Need Help!!!

[Taylor Parrish]

Just looking for some opinions from anyone who'd like to offer. Long story short I love cars (more than I love my girlfriend) and I would love to work on them, problem is I don't know much about them. I'm not looking to work as a mechanic or anything of the short, this would be more of a personal hobby. To give you an idea a dream of mine would be to buy an old mustang and turn it into Eleanor. I just graduated from college and have plenty of free time and money to make it happen but I'm at square one as far as knowledge goes. I've considered going to UTI and have been looking into it. I'm open to all ideas, please help me out with some feed back.

[silvermonte]

My advice would be to buy a running mustang that is decent shape and then change one part out at a time. You will learn alot from first hand experience and anything you need to know you can look up on the internet. Just start on small projects and work your way up.

[ma73z]

I totally agree, buy a decent running car and don't take on more than you can do in like a weekend. If the car is disabled to long LIFE happens and you'll be in the long term jackstand class.

[raustinss]

I started reading car mags basically before the internet become so popular...1990 maybe lol...body I'm old...i learnt more since buying my chevelle which I might add I was really looking for a 69 Camaro. Then I did in any magazine. My first hand experience is way beyond anything taught in school. School teaches you facts not lessons,
Thinking and problem solving on the spot aren't. Things you can be taught ,ask questions and lots of them. This community (cars) always seems like a great group to learn from and help teach the next generation. Hell even try to volunteer at a shop or something even if it's sweeping the floor. You can learn processes,time management and how things go together by just watching others work
Good luck and keep us updated
Ryan Austin

[Vince@Meanstreets]

Where do you live?

[clill]

Buy a used car you like and have fun learning on it but don't tear it apart yet. Also you could look into adult ed classes.

[Taylor Parrish]

I live in Dallas. Definitely a lot of great ideas I appreciate the input. Any suggestions on a beginners garage setup? Such as tools I might need. All I have right now is a small tool box and a few power tools I use for handy work around the house.

[silvermonte]

A good starting point for tools would be the craftsman 300 piece set or something in that range. You can get in on sale for around $200 I think. That will get you a good range of hand tools for not alot of coin and then just add to the collection as you find tools you need that you dont have.

Here is a 250 piece set for $179.
http://www.sears.com/cm-250-pc-mts/p-00938250000P?sid=IDx01192011x000001&kpid=00938250000&kispla=00938250000P

[Taylor Parrish]

What about a good starter car? Something that would have parts readily available and is easy to work on. I've been pondering on a '55 ford pickup. I feel like that'd be a good car to learn on but I'm not sure how available parts are and if a '55 would be a little out of date for a beginner to learn on.

[LS7 Z/28]

What about a good starter car? Something that would have parts readily available and is easy to work on. I've been pondering on a '55 ford pickup. I feel like that'd be a good car to learn on but I'm not sure how available parts are and if a '55 would be a little out of date for a beginner to learn on.

If you're a Ford guy and you're into Mustangs I would suggest you find something like this. The notchback's are less desirable than the Fastback "Eleanor" style and you can find one for a fair price and work on it while you drive it. Swaping parts out here and there to make it your own is not that difficult. There are multiple companies that advertise on here that have parts available. I have no idea what your budget would be, so maybe you are looking for a fastback but it will certainly cost you more.

http://www.oldride.com/classic_cars/525166.html

Get yourself a subscription to Car Craft and read all of the articles, it's dirt cheap for a 2 year subsciption and you will learn a lot.

https://www.circsource.com/store/Subscribe.html?magazineId=94&sourceCode=I8ABNN

Go to as many car shows as you can and ask questions. Car guys are typically more than willing to talk about their car non stop and answer questions. Definitely make it to the Fort Worth Goodguys show in October.

https://www.good-guys.com/pdf/schedule/Schedule14.pdf

Just read through build threads and other forum sections on here, you will absorb more than you think.

[Jon69RagTop]

Hanging with other guys and volunteering your time is a great way to make connections and gain some experience.

[Revved]

Where are you in DFW Taylor?

[Taylor Parrish]

Where are you in DFW Taylor?

I live in Frisco

[Taylor Parrish]

If you're a Ford guy and you're into Mustangs I would suggest you find something like this. The notchback's are less desirable than the Fastback "Eleanor" style and you can find one for a fair price and work on it while you drive it. Swaping parts out here and there to make it your own is not that difficult. There are multiple companies that advertise on here that have parts available. I have no idea what your budget would be, so maybe you are looking for a fastback but it will certainly cost you more.

http://www.oldride.com/classic_cars/525166.html

Get yourself a subscription to Car Craft and read all of the articles, it's dirt cheap for a 2 year subsciption and you will learn a lot.

https://www.circsource.com/store/Subscribe.html?magazineId=94&sourceCode=I8ABNN

Go to as many car shows as you can and ask questions. Car guys are typically more than willing to talk about their car non stop and answer questions. Definitely make it to the Fort Worth Goodguys show in October.

https://www.good-guys.com/pdf/schedule/Schedule14.pdf

Just read through build threads and other forum sections on here, you will absorb more than you think.

Got my 2 yr subscription to Car Craft yesterday! Do you know much about older ford trucks like a '55? Such as availability of parts and if they're easy to work on. I'm between that and a mustang. I'd really love to start off learning on the truck and later once I've gained some knowledge and experience take on a mustang so I could really turn it into a beast.

[LS7 Z/28]

Got my 2 yr subscription to Car Craft yesterday! Do you know much about older ford trucks like a '55? Such as availability of parts and if they're easy to work on. I'm between that and a mustang. I'd really love to start off learning on the truck and later once I've gained some knowledge and experience take on a mustang so I could really turn it into a beast.

Nice! Working on a 2 wheel drive truck is not much different from a car, so it's really your preference. There are definitely parts available and they are not all that difficult to understand compared to something new, which will much more confusing. You will learn by trial and error, just don't be afraid to dig into it.

You can get a free catalog here to start researching.
https://www.lmctruck.com/ford/
Their parts are pretty decent, just search for '55 ford truck parts and you will find multiple companies.

I'm not sure if you've been to many car shows, but that Goodguys show near you in October will blow your mind, there will be a lot to take in.

[Vegas69]

Find a hotter girlfriend...

[FETorino]

As far as Fords goes Mustangs offer the best bang for your buck on aftermarket parts availability. The early ones are a very simple design and very easy to work on.

The windsor style motors like a little 260, 289, 302 or 351 found in early Mustangs have the best parts availability and are pretty indestructible.

Go buy a coupe (what they called the notchback before the Fox hit the scene). They don't command near the price of a fastback so you can get a decent runner without going broke.

Start tinkering on small projects. Like someone else said just pick small things that don't take it off the road for more than a weekend. Do a brake job, swap out the plugs and wires. Ditch the points distributor for a duraspark and an MSD box. Just basic maintenance and reliability projects that will help you learn about the car and won't overwhelm you.

When you feel really brave try rejetting a carb based on Siegs instructions. If you can do that you can open a shop.:lol:

[LS7 Z/28]

Find a hotter girlfriend...

Hahahahaha I'm not sure which project would be more expensive, I'd say he's better off with a car.