Omega Owners Forum
Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Martin_1962 on 20 August 2007, 21:13:58
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Mine is from my dad who was a professional mechanic and very good at his job.
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Used to tinker in my younger days, and help a few mates who were in to such things. Then reached a stage in my life when I decided I was too old to be messing about with dirty, oily cars in the cold, wet and dark.
Only when I got an Omega did I start again...
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this forum!
In particular:
TheBoy
MarkDTM
Omegatoy
All great guys, always willing to point an idiot like me in the right direction :y
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this forum!
In particular:
TheBoy
MarkDTM
Omegatoy
All great guys, always willing to point an idiot like me in the right direction :y
Then publically humilate you here ;D
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Got a good start from my grandad, who had an engineering background.
Then following on from that, Markie and I self tought ourselves loads by trial and error, and reading haynes books.
Then after that came the forum, which increased my knowledge even more..
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this forum!
In particular:
TheBoy
MarkDTM
Omegatoy
All great guys, always willing to point an idiot like me in the right direction :y
Then publically humilate you here ;D
Small price to pay for £££ saved in garage bills, and £££ made on projects :)
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Served my time as a Marine Engineer (fixing things such a 12000 horsepower 6 cylinder 2 stroke turbocharged ship propulsion plants) as well as tinkering with cars from Mk1 Escorts onwards.
Maintained that technical interest through my current employ with inspection of wrecks after a crash to ensure no mechanical failure was the cause as well as the inspection/prohibition of all road vehicles from bikes to artics.
And guddling with Omega's, all experience learned from clever peeps on here!! ;D
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Been tinkering with cars since knee high to a grasshopper, Dad was a Jag mechanic and bodyshop guy. Thought i'd break the mould and become a pilot, but once the black gold is in your blood it always pulls you back, so here i am Ford master tech with the hands and aches of a 60 year old!!! :)
And hotel 12000 hp -coooooolllllllll bet that would pull afew skins off some rice puddings :y ;D ;D
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this here forum!
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self taught fixed first car at 10 compleat strip down an rebuild at 17 doing it ever since
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Tinkered with cars since I was a kid and learning more about Omega's each day I log on here! :y
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Played about with cars many years ago.
Then become a Commercial and Plant fitter for 11 years, give it up 15 years ago fed up with getting muddy and covered in diesel.
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Picked up lots of knoledge from my Dad when I was a kid then carried on by myself when purchased 1st car back in early 70's (good old Austin Cambridge) used to have to spend all weekrnd working on it to keep it running for another week. Several other old wrecks, then SWMBO came along insisted we brought new. 20+ years later now back with an 8 year old Omega which has lost so much money its now like being 16 again spending weekends to keep it running for another week. ;D ;D ;D
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Used to tinker in my younger days, and help a few mates who were in to such things. Then reached a stage in my life when I decided I was too old to be messing about with dirty, oily cars in the cold, wet and dark.
Only when I got an Omega did I start again...
Snap, Could have wrote that myself
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I started On my Mini clubman and TR7 and I used to fix my ExWifes old car all the time It was easy not like todays cars with all the electrical parts of todays moden cars
I have learnt so much from here on this forum to do with omegas my last couple of cars i have not have to do any work to but the omega needs lots so keeps me busy :)
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Dad has City and Guilds.....i showed no intrest when i was young and he was fixing cars....
I taught myself over the last few years and now teach him.. :y
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I had a company car from the age of 19 for 20 years so I aint got no knowledge. Except for the great advice from you guys. The problem is I think everything is down to the crank sensor. :'( :'( :'(
Going to take a leaf out of Lord Imber's book and buy my 9 year old daughter a car to work on for the next 8 years to catch up.
Not such bad idea as if I break the Meega playing with her on the weekend I can't get to work on Monday. If I have the insurance of Golfbuddy Junior's little car I can play/learn to my heart's content.
The journey begins here.
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I worked in the garage of a main tractor dealer during summer holidays as a teenager, which I enjoyed a lot and gave me a start in life on all things mechanical.
I was in my early twenties when a neighbour who was a mechanical engineer showed me how to take off and clean the carburettor on my Alfasud, and I them proceeded with carrying-out small maintenance myself e.g. brake pads, spark plugs and oil change, distributor and contact point. This is when I purchased a compression tester, vacuum gauge, strob timing light.
My next car was an Alfa Romeo Alfetta and here I got more heavily involved, doing the head gasket (twice!), prop shaft, rear shocks...
I then met a guy who was studying mechanical engineering and became a close friend for several years to come, he was into serious performance tuning and rebuilt (among others) a mini 1275 GT, Triumph TR7, and Lancia Beta Coupe. Under his inspiration I rebuilt a Mk1 Astra with new engine, gearbox, suspension etc, all done DIY during the 5 years I owned it. I would say that most of what I now know I learnt from him and his mates. They were real nutters...
I then went into the wonderful warm bussom of the company cars world, where you need to know nothing about maintenance because it is someone else's problem (well, not quite, if you follow my post on another thread). This was quickly followed by the ownership of my first and second Omegas during the first 6 years of which the cars were serviced by Vx and I didn't want to know.
Two years ago the Vx dealer told me that the cambelt change interval was reduced from 80k/8y to 40k/4y, I thought they were having a go at me so I asked the question online at the the OTHER forum - and with the help of the fine lads i.e. Laidback, Mark DTM, TheBoy and others got totally hooked... so you might say that I am a born-again DIY mechanic. Yes I probably saved some money but also spent a fortune in tools (some of which i haven't actually even had the chance to use yet..).
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Left school at 16 went to College for 2 years doing Automotive Enginneering, worked for Halfords and Whittaker Fleet car as a mechanic then gave it all up to work as a Production Engineer for Severn Trent Water seems a waste really but loads more money!!
Rich
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Always loved cars and have had a rough idea of how they worked from a VERY early age.
Funds and facilities restricted me until my Dad decided to scrap my Mum's Renault 16. I set about it with a 10mm spanner and a flat blade screwdriver. Learned a lot that summer!!
Then I started mixing with the local car enthusiasts when I got my license. God what a lot of rubbish they spouted at times!!
Anyways, after all is said and done, I'm pretty much self taught, (that and what I've picked up from specialist forums like this!!)
Love getting my paws mucky though! I reckon it's the only way to learn.
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Neccesity. When I was in my late teens, with little money, I used to work all week , then work all weekend on the cheap cars I drove to get them in a fit state to get me to work the following week! :(
The only difference was that they were simple ford side valves, or cars like morris minors. You could whip an engine out and strip it down/ rebuild in a day. I understood them then.
I then had a big gap (company cars) and while I had my back turned, the engine compartments got fulled with 'stuff' most of which I didn't understand. This forum has been brilliant for getting me into the current technology.
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Well, I grew up with cars as my Father is a fully time served mechanic, he learnt on straight six triumphs and the like and the awful A series engines of the time including major tuning, head work, 3 angle valve cutting etc. It still amazes me when he scrapes his own bearings!
Due to my parents having little money, dad used to do a lot of little jobs on an evening and weekend so I used to see a lot of cars and in particular engines in bits (engines are SO much better these days). Its here I used to pick up interesting techniques like loosening head bolts and cranking the engine to free the head off etc (not possible on modern units!).
Then I went onto study electrical and electronic eng at Uni which is where the engine management side came in.....
Ow yes, as man father always says......mechanics are not engineers, the are technicians....or at best these days, fitters. He is very disheartened by the low quality of the current bread of spanner twirlers.
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Ow yes, as man father always says......mechanics are not engineers, the are technicians....or at best these days, fitters. He is very disheartened by the low quality of the current bread of spanner twirlers.[/quote]
Have to agree with him there. It seems most are bonus worrying service techs nowdays. Skilled techs are a dying breed. The motor industry will realise too late as usual, but then maybe a skilled guy will get what he's really worth. You pays a garage £90-100 +vat an hour the time served skilled tech gets at best £10-11 less tax for his trouble. no wonder there are a few stories on here of guys leaving the trade for better pay and easier work else where. Oh well back to work finger nails looking a bit clean ;D ;D ;D
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I'm an Electrical Engineer but gone through the multi skilled maintenance route in Factories - Always tinkered with cars with lots of help from others and learning as I go - especially now!!!..... one time just when I'd just started college and knew nothing about everything :D I tried to install an immobilser on my 2 year old Rover 213 and fitted a switch to earth in line with the main 80A fuse and managed to set my engine on fire on the drive trying to make it work :o My Dad's never let me live it down..... since then have worked in Jaguar now offshore
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Err, I haven't got any ::)
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Have always been interested in cars. Just dont have the confidence to really go for a big repair incase i break it beyond repair. As then iw ould be stuffed without a car and not much funds to get another one :y
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Well, I've always been one to tinker with things, cars included. I am not able to accept that something works. I have to take it apart and figure out how it works and why it was designed the way it was. I'll make it work better if I can. As soon as something breaks - well, that's an excuse to take it apart. :y
I've always done my own car servicing and maintenance but hankered for more involvement. My car didn't break often enough to satisfy my curiosity! Then, in the halcyon days between graduating from university with an electronics degree and settling down I found myself able to spend every evening and weekend in the garage if I so desired. I set about building one of these:
(http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w63/kjwood/Car%20Pictures/Westfield_Avatar.jpg)
I learnt an awful lot from this project, and when I think back to the way my mechanical skills were before I took it on, finishing it was quite an achievement!
That was just the start, however. I have since stripped down and rebuilt the engine. I ditched the carburettors in favour of a Megasquirt fuel injection system, soldered up the ECU, wrote some of the firmware as, at the time, it didn't do what I wanted, and then mapped the fuel and ignition systems on the public roads using a wideband lambda sensor.
I haven't done a great deal with it recently, except enjoy driving it, but I've certainly got it to thank for the majority of my car knowledge.
Kevin
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I started with motorbikes, a BSA Bantam, Royal Enfield Bullet, then BSA B31. Just tinkering and keeping them going. Then progressed (!) onto cars, cause the girlfriend wasn't that happy about flying about on the back of a B31 esp when it rained !. I then realised how crap some garages were, and ended up doing servicing and repairs myself. I started welding up holes in sills etc with a SIP140 ;D Which is totally the wrong way to do it, so I then went to night classes and learn't how to weld properly. I always found Haynes manuals to be very useful, I know they lack the experience of a timeserved mechanic, but when you are new to a car, they are very helpful. One of the worst jobs was when I stripped the interior from a damaged cavalier and fitted to a new bodyshell. Trying to get all these soddin plastic clips out and back in took hours! ;D I've still got an old Matchless G2 in the garage waiting for a few spare hours. :y
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Dad mainly who used to spend virtually every weekend under MGBGT, Alfetta, Alfasud, VW Sirroco, TVR (oh yes!! ;)) Then progressed to my own heaps - read babys!
Nova, Astra, Pug 205 GTI (a 1.9 of course), Golf mk2 GTI, rover 216 (really was a heap), escort xr3i, etc...
all of which took huge amounts of my time, sweat, and blood on occasion. If nothing else they have given me a healthy respect for ANY diy job no matter how simple it appears on first look!! and i have also learnt never to trust Haynes :)
Not had any formal training and like others who have replied to this thread, didnt think i would be doing it anymore untill i bought my Omega.
Im such a sucker.............................................................
Ps - Love the westie Kevin, she looks v nice; want me one of those! doubt it any time soon though. Can you fit a baby seat in the passenger side? ;D im sure there is a way of convining the mrs its practical! 8-)
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Err, I haven't got any ::)
nor have i :-[
Trying to start learning now :o with my omega, and the help of this Forum
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My knowledge is entirely self taught..... and god that bulb was a bugger to change ;)
Since then I have developed the skill (thanks to Mark DTM and Theboy) to change the cambelt on a V6, trouble is, that is the extent of it, and I don't have a meega anymore :'(
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Err, I haven't got any ::)
nor have i :-[
Trying to start learning now :o with my omega, and the help of this Forum
Likewise :-?
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Err, I haven't got any ::)
Ermmm.........me neither :-[ :-[
Used to tinker around with some of my first cars from teenage days when cars were quite simple with points and ditributors etc. Then had a company car for about 20 years whereby all the servicing and repairs was taken care of. After that I went back to owning my own car again and it was like someone had stuck a foreign object under the bonnet!! ::)
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Built two cars from the ground up (see left ) gave me confidence, made me realise that with the right tools/advice and patience, nothing is impossible, everything is do-able :y
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My dad started to teach me, then went to college on a city and guilds course for two years then helped it along with self taught. The only way to get taught is by the one who wants to know, and thats YOURSELF! Asking for advise, getting help and reading books is the best way.
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As a teenager we all had cars/motorbikes - often MOT type failures. We lived in the wilds of one of North Yorkshire's forests.
A combination of no money and an interest soon led to learning how to fix things.
e.g.I had a Ford Pop which, in the absence of money to make the engine more powerful, was lightened progressively (often by AXE) till it just had two seats and a windscreen. Nothing much else behind that other than a floor pan. traction on dirt roads was improved by wrapping chains or rope through the holes in the rear wheels and round the tyres. It was the only car I have ever driven where you could select reverse whilst travelling along whithout the transmission disintegrating.
I had a huge selection of bangers including Sunbeam Talbot 90, Westminster, Zodiac and all types of motorbikes British. Oh to still own some of them now (except the Hillman Imp)
then I moved onto Rallying as a simple progression from watching the Gulf London and later the RAC. Remember that when the events went on competitively for days. None of todays "sprint events" and sleeping in hotels!! Building and maintaining cars was a prerequisite as I only had a small fortune to spend. If two hands built it then I could repair it and possibly make it better at the same time was my motto.
then there was a huge period of time with the luxury of company cars. Ah the sheer luxury.
then We bought this Omega for SWMBO as her company car. Garage maintained. Then we decided that there must be more to life than 8 till midnight plus weekends so just jacked it all in and moved to Spain for a different lifestyle (and Boy isn't it different). Money is tight now, time slightly but not overly plentiful so back to maintenance. What a change in technology and electronics in particular - Wot no distributor points!!
Wouldn't have the courage, without help from guys on this forum, to do ANY jobs on the car as it is our lifeline, tractor and ambulance if required from our remote location.
olive
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I forgot to mention above. Logging on here at every possible opportunity has ignited my desire to do more and more on the car so I have booked myself six months evening classes at the local college on a car maintenance class. I really need to get some oil on all my new tools. :y
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I forgot to mention above. Logging on here at every possible opportunity has ignited my desire to do more and more on the car so I have booked myself six months evening classes at the local college on a car maintenance class. I really need to get some oil on all my new tools. :y
Thats a good idea, but it`s not all school banks and chalking boards is it?
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I forgot to mention above. Logging on here at every possible opportunity has ignited my desire to do more and more on the car so I have booked myself six months evening classes at the local college on a car maintenance class. I really need to get some oil on all my new tools. :y
Thats a good idea, but it`s not all school banks and chalking boards is it?
I'm hoping that it's next to the hair and beauty classes, they always have nice birds on those courses, and I'm looking forward to smoking behind the bike sheds again. ;D ;D ;D
In all seriousness, I don't really know what to expect, it was only £90 for the six months at three hours per week so I can't really go wrong. :)
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I forgot to mention above. Logging on here at every possible opportunity has ignited my desire to do more and more on the car so I have booked myself six months evening classes at the local college on a car maintenance class. I really need to get some oil on all my new tools. :y
Thats a good idea, but it`s not all school banks and chalking boards is it?
I'm hoping that it's next to the hair and beauty classes, they always have nice birds on those courses, and I'm looking forward to smoking behind the bike sheds again. ;D ;D ;D
In all seriousness, I don't really know what to expect, it was only £90 for the six months at three hours per week so I can't really go wrong. :)
Sounds like the sort of thing i need, :y :y
Talking about behind the sheds have you read this:::
Two OAP walking down the road, she says to him "do you remember when we first met 50 years ago
what we got up to behind the sheds" he replys "yeah it was great" she says lets go and do it again,
so they go around to the back of the sheds, he drops his kegs she her knickers, and away they go the
old man is moving as if it is going out of fashion non stop for over an Hour, before they both fall on the
floor with exhaustion, she turns to him and say god allmighty you didn`t shag me like that 50 years
ago, where as he then replies THATS BECAUSE THERE WAS NO rather ELECTRIC FENCE HERE 50
YEARS AGO
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i have a vast knowledge of all kinds of motor vehicles thanks to reading the haynes workshop manuals i find them very informative and NEVER wrong. infact i have just saved enough juice bottles to get the one all about sex.. :-*
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I forgot to mention above. Logging on here at every possible opportunity has ignited my desire to do more and more on the car so I have booked myself six months evening classes at the local college on a car maintenance class. I really need to get some oil on all my new tools. :y
Thats a good idea, but it`s not all school banks and chalking boards is it?
I'm hoping that it's next to the hair and beauty classes, they always have nice birds on those courses, and I'm looking forward to smoking behind the bike sheds again. ;D ;D ;D
In all seriousness, I don't really know what to expect, it was only £90 for the six months at three hours per week so I can't really go wrong. :)
Sounds like the sort of thing i need, :y :y
Talking about behind the sheds have you read this:::
Two OAP walking down the road, she says to him "do you remember when we first met 50 years ago
what we got up to behind the sheds" he replys "yeah it was great" she says lets go and do it again,
so they go around to the back of the sheds, he drops his kegs she her knickers, and away they go the
old man is moving as if it is going out of fashion non stop for over an Hour, before they both fall on the
floor with exhaustion, she turns to him and say god allmighty you didn`t shag me like that 50 years
ago, where as he then replies THATS BECAUSE THERE WAS NO rather ELECTRIC FENCE HERE 50
YEARS AGO
;D ;D ;D ;D
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my vehicle knowledge was 19-24years old tinkering with my cars 24-31 learnt in the forces 31-35 improved in a bus garage then a hgv workshop. gave it all up then cos i kept getting too many injuries and smelt of oil all the time. retrained in electrics and appliances and a lot cleaner now!!!!
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My mechanical knowledge came from a numer of sources.....
14-16 it was tinkering and servicing the old mans cars, MG Maestros, VW scirocco, MG Metro Turbo, and a couple of Cavaliers and a viva!!!
16-25 i worked for a Vauxhall dealers in the workshops, i did a YTS scheme and came out with my C&G, however i have learnt more about 'engineering' since then as all we were was glorified new parts fitters....
25-now Messing round with cars, i have rebuilt a Mk2 cavalier convertible and modified it by lobbing a V6 lump in it, that was after it had been run for 6 months with an XE in it.
I have rebuilt a 1275GT and created a couple of sleepers as well, i love the whole concept of getting an engine to fit in a car that was never designed to have it.
Next project will be a clubman mini with a Vauxhall V6, i know it has been done before, i would like to have a go and see what it would be like.
Currently helping a friend lob a scooby engine into a split screen camper!! :o it will be a riot when it is finished
I dont think i will ever stop learning moreso because i have such an interest in cars, my daughter seems to be following in my footsteps and i am not sure how i feel about that as the trade has changed sooooo much....and not for the better >:(
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I was weened on Vauxhalls by my dad back in the 50's, 60's and 70' Austins, Fords, Standards, Hillmans, Riley's, Triumphs, Morris etc.
Mid 70's I had company cars, did nothing till last year, then I found this mob. Never looked back since ;D
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And as for me! Well! Back in the early 70's at a very young age, dad and an uncle had Anglia's, A40's, Standard's, Minor's etc There was always the need for a second hand part required. We have and had then, a particularly biggish and full of donors scrap yard close by.. Now before all this H&S ballc0cks, I had used to go along with them.. cars stacked 5 high.. That's where I learnt to climb and become a risk assesment kinda individual.. Kids have lost this great lesson H&S to blame... Cut my fingers several times. slipped off wet bonnets and fell tit's up in puddles of mud... Good innit? To cut the story short, as others, TINKERING.. and I suppose lots of reading. Got a Beetle at 16 stripped it, rebuilt it, engine, gearbox and all.. Passed my test, got bigger & better cars, wasn't happy with stuff, tinkered some more... Now mechanicing is really down to necessity, but, a chore that I enjoy... hence being a member on here, it's great to be able to try to help others and it's also great to have the pool of information on here for the nitty gritty stuff other than the basics of the mechanics..
Well done to ALL on here for their "Never Ending Gee Up......"
DC
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Dad was foreman mechanic at the local Ford dealership and worked Sturday morning overtime for the company and then helping his mechanics with their cars in the afternoon. This was seen as time when Mum could get a bit of peace so I was in the workshop nearly every Saturday from the age of about four.
Was given an MG Magnette as a present to learn to drive in a local quarry complex but as the car had no floor, brake lines or a working battery modifications were constantly required as well as a lot of hand crank starting, I think it is called character building.
Once legally on the road Austin/Morris 1800s and Cortinas came next with engine tweeks or swaps and suspension modifications being tried. A Mk2 RS 2000 which was constantly being modified was the first real attempt at perforamnce tuning and then a 78 Trans Am and a MK1 Astra GTE before the sensible family cars became the norm.
As to, what I will call proper mechanics, one of the best learning experiences came after fitting twin 40s to the Escort. I couldn't get them balanced properly and was looking at tuning shops to get them done when it was suggested I visit a small local garage and try there. The garage was a traditional two pumps a ramp and a normal bay affair but the guy who owned it raced single seaters. I spoke to him about the carbs and he said no problem as long as I could hang on for a while as he needed to get a car out for a customer. When he was ready he produced a length of 1/4" hose and a screw driver which he then set about sticking the hose iinto each carb throat and having a listen followed by a tweak here and there with a screw driver. The difference could be heard in the engine tone as well as how it was running which he pointed out with a grin. He then took the screw driver and knocked all the settings off again, passed me the hose and screwdriver and told me to get on with it. He then checked what I had done pointed me in the right direction and went through the process again until he was happy.
The point being he took time to teach, had no diagnostic system and would not accept payment for his time because he was passing on a skill rather than seeing it as work.
Unfortunately guys like that are becoming extinct and the only way that skills are transferred now are via sites like this and the how to authors are rapidly becomming the conduit for knowledge transfer rather than the proper mechanics.
Personnaly I've picked up a lot of info here and at times feel guilty that it is rather one sided as I've been lucky enough not to have needed to do much, so far, but enthusiasts are always required to keep a marque on the road and you all seem to be doing a first class job.
Steve
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I live in Stoke-on-Trent... there are very few community / clubs for teenagers... I would absolutely love to get hold of a decent sized garage, an old knackered motor.. and give our local lads n' lasses some direction and motivation, just a messing with cars! All funded by the local community, of course... all that they seem to do, is, kick a bloody football in the streets.... that'll never get them a job..
So yes sewing the seed early.. leads to respect, knowledge and understanding...
DC
My lads get stuck in with me when needs must... shame others don't get the chance..
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That sounds like a damn good idea :y :y
why do`nt you try to get in touch with someone who can help you further??
I am sure there must be some Charity organisation around your area :-/ :-/
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That sounds like a damn good idea :y :y
why do`nt you try to get in touch with someone who can help you further??
I am sure there must be some Charity organisation around your area :-/ :-/
The whole area is one big charity case if you ask me!! But, seriously, The Government are planning on getting youth clubs going in every town in the UK, So, yes maybe there's a chance of some funding... maybe I'll copy them in on our thread....... DC
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That sounds like a damn good idea :y :y
why do`nt you try to get in touch with someone who can help you further??
I am sure there must be some Charity organisation around your area :-/ :-/
The whole area is one big charity case if you ask me!! But, seriously, The Government are planning on getting youth clubs going in every town in the UK, So, yes maybe there's a chance of some funding... maybe I'll copy them in on our thread....... DC
It`s a start if you can proove to them how enthusiastic everyone here is and get them to read a bit i think it must be a go go :y
After all the Majority of all new members allways comment on the Group Dynamics, and thats the
reason they join, they want to be a part of this great Forum.
So it can only be to your advantage to let them know whats going on here, and that you are part of this.
And of course that you are capeable of giving something very important to the Youth community
HOPE