How did you learn those mechanical skills? - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

Mervyn · 11-30-2005, 01:07 PM

I'm not really good at identifying most parts around the car and the engine and I really dont know how to fix/install most of the parts. I'm interested in majoring mechanics and auto repair pretty soon so I was wondering how did you guys really learn all those things? Where can I start learning?

Andrew Bohan · 11-30-2005, 01:10 PM

i learned by some shit breaking and having to fix it. then kept doing that. then had some shit i wanted to install so i figured it out. and kept doing both. now i know

**ThatGuy** · 11-30-2005, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by i'm driftaholic

i learned by some shit breaking and having to fix it. then kept doing that. then had some shit i wanted to install so i figured it out. and kept doing both. now i know

^Exactly!

I also picked up alot, building Hot Rods, and going to Classic Car Shows with my Dad. That's why I still appreciate "Old School" techniques and ideas on more modern vehicles.

TheSquidd · 11-30-2005, 02:01 PM

bought a 240.

Irukandji · 11-30-2005, 02:04 PM

^ bought a 240 with all my hard earned money.

didn't have a lot of $ to take it to a shop for repairs

so I searched, followed what I read, and voila...

-usmd-180sx · 11-30-2005, 02:07 PM

"Knowing is half the battle, G. I. JOE!"

420sx · 11-30-2005, 02:14 PM

practise makes perfect.

SimpleSexy180 · 11-30-2005, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by i'm driftaholic

i learned by some shit breaking and having to fix it. then kept doing that. then had some shit i wanted to install so i figured it out. and kept doing both. now i know

totally agree...also when your friends parts break or something and you help them, you learn stuff by doing that also..

theicecreamdan · 11-30-2005, 03:02 PM

I was barely lucky enough to have my dad buy me my first car. but it had a burned exhaust valve, so we put a new 350 in, and I learned a lot doing that. that was all the help I had though, and there are plenty of things to go wrong on a Chevy. Then I bought a 240 and learned about what can really be a headache.

All you really gotta know is that everything is held together with nuts and bolts, fixing isnt the hard thing, its knowing what to fix. Luckily I'm pretty intuitive about that sorta thing and can figure out my problems pretty quickly.

YakuzaS14 · 11-30-2005, 03:04 PM

taking some auto classes help too

**mrmephistopheles** · 11-30-2005, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 420sx

practise makes perfect.

Practice - works with spelling too.

sw20>>s14 · 11-30-2005, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 420sx

practice makes perfect.

not unless if your practicing the wrong thing...

form the habit of being meticulous and take your time...

most importantly, enjoy what your doing...you wont learn as much if your dreading the experience and rushing to make it end...

driftyour40 · 11-30-2005, 09:56 PM

My mom is ASE certified, my dad was a mechanic, and my uncle is a master teck, I've been helping/working on cars since I could walk, and with my dad it was something I HAD to do. So, you might say I was born into it.

Oh, and I own a 240

Ritz S14 · 11-30-2005, 11:02 PM

My dad had his shop since 1987.. That's 18 years! So I picked up a few things here and there. I'm also ASE A4, A6, A8, and L1 certified.

*NemeGuero* · 11-30-2005, 11:17 PM

Oh yeah?? Well my dad could beat up your dad! lol

Been driving anything with wheels since I was 11. Started ripping ATV's apart... then cars.. oil changes, to starter replacements, to timing belts, to tranny swaps, motor swaps, turbo installs.. etc

airsoft · 11-30-2005, 11:27 PM

i learned a lot of stuff after a timing chain kit with no help other than one Auto32 PCC class.

SUCCESSSS with patience and following directions : )

Trial and Error

Nan Desu Ka?! · 11-30-2005, 11:36 PM

i was the kid that tore my RC car apart, just to put it back together. RC cars, Radios, Lawnmowers... you get the picture. also, i will be taking some auto classes at school this semester... maybe even get ASE certified for the hell of it.

knowledge is power!
"did you know that??.... NOW YOU KNOW!!" (<--if anyone can tell me where that line is from, ill give them a cookie.)

Andrew Bohan · 11-30-2005, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrmephistopheles

Practice - works with spelling too.

or if you live in england, canada, or australia, or south africa maybe, and india, etc...

ALTRNTV · 11-30-2005, 11:39 PM

I'm one of the ones who learned by buying a 240.

So far.. I've swapped countless engines (SR and KA), changed brakes, pads, rotors, suspension work, cooling system, exhaust, oil change, etc.

breakindrifts · 12-01-2005, 02:08 AM

Get an FSM and starting beating the shit out of your car, you'll learn. All the info is here on the intarwebs.

Var · 12-01-2005, 02:09 AM

I used to me a better mechanic than i am now..i guess they were survival skills. now i just have one of my mechanics do stuff for me.

blu808 · 12-01-2005, 02:22 AM

I used to take apart everything that my parents owned when i was a kid.

Yes they were allways pissed.

CaoBoY · 12-01-2005, 03:41 AM

pop's handed me a starter, and said "PUT IT IN OR DIE!"...so i figured out how to put it in and went from there.

scir16v · 12-01-2005, 05:04 AM

You think 240's teach you how to work on a car, try owning a VW.

420sx · 12-01-2005, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by i'm driftaholic

or if you live in england, canada, or australia, or south africa maybe, and india, etc...

werd!

*NemeGuero* · 12-01-2005, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scir16v

You think 240's teach you how to work on a car, try owning a VW.

Heck yah! My friend has a '67 VW beetle and we rip that thing apart ALL the time. We just adjusted his valves last weekend.

!Zar! · 12-01-2005, 12:06 PM

I always tore things apart I shouldnt have been. And my dad was into fixing up cars and motor swaps. But what really did it for me was when I decided to work on the bimmer in the garage. Swapped out the whole coolant system and did the brakes. I was proud being as how I was like 10 or 11.

i8yourfwd · 12-01-2005, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dorifto?!

i was the kid that tore my RC car apart, just to put it back together. RC cars, Radios, Lawnmowers... you get the picture. also, i will be taking some auto classes at school this semester... maybe even get ASE certified for the hell of it.

knowledge is power!
"did you know that??.... NOW YOU KNOW!!" (<--if anyone can tell me where that line is from, ill give them a cookie.)

Bill nye the science guy. Where's my cookie bitch.

Learning about cars is something that won't happen overnight. Just fix things when they break, if you don't know, have a friend help. You'll start to catch on and do more things yourself.

Romeyo07 · 12-01-2005, 12:32 PM

I hung around a lot of the car folks that new what they were doing, then I bought a 92 eagle talon tsi awd. Rebuilt it and got her running. Learned a lot about cars with that one. I miss it.

**mrmephistopheles** · 12-01-2005, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by i'm driftaholic

or if you live in england, canada, or australia, or south africa maybe, and india, etc...

Yeah, but they're wrong since we're Americans!
[/stupid elitist American attitude]

No shit, Sherlock.

11-30-2005, 01:07 PM	#1
Mervyn Zilvia Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Uh Posts: 277 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	How did you learn those mechanical skills? I'm not really good at identifying most parts around the car and the engine and I really dont know how to fix/install most of the parts. I'm interested in majoring mechanics and auto repair pretty soon so I was wondering how did you guys really learn all those things? Where can I start learning?

11-30-2005, 02:01 PM	#4
TheSquidd Post Whore! Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Where dirt goes to die. Posts: 3,165 Trader Rating: (7) Rides Gallery: TheSquidd Feedback Score: 7 reviews	bought a 240. __________________ www.squidd.org www.violent-running.org

11-30-2005, 02:14 PM	#7
420sx Post Whore! Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Texas Age: 42 Posts: 3,960 Trader Rating: (0) Rides Gallery: 420sx Feedback Score: 0 reviews	practise makes perfect. __________________ hydropgrahics! ls1......

11-30-2005, 11:17 PM	#15
NemeGuero No more nissan. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: RAIN, Washington. Age: 40 Posts: 8,132 Trader Rating: (10) Rides Gallery: NemeGuero Feedback Score: 10 reviews	Oh yeah?? Well my dad could beat up your dad! lol Been driving anything with wheels since I was 11. Started ripping ATV's apart... then cars.. oil changes, to starter replacements, to timing belts, to tranny swaps, motor swaps, turbo installs.. etc __________________

11-30-2005, 11:36 PM	#17
Nan Desu Ka?! Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Age: 38 Posts: 1,124 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	i was the kid that tore my RC car apart, just to put it back together. RC cars, Radios, Lawnmowers... you get the picture. also, i will be taking some auto classes at school this semester... maybe even get ASE certified for the hell of it. knowledge is power! "did you know that??.... NOW YOU KNOW!!" (<--if anyone can tell me where that line is from, ill give them a cookie.) __________________ Norcal-240sx.net

11-30-2005, 01:10 PM	#2
Andrew Bohan Post Whore! Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Ohio Posts: 8,331 Trader Rating: (2) Feedback Score: 2 reviews	i learned by some shit breaking and having to fix it. then kept doing that. then had some shit i wanted to install so i figured it out. and kept doing both. now i know

11-30-2005, 02:04 PM	#5
Irukandji Post Whore! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Compton Posts: 4,268 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	^ bought a 240 with all my hard earned money. didn't have a lot of $ to take it to a shop for repairs so I searched, followed what I read, and voila...

11-30-2005, 02:07 PM	#6
-usmd-180sx Zilvia Addict Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: CA- San Jose Posts: 649 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	"Knowing is half the battle, G. I. JOE!"

11-30-2005, 03:04 PM	#10
YakuzaS14 Zilvia Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: CA Posts: 167 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	taking some auto classes help too

11-30-2005, 09:56 PM	#13
driftyour40 Zilvia Addict Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: SoCal Age: 43 Posts: 644 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	My mom is ASE certified, my dad was a mechanic, and my uncle is a master teck, I've been helping/working on cars since I could walk, and with my dad it was something I HAD to do. So, you might say I was born into it. Oh, and I own a 240

11-30-2005, 11:02 PM	#14
Ritz S14 Post Whore! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: C A L I F O R N I A Age: 43 Posts: 3,586 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	My dad had his shop since 1987.. That's 18 years! So I picked up a few things here and there. I'm also ASE A4, A6, A8, and L1 certified.

11-30-2005, 11:27 PM	#16
airsoft Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: So Cal Posts: 1,231 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	i learned a lot of stuff after a timing chain kit with no help other than one Auto32 PCC class. SUCCESSSS with patience and following directions : ) Trial and Error

11-30-2005, 11:39 PM	#19
ALTRNTV Post Whore! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Western Conference Posts: 9,429 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I'm one of the ones who learned by buying a 240. So far.. I've swapped countless engines (SR and KA), changed brakes, pads, rotors, suspension work, cooling system, exhaust, oil change, etc.

12-01-2005, 02:08 AM	#20
breakindrifts Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Agoura Hills, CA Age: 36 Posts: 1,006 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Get an FSM and starting beating the shit out of your car, you'll learn. All the info is here on the intarwebs. __________________ [

12-01-2005, 02:09 AM	#21
Var Post Whore! Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Norcal Age: 43 Posts: 5,032 Trader Rating: (0) Rides Gallery: Var Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I used to me a better mechanic than i am now..i guess they were survival skills. now i just have one of my mechanics do stuff for me. __________________ Hi

12-01-2005, 02:22 AM	#22
blu808 Post Whore! Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Campbell, Ca Age: 42 Posts: 5,010 Trader Rating: (3) Feedback Score: 3 reviews	I used to take apart everything that my parents owned when i was a kid. Yes they were allways pissed. __________________

12-01-2005, 03:41 AM	#23
CaoBoY Zilvia Addict Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Central Valley Posts: 916 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	pop's handed me a starter, and said "PUT IT IN OR DIE!"...so i figured out how to put it in and went from there. __________________ pulling outta the game: http://www.zilvia.net/f/showthread.p...wpost&t=119867 parting out, just let me know.

12-01-2005, 05:04 AM	#24
scir16v Zilvia Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: St. Louis Posts: 171 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	You think 240's teach you how to work on a car, try owning a VW. __________________ Scott Driving Angle Motorsports

12-01-2005, 12:06 PM	#27
!Zar! Post Whore! Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: North Korea Posts: 14,579 Trader Rating: (27) Feedback Score: 27 reviews	I always tore things apart I shouldnt have been. And my dad was into fixing up cars and motor swaps. But what really did it for me was when I decided to work on the bimmer in the garage. Swapped out the whole coolant system and did the brakes. I was proud being as how I was like 10 or 11. __________________

12-01-2005, 12:32 PM	#29
Romeyo07 Zilvia Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Woodstock, GA Age: 43 Posts: 297 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I hung around a lot of the car folks that new what they were doing, then I bought a 92 eagle talon tsi awd. Rebuilt it and got her running. Learned a lot about cars with that one. I miss it.