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On Being One's Own Mechanic
Andrew Buc's musings on being one's own mechanic reflect my own
experience with startling accuracy. Years ago when I was a car-owning
student of modest means, I would attempt to perform maintenance and
repairs out of financial necessity. You know, it's amazing how
thoroughly the congenitally inept can mess up even the most basic
tasks. I recall the frustration of creating new problems from routine
chores (stripping threads is an excellent example). Not to mention lack
of proper tools, incorrect parts, scrapes and cuts, swear words,
innumerable delays, begging rides from more mechanically-minded
friends (who, bless them, would occasionally bail me out), etc.
Impecuniousness, it seems, wasn't sufficient motivation to overcome
fundamental lack of dexterity, patience and aptitude. All this with cars
significantly less sophisticated and complex than a 4KQ. My solution
was to take on extra part-time jobs to earn the money to pay competent
mechanics to undo my screw-ups or, better still, do the job correctly
the first time. Anything wrong with that?
I am mindful that some listers who are mechanically savvy may be less
than totally sympathetic with the plight of those who are not, despite
my contention that it doesn't make us any less car-mad or committed
to driving interesting well-maintained vehicles. Our talents, if any, lie
elsewhere. But it behooves us to be philosophically and financially
prepared to let someone else do the mechanical work. Mik's advice to
the UAB lad isn't necessarily bad, but he should be aware of the
cautionary side that Andrew describes so well.
Pete
Pete_Kraus@emory.org
Stone Mountain, GA
'85 4KSQ
'89 F250 4x4 diesel
'95 Z28