworks I have managed to fit lowering springs, change head gasket and remove piston. Not alot in some peoples mind but for me this is a huge step as i am not mechanically minded at all. I am hoping 2011 I will have my engine completly rebuilt, rear suspension sorted, front disc conversion finished (all that remains is fitting hoses) and car ready for painting.
 
Rob H

Rob H

Member +
I moved into the house next door to my dads garage when I was 4 years old at the time we had a haulage company with 12 tipper trucks it all started from there for me. we got shut of the last truck in about 1987 after the miners strike killed the job! then we started a engineering company making HGV recovery trucks for some bus dismantlers we know that was a good job my dad enjoyed doing but still trying to get them to pay was hard work! then we started with cars. MOTs,servicing,engine overhauls every thing you can do with cars! at this point I was around 10 years old! we have photos and stuff of me at around 6yrs removing prop-shafts from tipper trucks! I went to collage doing mechanics for 2 years after school and was told by the collage I was wasting my time as I was passing the corse with 100% marks and I was telling them stuff and two of the lecturers where there when my dad was at collage! so they knew where I had come from! from there I worked for a bus company for 4 years as a mechanic during this time got my starlet! and bolted a turbo onto the 4efe and a greddy emb! moved from that job to a car transporter company then came the 4efte engine swaps for my car and fastphils car. also my first shot at drag racing with my blitz K24 turboed 4efte. moved from that job after 2 years and whent to Volvo truck and bus and been there ever since 7 years that is!
so in the end I am 30 on boxing day and I lived at the garage till I was 26 and I still only live 200 yards away!

In that time there aint much I havent don!!
 
danb87

danb87

South East England Area Rep
i have this forum too thanks, ive always been very cautious with previous cars. an since owning my starlet, an being a member on here. using all the relevant threads, an info on things that i needed done. has helped me learn alot about these cars. an giving me a basic knowledge of the mechanical side of things all round.

i went from over filling my oil on a car 5 years ago, an now i can replace brakes, service my car, check compression, me an a mechanic friend replaced head gasket, basically rebuild the engine. And its great too have a forum like this too help with it all an so many helpful members too also assist with things.

so thanks too all the people working too keep this site going. good jobs lads have a good xmas aswell.
 
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Wuldo

Fresh Recruit
i came out of school thinking i knew a lot about cars and mechanics got a apprenticeship as a mechanical engineer
found out i knew fuck all
learned theory shit
realised it was fuck all like that when you actually do the job
learned most from my tradesman
the rest i picked up off kind people on forums like this and getting my tools and getting stuck in about it
after all (and i'll be the first to tell anyone this)
you learn by being tought but you learn even better when you make a mistake
my advice
listen to what people tell you, plan what ur going to do and then just go for it you only learn from experience :)
 
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conalmcn

Member +
few years ago i made my dad do everything for me as he was a really good mechanic, but when i got to about 18 i really wanted to learn stuff for myself, have now changed 306 engines, lowered ep3 ctr's, 306s, saxos, boras, changed gearboxes in my ep3 and a few d turbos. glanza is really easy worked on being so small. Next challenge is stripping my ep3 of the supercharger and manifold and taking the engine out, rebuilding it and then putting it back together. should be fun :)
 
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Glanza D

Member +
From my dad, as far back as i can remember he has been banger racing (no more :( ) so would often put diff engines in things just for the next race etc, sierra rear beam and pinto engine in cavaliers etc, putting radiators in boot .... etc

Didnt really start playing till i was 14-15 though and git into bikes/karts etc

then abit of a gap when i got into girls for a year or 2, turned 17 got my test and vauxhalls were my passion, change a nova engine in under 3 hours taking it steady now haha

now theres not alot i wont try :)
 
The_Notorious_C_A_T

The_Notorious_C_A_T

Lifer
Like most I just give it a chance really. Learned a lot from associates in the trade as well I guess. But forum knowledge is a big part of the learning process. I have never had any trainging, although I wouldn't say I'm knowledgable at all either.

My way of doing things is read up about it, have a bash, break something. Learn how not to do it, then job done.

Although even if you work in the trade, no matter how old you are, every day is a school day. Anyone that says other wise is speaking shit and thinks to much of themself.

I find on here, having traders like Dave B and Mark who always answer the phone and give advice for free as well a massive help, without pushing their own products they give advice on whats best for the customer even if it's not something they sell.
Unlike some where they either never answer the phone or like GMC who have a premium rate number.
 
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ryan-11

ryan-11

Member +
I never knew that much when i joined up, just started working on small thing myself and as my confidence grew i started doing bigger thing now im just away to start to rebuild my first engine. bodywork wise i can pritty much do anything :p
 
danb87

danb87

South East England Area Rep
wesgt said:
:haha: ed knows his stuff!!

ps the most important item of all when working on your car.....PLASTERS lol if your like me you make bits of yourself!
Click to expand...

yea, my hands are scarred up from working on my starlet. had some cuts,bruises an headaches. but its all worth it in the end lol
 
kellygt

kellygt

Member +
I started off working on my mountainbikes when I was younger then progressed to motorbikes doing my own servicing oil changes plug changes and brake pads and light mechanical work then I bought a Starlet Gt and did the same with that and the same with my Glanza dont really like going to mechanics unless I have to so I'd chance doing as much as I can on the car anything electronic goe's to William lol
 
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