"grumpy? how do I learn to fix the car body, and mechanical components? I just purchased my first muscle car (its a 1968 lemans) but its interior is pretty much trash, the body needs work and Im sure the drive train needs to be replaced"
well the main thing you need is a willingness to learn new skills and a place to work, on a fairly level surface where you and your tools are safe, youll need a few (4) 6-12 ton rated jack stands, a floor jack, and obviously basic mechanics tools and the willingness to learn new skills, and make new contacts, and having access to a decent welder and decent air compressor, or friends with those tools certainly helps
posting clear pictures and asking questions helps
having a few basic meters,gauges etc. helps
MULTI METER
INFRARED TEMP GUN
TIMING LIGHT
COMPRESSION GAUGE
PRESSURE/VACUUM GAUGE
every mechanic needs an ANALOG multi meter for testing capacitors with a micro farad scale, AND a DIGITAL MULTI METER
you ABSOLUTELY NEED A SHOP MANUAL FOR YOUR CAR,YEAR,MAKE,MODEL
http://www.helminc.com/helm
almost anything you need to learn can be found in books, on the internet or you can learn it from members of a local car club.
step one
locate and join at least two local hot rod or corvette clubs and offer to do free labor in exchange for instruction on how to do paint and body, electrical and mechanical repair work, try to make friends with the older guys that have rather extensive experience and don,t be afraid to get your hands dirty doing actual work and don,t shy away from learning new skills even if you don,t see an instant use for them. if you don,t know how to do a brake job, or replace a water pump or install a rear differential,install a window regulator or repair an air conditioner or re-upholster a seat, LEARN those skills you would be amazed at how many times youll find you can trade work for other work on cars in a car club
step two
find a local trade school or a mentor you trust to teach you several types of welding, and only after your familiar with equipment buy yours.
but youll find MIG and TIG covers the vast majority of work youll need
step three
read thru all the books and web sites you can, and ask a ton of questions,and don,t take a single source as 100% correct there's usually at least two ways to do something, and having a shop manual on the car you decide to build, and a few basic tools like 4 6-12 ton rated jack stands, a floor jack, multi meter, timing light and basic mechanic tools helps a great deal, yet it knowing what your doing or being willing to research it and follow thru and actually learn the skills that maters
one of the advantages of some car related sites, is that it allows you to make local connections and meet a few guys who are interested in cars.
It used to be back in the day, when I was a teenager that having a "COOL CAR" was nearly every almost an adult males, goal , and you learned a great deal hanging out with the older guys who had the cash and experience to build those "DREAM CARS" that most of the younger guys really could only start to afford or built, yet by hanging out with "the gear-head crowd" and by joining the local muscle car and corvette clubs you eventually made the contacts and got deals, and gained experience, it would sure help to know what city and state your located in, because there is likely some guy reading the thread that might be local to you that has the experience required and the willingness to show you how its done, if he knew you were local, I know Ive sure helped a few dozen guys posting problems who just needed an experienced teacher or helping hand on a project,over the years
.
READ THIS LINK AND SUB LINKS
viewtopic.php?f=44&t=3733&p=30179#p30179
viewtopic.php?f=87&t=1162&p=2379&hilit=learning+skills+over+your+head#p2379
viewtopic.php?f=60&t=1669
viewtopic.php?f=50&t=11026&p=48766#p48766
viewtopic.php?f=60&t=77
viewtopic.php?f=87&t=10077&p=39367#p39367
viewtopic.php?f=61&t=1405&p=32080&hilit=paint+booth#p32080
viewtopic.php?f=61&t=6966&hilit=paint+booth
viewtopic.php?f=61&t=2675&p=6938&hilit=paint+booth#p6938
viewtopic.php?f=61&t=2675&p=6934&hilit=+paint+garage#p6934
viewtopic.php?f=87&t=9731
viewtopic.php?f=44&t=5936
viewtopic.php?f=87&t=339&p=21733&hilit=getting+started+hobby#p21733
viewtopic.php?f=50&t=11026
viewtopic.php?f=60&t=8086
viewtopic.php?f=60&t=4604
well the main thing you need is a willingness to learn new skills and a place to work, on a fairly level surface where you and your tools are safe, youll need a few (4) 6-12 ton rated jack stands, a floor jack, and obviously basic mechanics tools and the willingness to learn new skills, and make new contacts, and having access to a decent welder and decent air compressor, or friends with those tools certainly helps
posting clear pictures and asking questions helps
having a few basic meters,gauges etc. helps
MULTI METER
INFRARED TEMP GUN
TIMING LIGHT
COMPRESSION GAUGE
PRESSURE/VACUUM GAUGE
every mechanic needs an ANALOG multi meter for testing capacitors with a micro farad scale, AND a DIGITAL MULTI METER
you ABSOLUTELY NEED A SHOP MANUAL FOR YOUR CAR,YEAR,MAKE,MODEL
http://www.helminc.com/helm
almost anything you need to learn can be found in books, on the internet or you can learn it from members of a local car club.
step one
locate and join at least two local hot rod or corvette clubs and offer to do free labor in exchange for instruction on how to do paint and body, electrical and mechanical repair work, try to make friends with the older guys that have rather extensive experience and don,t be afraid to get your hands dirty doing actual work and don,t shy away from learning new skills even if you don,t see an instant use for them. if you don,t know how to do a brake job, or replace a water pump or install a rear differential,install a window regulator or repair an air conditioner or re-upholster a seat, LEARN those skills you would be amazed at how many times youll find you can trade work for other work on cars in a car club
step two
find a local trade school or a mentor you trust to teach you several types of welding, and only after your familiar with equipment buy yours.
but youll find MIG and TIG covers the vast majority of work youll need
step three
read thru all the books and web sites you can, and ask a ton of questions,and don,t take a single source as 100% correct there's usually at least two ways to do something, and having a shop manual on the car you decide to build, and a few basic tools like 4 6-12 ton rated jack stands, a floor jack, multi meter, timing light and basic mechanic tools helps a great deal, yet it knowing what your doing or being willing to research it and follow thru and actually learn the skills that maters
one of the advantages of some car related sites, is that it allows you to make local connections and meet a few guys who are interested in cars.
It used to be back in the day, when I was a teenager that having a "COOL CAR" was nearly every almost an adult males, goal , and you learned a great deal hanging out with the older guys who had the cash and experience to build those "DREAM CARS" that most of the younger guys really could only start to afford or built, yet by hanging out with "the gear-head crowd" and by joining the local muscle car and corvette clubs you eventually made the contacts and got deals, and gained experience, it would sure help to know what city and state your located in, because there is likely some guy reading the thread that might be local to you that has the experience required and the willingness to show you how its done, if he knew you were local, I know Ive sure helped a few dozen guys posting problems who just needed an experienced teacher or helping hand on a project,over the years
.
READ THIS LINK AND SUB LINKS
viewtopic.php?f=44&t=3733&p=30179#p30179
viewtopic.php?f=87&t=1162&p=2379&hilit=learning+skills+over+your+head#p2379
viewtopic.php?f=60&t=1669
viewtopic.php?f=50&t=11026&p=48766#p48766
viewtopic.php?f=60&t=77
viewtopic.php?f=87&t=10077&p=39367#p39367
viewtopic.php?f=61&t=1405&p=32080&hilit=paint+booth#p32080
viewtopic.php?f=61&t=6966&hilit=paint+booth
viewtopic.php?f=61&t=2675&p=6938&hilit=paint+booth#p6938
viewtopic.php?f=61&t=2675&p=6934&hilit=+paint+garage#p6934
viewtopic.php?f=87&t=9731
viewtopic.php?f=44&t=5936
viewtopic.php?f=87&t=339&p=21733&hilit=getting+started+hobby#p21733
viewtopic.php?f=50&t=11026
viewtopic.php?f=60&t=8086
viewtopic.php?f=60&t=4604
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