best car for leaner at mechanic to mod
Discussion
What sort of car and what sort of mods? you aren't going to learn a lot about being a mechanic by changing wheels and bodywork!
I'd suggest buying a project car, MOT failure, head gasket, clutch, gearbox failure etc and learning how to repair and maintain cars before you get into the murky world of modifications. You need a baseline of understanding to make worthwhile modifications and it is easy to end up with inferior parts or undesirable side-effects.
I'd suggest buying a project car, MOT failure, head gasket, clutch, gearbox failure etc and learning how to repair and maintain cars before you get into the murky world of modifications. You need a baseline of understanding to make worthwhile modifications and it is easy to end up with inferior parts or undesirable side-effects.
Well I dont have any specific car in mind just something that would be easy to get parts for I guess?
yea sorry, that's what I meant repair rather than mod bodywork and wheels.
Are their any cars that would be 'easier' to repair than others.. For example cheeper parts, easier to work in engine bay etc..
yea sorry, that's what I meant repair rather than mod bodywork and wheels.
Are their any cars that would be 'easier' to repair than others.. For example cheeper parts, easier to work in engine bay etc..
I cut my teeth on a Caterham 7. They're like an upscaled Mechano set- unbelievably easy, and it even came with an assembly guide! That gave me the confidence to do some work on more regular cars up to and including top end engine work.
Some cars are easier than others but in my opinion a consistent theme is that the cars of the last 10-15 years really stepped up a level in a number of critical ways;
-Engineering down of fixings to save weight and cost
-Use of plastic panels and shrouds for aero and to keep the user away from the oily bits
-Greater dependence on electronic systems not only for general running but also for diagnosis
-Moving engines lower and further back in the car for pedestrian safety
-Increasing requirement for manufacturer specific tools to do certain jobs
With all that in mind you'd do well to avoid these models and go for something older.
There are already some good suggestions in this thread, but I'll add another factor- Cars with longitudinal engines are often nicer to work on due to accessability of ancillaries etc, this means you also get rear wheel drive (normally). Front wheel drive cars, particularly modern ones, can be quite frustrating when you're wedging your hand down the inner wing or bulkhead to get to the cam belt / starter motor etc.
My suggestion then would be an actual classic from such a time when rear wheel drive was default, or a more modern classic such as BMW E30.
Some cars are easier than others but in my opinion a consistent theme is that the cars of the last 10-15 years really stepped up a level in a number of critical ways;
-Engineering down of fixings to save weight and cost
-Use of plastic panels and shrouds for aero and to keep the user away from the oily bits
-Greater dependence on electronic systems not only for general running but also for diagnosis
-Moving engines lower and further back in the car for pedestrian safety
-Increasing requirement for manufacturer specific tools to do certain jobs
With all that in mind you'd do well to avoid these models and go for something older.
There are already some good suggestions in this thread, but I'll add another factor- Cars with longitudinal engines are often nicer to work on due to accessability of ancillaries etc, this means you also get rear wheel drive (normally). Front wheel drive cars, particularly modern ones, can be quite frustrating when you're wedging your hand down the inner wing or bulkhead to get to the cam belt / starter motor etc.
My suggestion then would be an actual classic from such a time when rear wheel drive was default, or a more modern classic such as BMW E30.
CaptiV8ted said:
MX5 - Peanuts to buy, cheap bits, easy spannering, scope for big tuning, easy to customise. You can also learn all about suspension tweaking as there are 10 adjustments through the suspension (caster, camber, toe). Most cars have 2!
You also get to learn welding to replace the festering sills!I've done 2 different models to help develop my spannering ability.
First one was a Defender 90, now I have an MX5, which I have just supercharged.
Both have longitudinal engines, so easy to get to ancillaries/ belts etc. Both are relatively easy to spanner on, simple, robust mechanicals without any complex bits hanging off them. Both have a big mods scene so you can bolt bits on/ off.
MX5 will be cheaper to buy but the land rover will give you a FAR cheaper parts bill.
ETA: Oh and both WILL need welding at some point, they both rot terribly
First one was a Defender 90, now I have an MX5, which I have just supercharged.
Both have longitudinal engines, so easy to get to ancillaries/ belts etc. Both are relatively easy to spanner on, simple, robust mechanicals without any complex bits hanging off them. Both have a big mods scene so you can bolt bits on/ off.
MX5 will be cheaper to buy but the land rover will give you a FAR cheaper parts bill.
ETA: Oh and both WILL need welding at some point, they both rot terribly
"It will also teach him the fine art of swearing.
Every seasoned mechanic knows swearing adds at least 25% more torque to undo or break off stuff."
I to suffer from an extreme case of Garage Tourette's syndrome such that parents hurry their children past my workshop with hands over their ears, there are occasions when even I didn't know I knew those words or phrases
Every seasoned mechanic knows swearing adds at least 25% more torque to undo or break off stuff."
I to suffer from an extreme case of Garage Tourette's syndrome such that parents hurry their children past my workshop with hands over their ears, there are occasions when even I didn't know I knew those words or phrases
PaulKemp said:
"It will also teach him the fine art of swearing.
Every seasoned mechanic knows swearing adds at least 25% more torque to undo or break off stuff."
I to suffer from an extreme case of Garage Tourette's syndrome such that parents hurry their children past my workshop with hands over their ears, there are occasions when even I didn't know I knew those words or phrases
As important as any tool in your box.Every seasoned mechanic knows swearing adds at least 25% more torque to undo or break off stuff."
I to suffer from an extreme case of Garage Tourette's syndrome such that parents hurry their children past my workshop with hands over their ears, there are occasions when even I didn't know I knew those words or phrases
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