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Anyone turn their own wrenches anymore?


Hwilli1647545487

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I'm too poor to have someone else work on my cars. That and I'm too picky about shit. so I do all the stuff myself. (except valve springs).

 

 

 

fixed :)

 

 

I do about 90% of my own work

 

I have to send out painting, welding, and ring and pinion stuff I just don't have the space and the cash for all the right tools for those jobs

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i do much of my own work for now, but farm selective things out--

 

i've come to the conclusion that people just don't give a fuck about your car like you do, and won't spend the time on the car that i would. so, if i don't have the tools, or technical know-how, then i farm the work out. i've been busy as hell this year in florida with my last year of training, but was still able to do all the general maintainence on the 5 cars i have here, as well as a ton of work on my '85 GT.

 

i'll probably start having a fair amount of my work done at a speed shop once i find a good one in wisconsin--just to save some time, and i can't afford to injure my hands.

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Wife's Audi is under the factory bumper-to-bumper w/ free maintenance, so I haven't touched it (other than installing the factory Sirius tuner and a brake light bulb).

 

Otherwise, I am way too cheap to have other people work on my stuff. Time is my biggest killer, but honestly a lot of smaller things you can do, if you count in the drive time taking it to the shop, getting an estimate, waiting around for whatever needs done to be done, and driving home, you could have done it in the same time in your driveway.

 

I won't do body work. I'd rather have a pro build a tranny/rear end/short-block (and by pro, I mean someone that is really good, not just someone who does it for a living). Otherwise, I'll do everything else myself. But that goes for everything from our quads, my boat, working on our homes, etc...I'd rather do it myself and save a fortune.

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I do, I just can't bring myself to trust anyone to do honest work to my cars. I don't even care so much about quality or anything its just that any time I do get lazy and take one somewhere they give me a bunch of BS about what it needs. So I do everything from oil changes to complete build ups.

 

Not saying any of the CR sponsors do this to me. Actually I've never taken a car to anyone on CR's list I usually just go to the first place thats close to me while I'm driving around at work.

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Ever since I put the wrong type plug on an aluminum block which seized and then when I went to take them off with a torque wrench and sheared the plug right off the block and had to get it re-tapped turning a $20 plug change into a $600 tune-up on my 1989 Escort - uhh I learned my lesson about working on cars.

 

Wish I had the internet back then :(

 

Screw it - I still do everything that doesn't include a lift or special tools right now even on my bumper-to-bumper car. I don't think the dealer would take kindly to my mods lol.

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As the title says. I noticed that these days we have all these little cliques as to what shops everyone supports. I remember when these types of forums were started they were to support enthusiasts trying to figure things out on their own.

 

Doesn't really seem like it is that way anymore.

 

So who still turns their own wrench?

 

I do about 95% of my own work, and anybody that knows me knows it's more than just bolting on an intake and changing brake pads. I recently replaced pistons/intercooler/set timing (thanks to Gearhead) and am currently tuning myself.

 

About the only downside to doing your own work is there's nobody to blame for your motor blowing up except for you... :bangbang:

 

 

I do...but to busy to fix my own shit..

 

and i dont think anyone here can't say i dont try to help everyone that posts in the tech section with their car. hell you can more then likely go thru every thread there, and find that 90% of them i help or what not. with giving the info they need, and even pics of the data and or the repair info. but most find its something above them, for the home person just cant do, then they are more advised on where to take it.

 

Thanks again for your help sir. I was a lot more confident starting it up for the first time after the rebuild after your help.

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This is a really good thread, and I am happy to say that I've done everything on my vehicles aside from tire mounting and balancing...and tinting windows...and R-134A A/C conversion on Cleetus...and a clutch for Cleetus II a few years ago...

 

After I did the Passat timing belt and looking at the upcoming clutch swap, I am seriously weighing more on the time/value of money regarding someone else doing some major jobs. However, I will certainly continue to turn a wrench until I physically cannot any longer...and I will buy vehicles that cater well to DIY guys like me...

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I try to do as much work on my cars as possible. Mostly to save money so that I can fix/mod other things and stretch my dollar as far as possible...but I also get some enjoyment of learning new things and not always feeling like I need to rely on others (except the fact that I can't do anything in my own garage and have to steal others :mad:)

 

On my FD, I'd rather F it up myself than pay someone to do the same which seems like my only 2 options lately. I replaced the transmission last year with the help of Erik letting me use his lift and trans jack, and I intend on changing the turbos this year as well as putting in my water injection system.

 

The other cars it depends on what needs done. I'll do brakes, suspension, and basic motor work, but anything more complex than the valve adjustment we did on Andy's e46 and I'd likely be paying someone to do it. I also usually will pay someone to diagnose my car if there's a noise or leak that I don't have the time or equipment to track down.

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I try to do all my own work unless it's something I don't have the tools for or can borrow them or my back is just giving me too much grief. I'd have to say 9 out of 10 times I take it to a shop, they screw something else up or don't perform the job right. Seriously, you all would be amazed how many times this has happened with just this car. I'll drive myself crazy trying to take care of the problem myself just because I can't trust anyone else.
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I try to do all my own work unless it's something I don't have the tools for or can borrow them or my back is just giving me too much grief. I'd have to say 9 out of 10 times I take it to a shop, they screw something else up or don't perform the job right. Seriously, you all would be amazed how many times this has happened with just this car. I'll drive myself crazy trying to take care of the problem myself just because I can't trust anyone else.

 

You use the grumpy old man pit crew.

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I work on all my own cars, friends cars, family cars, and the ocassionaly customer. I have a lot of all the tools I need but I do need a scan tool because my code reader only does so much. without cr and espically rob, I wouldnt not have gotten things done as quick as I did without there help.
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Howard, you know my situation and knowledge base. You showed me how to change my oil and from there, I feel in know my car well but not other cars though. I can pull a motor or a trans. Now I just don't have the time now. If I don't know it, I don't fuck with it to learn it.
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Only thing I haven't done on my vehicles to this point would be the rebuild of the T-56 and the tune. After doing some transmission work on my 93 mustang and looking inside the T-56, I decided that I would leave that to someone with more experience. I would rather have it done right the first time in this instance. Working on cars, whether it's one of mine or a friend's car, keeps me out of trouble. I always have to find something to keep me busy or I lose my mind. Working on cars helps fill that void for now. I guess we'll see what happens in 5 months when I have a kid.
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