What If I Just Dont Get Anything?

[Jonno34]

Hey everyone

I'm pretty new to the whole car scene, and I don't really know anything, but I'm real keen to learn.

Everyone has told me the best way to learn was in a forum! So I joined this forum since I love my skyline.. and i've been reading through posts on the N/A section, suspension/handling section, maintenance section etc ...

I'm reading a whole ton of posts, but to be honest, i really just dont understand half of what you guys are talking about, and I dont wanna keep asking questions like .. what does that mean .. when everyones having an important looking discussion ... it would probably get annoying.

HOW did you guys learn all of this stuff? I mean like the terminology .. like what a "knock" is, what all the different parts of the cars are, what each one does ... basically the whole thing! Its very interesting stuff and id learn to know more about it ...

Is there anything I could read to learn about all this? I'd love to be able to contribute something more than "soo what does that mean again?" to all the discussions etc going on, and id love to be able to work on my car myself

Sorry for all the questions around the forums so far everyone, hopefully this thread ends it all!

and thanks for your patience with my noobie questions

Cheers everyone!

[Shazza24]

Look it won't happen over night but it will happen... if you are truly interested that is.

You may be the type of person that does not understand something until it is physically in front of you. That's fine, no drama's. Put yourself in situation's like: a friend is working on their car, etc and help them while quizzing them on what they are doing and other associated things (if your memory is shot take a note pad, then write it up @ home on the computer and keep as a reference)

You were talking about "knock" so i have included a link about it,not sure if you have read it but it is fairly comprehensive. Any acronyms,etc just google it.... (ie. cars BTDC)

http://www.skylinesa...ested-in-knock/

Obviously the sticky threads and search functions on HERE.

There is also wikicars: http://wikicars.org/

Crawl first, then walk.

Edited April 30, 2011 by Shazza24

[R TUNE]

IF you can get your self a copy of a gregorys manual (R31 skyline) this can help you learn basic termonaligy, parts of the car, and basic diagnosis.

Thier is also a haynes performance manual, basicly cover a range of topics from engine dress up, what tuner and ecu to use, the diffrence between turbo, n/a, supercharged. basic handerling. can be got from most auto shops.

[Miguelone]

You could also look into doing a cert II in auto or something of the sort. You'll go through things like the basics to pulling down engines/gearboxes etc.

[GODZ1LLA]

Takes years and we all learn somthing new everyday!!

You will never ever stop learning!!

[Socrates]

the wikicars page for nissan skyline puts the R31 as first generation skyline. LOL

My car is 5th gen back in 1977.

[Jonno34]

Hey everyone, thanks so much for the responses

Shazza: Im planning on getting a cheap lil unrego'd car for me to learn some practical stuff on, I have a few friends who have done full engine swaps etc etc so they should know their stuff and be able to help me get started ...

Thanks for the links to wikicars/the knock page! I'll get reading!

Brenton: For the Gregorys Service manual, does it have to be the skylines manual specifically or would the manual for other cars teach me the basics too? Cos since im planning to get a lil bunkie the service manual for that may help! Also im not too sure if what I have is any good, but I found a copy of the Nissan Skyline R34 Service manual online as a PDF? Ill link it here for everyone in case its useful .. perhaps i could get an old unrego'd R31! i saw a few on gumtree for <500 bucks

http://www.scribd.com/doc/5332929/Nissan-Skyline-R34-Workshop-Manual-English - is this any good?

The Haynes performance one looks great! Will pick that up and maybe one or two more haynes has on mechanics etc

thanks for the suggestion

Michael: I'm currently stuck in uni, but im planning to do a MITA induction course during one of my uni breaks its 4 weeks full time so it should be quite helpful ... and would love to do a course at tafe .. but itll have to wait till after uni unfortunately, they dont run part time courses on mechanics etc ive been enquiring from all the different tafe's in perth

Thanks for the help everyone, its good to see how I can get started learning

[stig mick]

Don't get discouraged I knew NOTHING about cars 2 Years ago I mean nothing

I owned a 1990 camry and I played guitar

When I gave up guitar I decided that I was curious about cars and boight my first turbo import

I hope you learn about them a different way than I did

I bought an r32 with a blown motor and learnt alot from that car,

Now 2 years later I am by no means an expert I still learn atleast sonething new every week, this forum is a great place for usefully advice,

I now do all my own oil changes fitted mg own exhaust have fixed countless bits and pieces on all the cars Ive owned

Also buying mags like performance imports is a great way to learn ( don't buy hot4's unless you want to learn about spinners and having more tv screens than KWs)

And don't be afraid to ask questions on here once you tried the search function aslong as you don't ask questions about doing fat burn outs or beating wrxs at the lights you should be fine

Goodluck and have fun

[blk94r33]

Go to a library, ask for the motoring/mechanic/engineering section. I have a book called "Introduction To Motor Mechanics". Covers all the basics and some semi in-depth stuff, and did help a bit through trade school. Find a book similar and you'll learn quickly.

Don't get discouraged I knew NOTHING about cars 2 Years ago I mean nothing

I owned a 1990 camry and I played guitar

When I gave up guitar I decided that I was curious about cars and boight my first turbo import

I hope you learn about them a different way than I did

I bought an r32 with a blown motor and learnt alot from that car,

Now 2 years later I am by no means an expert I still learn atleast sonething new every week, this forum is a great place for usefully advice,

I now do all my own oil changes fitted mg own exhaust have fixed countless bits and pieces on all the cars Ive owned

Also buying mags like performance imports is a great way to learn ( don't buy hot4's unless you want to learn about spinners and having more tv screens than KWs)

And don't be afraid to ask questions on here once you tried the search function aslong as you don't ask questions about doing fat burn outs or beating wrxs at the lights you should be fine

Goodluck and have fun

On a side note, wtf is with that?

Flicking through a "Street Commodore" mag at smoko the other day, candy red VE, 20"s, CAI, zorst, with >12< 7 inch screens, in stupid places such as in the lower section of the back door (the bit that "butts" up to the rear seat) wtf?

Or a classic on Pimp My Ride ages ago, where they fitted a screen, facing downward, above the spare wheel UNDER the vehicle so the owner could "watch stuff while changing his tyre"?

[stig mick]

I remember in one hot4s mag it was either a WRX or Honda prelude that had tv screen in the rims?! Come on that's just ridiculas and also would have to be non road worthy?

[KezR33]

Easiest way: buy the car, it will motivate you to learn.

I was in the same boat, bought an R33 GTS because I thought it looked and sounded awesome. I then joined this forum, started researching mods, went to a bunch of events, started talking cars with other car enthusiasts and was even buying HPI magazines for a while.

I'm still no expert, but I at least understand how most things works.

[KezR33]

Or a classic on Pimp My Ride ages ago, where they fitted a screen, facing downward, above the spare wheel UNDER the vehicle so the owner could "watch stuff while changing his tyre"?

I remember seeing a show car Audi with a zillion screens. It had one inside the forward part of each wheel arch. You could barely see them unless the car was on full lock.

[Jonno34]

LOL at the comments on hot4s ... I agree the cars there are .. interesting to say the least!

Im not completely clueless, I can do the bare basics (oil change, oil filter change) but I'm still nearly clueless! Especially about the more high tech stuff such as tunes etc

I'll definitely be heading to a SCA or something to grab some of those gregorys/haynes books i was recommended

But on second thought maybe I should try the library first .. they seem expensive on my limited budget ..

and i should DEFINITELY start rocking up to the SAUWA meetings I think, will get my membership soon!

I was also recommended the street machines magazine?

What do you guys think of this vs HPI?

I've been reading HPI up till now (sadly enough I still dont really know much from reading this mag)

Cheers for the advice everyone, love the forum!

[Jonno34]

Also what did you guys think of the skyline r34 service manual I posted up?

[KezR33]

Watch educational youtube videos.

[Jonno34]

thanks kieran that video actually taught me quite a bit will browse through more on utube

[R TUNE]

Brenton: For the Gregorys Service manual, does it have to be the skylines manual specifically or would the manual for other cars teach me the basics too? Cos since im planning to get a lil bunkie the service manual for that may help! Also im not too sure if what I have is any good, but I found a copy of the Nissan Skyline R34 Service manual online as a PDF? Ill link it here for everyone in case its useful .. perhaps i could get an old unrego'd R31! i saw a few on gumtree for <500 bucks

http://www.scribd.com/doc/5332929/Nissan-Skyline-R34-Workshop-Manual-English - is this any good?

The Haynes performance one looks great! Will pick that up and maybe one or two more haynes has on mechanics etc

thanks for the suggestion

MAte i used the R31 a sugestion, that was my first car and one that i used to build my knowladge base. Any gregorys manual can be of use, as most late 80's early 90's cars and todays cars are very similer, (newer cars thos feature a lot of electronics, which screw things up). But if you wona pull a car apart for shits and giggles to learn on, i would go somthing from the 80"s period as they are very basic and have plenty of room to wrok around.

As every one has being say just read read read, and ask questions.

brentt

[Jonno34]

Hey Brent, Yeah I was planning on getting the R31 as the car to work on, theres a few on gumtree for sale, but unfortunately their all automatic and the rest of my mates (I cant afford to buy a whole car by myself so we're working in a group, splitting the costs etc!) prefer other cars ... we're looking at a 93 Corolla atm .. ill try and find something in the 80s though

Cheers for the tips, and yeah definitely planning to get some good reading done, heading to the library tomorrow to see what I can pick up!

[Birds]

My advice: read.

It's as simple as that. You don't even have to try to learn, just read topics that are of interest to you and you'll pick it all up over time. The best topics for learning are those where people are asking about problems with their cars, because problems and diagnosis of these usually includes an explanation of how that particular part functions within the vehicle. Second to them are modification topics, because modifying a part usually gives a reason why the standard item may be inadequate for that particular application, along with the function of the original part. I've learnt 90% of what I know about cars off browsing forums in my spare time. After 2 years of browsing I built my first engine

Attend car meets and talk to people who share a similar interest in cars. The topics of conversation at car meets usually touch on technical and modification, which makes it very easy to ask questions if you don't understand something. People LOVE to share their knowledge of cars with other people.

One good place to start with, that you may not find on a forum, but is very important to know, is to read up about how internal combustion engines work. This doesn't take long, but forms the basic framework of all technical questions related to our favourite part of the car: the engine.

Other than that, if you see a term you don't understand, just Google/Wikipedia it or search for it on SAU. If you don't understand terms used within those articles, search for them until you do

And yes, we're all still learning no matter how much we know!

[funkymonkey]

learn to use the "search" function. that's all you need.