How does one learn how to modify cars? (luxury car, German, seats)

[Deez Nuttz]

Best thing you can do is pick up some books and read and get a very good understanding on what makes what work and how, then slowly get into buying tools, and eventually parts. Truth be told, it's an expensive habit.

As for Tightwads comment of a turbo shortens an engine's life by many years and miles, well yeah if you do not know what you're doing. Turbocharging is a fine line between power and catastrophic failure. I do agree for a first time performance engine to start out on a naturally aspirated engine and get a feel for it, then move up to a turbo engine. Just a like a 16 year old that just received his license doesn't just hop into a top fuel dragster; it's a stepping stone.

[frankgn87]

The internet is a wonder way to learn about automobiles and maintaining and modifying them. Read ever automotive forum you can find.. ask questions, read more...

[JordanJP]

M3 Mitch, is the "M3" in your handle by any chance related to the "M3" of BMW manufacture?

I really do love cars, but, like I said, I have no idea whre to begin learning. I can tell you what company makes what cars and what engines are likely going to be under the hood, but I know next to nothing about how it all fits together or what some of the parts do.

Thanks for all the input so far, I would really love some more.

[miu]

The internet is a great way to read up on the possibilities. Also, I recommend getting a subscription to the Grassroots Motorsports magazine. And they also have a forum to join.

In the meantime, you can start by working on your own car. Like doing oil changes and tune-ups.

[Mac_Muz]

In order to do one must learn how things work. Possibley the best 'Sleeper' I ever helped build was a older air cooled VW bettle with a pantera rear axel and a 351 Cleveland. That thing was awesum for light to light in beantown.

Understanding how a engine breaths is very important, but if you can't wrench, you simply must start there.

Then finding a car and engine unit that can do what you want, when you want and after spending for the parts.

My son has a toy auto truck for fun, and another for work. The for fun one is super charged, lowered, had stainless steel headers, and is remapped for the injection. His next step is cams.

[M3 Mitch]

Originally Posted by JordanJP

M3 Mitch, is the "M3" in your handle by any chance related to the "M3" of BMW manufacture?

I really do love cars, but, like I said, I have no idea whre to begin learning. I can tell you what company makes what cars and what engines are likely going to be under the hood, but I know next to nothing about how it all fits together or what some of the parts do.

Thanks for all the input so far, I would really love some more.

Yeah, my screen name is the same one I was using in forums like S14.net before I got on this forum. My weekend car is an 88 M3.

Sounds like you are a complete greenhorn, which is where we all start out. But at least you are an honest greenhorn, so should be easier to teach.

One recurring mistake young guys starting to get into cars make is to way underestimate the cost of whatever project they want to get involved with. If you are still in school, honestly get yourself a car with enough cool factor "out of the box" that you won't feel like you have to start modding away until you graduate. There is more satisfaction in a solid, decent bone stock Celica for example, than there is in a clapped-out Supra. Get something with a stickshift, it's more engaging to drive and less prone to come at you with an expensive repair from out of nowhere.

But even when you are experienced and relatively prosperous, as Clint says, "A man's gotta know his limitations" - so I have a decent but pretty much stock M3, and an MG-B that's rather dog-eared but drives well enough, rather than find a cheap Testarossa for example. Roughly 5 to 10K will get you a damn decent to excellent B, 15 to 20K will get you a damn decent M3. I'd be and was more particular about existing conditon on the M, because parts are more expensive. You might have a decent time fixing up a $1000 MG-B, provided you are not getting it that cheap because it's a hopeless rust bucket, but a 5 to 7K M3 generally provides an ownership experience that would make a saint cuss. Friend of mine has a good Testarossa, I'm here to tell you a good, sound driver, not a concours car, will set you back 50K one way or another. The TR you can buy for the cost of a good M3 is a train wreck headed for your garage.

Infrastructure. It's hard to keep a car up, much less improve it's condition, unless you have at least a rudimentary garage. Tools you can and should buy, if you get good stuff when you are young, it will still be good when you are older. Unless you are able to cut a huge check to a real restoration shop, you need to forget about paying repair shops to do anything serious to improve your car. I can think of a few outfits that you can farm out stuff like rebuilding a BMW tranny for example, without being rich, but for the most part you will have to be the overall project manager on your own car projects or they will eat you alive cost-wise.

Where are you at? If you are in rust country and a student, my first choice would be avoid owning a car at all till you can flee the salt belt, if you just *have* to have a car, a plain beater is what you want. Rust never sleeps.

[harald]

it is books about the subject .dont know what they are called over there.
they are very specific. my series that i got at the age of 12,are very specific on all the repairs on a car. but mine are for older cars.but you have several brands over there,such as Clymer/Haynes and a couple more

[bobman]

read.

LOTS !!

It's the only way you'll learn.
The internet is a miraculous place, where you can find any information you want about which manufacturer is best, and which mod is best for which car.
There will be a myriad opinions !

If one exists, join a club. Talk to people, and listen to what they say.
Hang around at drag strips, or roundy round tracks. Talk to some folks, some mechanics, and drivers will be happy to talk, if you get them at the right time!

[Grandpa Pipes]

Originally Posted by JordanJP

Hi,

I'm just curious how one goes about learning how to work on and/ior modify their own cars- in addition to basic maintenance, things like putting on new or better parts so one could save money by not doing it at the body shop or the mechanic.


Any suggestions? I'm very interested in this, not for the present moment but as a hobby a few years from now.

I have an ideal "project car" in mind..need to know this stuff if I really wanna make it purr This can be taken as just running well at this point in the posters development.

Originally Posted by iTsLiKeAnEgG

Gaining 50hp on any modern naturally aspirated car will cost you a great deal more than $500.

The OP made no mention of increasing horsepower or other performance modifications. The request was how to learn the basics.

Originally Posted by Deez Nuttz

Best thing you can do is pick up some books and read and get a very good understanding on what makes what work and how, then slowly get into buying tools, and eventually parts. Truth be told, it's an expensive habit.

As for Tightwads comment of a turbo shortens an engine's life by many years and miles, well yeah if you do not know what you're doing. Turbocharging is a fine line between power and catastrophic failure. I do agree for a first time performance engine to start out on a naturally aspirated engine and get a feel for it, then move up to a turbo engine. Just a like a 16 year old that just received his license doesn't just hop into a top fuel dragster; it's a stepping stone.

Yes, automotive modifications are VERY expensive from the get go and seldom yield the hoped for results. That's is why I , and others, have recommended learning the basics that can be used just to keep a car on the road and not on the drag strip.

So in agreement with the more reasonable responses start with the basics then , as your interest and funds permit, graduate to evermore difficult car projects (some of which can take years to complete).

As always my advice is always geared to do no harm as should all advice be intended when given to a novice.

[prerunner1982]

Read as much as you can... books, magazines and online forums are good tools... however don't take EVERYTHING you read as truth. Also hands on is the best way to learn.

Also... you don't necessarily need $$$$$$$$ in tools, it depends on what modification you are wanting to make to your vehicle and what kind of vehicle it is. Newer vehicles with needs different/special tools where an old vehicle may not.