Thought this would be a good topic for EVOM as I have put this up on our local boards. Who all here does their own work? And if so, to what extent? Do you posess the ability to remove your engine and transmission, and even rebuild them?

I pride myself on doing all my own work. The only thing I farm out to others are alignments and tire changing as I don't have that equipment. I have had my hands on every component of my DSMs from engine, suspension, to brakes and drivetrain, to paint and body. I also tune my car as well. Is anybody else here like that with their DSMs/Evolutions?

I know there are alot of checkbook racers on here, who will pay for anything from an oil change to an engine rebuild. But who prides themselves on their own work, tuning, ect?

 

i pride my self at leving my house to go to work at 4:30am so i can have a big enough check book to give to aniel and sean ivey.

 

I've done turbo upgrades and most bolt ons but I paid a friend with a shop to do the Cams, head studs, fuel pump, clutch. Mainly because I just didn't have the time. Cams are fairly easy, fuel pump too. My clutch install I tore it down as far as I dared and then I helped him get the transfer case off and pull the tranny. The exedy twin disc went on and we put the tranny back on and he locked the TOB back in, put the tranfer case back on and then he had be put most everything else back on. I learned a lot that day. Like my twelve hour deodorant really only lasts about 8 hours and after that I stink! LOL

Josh

 

<grin> That sounds like me. I do zero mechanical work. As a professional, folks expect results when they come to see me. Similarly, I go to a professional - Emery at STM - for all automotive work. Doing minor work, like oil changes, doesn't even enter into my thought process. I happily pay ~$50 for an oil change. Given the cost of oil, filter, the value of my time and aggravation/disposal, there isn't any incentive to do the work, especially since I reap no joy from the experience.

 

I find joy in working on stuff myself. Although I have never rebuilt an engine over 1 cylinder, i'd be willing to do so if the need arises. I have all the necessary tools and friends with enough experience to help out if I needed it.

 

I do it all.

 

I do minor things, but have no problem acknowledging my limits.

 

There was a thread about this a while ago. When that thread was active it was mostly gear heads that owned these cars and as so we did most of the work our selves. I'm kind of interested to see if/how time has changed the demographic.

 

I did the full build on my DSM as well as tune. Same will go for the EVO, except I will have it tuned (mainly for dyno numbers) and I swear I'll leave it alone after that.....yeah right!

 

Only thing I did was put on my VG. For five years I've been an Evo checkbook racer for everything else.

 

I've put everything on my car except my wideband because I don't have a welder at the house. As long as I have the proper tools I will do it myself. I believe in the adage if you want something done correctly then do it yourself, but like someone else admitted I don't have a problem defining my limitations. For example I will have somebody else install my cams and do my tuning, but I do believe in knowledge is power. By educating yourself, you have a greater chance of catching people trying to pull the wool over your eyes if you do have to go to a professional shop for work.

 

I never do oil changeto. but today I FINALLY did it....and i take pride of it.

 

I always try to do everything I can. So far I have done evything exept changing tires. If I will can wait for the car that is OK. But I have heard so many horror stories about shops that I just try to avoid it unless I really know the owner. Things like removing parts from your car and putting other is what shy me away from many shops.

 

Pretty much covers me.

Even if I actually had a garage in this apartment complex, I still wouldn't do anything that involved actually putting the car on jack stands and touching the naughty bits.

The Evo is the daily driver, so I can't afford to mess something up


That + I'm lazy.

 

what about engine machining?