Calling the experienced: Body work, Paint, Engine, Audio, etc. I want knowledge.

[XaznPKdogX]

This is to all the experienced in each field of automobiles. How did you learn? What did you read? What is good to read for your specific area of expertise?

I want to be good myself and I know it won't be easy unless I gain experience. But everyone knows that book smart is essential before hands-on, well most. I'm only 19 and I can't afford the labor to have my car checked, repaired, and all that other stuff.

Recommend anything. If you are not an expert than give what you know. Any advice or piece of information is appreciated.

Anything about automobiles - - Paint, bodywork, chassy, engine, suspension, rims & tires, electronics, audio, and so forth. Even driving techniques if you would like. I just made this thread so I can learn and anyone else who wants to read this.

We should make a sticky for each area. Thanks in advance.

[AntiHero]

I just ripped off all the moldings on my car. I am going to be painting them with my dad at work. (Metal fabricator shop) But we also have a compressor. So I just bought a spray gun and some paint. We have all the other stuff at work (thinner, clearcoat, etc etc) But if your painting moldings you have to buy a hardener ( i forget the name of it) so that it sticks to the plastic. Also have to clean them get all oil off or anything that will screw with the paint. Then we prime them and paint them. The shop is way to dusty tho i always get dust in the paint. So im trying to make a little shop outside my house. I also made aluminum diamond plated floor mats for my car. Took the mats and just traced the shape onto the aluminum , cut it and bent it so that it fit. Granted it helps if you have all the right tools. Duno if this is gonna help ya at all but ill just post it anywayz.
-Jeremye

[xel]

Get a Bentley manual if u want to do repear work. It will really help. It has all the specs, torque settings, diagrams etc.

[Fissionx]

good intro if you didn't allready know... http://auto.howstuffworks.com/engine.htm
Go to a book store and just start reading car books or magizines.

[DJ]

In Ukraine thru the high school you have to study stuff like phisics, algebra geometry, and lots of other stuff. I really liked classes with physics (where you had to read diagrams and make stuff like running snake from 100 light bolbs or radio), or class where you had to do something with your bare hands.

So when I got my hand on my first car 89 Acura Integra, I did everything to it: body work, engine, audio, you name it.

Ok. Body work: After I've wrecked my car twice in 3 days, I had to make it run again. So I got my self couple body hummers from Auto Zone, 2 gal of bondo and lots of sanding paper. After 2 weeks of working on the car (with 3/4" difference in width on each side) the car looked like ...........a car, Not a smashed can anymore.
Then I got some of those cans, where you fill it with paint and then fill the air from the compressor and you can paint the same way as in the shop (I've lost that can later on and could not find another one like that ever since). After the first try my car looked like an army truck paint. At least you could not see Bondo

Same with a audio. 18 year old kid, working couple hours for Safeway, trying to save money everywhere.

Just try it. Get some beater and do the test work...

[Irish5.7]

practice on a Honda

[J Clark]

i work at a local car audio shop. books like the Car Stereo Cookbook have some good stuff. the best way to learn is hands-on, but those books arent bad.

[mad-ass]

hrmm..an 17 year old giving elders an advise..haha...

straight to the point! i only get Sports Compact Car magz sence this starting year because i think it has the most info about the engin and styling...instead of the Import Tuner where most pplz get it to look at the HOT ASS AZN GIRLS in g-strings and thungs..(me too some times) and experince wise...keep adding stuff onto your car..u'll learn some how just like me

[MaximaRider]

Hang around these boards and forums long enough and not only will you learn things, you'll make new friends to help you out and teach you things when you start modding. Senior year of highschool i wouldn't have attempted doing my suspension or wiring up a stereo, 2 years later im swappin suspensions in under 2 hours, rotating my own rims/tires, cleaning my own filters, wiring my own system and building trunk setups with friends. Remember, we all had to start somewhere.
-Arnaud

[zcghost]

Just remember start small dont start anything huge at first if you are unexperienced because if you go too deep you may go too far to repair yourself so just get comfortable and if you arent comfortable dont be afraid to ask someone else for help, its better than ****in up ur baby, you know what i mean?

[DJ]

Just remember it is never too late to start anything.

[XaznPKdogX]

What tools are good to have around to do these stuff?
I know wrenches, screwdrivers, jacklifts. Do you guys have air compressors? How come your car looks like army paint, no clear coat? What ramps should I get cause M3's are pretty low?

I know how engines work. I took a basics class. Well it wasn't suppose to be basic but the teacher was a numbskull. He had a lot of tools around. O-ring squeezer, etc.

More info would be good, if anyone wants to participate =).

I really want a good audio book. Not too good with electronics. When theres too many wires, I get confused. I can plug all the wires for a TV/Vcr/dvd/and that big thing that I can't think of the name now.

[M3 Dream's]

Get a job at a body shop if you really want to learn. When I was 13 I worked for my uncle over the summer, and I really learned a lot about body repair, things that you wouldnt really have known through wite-ups and common conversation.

[hamannHM3]

i just work on my car all the time. buy new parts and try to instal them myself! and when ur neighbors go outta town work on their cars, convince your friends u have experience and work on their cars! practice practice practice