Bobby455

Hey All,

I've had an interest in cars for a really long time now and I am looking to get started on trying to build them on my own. I think it's a really valuable skill to have and maybe some day I'll be good enough to have my own shop. Does anyone know of any good books or manuals I can try to buy/download/locate so I can learn? I doubt there's anything that's exactly step by step, but I don't really know what's out there. I'm considering picking up the "How To Build Max Performance Olds" book and I'm pretty sure my Cutlass has the original factory manual with it, so hopefully those might help. Thanks for all your help and ideas!

JpMotorsports

If your looking to into a business the first step is to figure out what you want to do? Are you looking to be a engine builder, maintenance tech, auto body restorer ect. Best way to do this is go to school. and learn hands on. You need certifications to be able to turn your skills into a business and get the proper insurances. NO book will teach you hands on experience and it will take many years to get good enough to do it as a business.

joe_padavano

As noted, there are a whole range of skills that are required in the car restoration world. You can either be a generalist and be mediocre at all of them or be a specialist and be extremely good at one of them. You need to decide what you want to do. There is absolutely no substitute for hands-on experience. I've been doing this for four decades and I learn something new every time.

OK, some of those things I have to RE-learn every time, but that's a topic for a different post...

If you have an Olds and want to learn on it (a good choice), get the Chassis Service Manual, Fisher Body Manual, and Assembly Manual for your car. These will tell you the specific procedures for your car, but they all assume a basic skill and knowledge. If you lack those skills, you might want to investigate the local VoTech or community college. Even here in the D.C. area, there are local schools with automotive classes ranging from engines to brakes to suspension to electrical to emissions to body and paint.

Also, buy the best tools you can afford. Good quality used are a better investment than new Chinesium.

Good luck.

Bobby455

Thanks for all your input! I really appreciate it. I have thought about doing one of the automotive schools in the past, but the reviews from graduates said they're all too expensive for what you're getting. One guy said he went to a local shop with his degree from one of those big name auto tech schools and the manager at the shop actually laughed at him for having a degree from the school.

I think if anything I would try to go into engines. Eventually I'd like to get a welder and do some custom fabrication, maybe focus on custom turbo manifolds once I get really good at it. I'm sure it's kind of a niche field but maybe if I get really really good I'll make something for a big name drag team or something. But those are different dreams for later days

joe_padavano

That's kinda my impression of these outfits like UTI. They apparently spend all their money on ads, as opposed to on the students. My son looked into this a while ago and decided it wasn't worth it.

lemoldsnut

Joe said it there is no substitute for hands on experience. With that in mind I suggest you find a mentor to teach you. That in itself is hard for the one being the mentor. Trust, and your reliability are big issues. You can learn stuff from a book. But, you can not get any experience from a book.

Find a friend, or relative or beg for a low end job somewhere that is willing to teach you things. None of us are experts at everything. Some are ok at many and some are masters at one or two and fair on others. It takes years to learn. So, that requires dedication. Get a project car and start on it. Don't let it be the one you have to drive. Just a project. Your skills in various areas will start to show.

Good luck

Larry