I work 14+ hours a day, these computerized cars are new to me, and I live in an apartment parking on the street, so I let someone else work on the car in a shop.

 

Small things I do myself (oil changes, intake, HIDs etc).

Larger things I take it to a shop near me that charges me a reduced shop rate if I help the mechanic. I did this for my springs and shocks as I've never done it before and don't have the necessary tools like a spring compressor, but he actually put me to work with the air tools and it was a TOTAL blast.

My next install, the GT500 Brembo brakes, I'll be doing the same thing where he leads the install but I help.

When it comes to certain things like brakes or drivetrain/transmission, I won't even attempt it. Too much to go wrong.

With this kind of a resource/option, I'd never just drop the car off for someone else to do it (*note: except bodywork/paint). It's too fun to pass up learning and helping, plus it's chaper.

Kristina

 

That's why I try and take as many pics as possible and document the steps in case someone else wants to give it a whack. And also, folks have chimed in on how to improve the process which only helps us all.

 

I do everything myself except for a few things.

Tint - flat surfaces, no problem. Curved rear windows? No way!

Rear gears - could do it myself, but for $250 and knowing that if it howls I can take it back under warranty, it's worth it.

Painting body parts - would be much more expensive to get all the proper equipment, so I'll let a body shop or paint shop do it.

Mounting/balancing tires - same as above.

Anything else I'll do myself... even if it means cutting a huge hole in a brand new hood!

 

I personally do everything on my car except things that require specialized equipment and skill (bodywork, tunes)

I haven't done all that much to my car yet, but I plan on doing the FRPP suspension kit myself this winter/spring, in addition to possibly installing a new xpipe.

There's very few people I could trust to work on my car, but they are so busy I couldn't get them to work on it.

 

I'm weary of cutting a hole in the hood ...

But not weary of installing a turbo or supercharger....


go figure....

 

I do as much as I can (used to shave skin off my knuckles on a regular basis during the early 70s), and when I get in over my head I go to MY experts. Dealer is last resort ($$).

 

So far I have done everything on my car... Sometimes being a former mechanic is good... Not always though.

 

Pretty much what he said. Everything in my sig. I did myself except the grears and tint. And as far as bodywork goes, even if you have the equipment and a access to a spray booth, painting is more of an art than simply bolting parts off and on.

 

Awe go for it. Cut the hole in the hood. Actually that was my very first ever mustang mod I did. Back on mt 99GT (ages ago). Scared to pieces, but what the heck, you got to start somewhere. Sooooo, asince them all mods, Mustangs and Birds, have been done by ME! Probably not the best outcome on some of them, but I did it, and to me, that's all that mattered. And still does today. I even through a cam in one of them. And as far as the Warrantee issue goes. You dont need no stinkin warrantee. I say go for it. Make it your's. period. If your affraid of voiding a waranty, heck, just sell it privately, if it gets that bad, or trade at another dealer. Basically, don't sweat, was has not yet happened. And, no, I do not have deep pockets. As a matter of fact, on this one, the Bank lets me drive it. If something major happens, just say NEXT!!

 

I do any of my own work that does not require specialized tools. It's my way of becoming one with the car... !Being military gives me great access to a DIY car care center where I can get a lift and lots of tools . However, I'm apprehensive about doing my supercharger install, because of the wiring. I'm great with electrical items, but I need clear directions on what to splice and where so I don't screw it up. I'm tempted to take my car to JDM just for the experience factor...well that and the dyno tune!

-Darth

 

All mod installations I handle myself, although my neighbors in my apartment give me weird looks when I'm under the car in the parking lot lol . I think working on your car, taking things apart and then putting them back together again, is one of the best ways to learn about it.

The only thing I don't do is oil changes, I just take it somewhere for those.

 

I've done everything to my car with the exception of paint. My friends and I get together and do all the work. Had I taken it to a shop, I would never have gotten my car as far as it is now.

 

I've done all my work myself with the exception of when I had a hit & run on my L/H quarter. Ford dealer bodyshop did that.

 

I'm with Larry. I have done all the work to my car except the things that needed painting. That I left to the pro's. Unlike Larry...I did not have to get a quarter panel fixed.....Ouch!!!
Scott

 

There is a very short list of things I have paid someone to do to my cars. Paint/body work, gear swaps, and rebuilding a transmission. I've done everything else from totally removing and overhauling the IRS in my Cobra to replace all the bushings with MM parts to swapping my TR3650 for a Viper-spec T-56.

I ain't skeered of no wrench

~Mike~

 

I do everything myself except bodywork and paint. I even did my gears but with the help of a friend with a shop and a hoist. I've done gears with the vehicle on jack stands in the driveway and even though the job was succesful I swore I'd never do it that way again. If you haven't got access to the proper equipment things like gears are better left to a proffesional.
There is a certain satisfaction and pride in doing your own work though. It gives one a better understanding of the vehicle.

 

I can generally do most things with good instructions. I've done my exhaust, CAI, Delete plates, installed my cervini's body parts, cleaned my intercooler on my lightning, swapped supercharger's out. I recently had steeda install my 3.73 gears. Heard too many gear whine stories.

 

I do my own work except for tuning. I did gears, tranny swap, blower install, custom work and had some of the paint work done for me, but not all of it. Just the big parts. I have a small booth I paint guitars with. I'm a tech for a living and have never been inside a modular engine, but have built many push rod engines. When I do my bottom end I'll definitely get a drivetrain manual first.

 

Aside from paint and tint no one has ever touched any of my cars. I don't really like driving that much, to me modding the car is the fun part. I've been debating on who to have tune my 05 for the last 3 months and i still have not idea. When i built my trans am I was so weary that I bought a wide band and tuned it myself. I do understand some people don't have the time or means to do the work themselves, but labor is big $$$$$