Help me with technical knowledge please!

The three round objects are simply air cleaners.

I do not know if there are courses in your area, but probably a good idea. I would suggest you buy a workshop manual (like a Haynes) for your current road car ... and start doing the basic oil changes/services yourself.

This will teach you the basics. If you have a mate who has REAL knowledge he will be able to support ... if you are lucky.

Just make sure you are careful, and do ONE thing at a time, and do NOT loose any parts. If you are doing some work on something that there are more than one of, make sure you disassemble one at a time, so you can use the others to show you how to put back together ... for example, changing brake shoes on a drum breaked car, do one side at a time.

You might want to get a book that explains in basic terms how a engine and car works ... then study your car and the pieces will start to fall into place.

Good luck, and as anything, start small and work up.
Pete

 

I would agree with this. I would also add that you should buy the very best tools that you can. Back in my day (yeah, I know, even Dinosaurs had not been discovered yet), me and my buds ruined many a part with our lack of knowledge and lack of tools. (Such as pounding a square tip screwdriver into a Phillips slot because, well, that was all we had.) Sure we eventually got whatever fixed because we had no choice. (I remember once doing a brake job during a rainy night in Georgia by the neon light of a truck stop and lightening flashs because (1) we didn't have any money to pay someone to fix it, (2) we didn't have enough money to rent a room at even a flea bag motel, and (3) the locals were mumbling colloquialisms about hippie ***gots and how hippie chicks didn't wear bras.) But having the right tools would have made a world of difference.

BTW, one other tip for you. If you run into a head that appears to be stuck to an engine block, don't do like a friend of mine once did and take a crow bar to the head. Amazing how easy those blocks will crack if it turns out that you missed one last screw in getting the head off....

 

I think the idea about a general course is really a good idea. You would be surprise at how much you learn on a Taurus will be directly applicable to more exotic cars. The basic systems in all cars are similar (excepting the RX7 and the like).

 

Would be to go to your local automobile recycler, a/k/a junkyard and walk around, inspect cars in various states of disassembly. You'll see engines with heads off so you can see what a typical valvetrain looks like, front suspensions and brake assemblies, even variations on engine configurations such as straight 4s, V6s & 8s. Best of all...you won't hurt anything by poking around. Look at the same part but on different manufacturers cars to see different methods on solving a common problem. Take apart a broken lawn mower engine and try to see how parts interact with each other. Take a more-knowledgable friend that can identify parts that look strange. Good luck!

KevFla
Orlando, FL

 

I learned how to work on cars the old fashioned way: Fix it or dont drive. All the comments about tools are right on.... having a great tool set is critical.

My suggestion for how to learn about working on these old cars: Go buy yourself a decent looking, running/driving old British sportscar. Something like an MGB or a TR6 or even an MG midget or Spitfire. ANYONE who can read can fix these cars. If you were to sit down and sketch out the most basic car possible in an effort to explain to a 6 year old how a car works.... your drawing would look like an MGB. Parts are plentiful and cheap and the cars are fun to drive when running right.

My first car was a TR6. IT broke down. I bought a shop manual, some basic tools and the rest is history.


Terry

 

Ooooh ... up the British!!! . That is the funniest thing I have ever read!. I do agree with the crude engineering of English cars but I think maybe you would end up with a TR3 or something ...

Pete