Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Been working on the coily's vac problem this arvo - I haven't got it sorted yet, but I will. Not because I know what I'm doing, but because I am persistant.

As you may guess, I'm not terribly mechanically minded - Yes, I've owned my own vehicles since I was 17 (about 15 years ago) and I have smashed two and blown engines in three (including one in my sierra). I put it down to never being shown by the old man or other rellies how to work on engines, etc. and never having enough cash as a young bloke to get basic servicing done, let alone any major mechanical repairs. I've looked for courses on engine maintenance, but you almost always need to be an apprentice spanner - unless there's some "civilian" courses I've missed?

I have done some advanced driving courses (gov ones) as well as ammassed a heap of off-road experience in the 7 years I've had the coily as well as through work, but once something goes CLUNK I'm screwed. I do have a f****d G13B engine in the shed which I plan to tear down as practice so I can see the damage. Any advice on how to go from enthusiastic zero to mechanical hero in two or three easy steps - i.e a short course or similar?

most tafes do short courses or there adult education ones as

I don't really believe there's a foolproof way of going from novice to expert ( what ever the hell that is ).

Just getting in there and doing it seems to be the way most people have learned, the smart ones ask questions first, the rest learn from their mistakes.

But I have always found that sitting down reading the manufacturers manuals not a bad place to start. You can learn heaps by understanding whats in your car and how it all fits together.

Its also a good confidence builder - at least you know how to get it apart and together again, and I think thats a good place to start. Some performance stores and technical bookshops also stock "how to" books which won't make you an overnight expert will build your understanding.

And pulling apart a few scrap engines etc wont hurt either.