Good, cheap car to learn spannering on

[joema]

nothing obscure so there arent guides to guide you...! Youtube has been really helpful.

MX5 sounds like a good idea with plenty of them.

Or maybe a Mk2 golf needing some work. But as with any older car rust will be an issue so make sure you have a solid base or one that doesnt require too much welding.

My mk2 has been ongoing for some time but its taught me welding, body work, mechanics etc etc. Quite happy working on my M3 as a result.

Edited by joema on Wednesday 23 April 11:52

[big_boz]

funkyrobot said:

Thanks. I guess rust is the main challenge on any car? Have you had a lot of mechanical experience, or is it just something you do as a hobby?

I'm hoping that after a while, I'll have more confidence and be able to do things like you do.

If you can get something modern and galvanised rust shouldn't be an issue on bodywork, its on things like bolts, for example, on the Volvo, the front caliper bolts had rounded themselves off, now there is no way its on its first set of pads and discs as its 10 years old and done 80k but one assumes the bolts were original so they were a pain to get off.

Experience wise im no mechanic (accountant by trade) but my first car was borked when i was given it by my mum so i had to learn fast how to strip and rebuild the engine of a Lancia Y10 Turbo in time for my 17th, I have owned a few classics and tend to work on them myslef, and worked in motor racing a bit as a youth.

My advice would be there is nothing mechanical that you can not do at home so long as you have the right tools, in cases where i see no benefit to keeping the service book updated (how much is some generic halfords service stamp worth anyway??).

As a minimum I would say you want to have:

Trolley jack
Axel Stands
Torque wrench
G Glamp(s)
Copper grease
Decent set of screw drivers
Good socket set with some wall drives
Decent set of allen keys (preferably for with adapters for aforementioned socket set)
If a modern car a set of Torx
Plus gas & WD40
wire brush
oil filter strap
Spark plug remover
Rubber mallet
plasters and swear jar

With that lot you should just about be able to achieve most home servicing, if you want to get into suspension you are going to need a ball joint splitter and depending on the job you might need some specialist tools, things like cambelts and the such like oftern require specific locking tools, but i would say that finding something with an active forum (the Volvo VOC forum is truly brilliant on the V40) will stand you in good stead for sorting issues and fault finding.

[funkyrobot]

Thanks Boz. Lots of info to look at and take in there.

I've started collecting tools as I've begun working on my bicycles too. So far I have purchased:

Halfords Professional socket sets (not the big £100 one, but that may come)
A large breaker bar
Torque wrench
Screwdrivers
Allen keys
Spanner set
Grease etc.

Slowly getting there.

[big_boz]

funkyrobot said:

Thanks Boz. Lots of info to look at and take in there.

I've started collecting tools as I've begun working on my bicycles too. So far I have purchased:

Halfords Professional socket sets (not the big £100 one, but that may come)
A large breaker bar
Torque wrench
Screwdrivers
Allen keys
Spanner set
Grease etc.

Slowly getting there.

Sounds like you are getting there, whatever you do get some axel stands though, NEVER under any circumstances go under a car that's only on a jack!!

I have been accumulating tools for that last 17 years and i still find my self at machine mart a few times a year for something obscure!

Im just about to buy a Volvo XC90 which will require a bigger trolley jack and bigger axel stands!

[J4CKO]

Go for something that doesnt rust too badly, and I dont mean just bodywork, cars are generally relatively simple when it comes down to it, especially when there is the wonder of the internet, the main barrier I find is stuff crumbling to dust or not coming undone, everyone marvels at race car mechanics but to be fair, by and large they are working on brand new stuff with all the best tools, obviosuly they are talented professionals, not denigrating them but so are all the bods wrestling with their old bangers on the path in the depths of winter. Nip over to Retro Rides to see the enthusiasm, ingenuity, determination and well, utter madness of guys comprehensively rebuilding rotted out heaps on a budget, it does tend to make me feel a bit lame, and I know my way round a socket set.

[LukeDM]

If you can live with the image a Saxo VTR is good to learn on! The engine is generally reliable but belts, spark plugs, servicing etc is fairly simple with good access. Suspension parts will probably be knackered by now again its all fairly easy the most expensive part by far is the rear axle which is £250ish for a reconditioned exchange with a warranty from IM axles. It is defiantly a good car to start on, there is lots of good info and how to guides on saxperiance but there are loads of cocks too!

[funkyrobot]

big_boz said:

funkyrobot said:

Thanks Boz. Lots of info to look at and take in there.

I've started collecting tools as I've begun working on my bicycles too. So far I have purchased:

Halfords Professional socket sets (not the big £100 one, but that may come)
A large breaker bar
Torque wrench
Screwdrivers
Allen keys
Spanner set
Grease etc.

Slowly getting there.

Sounds like you are getting there, whatever you do get some axel stands though, NEVER under any circumstances go under a car that's only on a jack!!

I have been accumulating tools for that last 17 years and i still find my self at machine mart a few times a year for something obscure!

Im just about to buy a Volvo XC90 which will require a bigger trolley jack and bigger axel stands!

Wow.

Nope, I'm new to this, but like to think I'm not stupid. I'll be utilising axle stands and a proper jack.

The only problem I seem to have is that I have a gravel yard. I'm guessing I'll need some solid wooden boards or something to place the jack on.

[StoatInACoat]

Buy a creeper from Halfords and one of those camping stools to sit on whilst doing brakes and suspension etc. A decent torch that will survive being dropped many, many times and a kneeling pad. Your back will thank you for it, I ignored my own advice and my back is destroyed after changing my radiator this weekend.

[funkyrobot]

StoatInACoat said:

Buy a creeper from Halfords and one of those camping stools to sit on whilst doing brakes and suspension etc. A decent torch that will survive being dropped many, many times and a kneeling pad. Your back will thank you for it, I ignored my own advice and my back is destroyed after changing my radiator this weekend.

Ok, thanks. I'll need to get hold of some boarding or something to put down on the drive.

My back isn't the best so anything I can do to preserve it is most welcome.

[Toaster Pilot]

StoatInACoat said:

Buy a creeper from Halfords and one of those camping stools to sit on whilst doing brakes and suspension etc. A decent torch that will survive being dropped many, many times and a kneeling pad. Your back will thank you for it, I ignored my own advice and my back is destroyed after changing my radiator this weekend.

Agree with all of this - got one of these http://www.lakeland.co.uk/23579/Folding-Step-Stool... for < £5 in Wilko and it's the perfect height for doing work at an axle-stand-raised wheel.

Overalls and good gloves make a big difference to how dirty/scarred you are afterwards providing you're not like me and don't keep leaving one or both gloves somewhere after having a drink/smoke/whatever and then get as dirty as you would without them!

[big_boz]

funkyrobot said:

The only problem I seem to have is that I have a gravel yard. I'm guessing I'll need some solid wooden boards or something to place the jack on.

Never had a gravel drive, perhaps some paving slabs?

[Paul O]

This thread is inspirational! Will watch with interest as one day I'd love to do the same.

It could become some kind of club this new spannering milarkey - "The Spannering Support Group".

[funkyrobot]

big_boz said:

funkyrobot said:

The only problem I seem to have is that I have a gravel yard. I'm guessing I'll need some solid wooden boards or something to place the jack on.

Never had a gravel drive, perhaps some paving slabs?

I have been hunting around.

Apparently, strong wooden boarding is good, but someone on another forum said that strong gym mats have worked wonders for them. We'll see.

[big_boz]

funkyrobot said:

I have been hunting around.

Apparently, strong wooden boarding is good, but someone on another forum said that strong gym mats have worked wonders for them. We'll see.

Suppose it depends a lot on the cars weight, where there is a will there is a way!

Key point here as stated by someone else, don't be afraid of getting a newer car to work on yourself. There is plenty of stuff about for not much money that is cheap to buy and where parts are cheap, Euro car parts and GSF are very cheap if you want to keep things going for not much.

Also if you know where to look OBDII software is available for most cars, VAGcom, Tech2 for GM cars, DICE for volvo's et'al is all available plus fault readers are getting cheaper and cheaper.

Personally i like keeping cars going for not a lot of outlay, I do still get lazy from time to time or if i'm too busy with work to do my own spannering, but basic servicing is a doddle. The Megane had a full oil and filters in about an hour, with parts costing about £40, the Volvo took about the same amount of time but i got all Volvo OEM stuff from the stealers for under £100.

Once you have the tools away you go!

[IntriguedUser]

I'm 19 and I've been getting a bit more hand on recently..

Started of with Cleaning the throttle body, then moved onto Discs + Pads and then moved onto basic service items like fuel/air/oil filter and changing the oil.

Working on cars is really satisfying, immensely satisfying actually.

[Pebbles167]

IntriguedUser said:

Working on cars is really satisfying, immensely satisfying actually.

You wont be saying that when it comes to changing a headlight bulb in that megane you were thinking about buying

[LukeDM]

Pebbles167 said:

You wont be saying that when it comes to changing a headlight bulb in that megane you were thinking about buying

[big_boz]

Pebbles167 said:

IntriguedUser said:

Working on cars is really satisfying, immensely satisfying actually.

You wont be saying that when it comes to changing a headlight bulb in that megane you were thinking about buying

I haven't had to do a bulb on SWMBO's megan yet....Steering angle sensor was fun though, only way to get the airbag light off to facilitate an MOT pass....took half the dash apart, there was a point about 2 hrs in where i was figuring what the scrap value of the car was! and how much easier it would have been just to buy another shed!

OP, actually, don't buy a french car.

On the subject of modern car light bulbs, i haven't owned anything in recent times that didn't require the headlight unit to come out, back in the 90's it was much easier. Had to do the Bi-Xenons on the Volvo a few months back....

Unlock car
open bonnet
Lock car
wait for 2nd locking system and complete power off
disconnect ballast wiring
remove indicators
remove headlights (3 bolts on each)
take headlights out and into house
removed ballast from back of unit
snap servo adjuster arm
swear a lot
go to scrap yard and get another adjuster
finish dismantling headlight unit
change bulb, reassemble
repeat process for other side (being careful not to snap adjuster)
back out to car
reassemble everything
check watch
4 hours passed....

Cry

Drink wine

Start looking on Autotrader for another car

[Pebbles167]

big_boz said:

I haven't had to do a bulb on SWMBO's megan yet....Steering angle sensor was fun though, only way to get the airbag light off to facilitate an MOT pass....took half the dash apart, there was a point about 2 hrs in where i was figuring what the scrap value of the car was! and how much easier it would have been just to buy another shed!

OP, actually, don't buy a french car.

On the subject of modern car light bulbs, i haven't owned anything in recent times that didn't require the headlight unit to come out, back in the 90's it was much easier. Had to do the Bi-Xenons on the Volvo a few months back....

Unlock car
open bonnet
Lock car
wait for 2nd locking system and complete power off
disconnect ballast wiring
remove indicators
remove headlights (3 bolts on each)
take headlights out and into house
removed ballast from back of unit
snap servo adjuster arm
swear a lot
go to scrap yard and get another adjuster
finish dismantling headlight unit
change bulb, reassemble
repeat process for other side (being careful not to snap adjuster)
back out to car
reassemble everything
check watch
4 hours passed....

Cry

Drink wine

Start looking on Autotrader for another car

Its one of the megane's little foibles, but if its a sport model, its worth it

Ill agree with you in that with everything modern, changing little things can be as absolute pig of a job!

Bring back the good old days, changed all the headlight bulbs in my 306 in literally 5 minutes earlier, simple clips in the rear of the lights, loads of space

[joema]

I have a gravel drive too. I have some 3mm sheet steel I use under the jack sometimes.

Gwt a decent jack too £35 halfords things eventually fail. I have a low entry £100 machine mart one and it is solid. Much easier

I always shove a wheel under as well as using stands