I have owned now in my 56 years 8 AMC vehicles selling out several years ago - to recently in the past 2 years 5 Oldsmobile Cutlasses. A 1988 Classic - two 1979 Hurst Olds sold both to - Now a 86 442 and a 1980 442 very rare which are the only 2 I have left.
I'm a PGA Club Professional, not a mechanic and do what I can as I'm not a mechanic. Yeah I can change a valve cover gasket - remove all interior and replace - do minor basic things but nothing tough mechanically or hard to figure out. If I could turn back 30 years I'd love to go to a car tech school to learn everything from wiring, rebuilding an engine, welding to changing brakes.
It's the little things that bother me that adds up to which I can't figure out myself, I.E.
1980 442 original paint- Interior rough but all there sat for 25 years but runs A - B awesome as a rebuilt 1970 350 Rocket and trans was installed- fuel pump - radiator -brakes and that's about it.
I tested out the heater - flipped the fan switch and fan worked just fine at all speeds - just like that though - the switch seem to fail and the blower motor under the hood is running all the time with the switch like it broke. Why is did that switch fail? It's easy to unscrew and pull out for sure but why in the world did it just stop working correctly?
I need to put in an original radio as there is not one at all - yeah I can plug in the antenna but wiring that is Greek to me. This 442 has a rear power antenna which I've never seen before - and obviously getting that to work is no way for me.
The speedometer worked but then it doesn't work. I pulled the rally gauge which is easy to do - I unhooked the speedo cable from the cruise control unit - spun it with my fingers and the speedometer needle worked at the instrument cluster, but then when I reinstalled cable to the cruise unit then it wont work!! It's aggravating.
This car has power windows. The driver side works fine - the passenger side rolls down 1/3 then just stops and makes a grinding sound but does roll back up! Why in the world is it like that.
I'm just venting I guess as I'm envious of guys who can fix small problems like that.

 

We all started out the same way, some earlier than others. Armed with a Motors Manual or similar, 200 piece Craftsman tool set, perhaps a few just as clueless set of pointed haired pimply faced friends, and lots of ambition, we tackled our car repairs and modifications. You have an advantage over most of us, the internet loaded with people who have been there, done that, and got the T shirt. Cars are like eating elephants, it can only be done one bite at a time.

 

It’s often said you can only be great at one thing. It sounds like your thing is golf, which many would gladly switch places with. My best round ever was an 80 and I three putted 18 😲

That being said, you didn’t become a great golfer overnight, and with the expertise on here and a service manual you can tackle things one at a time and constantly improve your abilities.

So you’re an 18 handicapper right now automotively - you’ll get to single-digits eventually with expertise from guys on here, the right tools and patience.

 

Plus you have to keep in mind that you are working on a 40 year old car that GM didn't want it to last 1/2 that many years. The why to many of your questions just that they are worn out and not designed to still be working. The education some have is a combination of years of experience and having most everything they have break and not have the money to ship it out for others to fix.
I on the other hand I learned a lot as a youth but treated my body like it would last two lifetimes and now have people repair my stuff because I just can't do now what was easy in the past. I would rather be in your shoes...... Tedd

 

I was always envious of the ability of others to do bodywork. So, I enrolled in an evening auto body course at a local vo-tech (who knows how that would work now with this virus). I learned enough to do the bodywork on my 71 and paint it. It's not a Barret Jackson show stopper but the paint is at least as good as it had from the factory.

 

Ask questions! Go to cruise ins and car shows and ask folks questions! Get a couple manuals and like was said concentrate on one issue at a time. Also as was stated google can be your friend. Patience and a plan is a good start. Joe

 

watch a couple of the car shows on motertrend (velocity) that will get your courage up, they typically leave out the hardest frustrating parts too so youll feel more confident going into the job !!!

 

I recall back in 1980 having issues with the QuadraJet carb on my 1970 Supreme and being extremely intimidated about working on it. I envisioned lots of complicated internal parts that I would never be able to comprehend. Then I opened the carb and found there were very few internal parts and they all made sense, it was extremely easy to clean and rebuild, and I was easily able to return it to proper operation. And this was accomplished by a high school kid with no mentor, no internet, no YouTube assistance, just an ability to look at things as they were taken apart, clean them, and reassemble into their original configuration. After that carb rebuild I was empowered and was able to tackle everything that needed work on my car. I became invincible and rebuilt the engine, transmission, rearend, did body work, sprayed paint, rebuilt the front suspension, recovered the seats, and installed a convertible top.

And all this started by rebuilding a carburetor.

 

My experience is much the same. My Dad bought me my first Oldsmobile when I started to drive, and we had to do the majority of the work on it ourselves out of necessity; we couldn't ever have afforded to pay someone to do everything that had to be done. So, I dove in head first. Successes gave me confidence. Where I was initially only comfortable doing minor stuff, I soon graduated to engine builds, paint and body work, etc. This was before the internet (I'd have been dangerous if I'd had YouTube as a kid!). At this point (thirty some-odd years later), I can do pretty much anything I need to do, be it machine work welding, paint, etc. The biggest piece of advice I could give to someone wanting to learn how to do automotive work is to not be afraid. Jump in and try it. There are people who will help pull you out if you find yourself over your head. You may screw it up, waste some time, maybe some money, but you know, who cares? Just about any mistake can be corrected. The satisfaction of being able to do things yourself far outweigh the cost of tuition, in my opinion.

Travis

 

Very well said! I agree 100%.

 

My entire "garage experiences" started when I was 14 with my very first car, a 63 Cutlass with a 215 V8. Bought it for $50 because it didn't run. It was only 11 years old and in remarkable shape otherwise. Motor wasn't locked and the oil looked good. We put a new battery in it and got it to crank but it wouldn't fire. My dad figured out the ignition coil was somehow hosed. My dad and I put a new one on along with a tune up kit (they actually sold them for 63 Olds 215s applications in the parts books back then) and it cranked up and ran. 215s were easier because the distributor is in the front. Drained the tank and put new gas in it. Didn't do a proper flush, though. Just blew back the lines and pumped out the tank. Ran pretty good. Obviously I couldn't legally drive it, but my dad could, and I would take it down the back streets every now and again.

It was a fun car to learn on. The very first mechanical thing I ever did on a car by myself was change the coolant, radiator hoses and belts on that car. Then I changed the oil by myself. My dad said to change the oil AFTER we figured out how to make it run, because if the engine was hosed there's no point wasting money on new oil for something that didn't need it. Although today I think I'd change the oil first before first fire.

Imagine my disappointment that I couldn't jack up the rear end and put super-wide meats on the back with mag wheels....that's how a lot of teenagers thought in the mid-70s. But the 63 Cutlass rear fenders weren't designed to go for that. May have been too many Odd Rods bubble gum cards influencing my irrational decisions back then.

Don't be afraid, but know your limitations when you find them. Don't let hubris ruin your project.