hi Jason, good to see some interest from a user of max
i would say about 90% of the modeling done so far is box-modeling, the rest was done with splines, if i remember right the springs, and the faceplate for the wheel, also the top seal for the gearbox was done with it, i use it a lot when u have a squarish object and then u have semi circles on the side of them, because the other way of doin it is boolean and that a terible tool.
i self taught myself for the first year or so and then found this great site
http://www.3d-palace.com/ there are some free tuts there but the best one u ahve to buy i have brought 2 of them (the matrix apu one and the firefly one) and if u cna complete them u will have the skill to do anythign really.
btw i also did some more work
bascily done the intercooler and the radiator
and thanks for the comment jason
hope u like them