What was the first car you worked on regularly?
- Thread starter vavavroom
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The first car I really did serious work on my 65 Lotus Cortina. I did my first full engine rebuild, clutch job and full wiring harness replacement on that car.
My wife had the same (but later year) car!! Was yours the same stacked belts. Crazy
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‘69 VW Bug with radial tires, EMPI exhaust, etc…
1980 Chevy Chevette, which was my first car. Had a lot of issues so I had to learn fast, with some help from Dad…
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For sure!
My first car was a 1989 Mazda 323. I did minor things like plug wires, changing snow tires, bulbs, and one oil change.
But my first beater, bought with my own money, was a 1982 Cadillac Cimarron. And it was the first car I really worked on-- including diagnosing. Complete tune-up, vacuum lines, oil changes, rust repair. What an awful car! I eventually figured out that the Wells brand distributor cap and rotor were hot garbage with their aluminum contacts, and switched to something with brass parts. Upped my top speed from 55 to 75 MPH.
But my first beater, bought with my own money, was a 1982 Cadillac Cimarron. And it was the first car I really worked on-- including diagnosing. Complete tune-up, vacuum lines, oil changes, rust repair. What an awful car! I eventually figured out that the Wells brand distributor cap and rotor were hot garbage with their aluminum contacts, and switched to something with brass parts. Upped my top speed from 55 to 75 MPH.
74 Barracuda. I helped to restore it with my dad in the 90’s. I grew up in that car, even was in a deer collision in it while my mom was pregnant with me in 1976. He sold it about 5 years ago.
86 Plymouth Turismo (Dodge Charger). That is the first one I truly owned and did lots of playing with it, including a terrible paint job. I learned a lot on that car.
86 Plymouth Turismo (Dodge Charger). That is the first one I truly owned and did lots of playing with it, including a terrible paint job. I learned a lot on that car.
1981 Chevy Luv pickup. Got it super cheap as the clutch was worn out. Had to tow it to the house. Replaced the clutch and it became my daily driver (I was 16.) Drove the wheels off of it for about 3 years.
Mine was a 71 Nova. Unfortunately by the time I got it it was quite used and abused and I was just trying to keep it somewhat running.
1967 Ford Galaxy 500. 240 cu. in. big block straight six - with a three speed column shift.
No power anything and no AC.
It was worn out. This was my first engine rebuild, at the ripe old age of 15. Paid for it ($75) with my lawn mowing money. Same with the parts to put it on the road. Took brake shoes and drums and other stuff off of a neighbors crashed Ford, right before he took it to the junk yard.
No power anything and no AC.
It was worn out. This was my first engine rebuild, at the ripe old age of 15. Paid for it ($75) with my lawn mowing money. Same with the parts to put it on the road. Took brake shoes and drums and other stuff off of a neighbors crashed Ford, right before he took it to the junk yard.
1954 Ford Country Sedan station wagon w/ 239 Y-Block V8 and three-on-the-tree.
That car was a hand-me-down from Dad when I graduated high school.
That car was a hand-me-down from Dad when I graduated high school.
Something like this 1960 green 'Farm Car'
John Deere Machine Finder Blog
John Deere Machine Finder Blog
1971-1973 Vega race car
Dad bought it about 1992, maybe 1991. It was an early super gas car. He had a couple different SBC based engines in it over history, a 350 ZZZ crate, a 377 and the final high power (for us) 355. Won track grand championship (all class champions run off to be grand champion) in 1993. He did everything on it, except transmissions, and my 7/8 year old self was generally there with him.
Dad bought it about 1992, maybe 1991. It was an early super gas car. He had a couple different SBC based engines in it over history, a 350 ZZZ crate, a 377 and the final high power (for us) 355. Won track grand championship (all class champions run off to be grand champion) in 1993. He did everything on it, except transmissions, and my 7/8 year old self was generally there with him.
1993 Jeep Wrangler YJ. It was simple and had a great little 2.5 4 cylinder engine. It also had a massive amount of room under the hood, so things were easy to access. I changed spark plugs, thermostat, hoses, belt, PCV, and really learned to do all the different maintenance tasks on that wonderful Jeep. I also learned to do some modifications, such as adding custom bumpers and skid plating.
One of the dumbest vehicular things I ever did was to sell that Jeep. I wish I still had it today. It was bulletproof. That little engine was like a tractor engine and I think would have run for half a million miles, easily.
One of the dumbest vehicular things I ever did was to sell that Jeep. I wish I still had it today. It was bulletproof. That little engine was like a tractor engine and I think would have run for half a million miles, easily.
1965 Mustang
A 74 Datsun B-210. I learned how to do oil changes, a coolant change, spark plug change and then some body work. I also learned how to use a timing light and dwell meter and changed the points and did my own tune ups. I purchased a set of repair books from Peterson Publishing in around 1974 that got me going.