Mechanics and Non-Mechanics welcome! Share what you know!

[383 hatch]

In my opinion, the only real way to learn is to get in there and have a go. You need to get hands on.

Even if you do the apprenticeship, you don't learn heaps at trade school, most of what you learn is in the field working on cars. You can only read and research so much before you need to get hands on.

 

[DJ-Bolan]

i've changed springs to lower springs, fixed head gasket, changed master cylinder and did a front to back exhaust job on my old 300zx but i just want to learn how to rebuild gear boxes and fix cracked heads. always been into the intricate parts along with aesthetics.

complicated decision.

derp

 

[Hangman]

Mate, the best way whether you're learning as an apprentice or off mates/manuals is hands on, as said above.

 

[ari666]

i voted yes, even though i am a "sort of". i mean. i work on cars for a living, carrying out auto repairs, but cant really be classed as a full mechanic cos' of the stuff i do/dont do.

make sense?

anyway. you could work on cars your whole life and not know it all.

the problem is the tech keeps changing. 20 years ago a top rated mechainc was the guy who could get your vacuum reading flat by adjusting 2 screws. now a top rated mechanic is the guy who can use a scan tool.

soon itll be a top rated mechanic is the guy who parks the car quickest into the robot bay where the cars get fixed (or something)

if you wanna learn EVERYTHING, then you gotta stick to a specific part of auto mechaincals. i.e. transmission specialist, engine specialist, suspension specialist etc. i reckon 3-4 years in each section should give you a reasonable understanding of how it all works.

 

[walesy]

im no mechanic, just a hobby for me, ive been doing my own work for the last 8 or so years, from engine conversions to cam installs, even rebuilt an N/A rb30, i had no idea what i was doing as that was my 1st big job but it went well and i learned alot from it

 

[VYMAD]

I'm a 'backyard mechanic' LOL.

 

[padrickz88]

Exactly what blown v6 said, you need to get hands on...... if you do an apprenticeship make sure you do it with a good company... I know a guy who is completing his apprenticeship soon and he knows jack ****, everything he touches turns to ****...

Best way is to get a spare of what you want to work on (engine, trans, diff etc) read some books/manuals and just have all the tools needed..
I found once I started using a torque wrench I felt alot more confident working on cars.. The thing is amazing, cant believe I worked on my car for so long without one, I consider it a must have for everyone

 

[Calaber]

I started playing around with cars in a different way to some of you. Back in the 1960's, old cars were dumped frequently in the bushland near home. I started out by pulling them apart, for no other reason than to find out how to do it. My first "car" was a chassis cut from one of those wrecks with an old side banger Ford four cylinder dropped in. Never had any formal education, just learned as I went along. It was always just a hobby as it was totally removed from my normal job.

 

[SBM]

I started my apprentaship about 10 years ago now. So I'm fully qualified and love what I do. I started my own business nearly 2 years ago and it's the best thing I've ever done. All the hard work actually pays off rather than it going in someone else's pocket. To answer your question a bit better I would say 4 years in an apprentaship and probably another 2 and you should be pretty confident at tackling any job. It also depens on what sort of work you do. I have worked in a a couple of dealerships where your doing the same things every day and also worked on trucks, buses, farm equipment, boats and pretty much everything else. At the moment I focus on cars 4WD's and boats which is plenty of variety. As for busted knuckles the longer you work on cars the less it happens as you learn when to stop. As for killing your passion to work on your own car I think that is different with everyone. I enjoy it because you can work at your own leisure on a weekend and just unwind from a busy week. I have a bit of a project which I never really get time to work on. A VK which I am putting an ecotec into. Also have a couple of turbos to fit up when I get around to it.

 

[a1k3m1]

im about the same as everyone else, Not Qualified but just play around and learn new things, Im a panel beater by trade. and did a bit of Auto electrical work also.. But being a panel beater its usually good to know how everything goes together so when ya take it apart you know how to get it back in one piece