So.

I know this, but I knew not everyone in motoring would know this. I didn't want to confuse any one. I've assembled plenty of PC's in my time tyvm =S

I appreciate you telling me that not all Japanese/European cars are built to the same specifications etc etc, that's marginally helpful.

I'm not going down this road because I want to be a mechanic or anything. I'm more doing it because I want to end up restoring cars, having project cars etc etc, and being able to work on my own one.

I learned everything from books and just doing it. Helps that my great grandad was a petrolhead too. I'm the only one in our rather extended family that (!) knows what he's doing. Practice practice practice.

i'd say good on ya michael.benn, i was like you, at 16 playing runescape, wouldnt know a petrol from diesel engine ect, then i gradually got interested, started listening and asking questions to my mechanically minded mates. downloading a workshop manual for my car (primera) started doing small things like doing my own oil and filter changes, then moved up to changing bigger components.

then one day a mate asked if i could help him do a auto to manual conversion on a skyline, figuring others would have done it before, i googled it and found step by step instructions. did that and it all worked, after that i did an engine change on another car,learning as i go allong

go to the local dump or pick a part (ask if you can pull apart some shit). buy yourself a socket set and spanner set, philips heads screwdriver and pliers.

(perhaps buy a wreck, then pull the engine out, and apart if you have the space, try re-assemble it and if it doesnt work out for you, nothing lost.)

I could say the same vice versa, but just thought I'd try and be positive to try get on. You're a good bloke.

I tried runescape once and didn't like it, but I am a gamer and 18 =P

Thank you for a very helpful post ! I'm gonna head to the wreckers like you said. Thank you so very much :D

dont get hung up on trends you gotta do things for the right reasons,alot of young guys seem to want to mod their cars to look as tacky as possible.subtlety is key.

please tell me you didnt buy those neons to go on your car.they are for acomputer case right they just happened to be listed in the car parts section right!cause thats not a good place to start, what earns you respect in need for speed underground gets you laughed at in the real world.

but hey its your car do what u like to it, ive always said "dont worry about what other people think".

back to the topic at hand however, do you have a decent place to work!a big old shed is the best. also whats the area like where u live do you have close neighbors, do u rent your house or do you or your family own it!

i ask this because theres alot of stuck up folk out there that look down upon people who work on cars at their house. thankfully my landlord is pretty laid back but ive had neighbors that absolutely hated me. Alot of people see project cars as just scrap that should be dumped and anyone who wants to keep them and not get something new and tidy is just a loser.

of course those people are stuck up and shallow and have no idea the value of such things.i even have friends that think they know better and think that i should sell my "crap" cars and by something decent cause fixing cars is a waste of time. of course they dont know jack dont own a decent car amongst them wouldnt know a chevy from a fiat and are always extremely grateful when i fix their cars get them a wof and save them a small fortune in the process.

opinions are like arseholes everyones got one. and everyone thinks their way of life is best.
in summary only listen to opinions of people know what theyre talking about, the best way to learn about cars would be talk to some older guys that have been doing it for years, go to a local restoration/hot rod shop and ask them if you could do some work experience, hell volunteer even the lessons you will learn will be invaluable.

Totally!