How many people actually work on their own cars

[NJRR]

If i have the knowledge, skill set, proper tools and facilities, I do it myself. That goes for the 70 RR and the daily drivers. If not, I go to a pro. I was going to tackle my auto to 4 speed on the RR but realized that it wasn't a good idea to do it in my driveway on jack stands. Glad I took it to Jaime Passon and let him do it.

 

[Lets Roll]

The new ones you just plug in the code scanner. The old ones for most of it you are the scanner.

 

[65-440]

I do it all myself, but that's what I do for a living. I also help a lot of people out with their cars as well, sounds like some of you guys need to be my neighbors ... problem solved !!

 

[Hanover Mopar]

My old muscle cars are what I grew up with. I learned how they work and learned how to fix them. Today a big part of having my old cars is working on them. It's an important part of the hobby for me. Not having to rely on them for transport is a big deal and makes fixing them fun as opposed to a chore.

The new cars I have would require me to learn too much new stuff for it to be fun to work on them in any significant way. It's a sort of rational management of my time these days.

In the old days fixing my car myself was my only option.

x2

 

[Bruzilla]

I do, but no longer because I want to.

 

[Hemirunner]

In the old days fixing my car myself was my only option.

It's still my only option. I recently changed out the VVT solenoids on my wife's car and do all repairs on my Ecoboost.
A buddy helped me replace a blend door motor that saved me nearly a grand. He also works at a Ford dealer so that helps as well. I do all my own welding, fabricating and sheet metal work as well as machining and engine building. I'm about to learn bodywork and paint on my current project. I'm that guy that hates to pay for anything that I can do myself. I even built the garage that it all happens in.

 

[Richard Cranium]

With the exception of bodywork and machine work, I do everything on the old beaters. As far as new vehicles go, I'll change oil & filters, rotate tires and do brakes. I've been fortunate insomuch as I haven't had to take one of my cars to a repair shop (other than warranty work) in a long time.

 

[747mopar]

My way of providing the best possible life for my family is by doing everything that I possibly can myself meaning we can afford a lot more. I buy totals and repair for daily drivers, built our own home including most of what's in it and these classic cars are my vacation from the otherwise normal jobs. Just turned 40 and have been doing it since I was a kid, just like building stuff.

 

[Pops1967GTX]

I still do all the work on my 67 Gtx….I'm always reading up on my mopar manuals to remember things …. I still do the easy stuff on the new vehicles example brakes, tune-up,everything else go's back to the dealer….
Now if I could just remember were my glasses are, I could find that damn wrench I've been looking for….

 

[SgtLee511]

Love everything... but crawling under them, now you guys with lifts yall got it going on.

 

[64Savoy]

I'm a broke youngin that has no choice but to fix most everything myself. Alignments and tires I shop out obviously, but nothing beats my hands and a service manual

 

[super-bee_ski]

Of course I do...
that is why I am so behind in my projects...

I never have enough time anymore.

 

[Cranky]

The new ones you just plug in the code scanner. The old ones for most of it you are the scanner.

That's true in a perfect world....or maybe not with Mopars? My Dakota would act up and show no codes then would throw out dozens. After spending a good amount of time on checking connections and on and on, we threw a new computer at it. Problems solved. My daughter's Pitiful Thing is kinda the same way.

I do all my own welding, fabricating and sheet metal work as well as machining and engine building. I'm about to learn bodywork and paint on my current project. I'm that guy that hates to pay for anything that I can do myself. I even built the garage that it all happens in.

Same here. Started working with my dad building houses when I was 14 and the last job we did together was building my shop. We did everything but pour the concrete. He was 63 at the time and I think I know how he must of felt after that lol. Never done any major rewiring nor complete paint jobs but have done just about everything else. Only rebuilt one auto transmission and that wasn't for me and have done dozens of rear end rebuilds....come to think of it, I haven't done much for myself.

Love everything... but crawling under them, now you guys with lifts yall got it going on.

For the last 15 years I've had dizziness issues whenever I lay down on a creeper and then get up....gotta let my head quit spinning before doing anything.

 

[67Satty]

With my house, car, and motorcycles I always try to do as much as I can myself. If I get stumped I go online to forums like this and ask for help, research things online, find YouTube videos. But there are times even after all that when I am still stumped or can't afford the specialty tools or just run out of time and then I call in the pros.

I feel that I done enough higher level things on my cars, motorcycles, and houses that I've owned that go beyond what many hobbyists would attempt (too many projects to list here) that I don't have anything to prove anymore and don't feel like it's a failure at this point in my life to hire something out once in awhile if I can afford it and the pro is better at it/faster than I am (they are always faster than me). But I do still like to work on things myself and will always give it a try first.

 

[Bart K]

I do some of the simpler things, but I do not have a garage or a lift....and I am getting old. For the first time in my life I have more money than time, so I pay. I have found a Mopar guy in my area who does outstanding work, so I will take things to him if he is willing and has time, and as a last resort I will go to a shop. It sucks getting old and it hurts to do most things!

 

[SgtLee511]

That's true in a perfect world....or maybe not with Mopars? My Dakota would act up and show no codes then would throw out dozens. After spending a good amount of time on checking connections and on and on, we threw a new computer at it. Problems solved. My daughter's Pitiful Thing is kinda the same way.

Same here. Started working with my dad building houses when I was 14 and the last job we did together was building my shop. We did everything but pour the concrete. He was 63 at the time and I think I know how he must of felt after that lol. Never done any major rewiring nor complete paint jobs but have done just about everything else. Only rebuilt one auto transmission and that wasn't for me and have done dozens of rear end rebuilds....come to think of it, I haven't done much for myself.

For the last 15 years I've had dizziness issues whenever I lay down on a creeper and then get up....gotta let my head quit spinning before doing anything.

Had the same thing, dizziness riding the bike and laying under the car, since then, My Mechanics replaced my Aorta Heat Valve..

 

[Darthomas]

I do everything pretty much,
but always farm out Torqueflite rebuilds to Cope Racing Transmission. I've never had the tools or a clean space.

 

[Budnicks]

I do everything on my own cars, short of machine-shop work &
have since before I got a drivers license,
working on my mini bike go-carts, atv's & motorcycles
or some tire mounting {except bead lock rims/slicks}
& final front end alignments {except on my racecars}

I know it's done to my spec.'s that way...
It saves a ton in labor costs too, so I can spend a ton more on parts...LOL
I don't get screwed over, by some guy who doesn't usually even know
as much as I do, like many of the threads I read on here too, that way
I know what's done & will learn &/or buy the necessary tools too, if I have to...

Damn I need a lift again too,
I miss my old shop, hate working out of a 20'x20' little garage,
always having to move stuff to get anything done, PITA
I've slowed down on the projects some of late too...

 

[Darthomas]

I'm hoping I get to move to a place that has a garage with a mechanic pit!
May work out OK.

 

[Mogre]

Getting old really sucks. I have had a 8 3/4 to change for 3 years now but just can't bring myself to do it. Nothing wrong with the one that is in it, just wanted to change the ratio. Now farm out anything on the daily driver.