Garage built Cars???

[Rols574]

For those of you with no prior automotive experience that jumped off the cliff and tackled your own cars......how do you build the courage to handle something huge like quarter panel replacement and know if you're doing it right or wrong?

I'd love to try and do it myself, I think its half the fun but getting over that question i posed is a tough thing. I mean how do you know your welds will hold? how do you know if you're doing it correctly?

sigh

[GregWeld]

Originally Posted by Rols574

For those of you with no prior automotive experience that jumped off the cliff and tackled your own cars......how do you build the courage to handle something huge like quarter panel replacement and know if you're doing it right or wrong?

I'd love to try and do it myself, I think its half the fun but getting over that question i posed is a tough thing. I mean how do you know your welds will hold? how do you know if you're doing it correctly?

sigh

Hang out on here and see if you can pick up how others are doing it... or take a class at the community college... There's books you can buy.... there's videos on YouTube... and there's got to be somebody around you that's been there and done that.


Just my .02


I figure if other guys can do something and can do it right - then I should be able to as well. Most get into trouble because they don't START the job correctly -- that's where you need to learn a little bit before you get it screwed up.

[Sandbagger]

Originally Posted by Rols574

For those of you with no prior automotive experience that jumped off the cliff and tackled your own cars......how do you build the courage to handle something huge like quarter panel replacement and know if you're doing it right or wrong?

I'd love to try and do it myself, I think its half the fun but getting over that question i posed is a tough thing. I mean how do you know your welds will hold? how do you know if you're doing it correctly?

sigh

I have a neighbor did the same on a 70 Bronco . He started from the front and went to the rear with new fenders ,doors & quarters ,then door hinges
He welded that puppy up solid too . cant get the doors to fit Hmmmmmm
Get the quarter and door to fit before welding the thing up solid .

[RussMurco]

Originally Posted by Rols574

For those of you with no prior automotive experience that jumped off the cliff and tackled your own cars......how do you build the courage to handle something huge like quarter panel replacement and know if you're doing it right or wrong?

The way I approach a new skill is by looking at the project, assessing how badly things could be if I "F" something up, and seeking guidance. I've never taken any kind of automotive training, other than some things Dad showed me as a kid, and I have made PLENTY of mistakes (oh, the stories I could tell)! But just like with everything else - failures are your best instructors!
Funny you should mention quarter panels, I'm considering tackling one myself and have never done so!

[Todd in vancouver]

Originally Posted by Rols574

For those of you with no prior automotive experience that jumped off the cliff and tackled your own cars......how do you build the courage to handle something huge like quarter panel replacement and know if you're doing it right or wrong?

I'd love to try and do it myself, I think its half the fun but getting over that question i posed is a tough thing. I mean how do you know your welds will hold? how do you know if you're doing it correctly?

sigh

Personally I look at it as an opportunity for personal growth and being able to learn some new skills. If I can do it than anyone can and I won't bore you with the details but I've had to overcome some huge obstacles to work on my car. So what happens if I mess up installing the rear quarters on my car? Well,worse case is I have to pay someone to install them properly, and maybe the cost of another set of skins if I wreck these ones beyond use. Big deal! I would have had to buy them and pay for the install if I never tried.

There are tons of resources, youTube, V8TV, forums, etc. so there is no reason not to try. If I throw away the money because of an extra set of skins in the big picture it means nothing . What you need to ask yourself is what if it turns out OK ?