How you do those things you do

[louisb]

The article by stealth67vw made me think of how I learned what little bit of knowledge about cars. I have always been envious of people who had fathers or uncles or friends who mentored them in learning about working on cars. Myself my father can barely change the oil in his truck much less rebuild an engine. (But he can work magic with wood and nails. I didn't get that gene.) I am pretty much self taught. take something apart, put it back together. etc. What little bit of real training I received was working one summer for my uncle fixing boat engines and another year right after high school repairing diesel engines for an industrial construction company. (Cranes, front end loaders, big trucks, etc.) But I have been working on cars since I was 14 years old fixing up old clunkers, working on friend's cars, reading lots of books and mags. So how did you learn how to work on cars? Who taught you what you know?

--louis

[stealth67vw]

My dad told me when I was less than a year old I would fiddlle with my wind up baby swing. I would stand up and peer into the crevices. My Dad thought I was trying to figure out how it worked. I still do this............ the peering into crevices part

[Zach Gomulka]

My dad would "teach" me by just watching me assemble something. Id forget a part (like deflector tin under the cylinders) and practically get all the way to the valve covers before he holds up the tin, "you gonna put this in?" Well son of a bitch!!! No matter how hard you try, its not fitting in with the heads on!!   

[Jim Ratto]

my dad liked washing and waxing cars. Maybe changing oil.

He had an anxiety attack the first time he saw my Bug motor out one day after I got home from school.

[The Ideaman]

My Dad was the master of "duct tape and bailing wire".  He knew how to fix it correctly, but always wanted to cheap out.  He did love aircooled VW's.  Tolerated my first ida'd 2074.  I learned from him, and when I worked in a bowling alley as a lane mechanic from 15-18 years old.

[lowfastbus]

I pretty much learned everything I know about mechanics by reading books and then trying it in real live.
Went from the mysteries off adjusting points to restoring/welding whole cars...

I now work for a classic car restoration bussiness so must have learned something.
Pretty much learn a new little trick every once in awhile at work now.