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YACT: How handy are you, really?

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Completely rebuilt the engine.

4 times. 🙂

Last time I balanced it and ported and polished the heads, intakes and exhaust.

Replaced tyranny.

Replaced front end (axle beam etc. all)

Actually, you name it and I've probably done it to one car or another....
 
Drive shaft replacement
control arms/ball joints
total brake system (bomb)
motor mounts
tranny mounts
valve adjustments
struts and shocks
 
Here are the toughest things I've done:

- Had to pull the spark plugs out of an old car and it stripped the threads holding it in. So, we had to bore out a bigger hole and put in a helicoil. That freaking car ran just fine when we were done. Amazing.
- Changed all my brake pads. Cut my hands all to sh1t doing this. If you haven't done this before, I wouldn't suggest it.
 
I've lifted the little knob on the inside top of the door. I think it's called the lock but I'm not sure. I've heard it called a plunger before too, but I thought those were for toilets?
 
OK, just kidding around.

Oil changes
filters (gas, oil, air)
brake jobs with rotor/drum replacement
exhaust replacement
tune up on my older cars with carbs - plug, points, timing, etc.
installed stereos, CB's, CD changers, alarms
 
Most I've done is put a K&N air filter in (ooh pop 4 clips, real hard there), changed bulbs(Hardest thing was finding a torx screwdriver), installed an XM tuner (required unscrewing a few things to run the antenna wire).
I leave more difficult things to the mechanic.
 
Originally posted by: Ilmater
Here are the toughest things I've done:

- Had to pull the spark plugs out of an old car and it stripped the threads holding it in. So, we had to bore out a bigger hole and put in a helicoil. That freaking car ran just fine when we were done. Amazing.
- Changed all my brake pads. Cut my hands all to sh1t doing this. If you haven't done this before, I wouldn't suggest it.
Click to expand...

what's so hard about brake pads???
 

- Normal maintenance plus exhaust/cooling system R&R
- Installed an air conditioning "kit" into a car without AC
- Gutted interior down to carpet and metal and replaced (and added some stereo nonsense)
- Installed a boost controller (which took as long as the AC)
 
Rebuilt my engine five years ago just short of removing the crankshaft (not a true rebuilt I guess) with new cylinder heads, intake and exhaust manifolds, camshaft, full ignition system etc. Also replaced the full exhaust system, cooling system, and air conditioning system minus the condenser and receiver/dryer more recently. I am a bit scared of replacing airbags 😛

The alternator on my car is very easy to replace, and I did it four times one year because of a charging problem I had (crank pulley started chewing through my negative battery cable, oops). I had someone time me replacing it a couple times, both around 40 seconds with the hood already open.
 
ive never done anything to my car myself, i always take it to get serviced

and being handy does not just mean working on a car
 
I've replaced plugs(fairly elaborate, remove intake plenum + goodies), cleaned my IAC, replaced air filter, I think that is it. I'm about to replace timing belt, oil pump, water pump. That will be fun =)
 
If it can be done to a car I have probably done it. I rebuild/restore cars and have been doing so for 26 years. I did a full restoration on my first 66 Mustang Coupe when I was 16-18. I have rebuilt engines, transmissions, rearends, and just about any other sub-assembly you can come up with. I do paint/body work and upholstery on my cars. I have never found anything on a car I could not do myself. I even did a full convertible top on my 57 Thunderbird when I did the full frame off restoration 9 years ago. These days I do a lot of custom "one of" design and fabrication for my car projects. It all comes down to the tools which I have been collecting the same 26 years. If a tool costs $100 it is still a better deal than paying some asshat for labor to screw up your car. All in all I would say I am rather handy when it comes to cars or just about anything mechanical.
 
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