Where to learn mechanics?

[V100]

So this may sound rather silly but I have no experience in car mechanics, only know basic stuff like what a camber angle is and things like that. However my interest in cars is growing and I'm starting to want to learn how to fix cars etc.

Only problem is I don't own a car...

Any advice?

[eltax91]

West notts college in Mansfield have a great reputation for evening classes. Post in the midlands forum here. Many have been.

[Rich_W]

Buy this book



http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hilliers-Fundamentals-Moto...


Standard fare for all Apprentices of the last 900000 years.

[mgroadster]

Go and buy a cheap engine off Ebay, strip it to book and rebuild it to book.

[richie barry]

V100 said:

So this may sound rather silly but I have no experience in car mechanics, only know basic stuff like what a camber angle is and things like that. However my interest in cars is growing and I'm starting to want to learn how to fix cars etc.

Only problem is I don't own a car...

Any advice?

do what i am doing buy a 2 stroke mini bike of a crack head for a tenner :P

[Welshbeef]

One thing that is important is to get a good tool set. Buy the right one and it will last you a lifetime.
Get the basic kit first of all sockets spanners open and ring then torx and Allen keys, one handy thing which I'm yet to get is an oil collecting pan it's slim and makes oil changes on the drive a sinch.

The rest basically buy them when you need it.

You could spend a fortune on tools some which you'd never use so be careful.

One thing rather than buy just an engine I'd recommend buy a £100 car as is with 1 day MOT whatever and it makes no difference what car it is not one bit although one with fewer modern electrics is better as a dry joint or bad connection may be impossible to find.

[Rotary Madness]

Buy car.
Take to bits.
Put back together with lots of swearing.
Bin box of left over bolts and bits of trim.

Its what I did, you eventually just pick these things up. The internet makes things so much easier, so many guides out there and people on forums willing to help.

[grimfandango]

Buy something old and crap, some spanners and a haynes manual. use the haynes manual and the spanners to make the crap thing good again!

Personally I'd recommend a old ford or a kit car or something, maybe just because thats what I learnt with, but theyre really easy to work on and fairly simple.

I really wouldnt worry about spending loads on tools either, most of the cheap tools are ok although some things are worth spending a bit extra on.

[ChevronB19]

Halfords professional recommendation for tools from me - don't bother with the expensive Teng/Snap on stuff

[Welshbeef]

ChevronB19 said:

Halfords professional recommendation for tools from me - don't bother with the expensive Teng/Snap on stuff

My smallest ratchet failed and Halfords are refusing to replace it - as I dont have a receipt (5 odd years old).
Failed on the pinion.
Also noticed a few of the actual sockets are showing rust.

BIL has full snap on kit Ive used and borrowed things frm time to time and I can assure you it does make a big difference. The ratchet specifically

[wombat172a]

V100 said:

So this may sound rather silly but I have no experience in car mechanics, only know basic stuff like what a camber angle is and things like that. However my interest in cars is growing and I'm starting to want to learn how to fix cars etc.

Only problem is I don't own a car...

Any advice?

How much space do you have?

If you've got a decent sized shed and some private land to use I'd get this: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Land-Rover-S2A-Rolling-Chass...

Get it up and running, with some brakes and put a seat on it. Will teach you the basics quick enough. Even better you could put a body and electrics on it, and by the time you've got it back on the road you'll be wanting to put a V8 into it...