So, your Mom taught you or did you just start paying attention and sought data?

BTW, tell your Mom I said Hi.

How did you know repair manuals existed?

My dad, as well as one of my grandfathers, probably get credit for that - they both were users of repair manuals, although neither was more than just a casual, home mechanic.


Yer sister provided me with all the raw data I would ever need (still does!)! :eek:

But seriously, paying attention, data seeking, and a lot of trial and error (some of it costly) was involved.

I'll give my mom your message the next time I crawl up from her basement!

Yes, the well coordinated, and executed to perfection, master plan of the MSM to make the poor ol orange guy look bad! :D

Like I told the other guy....

^^^

I agree with that, Wood; nurturing definitely plays a major role. If a kid grows up in a household where neither parent so much as owns and uses basic tools for machine repair (or even goes outside except to cook on the grill twice a year), then chances are that kid will not develop any interest in learning to maintain and repair machines (especially if that same kid can rely on the parental teat to satisfy their desires).

I learned to work on cars when mine broke down and I didn't have enough money to get it towed, much less fixed. I walked to the library, checked out a manual, read it, and fixed my car. I pulled the head and replaced the gasket right there in the parking lot. While I had it out, I rebuilt the head. Later my transmission went out. I jacked the car up where it sat. I unbolted it and took it into my apartment and rebuilt it on the kitchen table (from a library book). Had to walk about six miles to get the parts (brass blocking rings and new clutch) and back. Had to wait weeks for the synchro parts to come in...so I had to walk several miles each way to work. My dad didn't even drive a car...much less work on one. He worked in the fields...like me. a couple of danged dirt farmers.

I’m with fint, like my dad I fixed cars myself because I didn’t have the money to pay a mechanic. He wasn’t really a car enthusiast, he was at various points a mechanic and car salesman but it was more of a means to an end. I suppose I did get my mechanical aptitude from him, plus I had tools to borrow when I lived at home.

I learned by myself. Between Teen tribal knowledge (the 'in' thing), being literally broke as a kid, and having friends who had dads who were either pro wrenches or serious hobbyists (boat racers), Wayne Scraba books, I got all my info. I had to or, walked.

I ****ing sucked of course, a total disaster. As the income grew, so did the tools and skills.

Now I'm just OK. I'm not going to be building any show quality rigs, but I'll be decent enough to be mistaken for at least competent work. I still do it myself just because I want it done right.

Apologies Won, I'm a bit late to this party :cool:

Really subjective question as being a car guy means so many different thing to so many different people as shown by so many different opinions of the replies so far

Guess classifying yourself as a car guy is similar to someone considering themselves a racer which I consider myself to be.

Some people might may find this surprising as other than a few go-kart fun events I've only driven in one race, It was a 1000cc Mini on grass and I came 2nd to last.

On the other hand the work I've done over the last 3 decades has contributed to race cars finishing +600 races at world championship level. Everyone one of those cars I helped create and every one of the jobs I did was a race to me as I was trying to beat the best which is what racing is about. Hell, even one of those cars killed me and I came back for more.

Back on subject I consider myself a car guy, have been since I was a car kid playing with my Fischer Price garage, then my Hot Wheels cars, then building my 1/24 Revell/Monogram plastic model car kits, then working on my first real car, then studying through college, then a degree and it was all to get to the real destination a career working on cars and a life involving cars as a passion

If anyone saw what is parked on my driveway or looked at my list of daily cars owned would never ever assume I'm a car guy. Dig a bit deeper than the shallow veneer of what I drive, what I've owned then I think I'm as car guy as you can get.

For me being a car guy is a state of mind, a passion, a hobby, something you enjoy spending time on, be it reading, watching, doing etc and nothing to do with what car you drive or how much work you do on your own car!

If I could sum up in one photo the perfect example of what a car guy/racer is, it would be this guy :cool:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1586729938.jpg

Your car broke down, and you just walked to the library?
How did you even know car fixing books were at the library?
It's as arbitrary as walking to the grocery store or doctors office if your car broke down.
Were you lost, and then happened to see car fixing books and were like, "Holy ****! MY car's broken!! I should read this!"

You just magically knew that car broken = get book at library?
What even made you think some book could tell you how to solve your problem?
How did you even know that cars could be fixed ?

Why would you do something that random, when you didn't even own tools?
You had no money for a tow, yet you had money for tools?

Ok, so you were lucky enough to have a dad who told you that people fixing cars was a thing in this world. Most are not that lucky.

No, you did not learn by yourself. Most people have literally never met a person who can fix a car. You were lucky that you had multiple sources that showed you that humans can actually fix cars. THEN you started learning for yourself. BIG difference I am pointing out here. Not everyone is as lucky as you were.

^^^

Wood, I forgot to mention that my first lawnmower and car repair manuals were from the local library. From my earliest memories, I was taught in school how to use the library, so when I wanted to find information about lawnmowers and cars, I located those subject areas there.

I cut yards to earn money when very young, and needed to keep my mower operating (again, Dad was not going to run it to a repair shop when it needed work).

What's your motiviation here SW? I am literally "that" guy that you claim does not exist....pull your head out of yer butt and learn something from us old farts....mebbe ;)?

^^^ That's not my point. You had a dad that fixed stuff and owned a screwdriver. You personally WITNESSED that "humans can fix things" This does not exist in a vacuum. The office workers may not have ever seen a human fix anything ever in their lives. So, jackass above was indeed LUCKY that he was exposed to that by SOMEONE ELSE.

Dude, you were exposed as a lying fraud already.
Or you do not understand my actual damn point.
Try reading the thread again. I've already spelled it out for you.

Only in your mind SW....you just don't seem that bright ;).

Quit proving it....

Actually, I did learn by myself. I learn best by studying on my own, not by being mentored. Frankly, it's not like trying to fix a car is like black magic to most, there's enough info out there, and tutorials on paper (I learned in the 80's) and simply tribal knowledge that empowers someone to pick up a wrench for the 1st time.

No one wanted to spend the time with a 16 y/o boy and help him with his garbage, no one.

Cars aren't, and ever were magical devices that were foreign to most people. I would say 100% of people living in the USA have ridden in something with 4 wheels and at least have some cognizant understanding of what they are. Cars are not like MRI tables or rocketships- they are common enough to know the basics..

Actually, I learned by hearsay, and straight up trial and error. My childhood was NOT an adult working on a car, with me handing wrenches, or a mentoring adult watching me work while we drank soda and talked about girls and college- I can guarantee that. It was a combination of asking friends, looking at books and then having a go at it on my own. Literally.

Very first time I pulled an engine, I was literally by myself, and a handful of crappy tools that were a hand-me-down. No adults, no big group of friends, a total mess and a disaster.

At the end of the fiasco I actually learned a hell of a lot of how a car works- on my own. I still remember how to adjust clutch travel, shift linkages on Muncies, and how to disassemble and reassemble a Holley carb. All on my own.

Same with 12V electrics, suspensions and fuel. Stuff I love.

rjp

You already made my point for me when you said YOUR MECHANIC BUDDY EXPOSED YOU TO CAR DIY.
It was right there in your 3rd post on this forum, FFS. Do you even know what my point is, you idiot?

LOL, so you think that being told about something = being taught? Hearing about something, and getting in there, getting dirty, cut and crumpled up is what learning is all about.

What you are talking about is research- who tears into anything without looking into it first? It's not like I woke up one morning and saw that silver 69 Camaro in the driveway for the 1st time. I bought it, it blew up, and then I fixed it.

that simple. no one was willing to bail me out, except dad after he got sick of my mess.

rjp

Ok, it seems like people here have no clue what point I am making. I did not say someone SHOWED YOU HOW.........
No one ****ing shows you how. That's NOT my assertion.

I am saying someone ELSE made you AWARE of the possibility. Pure LUCK.
The guy above was bashing his office workers for not being curious
You CAN NOT be curious about something you don't even know exists.
You got lucky being exposed to it by SOMEONE ELSE. Not everyone is so lucky.
So, temper your self-congratulatory BS. Car guys are such monumental pricks.
.
Randy was SURROUNDED by people fixing cars. THEN, and ONLY THEN, did he teach himself. You were lucky that you had multiple sources that showed you that humans can actually fix cars. THEN you started learning for yourself. BIG difference I am pointing out here. Not everyone is as lucky as you were. Most people have NO idea they can actually repair cars, since they've literally never witnessed it, or been made aware that is exists on this planet.

The phrase is Trial and Error. Same way I learned how to work with Computers and how I got into the lending industry I guarantee you not a single person back then even knew what the hell they do, let alone how to do it.

Like i said, there's cars everywhere- they grow on trees in this country. Same with tools. Sooner or later, you fool with it.

rjp

I never said that. Learn to read and learn instead of being a dickhead for a change. I bought a 911 because I wanted to learn....and did so...from scratch.

Not much different than my former day job....it's just how some of us "tick"...and we are lucky.... enough to be lucky smart :)

Where did you get the idea that cars could be fixed at home?
Who the hell would you ever assume that in a vacuum?

I told you already. I discovered Rennlist while casually looking for a 928. That led me to Pelican Tech...that was the VERY first time I ever even thought about wrenching on a car....and I could also own a 911.

You're way ahead of where I was back in 2001 as far as exposure.

You're lacking either motivation or brains and just think we all were "lucky" to have reached this point.

Make your own "luck"...many of us have made that journey...you can too :).

You're no dummy...do it!

I became aware that you could fix a car at home the first time I saw a car with the hood up in someones driveway.

I was probably one year old.

It used to be a common thing to grease the zirks, change the oil, flush the coolant right there at home. Many dads did it at least once a year. Save a lot of money, make sure it's done right.

Your neighbor had a 928. That led to you ending up on a DIY forum, possibly by accident while looking at for sale ads. The office workers may never have seen a 928, and therefore, never ended up on Rennlist. You got lucky. They did not. Plus, you knew a mechanic friend that answered questions for you. That also helped you get started. More luck.

Plus, you're lying if you're actually claiming that you never once knew or spoke to ANYONE who knew how to be working on a car. Your mechanic buddy. You seriously never saw him touch a wrench in your entire life before touching your 911?

I've already been wrenching on cars for several years. This is not about me. During the quarantine, I've done a brake job, gear oil, and new shocks.

Yea, those office workers may never have seen a hood up. Many people are not aware that the hood opens. They have never seen a hood being opened. Oil now lasts 20,000 miles. Leases can end with original oil. You got lucky that you were exposed to this by your neighbors and relatives.

Damn this turned into a strange pissing match! Maybe some of you guys need to head back to the garage and relax?

Can't wait to dig into this little devil. It is tiny. Gonna be a great summer with mini road trips up to Maine.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1586742169.JPG

^^^

That is a girlz car, Shaun, so therefore I dub the a car-gal (nothing wrong wiff dat')!!!

It's a surprise present for my gf so just call me trans (it's a manual of course) until I give it to her.

LOL. When I bought my first 911, I had stopped to look at a VW Beatle of the same year ('74)...as my wife had driven a '66 VW when we met. I never thought I could afford a 911 (and had never really looked closely at one because I assumed I could not afford one). Since the 911 was parked next to the VW and in similar condition, I took a look at it. It was pretty...and surprisingly was cheaper than the VW at $5K...so I bought it. I drove it over to my work to show everyone...and they wanted to see the engine. We all stood around and tied to figure out how to open the engine compartment. I was so embarrassed. Some guy walking by stopped and showed us.

My wife...then girlfriend, taught me to drive a 4 speed in that '66 VW on one of our first dates. Superhot college girl (I was still in high school). I didn't even have a car...and knew even less about cars than she did. Boy, that was the best time of my life. Never had as much fun in a Porsche...or any other car...as that '66 VW.

When I was likely 14 I bought a subscription to Road & Track, and some VW magazine, that I don't remember after all these years. I bought the idiots guide to VW repair as advertised in R&T. When I turned 16 my dad gave me an interest free loan to buy my 1960 VW bug. He paid for the insurance but I paid 100% of every other singe cost. I took my driver's test on my 16th birthday, (and passed with ease) and I had made one payment to dad.

I was in high school, and hung out with other VW drivers. We talked mostly about the girls, and our cars. I had a job after school and on Saturday's so I did not get to hang out much with my buddies, as I was busy making money. One of the guys did help me replace the push rod tubes at the base auto hobby shop. The base did not allow people to work on cars on base except at the hobby shop.

My brother was 2.5 years older than I was, and he had a job at the VW dealership as a mechanic. He would have charged me double anyone else for him to work on my car, but I could ask him questions, but he never did work on my cars.

When I was still 19 I had saved enough money to order my 1974 914 2.0 to my specs. I don't ever remember my brother doing any work on my car, but I did have him as my safety net as my brother had gone into business as a VW repair shop with a partner. He would let me use his shop on Sundays to work on my car. When it was time for my first tune up on my 914 it took me 7 hours in a fully equipped shop, with all the tools, and a floor lift. I had bought the factory workshop manual for the 914, so I had instructions. I had never done a tune up, and had no idea how to replace the points, and the plugs. I had done oil changes on my bug. Adjusting the valves was terrifying, but I figured it out. My brother stopped in when he saw me still there after a long day. He laughed for months about me, the world's slowest mechanic.

I have repaired every paper and film processor at my jobs at professional photography labs over the years, I did the install on my sprinkler system all by myself, and no one had ever shown me any part of that process. I just read the books.

It was the same with computers. I fortunately had the vision that computers were going to take over photography. I bought a Commodore Vic 20, then the way more powerful Commodore 64, and finally a screaming fast 4.77 MHz with 256K of RAM. I got to the A: prompt and thought now what? Fortunately I was already reading PC magazine and several others.

So yea, I did have a few tiny bits of help, but not much. I changed that VW bug engine for a co-worker with no instructions, just common sense. It has to be the easiest engine swap on the planet so not major accomplishment.

I have never been lucky enough to have a teacher or mentor for my car hobby. I certainly have talked to friends, and getting input and some help for a small part of it.

95% of the car fixes I have done was me alone.

Aren't you full of questions.

It broke down at the end of the street coming home to my ghetto apartment. My wife steered and I pushed it in. It broke down quite often...and we did just that. So did other cars that I later owned...even my 911. Wife steers and I push the car to safe place. Then I fix it...or walk home and get a tow rope and another car (Once I had two). Usually I can fix it now...at least enough to limp it home.

Going to a library was no more random than going to the internet is now. Back when I was young, the library was like the internet...except free. Young, poor couples did little that was not free. They worked, went for walks, listened to the radio, had sex (a lot), and went to the library to read books and magazines. We had no TV or money to go out. It was a nice outing to take a long walk (several miles) to an airconditioned library where one could relax and read where it was cool (as we had no A/C). We went to the library often...and read most of the books (And also the newspaper and magazines each month when they came out). If you walked around, you could see all the car books were in one place (had their own shelf)...or you could look in the Dewey Decimal System Card Catalog for whatever you wanted to read. If you wanted to fix or do anything that you did not know how to do...you went to the library (didn't know anybody to ask) in a strange city...even if I wanted to).

Of course I knew cars could be fixed. I just didn't know how. I was poor, not stupid. It was not a quick job. It took weeks. I had to walk to work in the meantime...and work on the car when I could. I bought a socket wrench and a small set of standard sockets 3/8, 7/16, 1/2, 5/8, 9/16 at KMart (after reading the book and looking at the bolts I needed to remove). Probably cost about $10. Had to walk many miles to Kmart. I still have those cheap tools 40 years later.

If I had spent $25 dollars on a tow...where would I tow it to? I had no money to get it fixed. Do you think a shop would have stored it for me for a month or two until I could go there and fix it? Seriously?

Wife just told me she had a photo of me doing just the job we were discussing...in front of our apartment. The first year we were married. Never really worked on a car before. Note the old Jag on the street (it was relatively new then). They were a dime a dozen..as were a lot of other cool cars. See below.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1586750502.jpg

The most knowledgeable car guys have sought out information. They played an active part in acquiring knowledge. So it's like anything else. Most people are happy to not know anything about cars and don't want to acquire a new skill. But to say that they don't know and don't appreciate the aptitude to work on them is because they lack the opportunity, is to disregard how anyone learns anything.

My wife and I walked 12 miles in the hot sun to buy that car (she got sunburned). She sold her VW before moving across the country to meet me in that that big city (she hitched a ride from NC to Colorado) with nothing but a small suitcase. We walked everywhere for months. One weekend, we walked to a mall that was 12.5 miles away (and back) when we saw that car. We walked back with the money to buy it the following weekend. It was all the money we had. The car was stolen 2 weeks later. That picture is after we got it back...weeks later. It had been stripped and left in a field near the airport. The insurance company would only put new tires and wheels on it....but it would barely run...and the paint was messed up on the quarter panels from the thieves doing burnouts in the gravel. The bumpers were a bit warped because they used the wrong jack (bumper jack) and just kicked it out when done. The screwdriver in the photo was one the thief had dropped into the trunk trying to get the rear speakers out. That car was all we had. I drove it for the next 6 years. It took us across the country more than once.

Fint the "unknown mechanic".. JK. I get it - just having a laugh.

LOL. I don't need my face on the internet...even my 18 year old one. I still look the same. Right down to my haircut.

Easy car to learn/work on. 200/6 with a 3 speed. Looked and sounded fast (big tires, cherry bomb muffler and slightly jacked up in the back). It got great gas mileage.

Fint is more of a blockhead than I even imagined! Plus he has a green hue to his visage, so maybe I am on to something with my silly, FintIsStoned nickname for him!!!