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re: If You Have The Ability- Do Most Car Mechanical Work Yourself
Posted on 7/4/25 at 8:19 am to BeatingU
Posted on 7/4/25 at 8:19 am to BeatingU
Back in the day, I'd change out a water pump in a heartbeat and more than once, my wife has come home to find a Harley dismantled on the garage floor, but these days, you might have to lift up the front of the car and remove the front wheel just to change that water pump.
I'll pay to have it done now.
I'll pay to have it done now.
0
Posted on 7/4/25 at 8:23 am to BeatingU
Even things like swapping a motor or even rebuilding a motor are pretty easy. The biggest battle is a good machine shop that will work with a DIY job. I didn't realize how easy swapping a transmission was either, they make it out to be harder than it is so you can pay the shop $$$$$$.
Posted on 7/4/25 at 8:24 am to BeatingU
If I had access to all the tools plus a hydraulic lift, I'll be glad to work on on my vehicle.
Posted on 7/4/25 at 8:32 am to armsdealer
quote:
Even things like swapping a motor or even rebuilding a motor are pretty easy.
Posted on 7/4/25 at 8:37 am to BeatingU
I’ve been using YouTube for 15 years or so to fix my car and various other things. I’ve replaced a power windows motor, engine thermostat, inner door handles, outter door handles (including paint with clear coat), whole headlight and tail light assemblies, side view mirrors, and more. I’ve saved a ton of money with these fixes that really only require basic tools. All you need is a little time.
Anything that’s labor intensive or would need expensive tools, I’ll let the shop do it.
Anything that’s labor intensive or would need expensive tools, I’ll let the shop do it.
Posted on 7/4/25 at 8:39 am to tide06
quote:
I’m convinced German engineers are masochists
Not just the Germans! Check out spark plug replacement on a Ford Edge with a 6-cylinder. You have to remove the valve cover.
And Honda loves to drain the oil filter on to suspension parts -
All proof-positive engineers hate mechanics.
Posted on 7/4/25 at 8:40 am to BeatingU
My Dad (a mechanic) taught me this in 1980.
Glad you figured it out.
Welcome to the team.
Glad you figured it out.
Welcome to the team.
Posted on 7/4/25 at 8:47 am to BeatingU
If I had the space Id set up a bench and start rebuilding/upgrading F-150 transmissions as a hobby.
We have state surplus auctions here and most of the not running F-150s are likely in need of a transmission rebuild. They sell pretty cheap. They get maintained regularly and have all the records. Some are well worn but have low miles.
There’s a guy on YouTube who does a teardown and upgrade in about an hour and a half.
We have state surplus auctions here and most of the not running F-150s are likely in need of a transmission rebuild. They sell pretty cheap. They get maintained regularly and have all the records. Some are well worn but have low miles.
There’s a guy on YouTube who does a teardown and upgrade in about an hour and a half.
Posted on 7/4/25 at 9:10 am to BeatingU
quote:
With YouTube and forums being there for you to source information it's becoming easier and easier
I do almost all the work myself, but YouTube showing you how to change parts is easy part. The diagnostics part is what a mechanic is better at so you aren’t just changing parts and hoping to fix a problem.
And a job that takes a shop 2 hours will normally take an inexperienced person watching YouTube 6-8 hours. But then what if you run into an issue like stripping a bolt in the head, what do you do? If that happens to an inexperienced at home mechanic they are fricked.
Posted on 7/4/25 at 9:15 am to BeatingU
(If You Have The Ability- Do Most Car Mechanical Work Yourself)
How bout don’t lecture me, MF
How bout don’t lecture me, MF
This post was edited on 7/4/25 at 9:16 am
Posted on 7/4/25 at 9:21 am to BeatingU
I’ve done all my own work forever. Newer cars with complicated electronics in many cases are easier to work on since the cars will self diagnose in many cases. If they don’t just search the internet and the answer is usually there.
Posted on 7/4/25 at 9:27 am to eitek1
YouTube is good for a lot of DIY jobs, but if you are going to work on your vehicle, invest in a good shop manual. It will pay for itself quickly.
Posted on 7/4/25 at 9:27 am to eitek1
Brand-specific forums and YouTube are gold.
That said, my under-dash days are over.
That said, my under-dash days are over.
Posted on 7/4/25 at 9:34 am to KingOfTheWorld
Can I just ask, with some of those more intensive repairs do you enjoy it?
For me rebuilding a classic car as a project or helping fix up a used car with family would be something I could enjoy.
But dealing with some of those jobs you outlined to save $500 for me results in way too much frustration to take on anything past basic maintenance like oil or brakes.
For me rebuilding a classic car as a project or helping fix up a used car with family would be something I could enjoy.
But dealing with some of those jobs you outlined to save $500 for me results in way too much frustration to take on anything past basic maintenance like oil or brakes.
Posted on 7/4/25 at 9:38 am to BeatingU
There are three things I leave to trained professionals.
Plumbing
Electric
Auto repair
I'm willing to and have done carpentry, roofing, floors, siding, drywall, landscaping, even digging a footing.
Plumbing
Electric
Auto repair
I'm willing to and have done carpentry, roofing, floors, siding, drywall, landscaping, even digging a footing.
Posted on 7/4/25 at 9:48 am to Pvt Hudson
quote:You Aggies make everything about your preverted world.
I don’t think OP is suggesting you drop the tranny in your garage Saturday afternoon.
And I don’t even want to know what “dropping” a tranny means, but it sounds disgusting.
Posted on 7/4/25 at 9:51 am to stelly1025
quote:
The one thing I miss about the military is they had auto repair garages with lifts and all the tools you could rent out and do pretty much anything you needed to
I’ve wondered if there would be money in having a facility with lifts for people to rent out bays to work on things. Is that a thing anywhere?
Posted on 7/4/25 at 9:55 am to tide06
quote:
For me rebuilding a classic car as a project or helping fix up a used car with family would be something I could enjoy.
It turned into a retirement hobby for me. I’m not on a “got to have for tomorrow” schedule and I can walk out to my shop when I’m bored and do a little work when I feel like it. I have had friends bring their vehicles over and we can spend and afternoon wrenching while sipping on a few beers.
Posted on 7/4/25 at 10:30 am to Bestbank Tiger
quote:
There are three things I leave to trained professionals.
Plumbing
Electric
Auto repair
I'm willing to and have done carpentry, roofing, floors, siding, drywall, landscaping, even digging a footing.
Of the above, some auto repairs are done by professionals, and we hired a heating and ac local company to put the brand new to this very old house heating and ac system in. (The thought of cutting metal duct work would have had blood flowing and the hassle of finding the heating and ac wasn't worth it.) We also paid a local to build the three bay garage and frame the huge room above it.
The rest we did ourselves. We didn't have a lot of money and we never took out a loan. Money mattered.
Posted on 7/4/25 at 10:33 am to LSUMJ
quote:
I’ve wondered if there would be money in having a facility with lifts for people to rent out bays to work on things. Is that a thing anywhere?
The lifts are out there in all the abandoned garages from the 50's-80's. You don't want to buy one, because of the possibility that the fuel tanks are still there and leaking into ground water. I know of one locally that is available to rent out and car friends rent it every so often when they have a project that needs it.
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