Working on Engines

[riverrunner1984]

Personally for me, I do not know the first thing about engines. Unfortunately, I have to take the boat and car to a shop whenever something needs to be done.

I wish they offered auto shop at my high school lol.

Thinking of taking a class at a local CC to start learning about them. I hate that I have to take the boat in for an oil change or simple services.
I tried a little DIY project last year and it did not turn out very well lol.

So who here does their own Engine work whether it be boat or car?
Where did you learn to work on the engine?
Do you do your own boat maintenance?

[2manymustangs]

I put my first V8 together when I was still barely 14 and never looked back... Before that it was dirt bikes/go-kart engines...

I graduated to automatic transmissions about 12 years ago...

[riverrunner1984]

I put my first V8 together when I was still barely 14 and never looked back... Before that it was dirt bikes/go-kart engines...

I graduated to automatic transmissions about 12 years ago...

So how did you learn? Did someone teach you or just learned as you went???

[2manymustangs]

So how did you learn? Did someone teach you or just learned as you went???

Watching over my dads shoulder at first, tractor/lawnmower/flathead V8s/putting in new mains on our worn out junk...

Once I picked up the wrenches and started playing I never stopped... I did alot of machine/machine shop/design work where I learned/developed an understanding about tolerances/fit/finish... (tech school - board drafting/autocad - manufacturing engineering - building machines)

I'm far from advanced but by paying close attention to details/feel/fit and reading alot/studing failed parts has got me by for well over 35 years...

Some of the guys like Obnoxious and others have had the blessing of meeting/watching some of the all time greats... Louis Unser, mannnnn...

In recent conversation at Needles with Mr. Bubby Wilton, I found out he was rubbing elbows with Ed Pink and other big names in the history of engine building...

I try to keep my ears/eyes wide open when Im around the old timers and ask as many questions as possible without being a pest...

SoCal was/is MECCA for drag race fans. I spent the first 10-15 years of my trips to SoCal touring every piston/header/crankshaft/engine builder that would allow me in their shop... Many of you all don't realize (or care) what was in your own back yard from a history perspective in drag racing... Cool stuff IMHO!!!

We grew up boating but it wasn't "performance boating" like most of you folks grew up with... Just "social" boating/ski/swimming...

S.S., I think I was 6 also when I learned to ski, just never had hotboats like you grew up with...

[gn7]

Many of you all don't realize (or care) what was in your own back yard from a history perspective in drag racing... Cool stuff IMHO!!! ...

Ya think. Try growing up in Culver City with Traco, Isky, Halibrand, Edelbrock, Hedman, Sandy Belond all in your backyard. Like trying to grow up in East LA and not be a crack head.

[obnoxious001]

Personally for me, I do not know the first thing about engines. Unfortunately, I have to take the boat and car to a shop whenever something needs to be done.

I wish they offered auto shop at my high school lol.

Thinking of taking a class at a local CC to start learning about them. I hate that I have to take the boat in for an oil change or simple services.
I tried a little DIY project last year and it did not turn out very well lol.

So who here does their own Engine work whether it be boat or car?
Where did you learn to work on the engine?
Do you do your own boat maintenance?

I build engines(most for boats, but some other various racing engines, as well as high performance street engines). It's not rocket science but requires attention to detail and a certain amount of knowledge. I got interested when I was a kid and my dad used to help Lou Brummett racing at the boat marathons. Louis Unser was building his engines back then, and "Unser" was a household name around racing, and I met him on one of my many visits to the shop. My family never owned a boat, but as soon as I bought my first one, I have never been without one.

[gn7]

It's not rocket science .

Don't tell them that!!'

Don't listen to him. Its voodoo black magic stuff and not for amateurs. Its top secret stuff handed down generation to generation. In the wrong hands it can be lethal.

[Stainless]

Don't tell them that!!'

Don't listen to him. Its voodoo black magic stuff and not for amateurs. Its top secret stuff handed down generation to generation. In the wrong hands it can be lethal.

:p


CH3NO2

[obnoxious001]

Don't tell them that!!'

Don't listen to him. Its voodoo black magic stuff and not for amateurs. Its top secret stuff handed down generation to generation. In the wrong hands it can be lethal.

Good point,, I forgot.

[thatguy]

Don't tell them that!!'

Don't listen to him. Its voodoo black magic stuff and not for amateurs. Its top secret stuff handed down generation to generation. In the wrong hands it can be lethal.

Does this mean you are going to start building for paying customers???