I recently acquired a 1951 Mercury and want to learn to do engine
maintenance/repair work on it. The flathead V-8 is supposed to be an easy
engine to work on, so how does a person who is intelligent but stupid
around cars learn how? I feel I could use a guru/tutor, but maybe a class
or book would be enough. I’d appreciate any suggestions.
Robert McIntosh (mcin0…@gold.tc.umn.edu) wrote:
: I recently acquired a 1951 Mercury and want to learn to do engine
: maintenance/repair work on it. The flathead V-8 is supposed to be an easy
: engine to work on, so how does a person who is intelligent but stupid
: around cars learn how? I feel I could use a guru/tutor, but maybe a class
: or book would be enough. I’d appreciate any suggestions.
===================================================================
Back in my youth I learned via a 2-step process; reading & doing.
I bought a rather large book called the "Complete Encyclopedia of
Automobile Repair", or some such. This provided the basic knowledge.
Then I got under the hood, car, or wherever required to gain the
necessary practical knowledge, experience. The flathead should not
present too many unsurmountable challenges. I would however
recommend getting a repair manual for this specific engine/wehicle,
in addition to a basic tome.
*=====================================================================*
| Dave Yaros/Andrea R. Kasley | Internet: kasle…@ucunix.san.uc.edu |
| 35 E. 7th St., Suite 215 | CompuServe: 76703,4332 |
| Cincinnati, OH 45202-2420 | PH 513 721-4900 [V] 721-4901 [Fax] |
*=====================================================================*
In <303ddb$…@ucunix.san.uc.edu>, kasle…@ucunix.san.uc.edu (G. David Yaros) writes:
>Back in my youth I learned via a 2-step process; reading & doing.
>I bought a rather large book called the "Complete Encyclopedia of
>Automobile Repair", or some such. This provided the basic knowledge.
>Then I got under the hood, car, or wherever required to gain the
>necessary practical knowledge, experience.
I learned similarly and recommend it highly. I read the
Motor’s Auto Repair Manual that was laying around the house. Then
dad would have me do some repairs when our cars needed it.
There’s a lot of information in those Motor’s manuals, and the
books aren’t too expensive at swap meets, either.
> The flathead should not
>present too many unsurmountable challenges. I would however
>recommend getting a repair manual for this specific engine/wehicle,
>in addition to a basic tome.
The manual for the specific car is a requirement, no matter
what the car’s vintage, IMHO.
These opinions are my own, not those of the Library of
Congress.
Howard Sanner
h…@hsan.loc.gov
san…@mail.loc.gov
In article <CswBnF….@news.cis.umn.edu>, Robert McIntosh <mcin0…@gold.tc.umn.edu> says:
>I recently acquired a 1951 Mercury and want to learn to do engine
>maintenance/repair work on it. The flathead V-8 is supposed to be an easy
>engine to work on, so how does a person who is intelligent but stupid
>around cars learn how? I feel I could use a guru/tutor, but maybe a class
>or book would be enough. I’d appreciate any suggestions.
Nice car. The best way is to read a lot, study your problems, read some
more, join a car club in your area, go to the meets and meetings until
you find someone who will speak your language, do what you feel comfort-
able with and help others do what you never have. Then do your own. oh,
and read a lot.
Everyone starts once they dive into that first project. Then you screw up
a lot and eventually you become surprised to find you know the answers
to the new young guy’s questions. It’s a been there done that thing.
k.p.
/ hpcc01:rec.autos.antique / Robert McIntosh <mcin0…@gold.tc.umn.edu> / 1:28 pm Jul 13, 1994 /
I recently acquired a 1951 Mercury and want to learn to do engine
maintenance/repair work on it. The flathead V-8 is supposed to be an easy
engine to work on, so how does a person who is intelligent but stupid
around cars learn how? I feel I could use a guru/tutor, but maybe a class
or book would be enough. I’d appreciate any suggestions.
———-
Check with your local high-school. Often they have car repair shops where you
can take a class in the evenings.
Dick Lucas