is there a way to learn on your own how to do this and start out step by step how to fix cars thanks if you can help
2006-09-23 18:20:38 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
You can hire people specialized to restore old vehicles
2006-09-23 18:24:56 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
I never had a lick of auto shop in High School nor did I go to college. I was a mechanic for 15 years. I have since changed professions but I still do work out of my garage. I am currently working on a restoration of a 32 Chevy. I learned from people I know and my brothers and dad. I hung out in the car scene in my teenage years and learned everything I could from the hot rod gurus. Built my first small block Ford when I was about 19 and drove the heck out of it. Restored a 67 Mustang for the former spouse. Installed a 5.0 h.o. in a 74 F-150. My own personal project at this time (the 32 is not mine) is a 66 bug, front engine, healthy 302 Ford. I just finished a major paint job on an old 63 Econoline truck, lots and lots of rust and panel forming and replacement. I have never taken an auto body class in my life. The point is, if you like cars and you wan't to get into working on them you can go to school and that is great. Or, you can just get your hands dirty and go for it. Oh, did I forget to mention the fact that I have recently been asked by our local charter school to teach an auto shop class next semester? Dont let anyone tell you you have to go through the process just becuase they spent 4 or 6 years doing it and feel that everyone else should too. You might have a natural talent for it and you will find out fast if you do or not. My advice to you is find yourself an old car of you liking but don't spend to much money to get started and just start working on the basics and reading books as you go along. Just about everything you need to know can be found on the web and you obviously have access to that. Go for it and have fun.
2006-09-24 01:58:29 · answer #2 · answered by shel_bug66 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
i've been a mechanic /technician/contortionist for nearly thirty years . i've always been naturally mechanically inclined. but i learned from books . now i learn off this here contraption now. i even made this computer. the thing is these cars have gotten so complicated . soon there will be nothing but specialists for each brand.i think they've gone too far. especially the fact thaty they do it so the car will be in the junk yard sooner. thus the need for another purchase. the repair ;being so rediculously expensive.that the car is unfeisable to fix. yes as far as car manufacturers and people go.the sheep; i mean people are once again manipulated. ford makes the worst piece of **** ever made. working on them is comparable to werkin on a benz.i am not thrilled wen i must werk on a mercedes benz.i would rather eat a bowl of bugs. i love my country. but sometimes im not proud of the way it treats folks. japanese cars are far superior to ours. you will run four fords into the ground to one jap ride. maybe more.its all mathematical.(putting machines together)you dont think we can build a great machine?we could if we were driven to make products not garbage(literally) good luck
2006-09-24 01:57:22 · answer #3 · answered by blowmymind 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Buy an older model car that is before 1975. It is best to start with something that is at least in running condition. An Impala, Nova, Fairlane, or Mustang will work perfectly. Just start messing around with it. Take apart what needs to be fixed. The lack of computer control will make it simple. And there is no better satisfaction than repairing a vehicle on your own. I would recommend purchasing an older model vehicle to work with. Hands on experience will be your best teaching tool, no better knowledge than what you have actually experienced.
2006-09-24 03:33:40 · answer #4 · answered by yugie29 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Buy a cheap old car. Old cars are easier to work on. You don't have all the computers and electronics cars have these days. Bring it to your garage, buy a set of mechanic tools, buy a handbook/manual for the car you purchased and go to work. Things will start off slow and you may get frustrated but stick with it things will get easier. I learned basic maintenance from my dad and now that I have my own cars and have to pay for the repairs I repair most items myself. Sometimes I just use manuals, and if I don't feel too comfortable I'll get a friend or my Dad to walk me through it so I don't make anything worse.
2006-09-24 02:06:09 · answer #5 · answered by greenshirt 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When I was 15 years old I restored a 1927 Model "T" Ford. I made one good one out of three junked out cars. I had and owners manual at the time and I was taking Auto shop at High School. You should start with books and do a lot of tinkering.
2006-09-24 01:26:35 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Buy yourself a junker that you like and is cheap. (I'm working on a '65 AMC Rambler convertible I got for $300). Be sure it's something with cheap and easy to find parts. Ford, Chevy and Toyota are all good bets.
Get a *good* set of tools, no cheap stuff. Craftsman is reasonably priced and guaranteed for life. (note - SAE tools for US cars, metric for others)
Get a Chilton's manual (perhaps even a shop manual - google, for example, "1972 Chevy Impala shop manual")
Go to work and get it running tip-top and you'll have a good start on being a mechanic. Do it again with a couple of different cars and you'll be close to expert.
Trust me, you can do this, but the grease under your fingernails will not get you admiring glances at the formal dances.
Dick
2006-09-24 01:45:19 · answer #7 · answered by inxcalac 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
you need to hang out with someone who does it and does good work and be their helper ... i learned it from helping my pops, never went to a class in my life, and i can do bodywork and lay paint on better than most professional shops ... restoring cars is usually a specific model specialty also ... you generally restore the cars u really like and get to know them intimately after a while ... i could look at a bucket of oem bolts on a 77 transam and tell u exactly where the bolt goes on the car just from its appearance ... so those are my specialty ..77-81 transams and camaros ...i wouldnt want to try to attempt a total restore on an old mustang, thats my buddies specialty.
2006-09-24 01:28:59 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Why on Earth would you want to tamper with old cars without knowing what you are doing?
There is a way to learn how to start out, step by step. It is called school.
People who have done these types of things before, and are willing to pass on their knowledge, are called "teachers" or "mentors" if they take an interest in your willingness to learn.
There are no shortcuts.
A paraphrase if this question would be: "How can i learn heart surgery without taking a special school (school is sooo boring)"
2006-09-24 01:34:25 · answer #9 · answered by d_cider1 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
practice, read, work with friends. You could go to auto body classes and also auto engine classes. Buy a Chilton specifically for your car at any auto parts store. $16. You will learn a LOT from that.
2006-09-24 04:02:17 · answer #10 · answered by MrZ 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Hands on experience. If you have no experience at all and don't want to go to school then all you can do is buy books and get hands on experience. Buy Haynes or Chilton Manuel's. You can get these at almost all auto repair stores.
2006-09-24 01:27:35 · answer #11 · answered by snowwwplowerrr 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋