The process of learning

Excuse the rambling. I decided to share some of my thoughts on learning to work on cars and how the GRM community has helped me recently. I have written this post twice before and deleted it. I am not sure if it will help anyone on the forum, but I would love to hear everyone's thoughts.

Over the years, I have been fortunate enough to be surrounded by people that love to work on cars. My mother used to teach auto repair at the local community college when I was younger. We always had project cars around the house. The first thing that I learned at an early age was to maintain your tools. I would spend time after every project to clean and put away each wrench, socket, and ratchet. While this may seem like a small thing (albeit annoying at the time), it taught me a valuable lesson in respecting my tools.

The next thing that I learned was that having the right tool for the job makes all the difference. I was told this many times over the years but did not appreciate it. I always had a large selection of tools, so I did not run into this issue until later in life. When I was on my own in Texas (thousands of miles away from family and friends) I was starting to build my own tool collection as I worked on my own projects. There were several times that I refused to buy tools and pushed forward with what I have. Over the last 10 years, I have realized that the right tools make every job easier, faster, and with less busted knuckles. I will always buy the right tools within reason (I really hate specialized tools that I will only use once).

As time moved forward, I picked up a couple project cars. My interest in cars has always been there but it has meandered more than a drunk guy riding a donkey. I guess you can say that I have trouble staying focused on one project. I have a firm grasp on mechanical components, engine mechanics, and a large portion of rebuilds of various parts. However, I still run into things that scare me. I find myself not working on something because I am uncertain how it will go, I am not sure of the outcome, or haven't done it before. Once I dig into it, 99% of the time I realize that it was a completely unfounded fear.

Why am I telling you this? Well, part of it is my coping mechanism for procrastinating at work. More importantly, it is how the GRM community has pushed me past these fears. I had the pleasure of following many of the projects on the forum for years. I recently have met some really cool guys from the forum at an AutoX event that have helped talk me through some of my challenges and even pitched in to help me work on the cars.

Regardless of my age and how many years I have worked on cars, I am finding that learning is a process that never ends. There is always something new that I will learn and something that I will come across that I will need to ask someone. Having a community of people that are open minded and willing to help others is something that cannot be replaced. I hope that I can successfully pass on my knowledge to my children by spending time working on projects together.

Right now, I am learning how to weld properly. It is a skill that I want to learn, it is needed for my projects, and is useful in many ways. I only fear that someone will look at my work and say "The previous owner on this car had no clue what he was doing!" I will push through my fear and learn to master this skill.

I want to hear from others in the community:

Where did you learn to work on cars? What advice did you learn along the way that you would pass on? How do you overcome the fear of the unknown?

Working on cars......on my own, Dad was an architect. When presented with a seemingly impossible task, step away and take a moment to ascertain whether this is something you actually want to address versus paying the pros, in most cases costs less in the long run. Welding......practice practice practice. 

"The previous owner on this car had no clue what he was doing!"

As long as the past tense no longer applies, I don't see a problem with the above statement.

I never did, and still really haven't a ton.  I'm in my mid-40s and have wanted to learn since I was a little kid.  My parents didn't teach me and for any varying number of excuses, I didn't do it on my own in my younger years.  I'm now finishing my 6th season racing in LeMons.  I learned a lot when I first started from our team captain (and fellow GRMer) and it was fantastic.  I loved it.  Certainly didn't learn how to rebuild an engine by myself, but he taught me enough that I was no longer uncomfortable with a wrench in my hand and now I'm not afraid to get my hands dirty at the race.  I now live far away from the rest of the team and am sort of back to not progressing.  Reality for me is that family time always takes precedent.  I've tried over the years to have projects, but they all failed mostly due to lack of time.  When I lived near the rest of my team, I would force myself to leave the house and spend a few hours working on the race car with my teammates.  But trying to have a car for me to work by myself in my own house simply isn't realistic.  I get very little free time. In that free time I do get, I'd chose to spend it with the kids (or my wife, since my kids are starting to get older and often play with friends) instead of out and working on the car...and yes, that's my own choice, and I wouldn't change it.  Family first.  I've only got 24 hours in a day, and trying to learn by doing things by myself in 20 minute chunks that happen once every few weeks just doesn't work...I tried...the truck in my avatar sat in my basement for almost 2 years.  It needed an engine swap.  I certainly couldn't have done that by myself, but there were things I was going to do to it to get it ready for the swap.  I think I spent maybe 3 hours total in it in those 2 years...just never found/took the time. 

It doesn't mean I don't have interest in wrenching, I still do...a lot.  But the thought of me being well versed in it something that likely isn't going to happen, and I'm OK with that. 

I knew what I liked and knew what I wanted. When I put a header on my 1.3 Suzuki, I just took the ratchet and undid bolts until it came off.

That’s  how it went until current day. I just want to get from A to B and dive in.

I took auto shop in high school, and went to college for engineering, but that is the extent of my education- everything else has been a constant cycle of trial, error, research, and improvisation.  I think I've broken more tools than most people will ever own.

It is good to see others chime in here. I definitely agree that I do not need to learn everything (which is obvious if you do any work with me). I have found it difficult to stay motivated and push myself to work on something that I am not familiar with all by myself. Having a community of people that can give encouragement or share my misery with helps a lot. My current projects may not be very interesting to a lot of people but posting on the forum about them forces me to keep going and updating.

@759NRNG and @NOHOME: Welding will take a lot of practice. Luckily, I have a crusty Chevelle that will give me a lot of metal replacement to practice with.

@Klayfish: I completely agree about making family 1st priority. I have that same mentality. Luckily, I have enough spare time when the kid is in school or the wife is busy that I can spend my spare time in the garage. Also, having a hobby keeps me sane.

@ebonyandivory: One step at a time is how I have been learning too. Take it apart, fix it, and reassemble.

@¯\_(ツ)_/¯ : First off, your username cracks me up every time I see it. The fact that you got to take auto shop in school is great. I wish they offered that when I was going to school.

tedroach said:

@759NRNG and @NOHOME: Welding will take a lot of practice. Luckily, I have a crusty Chevelle that will give me a lot of metal replacement to practice with.

From one rookie to another, here's my take on that.  Like using any other adhesive, "metal glue" is all about learning technique and how to apply it to this particular job (e.g., welding rusty 18 Ga Chevelle floor back together will be different than welding rusty 14 Ga Chevelle rockers back together).   Accept that the people putting beautiful pictures up online either do it all day every day, and/or every waking spare moment in their free time.   Also accept that as an amateur, you will quickly degrade if you don't practice for a while, so if you can't do it consistently, do a bit of practice to get back into the swing before doing something you need to present. 

Finally, start at the least visible part of your project and work outwards..  Even if it's not the most convenient to reach.  It turns out easy access won't make your first welds look that much better :)

759NRNG said:

Working on cars......on my own, Dad was an architect. When presented with a seemingly impossible task, step away and take a moment to ascertain whether this is something you actually want to address versus paying the pros, in most cases costs less in the long run. Welding......practice practice practice. 

My dad was a veterinarian. If it didn't bleed, he couldn't fix it. Haynes manuals, that one greasy gearhead at school who happened to be a library aid the same hour as I had library study hall, some family friends. Learning to wrench has been like falling down a hill. Once I got started, it kind of hurt, but momentum kept me going. 

mazdeuce - Seth said:

My dad was a veterinarian. If it didn't bleed, he couldn't fix it. Haynes manuals, that one greasy gearhead at school who happened to be a library aid the same hour as I had library study hall, some family friends. Learning to wrench has been like falling down a hill. Once I got started, it kind of hurt, but momentum kept me going. 

Tuck and roll!

WonkoTheSane said:

tedroach said:

@759NRNG and @NOHOME: Welding will take a lot of practice. Luckily, I have a crusty Chevelle that will give me a lot of metal replacement to practice with.

From one rookie to another, here's my take on that.  Like using any other adhesive, "metal glue" is all about learning technique and how to apply it to this particular job (e.g., welding rusty 18 Ga Chevelle floor back together will be different than welding rusty 14 Ga Chevelle rockers back together).   Accept that the people putting beautiful pictures up online either do it all day every day, and/or every waking spare moment in their free time.   Also accept that as an amateur, you will quickly degrade if you don't practice for a while, so if you can't do it consistently, do a bit of practice to get back into the swing before doing something you need to present. 

Finally, start at the least visible part of your project and work outwards..  Even if it's not the most convenient to reach.  It turns out easy access won't make your first welds look that much better :)

I have done a lot of research on welding. I have read books, articles, and forums. There are tons of tutorial videos and other resources. I have finally reached the point that I am comfortable with trying to weld, even though I haven't practiced it enough. It was just one of the areas that was intimidating at first. Really it is just melting metal together. Ensuring you have enough penetration is the key. I just have to practice, test, practice, adjust, practice, grind, and keep going. You do have a great point about the different gauge metal and starting in place that is not easy to see. Maybe I will start a small build thread on learning to weld when the time comes. :)

I learned to wrench with a bit of watching others (in person, YouTube, etc), but most of it was just taking the leap and going for it.  Start on small stuff, and work your way up.

My first introduction was a high school friend's 1st gen Mustang.  My friend along with his dad rebuilt the engine, did a TON of bodywork, etc.  I helped out here and there.

Most of my "just go for it" mentality has come from Wreck Racing (exhibit A, Honda Insight challenge car).  When new members are hesitant to work on the car, we remind them that us old guys don't have any idea what we're doing either.  We're making it up as we go along, just like them.

One thing that has been immensely helpful is planning out and thinking all the way through a job before I do it.  What's every bolt I need to touch for this? What order do I do this in?  When somebody asks me how I knew how to do something so smoothly on the first try, my response is that I've already done the job in my head three or four times.  If you've already done it in your head, you already know exactly what tools and parts you'll need (but not which bolts you'll break and need to get out).

@Matthew Kennedy: I am finding out quickly on the Porsche 944 that I have to think ahead of how this jigsaw puzzle comes apart. Going through it in advance helps a lot.

My dad was an ase certified mechanic that worked in a garage specializing in air cooled vw's and drag raced gm products almost every weekend so i learned by helping him, then meeting friends who are also into cars and learning about diffrent things over time. I took auto tech for 2 years of highschool and there i learned how to work some more technologically advanced equipment. Unlike alot of my friends if i dont know something ill ask. My boss has been doing bodywork/full builds for over 40 years and a good friends dad is about the closest guy ive ever met too a mechanical genius on a budget.

Welding is the next thing on my list too learn properly, i have to have a project in my life. Its what i do when i need some relaxing alone time. Having a family has slowed down my pace and my budget but i still love too learn and accomplish new things.

I starting wrenching on my Schwinn bicycle- my dad showed how to use the correct tools for the job.  

I then helped my dad work on our family cars and then my buddies and then my own car.  

At one point in college my Datsun needed a head gasket and I made the decision to take it all apart and stage the pieces and then put it all back together in the opposite way.  It was beyond my dads skill and I ended up teaching him something that day.  

I took fours years of Machine shop in high school so I wasn’t too afraid of tools or machines. 

At 55 years of age my wife still questions if I know what it’s like to hire out a mechanic or plumber to do something for myself.   

I come from a large family. If it broke you fixed it. If you did not have it you made it. I had 2 older brothers that were in to cars and a third that was into bikes. I was using tools to modify my trike when I was 4 or 5. As soon as I learned to ride bicycles, I was taught to fix it. Mostly for me it was watch someone do something and remember what they did. I use manuals as a guide, as I have found some to be inaccurate. As for welding I agree with the others, lots of practice.

What I'VE learned with MIG is shield gas(co2/argon) is YOUR BEST FRIEND......yes flux core may be less $$$$ but when it comes to wanting presentable results(less grinding boogers) spend the $$$$ for the bottle & regulator/gauge (5psi)  .

How I learn things:

berkeley something up.

Fix it.

Remember.

My parents are surfers, they own a surf shop, they're not car people. I started liking cars and engines and stuff in my early teens. When I got my drivers' license at 16 I went out and bought a VW Beetle. I ended up developing a relationship with the ACVW mechanic I bought the car from and got the idea that I was going to build an engine for the car(and I counted it towards a high school credit). My learning cars was fixing my beetle. Building an engine, building it again after screwing up, suspension, stereo wiring, I fixed everything on that stupid car. My dad helped me make fiberglass floor pans. It was cool.

Moving forward a few years I had sold the beetle and bought a mercury comet then sold the comet and was driving my mom's old subaru, not really doing a lot of car learning other than maintenance. Then in 2013 my best friend and a group of friends and friends of friends started racing Lemons. It has been crazy how much we've all learned from the car and how much more comfortable I now feel working on my daily driver(s). I've gotten to learn some body work, painting, welding, wiring and I've upped my comfort with the evils of fuel injection.

I’ve learned a lot from this place and from hanging out at Chump races with Logdog and co.

Everything else has been learned by bumbling around, taking things apart, and hoping I remember how they go back together.

Enjoy your 454.  Hope it gives you a kick in the pants to get the chevelle done 

Patrick said:Enjoy your 454.  Hope it gives you a kick in the pants to get the chevelle done 

Yes ,looking forward to some Big Block open air Vert madness!!!!

When it comes time to start welding sheetmetal, let me know. Me and my harbor freight tools will come and give you a practical crash course in melting good german steel with recycled American battleships. 

As far as learning new stuff: it builds on old knowledge.  And being willing to put the time in to research, ask questions, and a little trial and error.  I learned to weld by taking a class at the local tech college. I learned to fabricate from project binky and working next to stafford1500.  I learned to wire by melting mopar E36 M3 every few weeks. 

tedroach said:

@759NRNG and @NOHOME: Welding will take a lot of practice. Luckily, I have a crusty Chevelle that will give me a lot of metal replacement to practice with.

 

 

.

Not sure why you say that. Welding tin is actually pretty easy. Time-wise, its a two beer learning curve for me to teach Ooog the Shop Gorilla to butt-weld tin. The only skill required is the ability to count to one without using your fingers. ( cause you need two hands to weld tin)

Have a read of this tutorial that I did for the Volvo crowd. It covers pretty much every single aspect of what you will do when repairing sheet metal from drilling spot welds to welding spot-welds and butt-welding new tin in. I would expect a novice to be doing any or all of this on day one of the job.  http://forums.swedespeed.com/showthread.php?327681-Sill-replacement-Easy-for-the-most-part

Your Chevelle is blessed with an abundance of good quality repair panels. Take advantage of that and buy the best available.  Re-fabricating cheap panels to fit is a soul crushing endeavor that is only justified if there is no option.

@NOHOME: Thank you for the link to the tutorial. I will definitely take a look. As with anything, practice will make it easier and more efficient. Welding may not be complicated, but you do have a variety of speed, temperature, metal thickness, etc. I think that I just need to get out in the garage and do it. Then I can practice how to make my welds stronger and cleaner.

@759NRNG: I have a Lincoln MIG with shielding gas, so I think that I will be ok in regards to equipment. My research led me down that path, especially if I was going to continue welding over the next 10+ years.

@Patrick and @759NRNG: It looks like I will have to start my project build post on the Chevelle convertible sooner rather than later. This 454 is a beast! I am excited to get that ready to drop in the car and fire it up!

@Dusterbd13: I will definitely take you up on the help when welding. I am always looking for pointers and someone to chat with while I tear stuff up. Let me know if you want to hit the U-Pull it place down here sometime. I am sure there is a lot of untapped potential in this yard, since it is really out of the way from civilization.