Good, cheap car to learn spannering on

Good, cheap car to learn spannering on

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Discussion

AJS-

15,366 posts

235 months

Monday 17th March 2014
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funkyrobot said:
AJS- said:
Old Vauxhalls are a good bet - tons of them around cheap, fairly simple and lots of bits available in scrap yards.
Good point. Owned an Astra a few years ago and because I didn't know what I was doing, ended up spending a bit on it. I'm determined for this to never happen again. smile
Hah.
I ran a puke yellow Belmont for a couple of years on a shoestring, then replaced it with an LPG ex taxi with over 250K on it. Both cars served me very well and cost less than a set of tyres for a sensible car!


I was very lucky that my dad was mechanically minded and able to teach me a lot, but it's really not that difficult. Mostly a matter of replacing parts rather than actually fixing anything.

Blib

43,793 posts

196 months

Monday 17th March 2014
quotequote all
funkyrobot said:
Blib said:
OP. I'm in the same position as you. To this end, I bought a 1970 Fiat 500 and I intend to restore it myself, as far as possible, as a birthday present for Mrs Blib, with the help and guidance of a very good friend of mine, who is a mechanic.

I received my first Haynes manual through the post last week. I was so proud! hehe

Good luck !

I know how receipt of the first manual feels. smile

Good luck with the car.
Thanks.

I'm attaching the rear number plate this morning. I've got to measure up, fit the special spacers in the correct holes because of the curvature of the boot, then I must drill holes in the square, old style metal plate in the correct places! before screwing it onto the car.

I have 999 on speed dial.

supersingle

3,205 posts

218 months

Monday 17th March 2014
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Capri with a 1.3L engine, good access!

funkyrobot

Original Poster:

18,789 posts

227 months

Monday 17th March 2014
quotequote all
Blib said:
funkyrobot said:
Blib said:
OP. I'm in the same position as you. To this end, I bought a 1970 Fiat 500 and I intend to restore it myself, as far as possible, as a birthday present for Mrs Blib, with the help and guidance of a very good friend of mine, who is a mechanic.

I received my first Haynes manual through the post last week. I was so proud! hehe

Good luck !

I know how receipt of the first manual feels. smile

Good luck with the car.
Thanks.

I'm attaching the rear number plate this morning. I've got to measure up, fit the special spacers in the correct holes because of the curvature of the boot, then I must drill holes in the square, old style metal plate in the correct places! before screwing it onto the car.

I have 999 on speed dial.
hehe

I know there are some on here that may think we're daft, but I've been worrying about changing a bloody bulb on my Mazda 3. It's a tough one as the owner manual says send it to an approved Mazda dealer. I've managed to find out how to do it on t'internet (it's a parking light one that is in a very awkward position) and will have a go soon.

Trouble is though, as it's all new to me and I'm st scared of breaking something, you do worry. smile

The coolant temp sensor on my fiancee's Polo will be my first big job. Hopefully, after getting stuck in for a while a big job will be something like changing a belt, then a spring, then a pump etc.

Good luck with it. thumbup

funkyrobot

Original Poster:

18,789 posts

227 months

Monday 17th March 2014
quotequote all
supersingle said:
Capri with a 1.3L engine, good access!
Yes. Very big bonnet. smile

Blib

43,793 posts

196 months

Monday 17th March 2014
quotequote all
We should start a support group with Clarkson as our Patron. Failing that, I'll follow this thread with interest. smile

funkyrobot

Original Poster:

18,789 posts

227 months

Monday 17th March 2014
quotequote all
Blib said:
We should start a support group with Clarkson as our Patron. Failing that, I'll follow this thread with interest. smile
Could be an idea. smile

I'll update the thread when I get hold of something.

Funds for the purchase should be available in a few weeks. Can't wait. bounce

WoodsterT

17 posts

120 months

Monday 21st April 2014
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Sorry to drag this back up OP, but any progress on this front? I've been in the same state of mind as you for the past two years waiting to take the plunge (with currently zero experience, the most I've done is replace tyres... terrible, I know!) but figured I was being silly minded and it wouldn't be possible, so it's nice to see a thread here with others as well in the same boat wanting to learn and has made me realise it's certainly a possible 'hobby' to look into!

Do let us know how you've got on if you can, call it inspiration! smile

jamieduff1981

8,022 posts

139 months

Monday 21st April 2014
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Buy something you're actually enthusiastic about and will be keen to drive, rather than just a knackered old Vauxhall.

A well cared for and structurally sound Midget, Mini, MGB, Spitfire or Chimaera maybe will be a pleasure to work on (inasmuch as the nuts and bolts tend to come apart much better than 1990s vintage things which I have lots of experience of). More modern cars tend to just be rusted together and you'll either just p155 yourself off rounding heads off or shearing heads off.

If the car is just a nail you're not enthusiastic about there's little impetus to actually fix and reassemble the thing. With a classic sports car you're actually proud of owning you've always got that drive to complete the work and get out in it.

That would be my slant on it at least smile

Super Slo Mo

5,368 posts

197 months

Monday 21st April 2014
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I have just the thing OP.

A 1998 vintage Discovery V8. Access to most of the mechanical bits isn't too difficult, parts are available cheaply, including every upgrade imaginable, and there's always something that needs doing to it .

The V8 makes the right noises too, and it's on LPG so not too ruinous to run.

Mine is about to go SORN as I have no further use for it, so if you or anyone else wants it for under Shed budget, give me a shout.

Mave

8,208 posts

214 months

Monday 21st April 2014
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My tip would be to find something which has a good, active internet forum. Mr Haynes can be a bit simplistic at times, nothing better than having access to advice from enthusiastic people who have already learned their way around a particular cat.

p4cks

6,885 posts

198 months

Monday 21st April 2014
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Corsa C 1.0?

I've got one as a shed and it's incredibly easy to work on. I've got an OBD reader too (£15) and can connect it to my laptop to read and reset faults etc. Getting an older car won't allow you this benefit.

A good starting point IMO.

carmadgaz

3,201 posts

182 months

Monday 21st April 2014
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andy-xr said:
NP

Whenever I jack the car up I always give it a sideways push when it's off the ground to make sure the jack is seated before I get underneath it.

I dont own axle stands so tend to make do with a spare wheel if I'm at the side of the car. 2 wheels on pavement and a little suspension push up from a jack mean I can use a creeper if I want to get underneath with the wheels still on.
That's all well and good until the jack fails (I've had it happen once)! For the sake of a cost of stands I'd get a set, even with my gung-ho H&S attitude I wouldn't dream of getting under a car only held on a jack!

My main tool kit is all Halfords Professional kit, serves me well and has a lifetime warranty.

Find a Haynes is a useful guide but not the be all and end all, sometimes they make the job seem a lot harder than it is.

dbfan

183 posts

122 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
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carmadgaz said:
That's all well and good until the jack fails (I've had it happen once)! For the sake of a cost of stands I'd get a set, even with my gung-ho H&S attitude I wouldn't dream of getting under a car only held on a jack!

My main tool kit is all Halfords Professional kit, serves me well and has a lifetime warranty.

Find a Haynes is a useful guide but not the be all and end all, sometimes they make the job seem a lot harder than it is.
I had the "safe jack" experience with a Rover 60 some years ago and I was very lucky - I had just taken the wheel off and realised I needed something from the house. I went indoors for thirty seconds and, when I came out, there was the back end of a Rover blocking the door (the front was on the jack when I left it). I have four pairs of axle stands - the originals (bought the day after the incident), a better set (Halfords), a heavier set (Draper I think) for the tractors and a tall set my neighbour was throwing out - and it's even better for the tractors!

Haynes manuals are OK - though don't always give the true details (possibly because of mods and improvements during production). I spent half an hour upside down in the passenger footwell of my Golf trying to find the two screws that it said were holding something together. I eventually realised they didn't exist and that the thing was a slide-lock fit (though seemed to have to unused bosses for screws). I won't mention the "2 spanner" job on the old Passat that took eight hours of hard graft...

funkyrobot

Original Poster:

18,789 posts

227 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
quotequote all
WoodsterT said:
Sorry to drag this back up OP, but any progress on this front? I've been in the same state of mind as you for the past two years waiting to take the plunge (with currently zero experience, the most I've done is replace tyres... terrible, I know!) but figured I was being silly minded and it wouldn't be possible, so it's nice to see a thread here with others as well in the same boat wanting to learn and has made me realise it's certainly a possible 'hobby' to look into!

Do let us know how you've got on if you can, call it inspiration! smile
No vehicle yet unfortunately. The budget I set aside is going to be used for some home improvements. However, I am slowly raising the required funds and should be able to commit to something in the summer. The desire to do this hasn't faded though. smile

funkyrobot

Original Poster:

18,789 posts

227 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
quotequote all
Oh yes. One thing that has happened though is I've been given backing to do this from my fiancee. She has agreed that it's a good idea and one extra car on the drive isn't a problem. smile

funkyrobot

Original Poster:

18,789 posts

227 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
quotequote all
jamieduff1981 said:
Buy something you're actually enthusiastic about and will be keen to drive, rather than just a knackered old Vauxhall.

A well cared for and structurally sound Midget, Mini, MGB, Spitfire or Chimaera maybe will be a pleasure to work on (inasmuch as the nuts and bolts tend to come apart much better than 1990s vintage things which I have lots of experience of). More modern cars tend to just be rusted together and you'll either just p155 yourself off rounding heads off or shearing heads off.

If the car is just a nail you're not enthusiastic about there's little impetus to actually fix and reassemble the thing. With a classic sports car you're actually proud of owning you've always got that drive to complete the work and get out in it.

That would be my slant on it at least smile
Makes sense. Thanks.

My fiancee clocked an MX5 for sale locally. Said she liked the look of it. smile

funkyrobot

Original Poster:

18,789 posts

227 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
quotequote all
p4cks said:
Corsa C 1.0?

I've got one as a shed and it's incredibly easy to work on. I've got an OBD reader too (£15) and can connect it to my laptop to read and reset faults etc. Getting an older car won't allow you this benefit.

A good starting point IMO.
Thanks.

As much as I'd love an older car, something cheap and mainstream may be the way to go.

big_boz

1,684 posts

206 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
quotequote all
I currently have 3 cars in my household and look after a friends, all except my '72 beetle should be available within your budget.

The easiest one to work on is a 2004 Volvo V40, very simple car to work on, parts are very cheap, and for the money its a very modern behaving car, for me its a workhorse and i can throw most anything in the back.

Second is a mates 2002 Astra, I have serviced it, changed coil packs, removed and cleaned throttle body, done the brakes, swapped some suspension parts, very simple car to work on.

The third is SWMBO's 2005 Megane, unfortunately it needs lost of attention, service wise, electrics wise, its just french but its an easy car to work on.

What i would say is the older the car you buy for this endeavor the more time will have passed for things to rust solid, and just generally be a pain...so that leaves the '72 beetle, on paper should be the easiest and most simple car in the world to work on, but factor in 40 years of time elapsed for things to cease, bolt heads to rust rounded, and unexpected tin worm, this will apply to mini's or anything from really more than a decade ago.

funkyrobot

Original Poster:

18,789 posts

227 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
quotequote all
big_boz said:
I currently have 3 cars in my household and look after a friends, all except my '72 beetle should be available within your budget.

The easiest one to work on is a 2004 Volvo V40, very simple car to work on, parts are very cheap, and for the money its a very modern behaving car, for me its a workhorse and i can throw most anything in the back.

Second is a mates 2002 Astra, I have serviced it, changed coil packs, removed and cleaned throttle body, done the brakes, swapped some suspension parts, very simple car to work on.

The third is SWMBO's 2005 Megane, unfortunately it needs lost of attention, service wise, electrics wise, its just french but its an easy car to work on.

What i would say is the older the car you buy for this endeavor the more time will have passed for things to rust solid, and just generally be a pain...so that leaves the '72 beetle, on paper should be the easiest and most simple car in the world to work on, but factor in 40 years of time elapsed for things to cease, bolt heads to rust rounded, and unexpected tin worm, this will apply to mini's or anything from really more than a decade ago.
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. smile