this post was submitted on 12 Jul 2024
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Cars - For Car Enthusiasts

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Hello! Don’t know if this is the right community to post this question, but maybe you can help.

I want to learn about cars and engines. I’m a pretty mechanical person and I like to tinker. I can do basics, like changing my own oil etc.

I want to do some hands on learning, but I don’t have a ton of money to spend or space to work in. I was wondering if you had suggestions on something small and affordable I can get to learn about engines. I was thinking a lawn mower or a scooter but I don’t know how similar those would be to a car.

Do you have any advice?

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[–] ephemeral_gibbon@aussie.zone 2 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

For YouTube stuff, d3sshooter is pretty good. He's an older bloke that really knows his stuff and does detailed videos about how to do specific jobs on his cars (e.g. I followed his video when putting together the hubs for my mini). This is also a more expensive way to do it, but restoring an old car isn't a bad way to go. You'll learn a hell of a lot from it and they're a bit simpler and more approachable than a newer car

[–] RightHandOfIkaros@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

As an Old Car Haver myself, I would definitely not recommend someone learn on one unless finding parts is very easy. Maybe something like a Mustang or Camaro, but definitely not anything like a Studebaker or Oldsmobile. And unfortunately, the popular cars they still make parts for don't come cheap.

[–] ephemeral_gibbon@aussie.zone 1 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Yeah, I'm learning on an old mini, which is a great car to learn on because they made basically the same car for 40 years and it's one of the most heavily produced cars of all time. I can buy every part for it for a reasonable price from one of 15 online retailers, about 5 of which are in Australia. However, if that wasn't the case it would be quite a bad thing to learn on because you'd just spend all your time chasing parts.

Something like that, an old Toyota or a bug would be a good car to learn on