Where did everyone learn this stuff??

[85_SS_302_Coupe]

Just curious, where did you guys (and gals) learn about engine building and Mustangs in general? I mean, aside from being a technician or going to school, those of you who are casual mechanics, what books do you recommend or what else do you do? I know a lot for a person who's never had anyone around to teach, maybe it's common sense. Then again, some things that seem very common to the average garage mechanic are a total blur to me.

 

[bgjohnson]

well, I ask many many questions, I observe alot on stangnet, I became a member of midweststangs. Got to know alot of great guys and they taught me stuff, and one of the major influences has been my car. it's told me things in such ways as cuts, bruises, breakin stuff, and just being a learning tool. The main thing is READING, man the stuff you learn when you buy alot of different tech manuals and upgrade books, that's the key right there for me, that and bein good at this sort of stuff and loving it!

 

[5 Liter Mustang]

as far as the mechanical aspect goes, the best way to learn is to actually work on it. That is slightly tougher with these 5.0 EFI's because as simple as they are compared to newer motors, there are a lot of electronics involved.

The easiest way to learn is to read up on the internet. This site can be a valuable resource.

 

[TheUser]

I don't know a ton, but I did pull my heads and i'm putting it back together now. Stangnet and a manual helped me w/ that. I read a lot on Stangnet even if it's something I don't plan on doing or can't answer, i'll pop in and see what's goin on with it and then i'll know a little about it later. As far as how motors work, www.howstuffworks.com had a great little thing I found one day. I also got a 5.0 project book that has projects and stuff in it. Michael Yount said something in a post about an EFI book by Probst if you're interested in EFI...the sensors and how they work. If you can't figure something out, most likely someone has done it and can help...especially the experienced guys like Michael Yount, Thumper, and the many others who I don't know off of the top of my head

 

[85_SS_302_Coupe]

Reading, tell me about it! I'm a big carb fan, but a few days ago i started feeling "inadequent" i guess you'd say about what i know about engines, and seeing as how my current 'stang has a stock Holly on it, i bought this Haynes Techbook Holly Carburetor Manual. It breaks things down like you're a total idiot so that even if you think you know how something works, it's likely you're still going to learn something you didnt know. My biggest hurdle right now is living in an apartment, i cant just go out and tear my engine out of my car (or believe me, i would, for no reason, just to put it back together)

The good part is, i'm probably getting a house in the summer. I've never actually put an engine together so i'm really itching for it.

 

[Mustang5L5]

Books? What books?

When i started working on stangs when i was 16, i didn't know jack. I just asked questions on here and the corral.

Now i'm 22, built 3 engines from bottom up and about to rebuild my 1st T-5 and feel like i know what i am doing. Nothing scares me on these cars anymore

 

[85_SS_302_Coupe]

Books? What books?

When i started working on stangs when i was 16, i didn't know jack. I just asked questions on here and the corral.

Now i'm 22, built 3 engines from bottom up and about to rebuild my 1st T-5 and feel like i know what i am doing. Nothing scares me on these cars anymore

Yea i'm debating on rebuilding a T5 with Gforce internals, or just shipping it to them to have them do it. I know i'd get more saticfaction from doing it myself, but i'm sending it to them reguardless for a pro shift treatment. Sometimes the noob factor comes on strong when you ask common questions. It's funny that i know more of the really technical stuff and less of the really common stuff.

 

[ponycar17]

Actually doing it... That's the key... I still don't know anything, but I'm not affraid to tackle any job, knowing I have good resources such as close Mustang friends nearby and the internet if I have an obscure question....

 

[pairofnines]

My grandfather, 2 uncles, great grandfather, and my stepdad are/used to be mechanics. They know a lot about engines, my stepdad and one of my uncles taught me about newer electronically controlled engines, and my grandfather taught me about carburated engines. A great plus is that they all prefer Fords, so I learn a lot about them. Last year I rebuilt my C4 in my 69, and rebuilt the engine, new gaskets, intake, carb, a race cam, new valves and springs, even replaced the suspension. And my 89 is up for some 100,000 mi. maintenience, so thats what I'll be doing this spring and summer.

 

[85_SS_302_Coupe]

damn, i have none of the family resources. My father-in-law used to be a mechanic, but he runs his own land development company now and has almost no time for teaching, and has 2 young children to spend the weekends with so i wont pull him away from them to work on my car. I've got a few mustang buddies but they know about the same as i do.

 

[hllon4whls]

I learned my basic mechanics by having to do stuff on my own because I did not have the money. When I was in school, I bought an F100 for $500. Good truck with a 302 and a C4. Had to start changing things like alt, starter, headgasket, stuff like that. If it didnt work, I probably fixed or tried to fix it. I miss that old truck. Light pole on I-10 claimed it one sunday morning.

 

[HISSIN50]

another manual not mentioned that is good is the Watson manual, though Probst is thought to be the best by many. this site is so great for the eclectic things that manuals dont tell you (things like how to best seal the ends of the lower intake, what sealers and lubes people have had good luck with, etc). manuals just cant convey the little tricks that are tried and true and work. nor do you find out what always fails and how to get around it (i.e., haynes doesnt say that many rear mains leak, tps's can be set, door lock actuators fail often, etc).

the internet is an awesome source (as Mike eluded to). you can pick up some obscure stuff. im a caveman and didnt have internet (or computer) til a year ago, so i had to just try stuff and read lots of mags. i sorta had the jesse james approach, where i would just figure out stuff and rig it together. not the most comforting, but you do what you have to. its so great to be able to come in here and ask when stumped (i have no gear head friends, locally. just morons whom think they are til you ask them something).

 

[88POSLX]

I was into cars back in highschool. Took automotives in school. I would have to say that magazines were my best source though. I had boxes and boxes of car magazines. I also worked in the shop at a Honda dealership for a few years, learned a lot there. I got into Mustangs one summer when I came home from University and my brother had a Stang. I took it upon myself to spend his money and build his car up. After he wouldn't let me spend more of his money, I bought my own Stang.

 

[Black 93 Fox]

I learned from stangnet and just going into a project on the car. The if i ran into problems i would post on here for help.

 

[IndyBlk5.0]

stangnet, my good buddy shawn (5.0droptop), constant reading, common sense... I think we all can agree that learning something that you love is conciderably more easy than learning chemistry, or physics...

 

[willys1]

I just picked up my first five o 4 months ago.Ive learned alot,web sights(of course stangnet),reading,and hands on exp.I just bought a 5.0 book called "The Official Ford Mustang 5.0 Technical Reference & Performance HandBook. Very informative book!!

 

[tmoss]

39 years ago, the aftermarket was not NEARLY as developed as it is now, so you basically had to modify some stock parts if you didn't have the money for aftermarket parts. My uncle got me started and I've been modifying cars for myself and friends since. Stayed up with the electronics through my Navy Electrician and Nuclear Power Plant Operator training and then electrical engineer career after GI bill college after that, all while keeping up with evolving automotive electronics. It's been fun all the way. I never grew up when it comes to fast cars.

 

[LXMiker]

well the haynes manual is a good one to have around, or perhaps a chilton or a kamasutra is nice to have around the shop

just take stuff apart and put it back together, talk to real mechanics, research everything first or just act like you know what you are doing confidence and bull*****ting is about 65% of being able to work on cars........j/k

 

[85_SS_302_Coupe]

LXMiker,
this is off topic, but your car sounds like it's not hooking if you're only going 15s? Plus a lot of the mods you have are apearance oriented except for the clutch and maybe plug wires. Ever race with slicks or drag radials? My car is basically stock, mods in the sig, but it's pretty quick all things considered. I have yet to run it, but it came with a glove box full of time slips, and the guy said he could never get it to hook up. It had bald tires on it and skinnies in the front so that's probably why.

 

[Chetly]

I learned all my knowledge on cars at Shade Tree college. I pulled my car under the shade fo the tree and worked on it. WHen something breaks on my car, i find out how to fix it. Why pay soemone else to do what you can do for free. There is only one way to learn on cars and that is to dive in and get experience doing it. You can read and that helps. But talk to people and get your hands dirty.