Car noob: want to be a car hobbyist. Where to start?

[cprince]

E30's aren't bad but for simple the 2002 would be better.

Where would you find a 2002 that's not rusted to hell and affordable...that is the question

 

[cprince]

Depends entirely on the car. The engine bay in my 03 Cobra is 10x more cramped than my 95 Camry.

I should have added the words: generally speaking. I know the later BMW engine bays are very cramped too. Maybe he could go for a small truck, like late 80s early 90s toyota, nissan, ford, or chevy. Those have plenty of space to work on and parts are cheap.

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

Get yourself an aircooled VW, the earlier the better. Get the idiot guide for repair and have at it. There isn't a more simple car on the road. Hell I could tear one down to it's nut's and bolts in a day.

It's a cult/classic ride, huge amounts of information ( get subscription to HotVWs ), cheap parts and there are millions of folks that use them as a social circle. I'd bet there is a VW group within a hour of your location unless you live on the dark side of the moon. Those people will help you work on it if you feed them beer. You'll make friends learn about cars and have a good time.

Enjoy

ETA, http://www.thesamba.com/vw/

Haha, there IS aclub within an hour from me! Thanks for that link. I can see that it would be fun to fix up an old Bug or an even a golf/rabbit.
I found an
'84 Rabbit GTI for $500, (300,000km - Im in Canada) 180,000ml on it...
'96 golf cl for $1050.00, (250000km) 150,000ml...
Both are running and driveable says the owners.
But, maybe I should search for somethign with lower mileage

I was in the same boat as you OP. I knew how to change plugs, oil, etc., but that was about it. I bought a 78 280Z that I'm working on in my spare time. Just find a factory service manual, get to be friends with your local mechanic or someone else knowledgeable, lurk in some forums, and work on it as time and money allows.

Thats really encouraging. Thank you.

Op,

I saw in one of your replies that you are interested in learning about the internal combustion engine. Here is a really easy to follow post explaining it: http://www.vtxoa.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21749

It's on a motorcycle forum I frequent, but it is general enough to get an understanding on how all internal combustion engines work.

I will definently take a look at that if I get a break at the office this afternoon.

 

[Pinepig]

Where would you find a 2002 that's not rusted to hell and affordable...that is the question

California, come get a 76 and drive it home. You can't give a 76 away out here because you have to smog it. I keep an eye on Craigslist for deuces ( I like em ), clean running 76s pop up for about 1500 ALL the time.

 

[cprince]

California, come get a 76 and drive it home. You can't give a 76 away out here because you have to smog it. I keep an eye on Craigslist for deuces ( I like em ), clean running 76s pop up for about 1500 ALL the time.

Damn! It's time like these that I wish I live somewhere close to California instead of the French Polynesia--I mean the Deep South

 

[trauschu]

Buy a 2nd gen Trans Am or Camaro (70-81). The cars are still relatively cheap, parts are still cheap, and you can restore a bit of Americana while you're at it.

Shoot, you should be able to find these things EVERYWHERE in the deep south.

Why import, when you can DO domestic?!?

Why i4, when you can have v8?!?

Why peddle on 1.8L, when you can roar on 6.6L?

Why FWD, when you can RWD?


http://www.1969fb.com


Oh yeah.... I'm bias.

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

I ran down to my local Tool shop because I saw that they had some great deals going on.
This is what I bought so far...

10pc Plier Set $29.99
233pc Socket Set $89.99
Work Lamp $9.99
10yard Ext. Cord $17.49
TOTAL: $147.46
Total savings today: $247.50 - holy schnikies!

What are some other vital tools I should be buying.
Im assuming maybe:
Vice
A car jack (do I need a really big one? or 5"-13" clearance enough? cuz I can get one for $20 today)
Random sized clamps/grips??

 

[cprince]

I ran down to my local Tool shop because I saw that they had some great deals going on.
This is what I bought so far...

10pc Plier Set $29.99
233pc Socket Set $89.99
Work Lamp $9.99
10yard Ext. Cord $17.49
TOTAL: $147.46
Total savings today: $247.50 - holy schnikies!

What are some other vital tools I should be buying.
Im assuming maybe:
Vice
A car jack (do I need a really big one? or 5"-13" clearance enough? cuz I can get one for $20 today)
Random sized clamps/grips??

A 3-ton floor jack should be plenty. Get an 8-inch C-clamp for doing the brakes(pushing the calipers back in). I think you're good to go. Speaking from personal experience, don't buy anything else until you run into a situation that you need it. I found myself wasting money a lot of money buying tools that I thought I need.

Other notes, I can't see if the tools that you bought are american made, but I highly recommend that your important tools--like sockets, ratchets, and wrenches be quality american made. I've used both, and the american made(Sears Craftsman) tools tend to be better--better fitting(so you don't round of the nut) and better quality(they don't break after 3 uses). I used to love cheap tool store(Harbor Freight) until I realized that the amount of money I spent on buying the same tools over, and over again is more than what I would have spent had I bought them from Sears. Now I only going to Harbor Freight to buy stuff that I know I would use only once.

Edit: Don't forget a pair of jack stands--very important. Don't get under the car that's held by just the jack. It can fail at any time!

 

[JCH13]

+1 to Craftsman hand tools, if only for the reason that they will replace any hand tool for almost any reason.

Right now Sears has a pretty good deal on exactly what you need here. A 2-ton jack, two jack stands, tire chalks, X tool, and a creeper for $50.

 

[MotF Bane]

+1 to Craftsman hand tools, if only for the reason that they will replace any hand tool for almost any reason.

Right now Sears has a pretty good deal on exactly what you need here. A 2-ton jack, two jack stands, tire chalks, X tool, and a creeper for $50.

+2 on Craftsman.

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

Well, I hope I dont get too bumbed out by not buying the craftsman tool sets. Oh well, if anything breaks in this set, Ill replace it with craftsman.
I bought Jack Kit as suggested by JCH13, thank you, I think thats a score!

Also got excited last night and built a small work table that fold up into the wall in my garage. 18" deep by 50"wide

Supports my weight, and is sturdy. so should work well.

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

doublepost

 

[trauschu]

+3, +4, +5, +6, +++ ... to Craftsman (or similar American) hand tools.

Also, if that set doesn't have any, try to make sure you have 6 point sockets.

 

[NAC]

My ideal truck would be a 1969 C10 Chevy (i think this is badass http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEDpVvxgdc4&feature=fvwrel) or for a car a pre 80's camaro/mustang/etc.

Your aspirations are not a Ferarri. I think it would be crazy to buy an old Accord or something else you don't want just to rebuild the engine, and spend dozens of hours doing so when you could be learning, and rebuilding a car you actually want.

I say search around and get one of the trucks/cars you listed and start with that. It would be harder to find, but I doubt that a C10 with a blown motor would be that much more than an Accord with a blown motor. And parts for anything you listed would probably be cheaper than for an Accord.

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

hours of searching online over the past week., I found a '86 MR2, in decent shape for under $2000 online.
Im going to test drive it this week, to be sure it isnt a lemon. The previous owner has put in alot of body work (removing rust and what not). And also, this being a small world and all, I know the guy, went to the same school and shit. really friggin small world.

The only shameful part of it... its an automatic. should I keep searching?

 

[JCH13]

The only shameful part of it... its an automatic. should I keep searching?

Only if you want to keep your man card

In all seriousness I'd stick with a manual if only because they're a bit simpler and you can service them in a garage with simple tools.

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

Only if you want to keep your man card

In all seriousness I'd stick with a manual if only because they're a bit simpler and you can service them in a garage with simple tools.

I see what you did there
jk.
ya. Im going to keep looking because I want a manual car. Just tried calling to inquire about another 86 Mr2 with manual tranny, but an asian lady who couldnt speak english answered and sounded very frustrated... "Hello, HElllooo?" Might be a prank posting or wrong number.

 

[5150MyU]

That jack is too high. Nice bench!

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

That jack is too high. Nice bench!

Thank you!

AND good news all. l did it. I bought an 86 MR2. Will be starting a new thread soon with photos of the car and sorta funny story to go with how i bought it. The car is going to need a shit load of work on it, but thats why i bought it! I wont be such a noob by the time im done (hopefully). so friggen excited to get started, just pissed i have to work this saturday.

 

[JCH13]

Sweet!

 

[TanisHalfElven]

Thank you!

AND good news all. l did it. I bought an 86 MR2. Will be starting a new thread soon with photos of the car and sorta funny story to go with how i bought it. The car is going to need a shit load of work on it, but thats why i bought it! I wont be such a noob by the time im done (hopefully). so friggen excited to get started, just pissed i have to work this saturday.

Awesome. Congrats. I plan to do the same one day (when grad school is over and i'm hopefully rich). Good choice on the mr2. Brilliant little car that. I've wanted one since i was about 8. I'm gonna subscribe to your thread and live vicariously through you.

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

NEW THREAD ABOUT THE MR2
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2156092