What age and on what vehicle did everyone learn/start to work on cars? My dad was never home (either gome because of the Reserves, or his shooting teams, or working) so I didn't get help from him.. I started on my Camaro... but haven't learned a whole lot yet.. hopefully the 'bird will teach me more... :-)
12 years old, carbureator rebuild on 1948 Willys Overland pickup...Briggs and Stratton flathead 4-cylinder.
On Wed, 12 Nov 2003 19:20:05 GMT, "KITT" puked:
11 or 12 I helped my dad restore a '30 Model A. When I turned 16 in '78 I had a '68 Mustang Fastback with a 289. All the kids in the hood had similar rides, '68 LeMans, '70 Torino, '71 Mustang, '68 Cuda, etc.Someone always had a project going.
-- lab~rat >:-) Do you want polite or do you want sincere?
at about age 6 on a white late 60's(i think) toyota 4 door compact.i still have the key somewhere.(mom total'd it) then a 76 camaro.(dads) but the car we worked on the most was a ford granada.LOL what a piece of junk that was.
6 power steering pumps,3 tranny's,2 rear springs,2 fuel pumps,1 carb,1 rearend,2 alternators....and for some reason which we haven't figured out to this day. if it sat when it was cold outside and you unlocked the ignition, the steering wheel would spin by itself 3 times.
Been reading Hot Rod and the like since I can remember... Maybe 7 or 8? Started working on cars with a '67 Impala when I was about 13 or so. Rebuilt my first engine at 19. Started on the first crank as have the subsequent two. My grandpa was a mechanic for a pontiac dealer and in the army in WWII. I always looked up to him. Also my older brother was a car nut ('70 Grand Prix) when I was that age, and I helped him and his friends with their cars, handing tools and such, but I've always paid close attention. Everything has always seemed to come naturally for me. I just have that car-logic wired into my brain, I think.
Was a Corvette nut since 78. I was 5. Helped my dad change spark plugs on the 76 Pontiac family car when I was about 10. Got my first motorcycle before I had a license. Was only about 12 when my mother bought an Acadian (T1000) and I thought it would be a good candidate for a 455 and a roll cage. Hot Rod eventually built it (Chevette with a 500 Cadillac.) First Firebird (75 bondo bucket) in 91 - was 17. Only mechanics to touch my car have been to weld the exhaust and discharge the A/C on my Caravelle to change the heater core. And when I blew my Fiero up in Montana I had no choice. I still have my dad's Popular Science from 1980 with tests of the Turbo TA vs. Camaro and Mustang. I guess I'm a car nut. I currently have 5 cars, subscriptions to C&D, Car Craft, and HPP. Favorite driving style: Slideways. I learned some basic car stuff from my father, but non stop reading of car magazines, high school auto shop and a willingness to dismantle anything has helped. I'm the world's worst carpenter, but I fixed my father-in-law's Blazer in exchange for bathroom renovations. That was weird - I'd never considered myself anything other than a tinkerer up to that point...
Ray
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In 1976, I was five. I used to help my dad, as he was a white collar guy that was handy as hell. My dad passed away in 1988, but I am his shadow if you will.
My dad was great with math, so I learned fractions before I went to school (wrench sizes). I can remember sitting at the curb with my dad (6'2") explaining how 1/2 was bigger than 7/16 even though the #s were bigger on the
7/16. LOL.I learned with him on everything from mowers to Chryslers we had at the time to our Pontiacs. In '80, my father bought the 80 Turbo for my mom for their 15th wedding anniversary.
Yes, I still have the Turbo T/A Yes, I still have those wrenches. Yes, I still have that toolbox Yes, I followed my dad's foosteps and have education and a feel for tools. Yes, I bought more Pontiacs. Yes, I have all his other tools. Yes, people think I'm my dad's spitting image (but I'm only 5'9"). Yes, people that haven't seen me since grammar school still remember the "cool orange Trans Am you had back then and do you still have it...."
The only thing I'm missing is my dad.... Joe--ASE Certified Parts Specialist & 10th Ann.Club Tech Director '80 Carousel Red Turbo T/A, 26k orig. '79 "Y89" 400/4 speed 10th Ann. T/A, 57k orig '84 Olds 88 Royale Bgm 2 dr, 307 "Rocket" (lol), 141k and still going.... '80 T/A project car...
Around the time most of you started wrenching was the time I was born..
*snicker*All seriousness aside, I started wrenching around 18 when I got my first Firebird. It's only been 8 years but I've managed quite a bit on my own. I just got all the components to put my Accel DFI in. I'm stoked.
-Bruce
KITT Spilled my beer when they jumped on the table and proclaimed in :
It was 1977, My paternal grandmother had just died so my dad and I were discussing it while working on a '77 Chevy Impala wagon. It had a 350/th350. I was 11, and immediately fell in love with the TA of that year.
NOI
I started when I was around 8 years old or so working on Dads (2) 72' Challengers. One a plain jane and the other a 340 4 barrel 4 speed R/T. I wish that car was still around. I pretty much stayed with GM products when I started buying and maintaining my own cars. Good luck with your training young Padawan. Welcome to the power side. :-)
...Ron
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68' RS Camaro 88' Formula BirdMotorsForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.