As this is a fairly new style of forum with an ever increasing membership I thought it might be an idea for those posting to the technical forum to offer a bit of background. That way folk can assess whether the information offered is kosher or crap.
So here's mine :-
Been brought up around cars due to being the son of a car mechanic. Had no formal training and work in a different industry.
Done the maintance on all the cars I have owned in the past and together with my Dad we restored a Triumph Spitfire. Mechanically I'm fairly sound although I don't know the short cuts that trained mechanics do, when it comes to bodywork I'm shocking.
On the elise front, I've changed the exhaust and air filter, fitted new brake hoses and disc and done the regular maintanace on the car.
I've also changed the head for a stage 2 unit. To be fair I did have someone else check over my work before start up.
And then there's the sports cat and the harness bar and harness's. I've also had to replace a damper but that's a fairly simple job so hard merits mentioning
Cheers
Mac
CV
Aye, but you still talk pish! /joke
OK - fairy muff. Good point really, as you say, there's a lot of new folk arriving quite regularly and you don't have the benefit of a long-established forum...
Me, spookily similar to Mac, really. Father has been a mechanic from leaving school (now retired) We've just nearly finished a '64 Mini traveller. I grew up in garages and do the majority of things myself now.
On my car, I've changed brakes (discs, pads & hoses) suspension (dampers, track rod ends, balljoints and bearings) Filter, zorst, front clam off, minor electrics.
I'm also constantly mapping the car and have read up a fair bit on the theory (as I don't like blowing up engines that I've paid for) So I'd probably list that as a skill/experience set, too. I'm no Dave Walker though!
I'd be happy doing anything up to major engine work (pulling off the head, etc <fnarr>)
Any more for any more?
OK - fairy muff. Good point really, as you say, there's a lot of new folk arriving quite regularly and you don't have the benefit of a long-established forum...
Me, spookily similar to Mac, really. Father has been a mechanic from leaving school (now retired) We've just nearly finished a '64 Mini traveller. I grew up in garages and do the majority of things myself now.
On my car, I've changed brakes (discs, pads & hoses) suspension (dampers, track rod ends, balljoints and bearings) Filter, zorst, front clam off, minor electrics.
I'm also constantly mapping the car and have read up a fair bit on the theory (as I don't like blowing up engines that I've paid for) So I'd probably list that as a skill/experience set, too. I'm no Dave Walker though!
I'd be happy doing anything up to major engine work (pulling off the head, etc <fnarr>)
Any more for any more?
2010 Honda VFR1200F
1990 Honda VFR400 NC30
2000 Honda VTR1000 SP1
2000 Kawasaki ZX-7R
1990 Honda VFR400 NC30
2000 Honda VTR1000 SP1
2000 Kawasaki ZX-7R
I know a bit about some stuff, have changed exhausts on a few cars and find unbolting and bolting on easy. My chosen specialist subject would be stereos / ice etc having installed a full monty screens and dvd setup and other car audio gear including amps and wirings with my bro on our last cars.
If I dont know, I wont post technical info. Simple!
If I dont know, I wont post technical info. Simple!
My dad used to look after his own cars & I just got into it through that.
Used to fix my folks car when it went wrong before I could drive myself when my dad wasn't there. (doesn't mean I was good, forgot to nip up the front wheel nuts on my mum's audi once, Mum, not happy when the AA guy told her the oninous rattling was loose wheels.)
Done Cyl heads on my dad's Rover SD1 2600 (Hazelnut brown), Mini & scirrocco. No modding, just regrinding the valves & new gaskets.
Done a couple of clutches, one on a 2 litre audi & one on a mini (every one that you speak to who has ever done a mini clutch leaves the back bottom bellhousing bolt out eh).
Wheel bearings, bushes, stuck caliper pistons, brake pipes, ball joints, stripped spark plug holes in heads & seized handbrake mechs on every car every car ever produced by BL. Just the usual MOT fails:-)
Got a mig welder when the MOT man started vetoing my flora marg lid & underseal wheelarch repairs to the SD1. (they started getting really strict in about 1990
Welded a new aerse into a 1500 midget (took ages).
Rebuilt a 2cv a few years ago too which also took ages cos they're made of tissue paper spec steel.
Very much a trial and error mechanic, and once I break it, 1st step is to check the Haynes book (they're not nearly as well written now as they used to be). If that fails, call my dad (he's sometimes worse than me) & if that fails call Steve he's THE man (who is to thank for fixing most of my mechanical screw ups and will probably cheer when a) I die b) sell the 2cv).
So basically take everything I say with a very large pinch of salt.
Cheers
Used to fix my folks car when it went wrong before I could drive myself when my dad wasn't there. (doesn't mean I was good, forgot to nip up the front wheel nuts on my mum's audi once, Mum, not happy when the AA guy told her the oninous rattling was loose wheels.)
Done Cyl heads on my dad's Rover SD1 2600 (Hazelnut brown), Mini & scirrocco. No modding, just regrinding the valves & new gaskets.
Done a couple of clutches, one on a 2 litre audi & one on a mini (every one that you speak to who has ever done a mini clutch leaves the back bottom bellhousing bolt out eh).
Wheel bearings, bushes, stuck caliper pistons, brake pipes, ball joints, stripped spark plug holes in heads & seized handbrake mechs on every car every car ever produced by BL. Just the usual MOT fails:-)
Got a mig welder when the MOT man started vetoing my flora marg lid & underseal wheelarch repairs to the SD1. (they started getting really strict in about 1990
Welded a new aerse into a 1500 midget (took ages).
Rebuilt a 2cv a few years ago too which also took ages cos they're made of tissue paper spec steel.
Very much a trial and error mechanic, and once I break it, 1st step is to check the Haynes book (they're not nearly as well written now as they used to be). If that fails, call my dad (he's sometimes worse than me) & if that fails call Steve he's THE man (who is to thank for fixing most of my mechanical screw ups and will probably cheer when a) I die b) sell the 2cv).
So basically take everything I say with a very large pinch of salt.
Cheers
Baggy
Silver S1 111s
The Deen
Silver S1 111s
The Deen
My 2p:
I grew up around old S1 Landrovers and helped i the rebuild of 2, I'm reasonably spanner competent, but not brave enough to takle major works and I am scared of anything with elastic-trickery or that requires bleeding. Also loads of theory from my wasted (In all senses!
) years at uni. I now work with aircraft and have a vast amount of tools, materials and facilities within easy beer-bribery range (Which is nice! 
)
This is the first car I've owned that I have been willing to modify properly
and in the 2 months I have owned her I have a new zorst, a hurricane kit, gear linkage and quick shift, oh and a headlamp bracket. Happy enough with the bolt ons but reluctant too start major works (ie engine and suspension bushes) due to the lack of garage or alternate car! All my works have been outside on the car park with no jack (Bought one today!).
Unfortunatly I have now caught the moding bug and want more than I can afford.
TTFN
Rich
I grew up around old S1 Landrovers and helped i the rebuild of 2, I'm reasonably spanner competent, but not brave enough to takle major works and I am scared of anything with elastic-trickery or that requires bleeding. Also loads of theory from my wasted (In all senses!
) years at uni. I now work with aircraft and have a vast amount of tools, materials and facilities within easy beer-bribery range (Which is nice! )This is the first car I've owned that I have been willing to modify properly
and in the 2 months I have owned her I have a new zorst, a hurricane kit, gear linkage and quick shift, oh and a headlamp bracket. Happy enough with the bolt ons but reluctant too start major works (ie engine and suspension bushes) due to the lack of garage or alternate car! All my works have been outside on the car park with no jack (Bought one today!).Unfortunatly I have now caught the moding bug and want more than I can afford.
TTFN
Rich
1994 Lotus Esprit S4 - Work in progress
1980 Porsche 924 Turbo - Funky Interior Spec
2004 Smart Roadster Coupe - Hers
1980 Porsche 924 Turbo - Funky Interior Spec
2004 Smart Roadster Coupe - Hers
-
The_Rossatron
- Posts: 1844
- Joined: Sun Jul 10, 2005 8:14 pm
- Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
- Contact:
Hi. My name's Ross and I haven't had a drink in 5 days.
My mechanical background is a bit odd. I have no profesional qualification in car mechanics and haven't actually touched a spanner in a year or so!
But I have assembled a Mini engine from scratch and plonked it in my old mini + a couple of engine in/outs on various minis. Never changed brake pads etc but intend to when the time comes on the Elise! My main problem is lack of tools! bloody expensive.
My mechanical background is a bit odd. I have no profesional qualification in car mechanics and haven't actually touched a spanner in a year or so!
But I have assembled a Mini engine from scratch and plonked it in my old mini + a couple of engine in/outs on various minis. Never changed brake pads etc but intend to when the time comes on the Elise! My main problem is lack of tools! bloody expensive.
Just catching up on all the missed posts. So here's my bit.......
Served my apprenticeship in a non franchise garage, learning the basics of the trade on everything from Fiat 127/ Mini all the way up to busses and tipper trucks. Left after my time was out and went to work for a VW dealer for a year, then left to work for Fiat (for more of a challenge ). Worked for Fiat for 3 years and started to specialise more in diagnostics/engine management and the electrical side of things (The Itallians certainly know how to build some scary electrical gremlins into a car!!!!). Qualified as the Dealership Expert Technician and then moved sideways a bit to work for Alfa Romeo as the Expert Tech there for a while. Got hacked off with the lack of support from the manufacturer and moved back to VW for a better product to work on. Fast tracked through what seems like hundreads of courses and tests and qualified as the Master Technician for my VW dealer. Worked there for 3 years and left recently to work in my current job as an AA patrolman for Stirling/Tayside area. And it is easily the best job in the retail motor trade. 
Served my apprenticeship in a non franchise garage, learning the basics of the trade on everything from Fiat 127/ Mini all the way up to busses and tipper trucks. Left after my time was out and went to work for a VW dealer for a year, then left to work for Fiat (for more of a challenge
). Worked for Fiat for 3 years and started to specialise more in diagnostics/engine management and the electrical side of things (The Itallians certainly know how to build some scary electrical gremlins into a car!!!!). Qualified as the Dealership Expert Technician and then moved sideways a bit to work for Alfa Romeo as the Expert Tech there for a while. Got hacked off with the lack of support from the manufacturer and moved back to VW for a better product to work on. Fast tracked through what seems like hundreads of courses and tests and qualified as the Master Technician for my VW dealer. Worked there for 3 years and left recently to work in my current job as an AA patrolman for Stirling/Tayside area. And it is easily the best job in the retail motor trade.