I have been reading a lot of posts at work lately and started to notice it seems like a lot of people don't do their own work. It's probably a mixed bag but just out of curiousity, I was wondering;

Do you do your own work?

Have someone install it for you because you have no;
-room to work on a car
-prevented by apartment or landlord
-never worked on them and dont have that knowledge (no offense)
-no time in all honesty

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I'll chime in on myself....

I had a car that I eventually went turbo on and before I went turbo I always took it somewhere, afraid to either screw something up or just not brave enough.. Even though I have worked on cars in the past like my 72 Chevelle when I was a kid.

I quickly realized that the money I was dropping on installs would have been better spent on more mods. Granted I had to get and still need to get certain tools for certain jobs occasionally but it all evens out in the end.

I do my own work on the Mustang and noone has touched it yet, except maybe a dyno tune some day. It's fun and soaks up some spare/free time when I have it... rewarding and fullfilling when I'm done.

So far on this car I've only done whats in my sig, but full suspension is coming soon and I can't wait for that.

 

I do my own work, when I can. When I can't, I go to a shop that has great labor rates, so it's not so damaging to my wallet.

I think you need another option in your poll.

 

I do all my own work, the sole item on my 'stang that I didn't do myself was installing the rear end gears. For that one addition I felt professional experience was desireable.

Other than that I'm pretty fearless (will be doing my own supercharger install next week for instance)

 

I have done MOST of the work on my Stang, except oil changes, multi-point inspections and warranty work.
I will continue to do so unless, I am unable due to time, know-how or just not enough space or the right equipment.
I have never modified a car like I have this one and I must admit I have thoroughly enjoyed doing it and the satisfaction achieved after a job well done.
I agree there should be a third choice in your Poll

 

I've done all the work on my mods except my window tent, painting my chin spoiler and mounting and balancing my wheels. I do my oil changes also but take it to the dealer for warranty work and scheduled service.

 

to me half of the fun of being in the car modding-driving seen is doing my own work. the only thing i will pay to have done when it comes is rear gear install. and when the guy is installing it. i will probably be right over his shoulder so i wont have to pay again.

 

I totally agree with parts like this....

 

I watched mine being put in. It just convinced me I'd rather pay the pro's next time too. It was a pain in the backside on a lift (factory pinion did NOT want to come out). On jackstands, etc it would have been a nightmare (maybe impossible in this case). Best $250 I ever spent.

 

I was going to make 4 choices and then changed my mind...

I'm more interested in the text results you guys put down than the poll... it's more informative.

 

Some things I feel comfortable doing myself like exhaust tip install, plenum cover, splash guards (when they arrive) ....some things like install of my hood scoop will be left to the professionals......and felting my windows......I probably could have handled that one but hes only charging me $25.00 bucks so.....my hubby says if I'm gonna walk the walk (being a stang owner) I need to learn how to do my mods (within reason) myself.....so bring on the tool belt and hubby better watch out or my stang will look better than his....LOL.....and he'll have to admit the wife did it all by herself......

 

The only mods I've paid to have done was the 4.10 gears and the welding in of the ProChamber. Everything else was by my own hands, either with or without the help of fellow gear heads.

 

hahahahah

I think everyone gets their start in modding with simple stuff like intakes and other true boltons.. you should get soemthing he doenst have, sit down and look for instructions and stuff people have already done.. then tell him to bring you a beer and you do the work and have him check it after your done....

Once your comfortable with the little stuff, that hood scoop will be an easy one...

I'm hoping to find a group cool car nuts to hang with here in LA... as my last couple friends with domestics have since left this country (peoples republic of california) and went to the United States...

 

I have done my own install of the CAI, mufflers, HIDs, Gentek mirror (temp sensor wiring was a pain), the trunk release, and various other mods.

All of my mods have been, to quote Don_w, "kindergartenish" in nature - I've done engine teardown/rebuilds before so I can most definitely do more if I wanted to.

However, I won't waste my time doing my own oil changes, and any work to the differential IMHO is best left to professionals. I tried it ONCE with disastrous results. Other things I won't do would be body/paint work, or a transmission teardown. No way, no how!

 

I wanted to add.. that if I have a nice set of instructions and some pictures from other people who have done it... I'll try almost anything.

 

Everything I have done to my car, I've done myself, although nothing too technical. However I voted have it done. I live in an apartment complex and working on your vehicle is a no-no. I was lucky to get away with doing the exhaust and intake because they didn't take too much time. Oil changes ( a real biggie for apartment complexes) and anything taking more than 30 minutes I would likely have to have it done elsewhere.

 

If I don't do it, it probably won't be done. I have always had the worst luck when paying anyone to do anything, which is very rare to begin with. The last time I bought tires and had them mounted (something I can't do) on my wife's old Dodge Avenger, the guy ruined ALL FOUR rims! He couldn't have stopped after the first one?!? What a nightmare.

I hesitate to let anyone touch my Mustang, even the dealer. (Or from some of the stories I've heard, especially the dealer.)

 

What he said .The older I get the less time I have.Should'nt that be the other way around? ......kids

 

Are you going to install the Steeda pulleys yourself?

 

Plan on it. I've read up on it and it shouldn't be a problem. Thanks for selling them to me.

I just installed my CDC Shaker this weekend. After cutting a big hole in my car I can do anything.

 

I inherited a great set of tools from my Dad.
Give me a good instruction manual, and I'll try anything.
With one caveat on every car I have owned.
I don't touch anything until the warranty is expired.
After that, everything is fair game.