how much do i need to know about "cars" to have a project?
Posted by CableMartini@reddit | projectcar | View on Reddit | 27 comments
i know it sounds stupid, but im very interested in the idea of a project car, and i=m very willing to do the research, though definitely there will be a limit, on doing some, if not most, of the work on my own. im pretty young, and this isnt happening anytime soon, just kinda wondering if i need to be a car supergenious if i wanna have a nice car that goes fast lol
corporaterebel@reddit
If you start with a common car with a large support group: Mustangs, Camaros, Corvettes, VW Beetle, and Miata's then you don't need to know much..especially if you are in the USA. You can start with zero and go from there...
If you are doing a Citroen, Trabant, or obscure JDM vehicle...then you gonna have a hard time with zero.
CableMartini@reddit (OP)
the car I'm looking at playing with now is like an 02 or 03 mustand, alot of people don't like them, but I like them lol. thoughts on that? I don't plan on doing much with body work, just under the hood work
series-hybrid@reddit
Cars from the 1960's are good to learn on, but its easy to accidentally get one that needs everything redone. If the frame and body have significant rust, it will never be worth what it would cost in money and man-hours needed to get it in good operating shape.
Content_Election_218@reddit
How do you think pple learn about cars?
AgonizingGasPains@reddit
No, it just takes longer as it's "OJT". Take your time. My boy built his car from a wreck starting when he was 14 and it was ready in time for him to get his license at 16. He didn't have previous experience, and he did it mostly on his own.
AgonizingGasPains@reddit
NEVER think "that tool is too expensive". If you need an obstruction wrench set, buy it. Longer breaker bar? Buy it. I'm 60 and still have tools I bought when I was a teen. You will get your money's worth out of them and then some. Just don't overpay (Snap-On for example). Sears Craftsman and Harbor Freight Icon line are very well made.
HuyFongFood@reddit
Nothing. Hell, look at my cousin. He’s got tons of projects and he don’t know shit!
Anyway, to be like many of us, just park it wherever is least convenient and most horrifying to your neighbors. Let it rot until it disappears or is towed away. Rinse, repeat. Make sure to squirrel away random parts to find several unrelated projects later just for the lolz.
rudbri93@reddit
you can learn on a project, but the key to not ending up with a heap you threw a shitton of money at and no way out is having goals, knowing what you want, and researching your choses chassis.
Binford6100User@reddit
Best answer here.
All you need to have a project is a checkbook and a place to store it.
To have a successful project, start with the end in mind and work towards that.
Secret-Ad-7909@reddit
According to most Internet forums you have to already know everything before you can start on a major project. Mechanic training doesn’t even count, only decades of professional experience.
I hate car communities sometimes.
Aleutian_Solution@reddit
Everyone starts with nothing and builds up from there.
lotusluke@reddit
Nothing, I learned it all the hard way.
WildKarrdesEmporium@reddit
You need to know how to use Google, have patience, and expect to take up to 4x more time doing it than the guy who's explaining how to do it.
Car Mechanic Simulator is a fun game (I think) that can help you get a general idea of how cars come apart and go back together. I recommend getting the newest version, as so far, each iteration has had huge improvements over the previous versions.
CableMartini@reddit (OP)
I love both car mechanic simulator, and my summer car (though the later I stopped playing because my god if it isn't buggy)
it wasn't until I watched a multiple hour long video of a guy putting together a BMW engine, that I realized how unrealistic these games might be lol
WildKarrdesEmporium@reddit
Yeah, it's a general overview of how to work on a car, not an in depth study. And WD-40 rarely loose s a rusted bolt in real life like it does in the games, lol.
too_much_covfefe_man@reddit
My first project was an RX-7 I knew nothing about
Ended up swapping the engine with a later model rotary
If you think about it less as "car" and more as a collection of small systems it seems less daunting to get a handle on
CableMartini@reddit (OP)
that's always been my favorite part about not just cars, but most "engineering" things. nothing is anything, really. it's just a bunch of smaller, slightly less co.pmicated stuff, throw together is such a way to make a thing do something. that's why originally I wanted to get into mechanic work. but after doing more research into the field, and talking to other mechanics, im.more comfortable keeping it as a hobby, and something I'm simply interested in lmao
Ccrimmins89@reddit
I have always worked on my own vehicles, not engine or transmission work but suspension and brakes etc. But would definitely never call myself an expert or anything. But I bought my first project 2 years ago and im about 75% done, full rebuild, took it down to the frame and sanded and repainted (if I did another one I would have it blasted and powder coated, cause that shit took a long ass time and wasn't worth the work.)
The two biggest pieces of advice I can give you is..
that it takes a long time, you need dedication to complete. If your someone who is busy all the time on the weekends then it'll just sit in your garage like a ton of other people's projects. I know that's obvious but trust me, its takes more work and dedication than you think.
You are going to mess up. Like break shit and have to redo it and waste money buying shit you didn't have to. It sucks but get used to shit not going how you planned. I made a dumb expensive mistake, I destroyed my front differential just assuming it was normal bolts, but really they were left handed bolts. so like an idiot I took my impact wrench and broke bolts on an expensive part in my front differential. I was dumb but I learned from that.
hemibearcuda@reddit
Start with a running, driveable project. Not a "barn find" that hasn't seen daylight or asphalt in 20 years.
Also, avoid major rust at any cost. Especially rust through. (Holes in the metal).
Even the most experienced car guys are rarely willing to deal with frame repair and major body work.
Choose a car with a very huge aftermarket following. Something you can almost build from a catalog of parts.
JustinTime_vz@reddit
Literally 0, as long as you are willing to put time in work/learn, and spend a little money
Sniper22106@reddit
None.
Dive right in and see what happens. Worst that happens is you break something
juwyro@reddit
Really depends on what you want to do. Basic bolt on and maintenance? Not a whole lot. Engine swaps? Way more.
nopester24@reddit
hmmm... well, lets take it from the top:
having a project car is essentially saying "an extra car i want to Build / Restore / Flip / play around with on the weeknds"
So you do need to at least know the basics of how cars work and simple mechanics and maintenance skills to get it going. You could always just take it to a shop and let THEM do all the work for you, but thats very expensive and honestly not as fun if you really want to build it yourself. But its all about skill level. If you dont have the skills or tools or time & money, then you pay someone to do it.
HOWEVER, in having a project car, in order to be successful at it, you NEED TO HAVE A PLAN.
more often than not, you'll see thproject cars laying around for years on end or abandoned because the builder didnt have a PLAN for it, just an idea and hopes and dreams. But sometimes even a great plan can be derailed by life events, and that just happens sometimes.
Its kinda like going on a vacation. You need to know where you're going to plan the travel, set a budget, activities, sequence, dates. You cant just say im going on vacation and then go wandering around town aimlessly. Project cars work that way too.
What is your goal for the car? racing? selling it? car shows? cruising on the weekends? These all have different budgets and waypoinits you need to hit to get to that goal.
No for the REALITY stuff:
Project cars ARE NOT and SHOULD NOT be primary daily drivers. its meant to be worked on, not driven until its safe to do so. That being the case, always start there. Depending on what you get, first thing to do is make the car safe to drive by doing the maintenance and checking the safety systems (tires, brakes, headlights, etc).
Once the car is safe to move, THEN start on the things you want to change. Dont be one of those guys that swaps a 600 hp TT V8 and the car cant even shift into reverse to get out of the driveway and the windshield is cracked and the tires are bald. make it safe first, then do the fun stuff. Make a list of all the things you want to do then prioritize them and save up the money to do them, one by one if needed.
i think thats enough for now, thats the basic stuff anyway. Otherwise, look around, get ideas. go to car shows and car meets and find local car clubs in your area. talk with folks and get to know what you like so you know what and how to build it. and get your hands dirty best way to learn is just to get in there and do it. but always be safe.
Mysteriouskyle@reddit
Just do a fuck ton of research and watching YouTube to find out what type of build you’re going for. IMO it’s a mixed bag of humbling, frustrating, and infatuation cause sometimes shit doesn’t go the way you want and mistakes happen. Start off with an idea of what you want and slowly progress from there, it’s really easy to spend a fuck ton of money so budgeting is key.
All in all you just gotta send it and get to it, every car guy has their limits as to how much work they’re willing to do vs spending money for someone else to do it. You gotta find your limit and you’ll only know when you’re there. I hate doing wiring so I’ll gladly pay someone else even tho I went to school and know how to do it.
oppositelock27@reddit
As someone who started an overly ambitious project car in high school and was forced to abandon it after a sizable investment of time and money, you need to know enough to not get in over your head. Start with a running car that's at least quasi-reliable. Learn basic maintenance first and keep modifications to simple bolt-on stuff that you can reverse later. Don't try to turn you first car into a nine second dragster, especially if you're expecting to get your to school or work and back.
Whitworth_73@reddit
Not much, just have to love them really. There's so much good (sometimes bad) information available now on youtube and forums that chances are any problem you encounter will be solved in detail by someone already. Helps to have a friend or neighbor that wrenches to kind of mentor you when you start out. Figuring out electrical and carbs can be kind of tricky. I think old beater trucks are the best to learn on since there's a lot of room to work in the engine bays, the systems are pretty bare bones, plus the patina is usually accepting of inadvertent wrenching damage. But pick a model you are excited about and get started!
notalwayswrong87@reddit
It depends what you buy. But start basic, take your time, and read how you do things. I've surprised myself with what I've been able to do with basic tools and patience. A friend of mine when no formal automotive training has now done two engine swaps.
It's much easier if you don't need it to get you to work in the morning.