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[aaronjb]

But it's much easier to fiddle with, IMHO anyway, and try things out.. like.. what happens when I add 2 degrees of static timing, 3 degrees, 4 degrees, oops back it off a bit..

You can't do that with an EFI car (well, not easily, anyway).. and they hide so much of the 'basics' of internal combustion engines from you.

[Webby the Bear]

To be honest, I wouldn't.

You wont see a carb or dizzy these days and the modern stuff is no more harder realy

maybe buying a miggy that is breaked. and seeing if i can get it working but that sounds massive for me TBH. Although as youve all said it wouldnt matter if i nackered it as itys already nackered 

[Brikhead]

But it's much easier to fiddle with, IMHO anyway, and try things out.. like.. what happens when I add 2 degrees of static timing, 3 degrees, 4 degrees, oops back it off a bit..

You can't do that with an EFI car (well, not easily, anyway).. and they hide so much of the 'basics' of internal combustion engines from you.

But he'll struggle to find a car on the roads nowadays to fix... carburettor, what's one of them then?

[Marks DTM Calib]

But it's much easier to fiddle with, IMHO anyway, and try things out.. like.. what happens when I add 2 degrees of static timing, 3 degrees, 4 degrees, oops back it off a bit..

You can't do that with an EFI car (well, not easily, anyway).. and they hide so much of the 'basics' of internal combustion engines from you.

Yes but the cost of on old engine and the real learning is not that much better imho, what you need to knwo these days is the operation of DOHC, multi valves etc etc

[aaronjb]

But he'll struggle to find a car on the roads nowadays to fix... carburettor, what's one of them then?

There's one sat on an engine not 20ft from me right now

Yes but the cost of on old engine and the real learning is not that much better imho, what you need to knwo these days is the operation of DOHC, multi valves etc etc

True enough.. I just wonder if the problem with modern 'mechanics' at dealers is that they've grown up with cars like this - cars that "tell you what's wrong" with their little computer.. Except, of course, we know they don't - the computer requires interpretation, which is easier if you really understand the underpinnings of what makes an engine tick..

Perhaps I'm just stuck in the past (See earlier comment re: a carb sitting not 20ft from me )

[TheBoy]

On the contrary aaronjb, I think the problem with modern garages is they have mechanics who can't deal with modern systems, and only know the 'well known' A series engines...

[Brikhead]

I've never had ANY formal training in vehicle repairs or maintenance yet now, after spending 17 years driving a van for a living, I operate as a self employed mobile mechanic. Half of today was spent fitting a replacement diff and prop-shaft into a Customers Freelander, I've also just replaced the clutch on my latest acquisition (a lovely little Pug. 106), the thing about cars is they all just un-bolt and as-long as you are methodical and can remember where all the bolts go back then it's not really hard...

I have had to learn how cars work from a very early age simply because of financial constraints (too poor!) we couldn't afford to pay other people to fix our cars, infact my Mom could barely afford to legally run a car so I HAD to learn how to do it.

Nowadays, with all the information available on the internet, I doubt you would learn any thing more from any college course.

[Brikhead]

WOW we have an ed*t button!

[tunnie]

i learned by buying project cars, bought one for £300, had a go doing things on it as it was not my pride and joy, not scared to touch things like brakes. Put most of it back together & sold it for £800 

[Vamps]

i learned by buying project cars, bought one for £300, had a go doing things on it as it was not my pride and joy, not scared to touch things like brakes. Put most of it back together & sold it for £800 

An excellent way to learn imho......

[Lazydocker]

I learnt from my grandfather and father, on older engines obviously

Then on my own cars... My first car was a non running Metro that I stripped and rebuilt before passing my test. Next few cars needed constant attention because they were an "upgrade" bought cheap and rebuilt

Eventually, after many years of tinkering and tackling more involved jobs, I got a job in a garage, passed a mot testers course (top of class ) and was doing roadside and recovery as well

[feeutfo]

all depends on your learning style imo

 people process info differant ways. i need to be hands on to learn, so class rooms are pointless, for example .

[Lazydocker]

all depends on your learning style imo

 people process info differant ways. i need to be hands on to learn, so class rooms are pointless, for example .

Yep, I prefer to be hands on Funnily enough, in the garage I was better at getting the diagnostic machine working on cars, the other chap was better at interpreting it (at the time) so we generally did electronic diagnostics together It also passed the time better for us

Used to wind the boss lady up if we decided to go and do a Police job together though because it meant the old boy had to do the MOT's and he was slow

[dbug]

You can't beat experience