Are you or are you not!!!! That is my question....

[jax55]

I'm with Vin Tin and Carlg. I am usually able to do something I was unsure of the first time, the next time it comes up or at least have confidence I could do it if required.

[Sunnybrook Farm]

The less money I have the more work I do myself.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

A great help in doing repair stuff, is to have a CURIOUS NATURE, a GREAT IMAGINATION, & JUST USE LOTS OF COMMON SENSE REASONING!
Bill W.

[Binger]

I am in the same boat as a lot of people above. I do not do any machining. I do my own body and paint work as well as upholstery. I do not do Concurs quality but I am always proud to say I have done almost all the work on my cars!

[Terry, NJ]

Well I was a marine mechanic for about a year. I only worked on Chris Crafts, 105 Hercules, and a couple of 156s. Later, I owned a Trojan with a Fageol (Crosley) IO It had a Scott Atwater lower unit. I owned and repaired my first Chris, A 1932 16' with a Chyrsler UMC, mod B plymouth 4 cyl engine (Maxwell?) Later, I was into airplanes and had a 172 N with a O-320h2ad which I switched It was timed out at 2500+ hrs. Had a burned a valve. The specs called for it to be changed (the engine) to be changed at 2000 Hrs. I never got my A&P. Wish I Did, even thought about it Even took it in Vo Tech school, But..... I just did some of the work, with a real A&P looking over my shoulder, guiding me! Then I entered my tractor phase, 1 st was an 1938 Allis Chalmers. mod B, Then a 50s Farmall Mod H, Then a 1952 Ford 8N, and then a Case 580E backhoe. All are gone except the backhoe, It's just too handy! While all this was going on I owned the usual assortment of cars of the late forties, and fifties, and sixties. All of which I have a strong resentment against my parents for making me get rid of them. Starting with a 49 ford, 3 51s, a 54 convert, with a 57 T bird 312, a57 Buick (Factory Std Shift) A59 Edsel convertible, a 59 TR3 and on and on and on Yawn. 47 Merc Conv. 46 Merc coupe. Chev 3200 PU , 64 galaxy, 68 spitfire. If you don't have the picture by now you ain't gonna get it . There was much to do and I did most of it. I rebuilt a few engines, I swapped a few Rears and trannies, brake jobs and various other repairs with the help of manuals and knowlegible. Plus I was working as a machinist/tool and diemaker/model maker. So am I echelon 1 2 3 or 4? I don't know! But I can fix almost everything on an older car, new cars have too much electronics. I don't get it. It's been fun!
Terry

[J Wade]

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There should be a choice for us that do everything but pour Babbitt and line bore. Where does this fit in?

[jrelliott]

I can do most of the work myself until the need for truly professionals like lathe work, mill work and babbit pouring . Lucky enough to be able to read a manual, and look at beak apart diagrams, and schematics to repair most everything. Worked on autos since 15, then an Electonics technician for about 10 years, then an Electrical Engineer plus Computer Science for over 32 years. Will tackle just about any job, but do know enough to leave it to professionals when above my expertise. Learned long time ago, breaking things because you were in over your head was more costly than hiring a professional.

[burner31]

So far I've done it all
I've worked on helicopters to the space shuttle, currently I manage maintenance (depot) on KC-135 tankers/B-52 bombers.
I'm the Supervisor now, but I have almost 40 years of aircraft experience, I've had my '57 Chevy for going on forty years, so the Model A does not scare me, just some things I need to learn.
Sometimes I do break things when I learn, one thing I have not really learned...slow down.

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Not sure where I fit in on this either ...but I don't do plating so that disqualifies me from doing everything too.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

The Dog sed that only FATHER TIME separates the "MEN" frum the "BOYS"---Then he LAFFED---OK, smart ass, you sleep in the FLOOR tonite-LOL
Bill Mad

[Pete]

Are you or are you not????
1-I don't know a thing and I contract out.
2-I learn by doing as I go along but still need physical help.
3-I do all the work myself.
4-I just sit back and supervise with a beer.

I used to be a 3.
Now that I have paid peons, I am a 4, except it is a martoonie instead of a beer.

[J Witt]

I do everything except major engine machining, for which I don't have equipment. I have done several frame off restores, except for babbit and grind work.

As I get older though, I am getting not strong enough for the really heavy work. Changing out a rear axle will require some real thought and a lot of rest. I have a small lathe and mill, so can do little bits. No longer have an oxy-actylene set, but still have a MIG welder for light work. No place to do anything more than spray can paint work these days. I have as much fun as I want, I reckon.

John

[jeep44]

I've been restoring and fiddling with old cars and motorcycles for at least 40 years now. I started working on cars when I was first together with my wife, and we didn't have much money. Many times, I HAD to figure out how to fix something on a car so we could get to work the next day, with the meager tools I had.
After I got into Skilled Trades, and did my Apprenticeship in Diemaking, I really started to become a real mechanic, taking on just about everything on a vehicle, other than machining cylinders. My abilities, and my collection of tools has expanded greatly over the years. To me, what makes someone a real mechanic is the knowledge to have a "plan B"-that is, knowing more than one way to solve a problem.

[Mike V. Florida]

I don't have lathes and mills and babbit pouring stuff so I cannot rebuild engines. I don't have the talent and tools to create fenders and such. I have to borrow tools, and talent from others. So with that I cannot answer "do it all".

[colin1928]

Every thing minus body paint

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Originally Posted by colin1928

Every thing minus body paint

Do you all do your own plating?

[Bob-A]

I'm a darn good "parts-changer" and in no way can I call myself a mechanic. I have real respect for a true mechanic and do not hesitate
to call on one if and when needed. Fortunately, I have good friends who are either better parts-changers or real mechanics. Who help me
out when I need it. They are a major part of my life let alone my hobby.

Bob-A

[Roadster Rich]

Like I have always told my son's, being a good engineer is not about what you have learned and know already. It is about having no fear to take something apart to fix or improve. That is me. Obviously not capable of precision machining, painting body work or plating. But our wonderful Model A's allow anyone who wants to try, to be able to do just about everything else!

[Mike V. Florida]

I guess we are missing the definition of "mechanic". For purposes of this poll does a mechanic pour babbit, or install insert bearings in a raw block? Does a mechanic do sheet metal work, paint cars and pinstripping?

I find it interesting that so many chose "I do all the work myself". Do we have engine builders and fabricators here we don't know about?

[31 Model A]

Originally Posted by Mike V. Florida

I guess we are missing the definition of "mechanic". For purposes of this poll does a mechanic pour babbit, or install insert bearings in a raw block? Does a mechanic do sheet metal work, paint cars and pinstripping?

I find it interesting that so many chose "I do all the work myself". Do we have engine builders and fabricators here we don't know about?

Mike, here is my definition of a mechanic and a non-mechanic regarding a Model A Ford.


What's a babbit?....me, because I haven't a clue!!! But I do know how to spell it.

Everyone else that knows what a babbit is or what it does, or what it looks like, or how to pour it.....is a mechanic....IMO.

I don't know how to paint a car but....I know how to keep them shiny!!

I was curious where I stood among all the other Barners with mechanical ability and....so far, I'm in the minority. I had a pretty good idea anyway. I'm that race car driver, Formula One driver taking publicity shots with all the babes while the crew takes care of the car. Without that crew I wouldn't be with all the babes.......I'm the pilot and without my crew chief I'd be grounded or dead.
...and I wanted to know where to move if I move away from here and who to move next door to. If I was to move to PA, I'd move next door to Mitch but he lives too close to an ex-wife of mine.
I wish I did have the mechanical knowledge and aptitude to do my own work as so many Barners do have and do. One thing for sure, if anyone has a Model A, that person should either have the mechanical know-how to keep it in shape to be road worthy or the money to have someone else keep it road-worthy.