I do most stuff on my own. Only things I take to shops are jobs where a lift is pretty much required, like clutches on my WRX. Occasionally I have to send it out for work where stuff's so rusted on that my impact wrench isn't powerful enough to break the bond. Any routine maintenance, and most part swaps/installs, though, I do myself.

If I have the time I'll do it myself beside I just need the proper tools and the FSM and I'm all set. Things that I wanted to try is rebuilding a transmission, any thing related to drivebility. One thing I hate the most is doing a clutch job, wiggle that freaking transmission to fit it . The only time I'll go to a shop is to get an oil change on my car but I'll do it myself on my parents suv

Besides changing the oil/filter, I'm a complete newb.

I want to learn but I don't have anyone who can teach me.

i do most by myself unless is a paint job then i leave it to the body shop

Im a backyard mechanic by night, and a 5 time ASE certified auto technician by day. Motor swaps, transmission swaps, turbo kits, suspension upgrades, brake upgrades, engine builds, body work, paint, or ecu tuning, Ive done it, and I will do it again. I dont think there is a part on my car I haven't removed at one point or another.

i do all my own work, i've never had a mechanic touch a single one of my cars and i probably never will. every thing on my car is made by me and i don't do bolt-ons. The only thing on my car now, that i've bought and not made, is an act stage 2 cluctch.

And what do you have on your motor that you made? and intake and exhaust?

:[ nooo, i know i suck </3 lol : P

me and my buddy do all our car stuff together...its much funnier and more easier when u have a buddy. weve done motor swaps, custom suspension work, basic bolt-on, the only thing we havent tried yet due to lack of money funds is rebuilting and ecu programing for my k series honda motor...aka kpro....other then that i rather perfer work on my own car...i dont trust stealership or a mechanic unless i know him.

Do you have any idea what you are talking about? You dont do bolt ons, how do you increase horsepower? Making simple little things is ok, but you can never put the R&D into a part that a large company can. I dont care how good you are, you are never going to be able to make your own turbocharger, you will never be able to forge your own rods or pistons, and I wouldn't trust most people to take a transmission apart, much less make new pieces to rebuild it. Then there are things that you just cant do without uber expensive equipment. I deal with guys every day, that do all their own work, but when it comes time for an alignment, they come to me.

There are some things better left to the pros, anyone can slap an intake on a car, and most car guys could install a set of coilovers, but it takes someone with brains to realize, there is more to it than just installing parts. Bolt ons are important, but in todays world, they are completely useless without proper dyno tuning, or alignment settings.

For example, just because your car looks cool with the tires all tucked up in the wheel wells doesn't mean it handles well. Ask most car owners what caster is, and how it effects the car, or ask them what their thrust angle is, and you will get nothing but confused looks. A proper alignment is key to building a fast car. What about dyno tuning?

I've learned Lord Nycon talks out of his ass, and I quoteth:
"Every tuner tries to be a Skyline"

LOL ya I saw that thread. very true

I personally have very little car experience so i try to do as much as I can. My cousin and uncle are both teaching me though and I am working with them to build an engine for an old 1980 Camaro. Lol dont ask me much about the specs yet cuse its still pretty unfinished

No bolt-ons huh....btw what kind of things have you made...im kinda curious.

nothing better than a hands on learning experience. dont be afraid to get dirty