So who works/worked on their cars before getting a bike?

[CThunder-blue]

Before getting my 250, I really enjoyed working on my car. I have a 92 twin turbo stealth and I had a sohc 99 3000GT before that. I've been in to modding for the past 9 years and finally got tired of it. I went the entire route of performance. I bored the block out for larger forged pistons, larger turbos,... the works. However, it just wasn't fun anymore.

I just got the car back from a friend who swapped a stock motor in for me. I was driving home and hear this thudding sound. Get it home and look around and found one of my front left wheel studs is gone. My friend didn't align the wheel right and had it sitting off center, which snapped a stud. Not the biggest deal in the world. I've replaced them before. Time consuming, but not difficult. I just don't really have any motivation to do it. lol

anyways, do any of you guys/girls who used to work on their cars still have that motivation to play with them every once in a while?

[FrugalNinja250]

My car work is strictly mechanical or functional. It's just a time/space/money thing. Back when I had a shop it was fun and easy, but now I just have a dirt driveway and even basic maintenance is a PITA.

[CThunder-blue]

yeah, I don't even like changing the oil anymore.

[sharky nrk]

Lots and lots of wrenching on cars before getting on two wheels. Would still like to do more, but like anything else - time and money.

[Flashmonkey]

My first car was an '87 rx-7. I remember changing the damn engine (and transmission) in my driveway. I did everything on that car myself, mostly because I couldn't afford to have my mechanic troubleshoot it for me. I learned tons of stuff fixing that car up.

My current Subaru, for the most part, is taken care of by my mechanic; a family friend that my dad has known for almost 20 years. I still tinker around with it and do some of the small things myself...basically anything that doesn't involve me busting out a car jack. I'm too lazy for that crap these days. That and this car is far more complicated than my last one.

[kkim]

lots of car nuts on the forum.

http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=9815&

[TenaciousD]

I'm more of a car guy than a moto guy. I do all the work on our cars and my ninjette. I won't let a dealership touch anything. We have four sportscars between me and my wife and I keep all of them running in top condition. Gets expensive but we don't have kids so I figure I can spend money on cars instead of putting kids through college. Plus I'm not paying dealership prices so it's not too bad.

[peachdiddy]

I used to do engine work, body work, brake work, etc. I don't really like the thought of working on vehicles now. I pay to get my oil changed. I'm proud of it I'd much rather tinker with bikes (even though I haven't been doing it for long). But no, no thank you. My Jeep goes straight to Chrysler.

[Cab305]

Betty, she was my hobby, my baby, my pride and joy!



Till some lady killed her.

[Yoda]

Used to build Mustangs for drag performance got way too expensive so next on my list is to get a late 80s full size bronco and blazer and set it up for my winter beater/tower.

[edwinmcq]

I used to work on my first few cars all the time. My first being a '75 Cosworth Vega. I really enjoyed it. Now I just plugged my laptop into the GTI and it pretty much fixes itself or tells me I can't. It is really pretty sterile. Plus, it sucks working in a high rise garage when there is a Porsche /Audi dealer 100 yards across the street.

[00NissanNinja]

I do the majority of maintenance on my car. The dealer just seems to f things up sometimes. Just recently I replaced all of the struts on my car with tokicos and I love those struts. I also just finished repainting the grille on the car as well. I've learned so much about working on cars from my altima that I wouldn't want to see it go (even though it is a vibrating PITA sometimes). But I really want a manual car. I was really into cars and motorsport before I got into bikes, and most of my knowledge is still in cars. Now that I have the ninja I have started to do my own maintenance on it as well (wish I didn't get sucked into buying a maintenance plan for the bike cause the bike is easy to work on unlike I originally thought)

[backinthesaddleagain]

Originally Posted by Flashmonkey

My first car was an '87 rx-7. I remember changing the damn engine (and transmission) in my driveway. I did everything on that car myself, mostly because I couldn't afford to have my mechanic troubleshoot it for me. I learned tons of stuff fixing that car up.

My current Subaru, for the most part, is taken care of by my mechanic; a family friend that my dad has known for almost 20 years. I still tinker around with it and do some of the small things myself...basically anything that doesn't involve me busting out a car jack. I'm too lazy for that crap these days. That and this car is far more complicated than my last one.

always wanted an RX7. did a top end hop up (cam, valves, heads, manifold, headers) on my 69 Mach 1 in high school. many 2 stroke top end jobs on dirt bikes too. today putting air in the tires is becoming a chore. seriously changing the oil on the 250 wasn't bad, bit of a pain on the 600rr with the full fairing that has to come off, hopefully easier second time. spin on filter is nice though.

[Apex]

I've had more toy cars than anything else. I haven't even owned as many bicycles as I have cars.

I'd rather work on a motorcycle these days than a car. I don't need a ton of specialty tools to work on it...no cherry pickers, etc. Just awesomely simple.

[Flashmonkey]

Originally Posted by backinthesaddleagain

always wanted an RX7. did a top end hop up (cam, valves, heads, manifold, headers) on my 69 Mach 1 in high school. many 2 stroke top end jobs on dirt bikes too. today putting air in the tires is becoming a chore. seriously changing the oil on the 250 wasn't bad, bit of a pain on the 600rr with the full fairing that has to come off, hopefully easier second time. spin on filter is nice though.

Wooo...Bullitt! That's a sweet car. I've always wanted an old school muscle car to fiddle with, but they're just so damn big. I never had the room. And these days it's becoming more and more apparent that owning multiple cars is a great way to accumulate a confounding amount of debt.

The thing I liked the most about the rx-7 was how easy it was to work on.....but now I have that with motorcycles, and they take up less room. Win-Win!

[Sailariel]

My first car was a 47 Ford Coupe with a Flathead 8. It got customized and was your typical late 50s early 60s Street Racer. Back in those days you were a "Greaser" or a "Coleege". The greasers wore jeans, T-Shirts, Engineer Boots, and had their hair slicked back in a "Ducktail". The coleeges wore Khaki Pants, Penny Loafers, and Madrass Shirts. They drove pretty nondescript cars and dated virgins. I still wear jeans and T-shirts, along with Harness Boots (I graduated fron Engineer Boots) Harness Boots have a square toe and a brass ring on each side which protects the ankle. I don't put grease in my hair anymore. I also never dated a virgin. Working on cars these days is not much fun. There are no distributers, points, etc. About all one can do is change fluids, change Disc Pads, and stuff like that. I leave the other stuff to the dealer.

[Apex]

Originally Posted by Flashmonkey

Wooo...Bullitt! That's a sweet car. I've always wanted an old school muscle car to fiddle with, but they're just so damn big. I never had the room.

Bullitt? The one in that movie was a Dark Highland Green 1968 GT 390

That is my dream car.

[Flashmonkey]

Originally Posted by Apex

Bullitt? The one in that movie was a Dark Highland Green 1968 GT 390

That is my dream car.

LOL right you are! Sorry...I too wanted the mustang from Bullitt. The mach 1 is a sweet car too, but....Steve McQueen. *shrug*

[Flashmonkey]

Originally Posted by Sailariel

My first car was a 47 Ford Coupe with a Flathead 8. It got customized and was your typical late 50s early 60s Street Racer. Back in those days you were a "Greaser" or a "Coleege". The greasers wore jeans, T-Shirts, Engineer Boots, and had their hair slicked back in a "Ducktail". The coleeges wore Khaki Pants, Penny Loafers, and Madrass Shirts. They drove pretty nondescript cars and dated virgins. I still wear jeans and T-shirts, along with Harness Boots (I graduated fron Engineer Boots) Harness Boots have a square toe and a brass ring on each side which protects the ankle. I don't put grease in my hair anymore. I also never dated a virgin. Working on cars these days is not much fun. There are no distributers, points, etc. About all one can do is change fluids, change Disc Pads, and stuff like that. I leave the other stuff to the dealer.

....you carried a switch blade didn't you?

[scotty]

I used to only mod cars. I had a few rx-7's fc's and fb's. But started to get pricey. Bikes are cheper, so I bought a boring car, and a kelw bike!
Posted via Mobile Device

[Sailariel]

Originally Posted by Flashmonkey

....you carried a switch blade didn't you?

No, They are illegal. I did carry a comb.

[Apex]

Originally Posted by Flashmonkey

LOL right you are! Sorry...I too wanted the mustang from Bullitt. The mach 1 is a sweet car too, but....Steve McQueen. *shrug*

69 Mach 1 is a huge favorite for everyone. For a long time that is the only one I wanted.

I've even been thinking about a Factory Five Racing AC Cobra kit. That would be a blast to drive...

[backinthesaddleagain]

The 69 Mach 1 was a cool car for sure. I only had the 351W, but what a fun car. It was a metallic red with the flat black hood. Also, the interior on that car couldn't be touched by any other 60's era car between the dash and the seats. Kept it when we got married and bought our first house but sold it when we moved to our second house. Father's friend bought it, kept it a few years, then sold it.

[kevlarorc]

Originally Posted by Cab305

Betty, she was my hobby, my baby, my pride and joy!



Till some lady killed her.

oh man that thing is sexy

[Sailariel]

Very, very nice 'Vette.

[caliente103]

my first car was a 84 rx7
Posted via Mobile Device

[scotty]

Originally Posted by caliente103

my first car was a 84 rx7
Posted via Mobile Device

Like this?


Fav car I've ever owned!

[Flashmonkey]

Beauty contest eh? BRING IT ON!!



And yes...that oil stain under the car comes standard with rx-7 ownership.

[scotty]

Haha oil leaks, and gas leaks on FB's! Thats a clean FC you have!!

[scotty]

My old baby =( I'm trying to find it. So if anyone knows of this car, let me know!

[Flashmonkey]

Originally Posted by scotty

Haha oil leaks, and gas leaks on FB's! Thats a clean FC you have!!

Had...unfortunately. I was much younger, thinner and prettier when i drove that lovely car haha.

[00NissanNinja]

Agghhh stop talking about rx-7s. Man when I finally got to drive a rotary that was freaking awesome. Please mazda, make the rx-9 don't cancel it.

[Rexbo]

My current other perpetual project ('89 240sx w/SR20DET swap, r32 GTR wheels/brakes & other stuff):

[Flashmonkey]

Oh that takes me back to the days I used to fantasize about sileighties and SR20's and that stuff. You know...back before all this drifting stuff became lame.

[silver_bullet]

My first car was a neon sport coupe with a DOHC, loved modifying it until I got bored and it became a DD. I just got a 3000GT and the bug bit me again, though all of my plans for this one are suspension related. IDC how fast a car can go, I want one that handles!

[ryu hayabusa]

Originally Posted by CThunder-blue

Before getting my 250, I really enjoyed working on my car. I have a 92 twin turbo stealth and I had a sohc 99 3000GT before that. I've been in to modding for the past 9 years and finally got tired of it. I went the entire route of performance. I bored the block out for larger forged pistons, larger turbos,... the works. However, it just wasn't fun anymore.

I just got the car back from a friend who swapped a stock motor in for me. I was driving home and hear this thudding sound. Get it home and look around and found one of my front left wheel studs is gone. My friend didn't align the wheel right and had it sitting off center, which snapped a stud. Not the biggest deal in the world. I've replaced them before. Time consuming, but not difficult. I just don't really have any motivation to do it. lol

anyways, do any of you guys/girls who used to work on their cars still have that motivation to play with them every once in a while?

ya i do. i'm 25 and have since age 16 owned 37 diffeent vehicles, all tuner cars except two (camaros...junk) i love the GTO's from mitsu, but those 6g72's were never the most reliable motor. i have since built a 91' s13 with an
rb20det swap, three ae86's, one with a 20 valve motor and megasquirt, and at least ten civics/crx's. you might say ive lost the drive to tune cars anymore, it's all been done. the same reason i lost interest in muscle cars is that everytime you go to a car show, every car has a small block or a blower... lame. i love different, like what top secret tuner has done making that v12 supra using FACTORY toyota parts! (betcha didn't know toyota made a v12, huh?) i've seen so many civic/b16's and k20's, s13's/sr20's, and a slew of evo's and STI's. it not fun anymore. nowadays, i only get a stiffy if it ain't been done. why not try fitting a 13bt in a front wheel drive car like a protegay??? or crx? i feel ya man. my enthusiasm has been lacking ever since i built my last tuner car, a 74' 260z with a stroked l28 and triple miki's. after that car, i got into other things like dune buggies and bikes, and cars with bike engines. and bikes with car engines... still love the CBX exhaust note. ppl like us have hit our "tuning-over-the-hill" , fact is, we can't get it up without some viagra (or nitrous)

[JMcDonald]

I did a whole lot of work on cars. My last project was changing out the rod bearings of my old Samurai in the driveway of my friend's house so I could limp it home without having it towed 150 miles. Before that, on my MR2 it was turbos, engine rebuilds, etc, all done by me (except the machine work). I agree I really got tired of working on cars, to the point where if even a belt started sqeaking I would be almost pissed off. This is part of the reason I got a bike--either I could keep my old that needed regular work (I liked the MR2, don't get me wrong, but it was a 20-year-old daily driver...), or sell it and get a near-new motorcycle.

However, the bug has slowly brawled back into me, and now I find myself not considering what bikes would be good upgrades, but instead what upgrades I could do to my current bike > (which, after the early-on "lack of strait-line power" woes, I am loving more and more every day).