How did/do you learn?

[MATT 911]

As a bit of background, I have always been into owning/driving cars, generally pretty handy but have no background in mechanics as such.

I am keen to get my first Air Cooled 911, having owned a few water cooled variants, with the goal of working on it myself and all the learnings that come from that.

My question is, those without a mechanical background, how did you learn and what resources did you find the most helpful? Is it a case of just getting started and figuring out each step along the way?

Look forward to your advice and tips.

[jac1976]

Just gotta get out and do it. This forum is invaluable with its aggregate knowledge and there are a number of books/guides that many would agree are must-haves. Find some local enthusiasts and y’all can attack projects together. Everyone is a first-timer at one point.

[Showdown]

Full send.

Before owning a 911 I had only ever changed a tire. It took all of 9 months before I took an angle grinder to the body for a backdate after removing the CIS for an EFI/ITB conversion.

Just start small and roll with it.

[porsche930dude]

I certainly wouldnt recommend starting on a 911 but I guess if thats all you got. I started when i was 15 and got a Jeep. Usually my brother and father did all the fixing but they wernt around enough when I wanted to get work done on my Jeep so I did it myself. After the Jeep was done I knew how to weld I started building minibikes and custom bicycles. Now the sky is the limit. Plus the internet makes it all alot easier. The hardest part is the motivation. If you have that you will be fine.

[WPOZZZ]

Trial and error...and a good manual.

[GH85Carrera]

I have been working on my own cars since I was 16. Those were VW bugs.

Now, many decades later, I still work on my cars, and only my cars. All because of this forum, I saw people from all walks of life, non mechanics, take on astonishing projects.

I read step by step several threads on suspension refresh, and decided I can do that. I will never forget that gut punch feeling walking out to the garage and seeing my can on jack stands with no suspension, and saying out loud, Glen, you idiot, what have you done!

It all wen back on just fine, and a feew minor upgrades done "while I was in there" and I have tackled the AC upgrade, and just about every project needed on cars from the 1980s.

Just read on this forum how others have done it, save those threads as favorites, and just do it. Get the Bentley manual, and read this forum!

[airkewldfan]

I ground my teeth on Air-Cooled VWs. But as others have said, you have to jump in and start doing it. Just be ready to have some setbacks and frustrations.. it’s all part of the fun!

[Billthebuilder]

It’s best to learn on someone else’s car that way if f it up

[Noah930]

This (Pelican) has been a great teacher. Maybe motorcycles are a bit easier on which to learn mechanics, because the systems tend to be a lot simpler, easier to access, and more manageable in size. Bikes helped me gain some confidence in wrenching. But Pelican has been the best online resource I've come across. Whatever problem you have--someone else has likely had it before. Archived somewhere here is a thread on the symptoms, how to confirm the diagnosis, and how to do the repair. By-and-large, posters tend to be correct (well, at least compared to the other car forums I've visited), and articulate in how to fix the problem (and if there are any tips/tricks or special tools that will make the job easier).

[Fab64]

One good thing that wasn't available when I was learning is the internet! There are tons of how-to videos on Youtube. It is a huge help to me to be able to see someone else do it before I try. Start with smaller, simple projects to get your feet wet. You'll learn things, and gain more confidence as you go. Good luck!

[OldSpool87]

I was at first intimidated by the concept of working on the vaunted 911. I eventually started thinking of them as more snazzy VWs which helped get out of my own head. Start small as others have stated (oil change, clean fuse terminal, etc). Acknowledge your shortcomings and think through projects before jumping in head first. This forum is absolutely invaluable and has helped countless others in your same level. Oh yeah, trust your gut and ask for help.

[sean m]

I'm like you......never did anything on a car in my life except add oil and fill with gas. Still am only a 2 on the mechanics list from Wayne's book (at best). By the way, buy 101 Projects and The Bentley Manual.......you'll thank me.

I learn more every time I crawl under the car. This website is an invaluable resource.

I recommend posting what you want to do, see what the "brain Trust" tells you and go to work.

So much fun!

[Dr J]

Baby steps. Don’t start with an engine rebuild.

[Otter74]

My dad and I got my Fiat as a father-son project when I was 15, but I didn't really know anything about wrenching then, and neither did my dad. I mean, he was very smart and very capable - his hobbies as a kid were designing and building rockets (up to and including mixing the rocket fuel) and ditto shortwave radios, and he was the kind of guy who when the TV stopped working would take it apart, find the bad component (or whatever) and resolder it. But he didn't really work on cars, so I couldn't learn too much from him. Still, between him and the Cuban mechanic who helped us and my natural interest, I started learning.

When I was 18 I went to engineering school and immersed myself in Formula SAE, which meant a lot of working on cars. Around the same time I started doing my own maintenance on my Sentra SE-R. I learned by doing things, following the FSM, and getting a lot of help from the mailing list (yes, it was the 90s). After that it was just gaining expertise in the usual way, by doing and doing and learning as you go.

One guy on our team arrived not even knowing how to change the oil on his base-model automatic Eclipse (a car we teased him for) and graduated four years later as chief engineer.

There's still lots and lots that I don't know, and the opportunities for learning what you don't know are greater than they were 30 years ago. The opportunity to find bad information is also somewhat greater .

Originally Posted by MATT 911

As a bit of background, I have always been into owning/driving cars, generally pretty handy but have no background in mechanics as such.

I am keen to get my first Air Cooled 911, having owned a few water cooled variants, with the goal of working on it myself and all the learnings that come from that.

My question is, those without a mechanical background, how did you learn and what resources did you find the most helpful? Is it a case of just getting started and figuring out each step along the way?

Look forward to your advice and tips.

[PeteKz]

In addition to what everyone else said, "the hard way."

[SpyderMike]

I learn by doing...forums and YouTube vids for clues help.

[GH85Carrera]

My dad saw cars as large expensive appliances to be parked outside. He was a non car guy.

I was reading car magazines and lusted after the 911, but they were as unobtainable as super models and movie stars for me back then. (My wife of 32 years does not let me date, so the models and actresses are still out of reach)

Dad gave me an interest free loan to buy a $600 1960 VW bug with the mighty 36 HP engine. He told me up front I had to pay back the loan, and 100% of all expenses except insurance. I learned to work on that car to keep it reliable, and get me to school and work. I have worked on every car I have owned.

Right now my daily driver is a 1986 El Camino that I bought in 1991 with 39,000 miles. It has over 386,000 miles now and still looks great. I bought my 85 911 in 1995, when it had 79,000 miles. It now has 196,000 miles, and I have driven it to 41 states and Canada.


10 race tracks doing HPDE, and over 250 autocrosses.



What other car on the planet from the mid 1980s has gone up 5 times what was paid for it in 1995, and can be driven across the country on a regular basis.

Jump in with both feet. Get the 101 projects book and try some of those projects. Have fun, take your time, and learn. Nothing beats fixing a car issue yourself.

[FA-18C]

What Spyder said - 100%. I have found that the steepest learning curve is understanding enough to properly identify and diagnose the real issue that must be addressed. That is where the forum is your friend. Read everything you can find, and in doing so, you will find some trusted agents in the community that weigh in and are crazy knowledgeable. Some of come and gone, but surprisingly, there are still MANY hanging around and are generous souls.
Youtube also has some great info especially if you are a visual learner.
200% on manuals - they add context. For many repairs, the actual work is not that hard, but you have to remove, move and replace components and understanding how to get at the fasteners, and what NOT to do can save you a lot of time.
You will get very familiar with your car, meaning you will be draped over the engine to get at the back, you will be on your back under the car and get your German yoga badge until you learn to plan out all of the tools, lighting and fasteners before crawling under...
Agree - jump in with both feet, tucked up for the cannonball. Doing your own work is more satisfying than writing checks...

[WMichelsen]

As others have indicated, small fixes... lead to bigger fixes... gaining confidence all along the way.
I've owned my 911 for 33 years and do whatever I can ... and don't want to take to a pro shop. That list keeps growing.

A few things that come to mind:
1. Manuals and books (eg Bentley's..) offer good info, but often lacking significant detail. You think they are sufficient... but they're not.
2. Take pictures... lots of pictures. Start, mid-disassembly, parts, lots of angles, flash, no-flash. Digital photo was game changing. You think you'll remember what you did... but you won't.
3. Keep track of all fasteners. Take pictures where they came from. You think you'll remember where they go... but you won't.
4. Collect tools. All kinds. And be ready to improvise. You think you have all the tools you need... but you don't.
5. No matter how long you think it will take, it will take 3 times longer. You think there's enough time... but there isn't. (Likewise for money)
6. Ask questions, and share your results. For my current project, this forum is invaluable. You think you can figure it out... but you can't (sometimes).

In the end, it's satisfying and gratifying to do-it-yourself