What I Love About Cars -ETCG1 

Eric, I hear what your saying about the last of a breed, the people that like working on their cars and make them unique and different. Sometimes I find myself getting annoyed when my neighbor walks up to me while I am under the hood of my ride and says "Whats wrong with that car now?" nothing is obviously wrong with my car I just like tinkering with it. It happens a lot, I have even been referred to as a "weird guy" just because I am working on my car or more recently my street bike all the time. Only car guys understand, working on my car to me is therapeutic and it puts me in a place that's away and separate from the things in ones life that tend to aggravate you. Everyone is different, but given the choice I would rather be driving around in my 12 year old car that looks Awesome and runs just as well and is MINE (no payments) then some of the newer stuff that is out there.

Hi Eric. I'm a 62 year old mechanic. I remember reading service manuals cover to cover when I was a kid. Built a gas go cart out of junk, later hot rod, dune buggy, 4x4 etc. I just loved cars as long as I can remember. Loved my trade but burned out a couple times and have worked as a machinist for the last 5 years. Still building and fixing in my garage. Its really fun when your trade becomes your hobby. Your video made me smile.

Eric, I am super jealous of you and where you are right now. However I don't resent you because if there is anyone I would want to have what you do, it would be you. Coming from where you have and making the sacrifices you have, you deserve 100% of what you got and then some. Thanks for staying true to your fans, see you at this years meet up. Tom

Being a tuner is a awesome feeling in life and being able to share that with people and see the spark in they're eye's go is one of the feeling ever

Eric, Your video really struck a cord with me. I'm by no means a 'gear head' nor 'grease monkey' or even a 'car guy'. I'm a computer programmer. I sit at a desk and use my brain rather than my hands and body. With that said, I am utterly fascinated with mechanics. I believe that knowing how to work on cars is one of the most functional skills one can obtain. Yes, with today's cars that's becoming harder due to cars being more compact and complex BUT I think there will always be a group of people that understand and appreciate what goes into an automobile. I own an '87 Chevy R10 Longbed pickup that reminds me of my grandfather and puts a smile on my face every time I turn the key. All hope is not lost with us younger generation! I watch your videos religiously and appreciate all the knowledge you share. Keep doin what you're doin.

Eric, It`s like you are describing me and my love for cars. I`m born in 1964 and my upbringing due to my love of cars has made me exactly like you describe. You are doing an excellent job. Please never stop doing videos. Regards Ulf, Sweden.

Hi Eric , my name is Joe and from nc . I'm 16 and have a 1975 ford f100 with a 360 big block I'm building with my grandfather for my first car , me watching this video is like a mirror for what I'm doing right now with the truck and with my buddy's. The videos you post is like having a small town mechanic taking there time with you and giving you the knowledge, passion, and drive to do this hobby/field of work. Thanks again, stay cool dude and keep DIRTY!!!

I really like your Fairmont. I like the fact that it's unmolested and in *really* great, all-original condition. Very straight. Little body damage; little rust. Looks great for a 36-year-old car. Having said that, you *so* need to make it a sleeper. It's not a true "classic" car -- it was the "basic transportation appliance" of its day. So tearing it apart and modifying the heck out of it will not be "blasphemy" in any sense of the word. Turning it into a sleeper with the running gear from that '82 Mustang will make it into a car that is *far* beyond the car it was ever intended to be originally. I am *so* looking forward to the end result. And to seeing the journey along the way. It's going to be quite exciting. :-)

My mood changer is turbo noise, even if my car has not the biggest and loudest turbo, just earing it spools and then go "tsss" when u lift off the throttle is refreshig... sometimes happen that i end up smiling for that reason, alone in my car driving down the road, best place to be!

I love electronics and cars. So modding the electrical system on a car, installing new electrical things into the car. And I will help others with how I did it.

I was never really interested in cars or mechanics in about 8/9 years of driving. I had always been too afraid to attempt my own car repairs for fear of bricking the car and having to pay even more to have it towed or flatbed'ed to a garage and repair any damage I'd done along with the original problem. When times got hard, I started watching Scotty Kilmer's car videos but, while quite informative, didn't go into any real detail and didn't forewarn you of potential issues. That when I found Ericthecarguy. His videos are detailed, high quality, very informative and also very entertaining. Now I'm something of an "Ericthecarguy information junkie" and amateur mechanic. I love getting dirty fixing my car and get a huge sense of satisfaction when I repair something. Thank you Eric, I owe all that to you. Please keep them coming!

Just turned 30, had to replace my own radiator last year for 2 reasons. 1 I was broke, 2 I had to get to work lol. And since then it was like I found love. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed tinkering as a kid. Then I stumble across your channel looking to continue my knew found passion for wrenching/learning to and BOOM, there's this "ugly" Fairmont sleeper project. Blown away I was because that's what I assumed was the next logical step for my car. I was planning a sleeper and didn't even know it! Started binge watching your channel after that Lol. Anyways , keep up the great work, the videos are informative enough to keep me entertained and want to continue to learn more, thanks!

This video couldn't have come at a better time. I got offered a job as a mechanics apprentice and I've been on the fence about accepting the job as its a step down in money, but I've already hit the ceiling at my current job for personal growth. Just hearing that happiness in your voice reminded me of how much I liked cars back in the day. Thanks a lot for this video as it helped me make up my mind, as crazy as that sounds.

The earliest I can remember, about getting enamored with cars is my first car. Doing my own repairs and figuring things out, really opened my eyes to the endless possibilities that comes with owning a vehicle. I have 2 cars and one of them is sitting on 4 stands. Rebuilding the transmission with the hope of it actually working. Not the easiest thing but definitely rewarding.

I can say, I understand you entirely. I get a feeling of accomplishment, and am my happiest when wrenching on my vehicles, or any vehicle for that matter. I may cuss up a storm when I bust my knuckles, and seem like I might be a little cranky, but I am really living in my element. I have been a motor head all my life, ever since I can remember, and I won't change.

I'm not exactly how I got started with loving cars but I guess until a certain point, I was in love with them without even knowing it. Since I can remember I've had an appreciation for the car as a thing. I've just always found them cool; the noises they make, the way that all of them were different. The obsession with cars didn't really kick off until my parents got their first BMW, a 2002 530i. They got a lemon and the car ended up dying, but even so they got another one that was actually taken care of. Ever since then I've been completely hooked on this thing that to some is nothing more than sheet metal and glass. Car people are a rare breed of human. Maybe things should stay that way.

Knowing how systems work, thinking in terms of those systems and how the component parts aid in its function, and knowing exactly what to change for a desired end goal. That's what first got this bookworm into cars.

I agree 100% with everything you said. Specially the starting up your rig and the noise it makes. I look forward to walking outside every morning to listen to my straight piped jeep!

When I was a youngster , I used to love just sitting in my dad's car's , and pretending to drive them , I used to love looking under the bonnet , and when I got my license to drive , and later my first car man I thought , " this is so cool " , despite my first car being a Nissan 120 Y , not the best of cars , but it still gave me that freedom of , just going for a cruise .

I feel the same way about cars being made complex to the point where you pop the hood you can't even see the engine anymore it's all covered in electronics and covers, i'm an old school guy i love old cars, why? well because they are fun to work with, i had a Mazda 323 1981 such a fun car to drive, easy to service , you pop the hood you can tune and tweak everything, you can put your personal touch to it, per say i feel that older cars are fun to drive to work with because they have this personality, you don't have electronics blinding you from the driving experience, so for me driving these older cars give me a smile on my face every time, sadly i had to sell it away because it whas simply to small for my large frame, and unlike in the US we don't come close to the freedom of tuning and messing around with our cars, but it isn't just in the automotive side that the modern era is taking over, it's everywhere, it's getting more and more plain to the user and overall i don't like it.

I had a 71 LTD with the 400 in it when I was 16 years old. It was my Grandpas car and he gave it to me.. It was a 2 door, so it was pretty cool back in 1979! Went thru all the teenage stages of life with that car too.. :) I always wanted to do more with it, but life sometimes gets in the way and you move on.. But, it will always be my first car and will have my most fondest memories! Mitch

Now, I guess I'm a bit of a car guy. But I started working on cars when my car kept breaking down and I did not have the money to send it out. I was a mechanic out of need first. Then I realized I really enjoyed working on cars. I always loved working with my hands and I needed a trade to get into so I chose to become a mechanic when I was 19. I'm 20 now and have a job as a general maintenance tech for the past 2 months. Yea, a lot of it is just oil changes, tires and sometimes alignments. But when it's slower I get to help the repair techs do brakes, suspension, ect. Just about everything. And I am loving it! Finally feel like I am moving closer to a career and away from dead-end jobs. I work with a lot of great people and they are teaching me a lot. I don't have the means to go to school so leaning on the job to me is the best for right now. Clocked 53 hours last week and feel great!

I have memories of flushing my moms vans transmission fluid with my grandpa. He has sparked my love of cars from before I can remember. And now I work on my cars.

I liked this video. I was having a shitty day when I watched thisand listening to you talk about this feeling we've all had made me feel a lot better - just like going out, turning that key and listening to the engine run.

You hit a good point about the industry going in a different direction and the kids these days not being into cars like they were. I think it has a lot to do with the parents and also the technology today. I have 2 boys, 12 and 5. I always make it a point to invite them to help me tinker with my fox body, or change the oil in the VW. And me doing that, they always want to "work on the car". I'm sure if I always let them play video games, or watch tv, that's all they would want to do also. We as parents have to make the effort to, not steer our kids away from technology, but just let them know we didn't have it growing up and other stuff is fun also. Car guys ,mostly, are car guys because they have a fond memory of something involving cars early in life and it carried through life to spark that interest.

I am right there with you my first car was my dads old 67 chevelle 4 door. I love working on cars building cars. I even build model cars. My wife loves me but I drive her nuts with it. I started fixing cars for friends before I could even drive so I always had help with the big stuff when I needed it. It is still one of my favorite things and I totally agree on the down day just firing it up is so therapeutic.

My love for cars started very early. I believe I was 6 years old, my dad was changing the oil in his old 1972 Chevy C10 pickup truck, and I went out, got under the truck with him, and started helping him. He ended up selling that truck, but I found it for sale on craigslist about 3 years later, and bought it back. At that time, I really didn't know much about restoring old vehicles, but I later realized that truck needed a full ground-up restoration. So, after I owned it for roughly 5 years, I very reluctantly let it go. I ended up going to school to be an automotive technician, went to Wyotech in Blairsville, PA. But after a couple years of wrenching for a living, I've recently come to realize, its not what I want to do for a career. I'll still be wrenching out my own stuff on the weekends. But my dream is to someday own, co-own, or at least manage a "hot rod" shop. I love wrenching on older vehicles, and driving them. Its like an escape from reality. Just me, my car/truck, my tools, and maybe some good tunes! I'm also very jealous that you got to meet and talk with Stacey David! I've wanted to meet him ever since he was the host of the Trucks! show on the powerblock! I would also like to meet you someday, Eric. I think we would have a lot to talk about, as far as vehicles and wrenching! Awesome video man, keep it up!

Hi Eric, You and Cars. . .Me and Airplanes, can't get enough of them. . .I'm not a pilot, I'm an Amateur Aviation Historian and a Tour guide for the Smithsonian! I agree entirely, I have a bad week and go to the museum and talk airplanes for a few hours and I am so much better! When you in our neighborhood let me know I'll show you around!

When I was a teenager, there were 'car guys' my age, but they were interested in putting fart cans on their Hondas or lowering their mom's Corolla. It was right before the internet really took off so it was really hard to find information about building up old V8s like I was doing. I had to go to used book stores and find shop manuals for ancient clunkers so that I could get torque specs for a 77 Cadillac. I'm glad to see the resurgence in teens today when it comes to cars. They're not just thinking about adding to 12 inch subs to the trunk, they want to put a turbo on and beef up their suspensions.

I can't remember where my love of cars came from, it just existed since day 1,before I knew brands,models etc. I just liked the looks,the sounds, everything. My dad is a car guy but only by the barest of margins,and I agree with you about how most of my generation isn't interested, even though my dad barely cares about cars (and has absolutely no interest in my favorites: old japanese sports cars) but he still knows how change oil, and have a good overall understanding,my generation lost that.

i just love tools, becoming a mechanic was a by product.

I had virtually no interest in cars until I got my first car about 4 years ago, a 91 Accord. With that car I went from literally knowing nothing about cars or how to work on them to doing all my own maintenance and installing coilovers, intakes, etc (thanks to a few forums and of course ETCG videos). I know when I have a bad day at work all I need to do is to take my Si up to 8k RPM and I'll feel great, even just driving normally is therapeutic.

I love going sideways in anything just to see if I can do it. From cars to even minivans, cube trucks (when empty), & suv's.

You are lucky that you have been able to keep up your enthusiasm. I am 61 and I lost my enthusiasm many years ago, and its from working on the junk on the road and almost all of it is junk. I like the idea of a Fairmont sleeper. It would be cool to put together a sleeper like that that was REALLY fast and still looked stock. (Big Block--twin turbo--etc.) but that kind of stuff costs way too much money. The only enjoyment I get with cars and/or motorcycles is working on the drag race stuff. I have been lucky enough to have been involved with NHRA Prostock racing at 3 different times in my life and that is where my fond memories are. Everything else; you can have it. To each his own. Have a great time with your project!

I started working as a vehicle tech many years ago when I joined the AirForce my job of choice was heavy equipment. I trained in repair work for MHE Forklift and the AirCraft Tow Tractor. Naturally that boiled over into cars and trucks. Today I work on my own stuff and I bought an Electric Car called the Nissan leaf and i was happy until I felt the need for another project vehicle. I now have a 2001 Chevy S10 and it sounds like a rod bearing in going in the 2.2L Engine. I am considering making that electric and I will do it soon.

Eric, I, like all your video's this may be your best, somehow that passion hangs around. I fell the same way as you. As a kid of the seventies with little money and big dreams, after twenty some years of wrenching , looking for the next project.

Everyone of these videos has the potential to inspire a young driver and makes the world safer.

great great report my first car was Mazda 626 and i love it

My first car was an 89 thunderbird base coup, and it's the reason I love cars. I'm going to college for my first year this fall to study mechanical engineering so that I can one day design cars for hopefully an American company. Growing up I thought it was stupid to car about cars, and learned to drive on my dad's hundai elantra. Then I bought my car, and my dad handed me the keys and said, careful, this car has balls! It was a whole new driving experience for me, and I still smile turning the car on. Unfortunately bring the car to the mechanic today for some thumping issues under the hood. The whole engine shudders and bounces around. Sigh.

hey Eric ! just bought myself an r33 skyline and it has given me my drive back to learn! feels good finally having a manual turbo :D

I've owned 2 Galaxie 500s, both 4-doors, both former police cars. The 67 had a 390 4bbl and was the more powerful of the 2. The 71 had a 429 4bbl. Both were Texas DPS cars bought at auctions back in the day when they got new cars every 3-4 years. I'd love to have either of them back. The 67 was a coast car & had major rust issues & the 71 was stolen, probably for the engine.

hello. I started watching your videos because I also love doing my own work and learning as I go. Just wanted to say Thank shop so much for your info. For the willingness to teach us. Can't thank you enough.

I think theres a ton of people into cars, and to me, at least in the past 5 years, aftermarket kinds of things have been crazy

like the show, but its true there aren't many highschoolers that work on cars. Im 16 and have a 1970 vw beetle that im paying for by welding and fixing phones, I love working on the little bug, im slowly fixing things and working on the interior, but it definitely makes my week seem worth it when i can work on my car while listen to music all saturday and sunday, I just need to get my license now haha. Its funny when people say that it's dented or old or anything about it because they will never have the joy of working on their car and seeing it work, when i fixed my speedo and saw the needle bounce up it was so exciting, you just can't get that with a new car.

I totally agree Eric with what you said about Kids today. Am starting to see a lot of them have No passion for any thing. Being on video games or there phones all the time no drive for any thing else. I look forward to the Fairmont project.

In high school, was always helping friends with their cars. Some V8's. I was stuck with my mom's AMC. Finished college and got a decent job. Bought an '88 Mustang. Drove it and it was ok, nothing special. Looked at a Probe, was way too expensive withe the V6. The mustang was cheaper and had a V8. Later, it has meant more and more. The sound, the torque was just pleasing. At over 3k pounds and only 215HP, it was not fast but has its own fun factor. Cat-back exhaust has been the only mod. That improved the sound while still quiet. Still have it and enjoy it.

Hell yeah Eric, you're the man bro.

Hey Eric, love your videos. I was happy to learn that you too had the same first car experience. I still have my second Galaxie which has most of the parts from the first. I am just finishing up a restoration on my latest car a 7-up Mustang. Once it is done the old favorite '72 Galaxie is going in the shop so that I can make it mine again. Now that I am older I have more money to get stuff done like I had always planned on, plus of course I have learned a lot more and have new ideas for the old Ford. Doing all that work on the fox body Mustang was so tempting to buy the best of every aftermarket part that I could, but trying to do a true restoration kept me on the path of stock or reproduction parts. Going back to my first love of cars is wide open to making it up as I go and just doing what I feel is perfect for me. Also it hopefully brings closure to a life long dream. Probably not, I expect to to be always needing one more thing...

phrase of the day "Mechanical Necromancer" LOL Awesome

I always wanted to be a car guy. Well, I AM ... but I'm more of a motorcycle guy. The reason behind that is where I lived - Massachusetts. When I got my driver's license, the insurance and taxes alot of the time ended up costing 3x more than what you paid for the car! I ended up with a '88 S15 with the 2.5 "Iron Duke" 4-cylinder - not exactly something that would achieve the slightest thrill when you stepped on the gas. I used to make up for that by chirping second and third, beating that 5-speed mercilessly at every stop sign. As the years went on, I happened upon some money and bought myself a '78 Cutlass with a built 350 and a even more built TH400 transmission. Used to melt the tires when it slammed second.That car was ALOT of fun! But, years later I would realize it was never set up right. I could get beat off the line by a Ford Escort ... but once it hit 3k, look out! I knew nothing about stall converters, or how you shouldn't have a Holley Dominator Strip intake manifold & a Crane 292 cam on a street driven car, but all part of the learning process. Eventually life got the better of me and I was forced to sell that one. Years later I moved to Phoenix AZ at attend MMI (Motorcycle Mechanics Institute), to try and pull myself out of the never ending financial rut I seemed to always find myself in. After my '86 Grand Marquis got stolen, I bought a '72 El Camino off a fellow student for $500!! Owned that car for 11 years! Was my daily driver for 4 of those years. Loved that car! Like an idiot, I sold it in '11 when some bills started piling up. Now the prices of classics are through the roof, and I find myself dreaming alot ... Through all these cars, I always held onto my motorcycles. They were fast, and most of all MUCH cheaper than cars. I recently built a '74 Yamaha RD350 2-stroke - complete restoration. I ride it everywhere. Points ignition, kick start, and a oil burner - absolutely LOVE that bike! But there's still part of me that longs for another El Camino, or maybe even a '69 Grand Marquis convertible. I'm getting up there in age now, but I can still dream. :)

I think I am not going to watch any of your videos until my Birthday so I can feel super special. :)

Ah... Yes, I remember my friends' 97 Camaro.. He had modded it.. Don't remember what all he did to it, but it was stupid fast... I loved it. After that, I was in love with cars...

Really good video Eric! Thanks for making this. I was especially impressed with your sharing about your inner dignity with the NASCAR jerk. Another reason there is a drop in interest of mechanics, car fields, and hobbies is that there are a lot more boys growing up without a Dad in the home.

Awesome video Eric. Thank you.

i love old trucks i have a 1990 chevy k1500 that iam making my own.i have done all the work myself and there is no better feeling then that.

I was never really interested in cars until after I drowned my uncles four wheeler in a river and he made me fix it that night. After that I started tinkering with things like my bike and such, until I got into high school where I enrolled into literally every shop class I could. Auto tech, welding, CNC machining; if it was in the shop I was involved in it. I fixed my car, friends cars, teachers cars too. One of my instructors suggested I go to one of the local shops and apply for a position, and I've been at that job ever since 2011.

Eric. I'm with you on the nascar guy. Nascar uses stoneage technology you work on way more advanced stuff.

agreed Eric, when i was small i had really bad asthma, nearly died twice from it, i used to have really bad attacks, my nearest hospital was like 10 minutes away with the way my dad drived lol, so id get in the car (a Honda Concerto) and within like 5 minutes i was completely calm and normal breathing! not to quote fast and furious but there is something about cars and engines that has always calmed me down, my dad and that car saved my life many many times! (i hate my dad he is a dick) but iv always loved him for that! i love cars! they are more than metal boxes, they are my love, my life, my passion!

Yay happy birthday to me :D Thank you Eric :))))

People "NASCAR guy" who feel the need to put down others do that to build themselves up. They are insecure. People who are confident don't do that and tend to be cool. I need to learn to ignore the jerks. easier said than done.

Modle cars played a big part in my love for cars, I even have some still from wen I was a kid, they must be almost 20 years old , I'd glue diffrent wheels on them and whatever else

Im only 18 but I started loving cars since I was about 5. There was that and I played NFS Underground :) That was it for me. I was whipped after that on the car game XD.

very good...i like your thoughts.

A 302 c.i. would be nice in the Fairmont , but bring back some of your " LTD " and shoehorn a 429 c.i. in it . I would love that challenge & what a story it would make .

I am 16 I live in a small town. I love cars I actually have the truck that got my love started my grandpas 97 ram its mine now. And im working on it. Laying in the pole barn fixing and making it better Im even taking a 3 hour autoshop class going into my 11th grade year. And see there not much to do. Around here either. My problem is since my ram is my project I cant drive it because well its not ready yet. But I understand you with the bad day. Even with the stock exhaust I hit the gas in park and man its a felling I love. I also like simple cars ill take a crab and a stick anyday. But what im really working up to is a cummins. I love dodges and I love.my body style.of dodge. Because it was different back then. It wasnt boxy.

I liked this video, relates to me a lot too

I drove my friends 2017 honda accord and it was a dream to drive very quiet and smooth with a nice interior compared to my 1997 civic until he told me he pays 800$ a month for it then that's when I said yea I'm happy with my civic it may not be as quite and nice as yours but it gets me where I need to go it saves me money and the parts are really cheap and I can do most of the work my self I have changed the headgasket to it very easy not alot of wires or sensors in the way

Hey Eric. coming to you from the land down under, Australia. love your videos and find myself spending a lot of time watching these. but a little about my passion for cars. i actually own 2 old cars myself. Chrysler valiants. they arnt the cream of the crop, one of them is like your fairmont, base model, good but just needs more character. id love to sleeper my valiant. laws here mke things hard to do engine swaps, in the sense of going from a inline 6 to a V8. so i thik if i do get around to it i will just turbo it. its a little 215 cubic inch inline 6. I'd like to sleeper it very much. im still young, 20 an looking at a apprenticeship in panel beating to learn about how to properly deal with rust. after that i would like to get into spray painting and then actual mechanics. one day i will come to America a and hopefully see what the car scene is like :) hope everything goes well with your build. will be a great sleeper. :)

Please share your motorcycle stories Eric.. We all know you have some..

I find the older i get, the closer I want to get to that 1974 dodge duster, first car, bought for $150 bucks

mom had huge backyard where at least ten cars sat where i learned about cars loved it took them apart drove them in the woods at fifteen got in my first acttadent hit a tree in the woods left it there for years

Hey Eric, I will be the new generation of mechanics that you speak of in many of your videos. I'm currently 14 and will be going to high school in 2 months, my father was the one who brought me around cars. I remember when I was around 6 years old I would wake up at 6am to watch F1 or TopGear. Ever since then I've always loved cars and in the past year I've really gotten in to fixing them. I still don't know if I want to work for a small shop, chain or diesel fleet. What would be your opinion where I should start to work? EricTheCarGuy

Well said eric!

Love ya eric. Well said

1982 Mustang I wish I had one...

Jeepers Creepers Eric!

it should be either of these, a Mustmont, or a Fairstang - I favor the Fairstang!

my friends have kids that are turning 16 or even 18, that have no real desire to get a driver's license. it's different now. when we were growing up, the car represented freedom, and a means to get to your friends and the action. now you can interact with your friends on the internet: FB, texting, skype, etc. your first iphone or smartphone is now the pathway to freedom. IMO kids today won't grow up to be car guys/gals unless they get a push from their car dad/mom.

Keep up good work

Cars vs horror films? That was a random thought. LOL!

I got my first car when I was 14 I spent days and nights working on it for 3 years. Sadly two weeks before I was aloud to drive on the road my next door neighbour son stole it and burnt it out never got to drive it. Got my 2nd car and just gave up working on cars after the first one. I parked my 2nd car due to the engine was leaking all its fluids. I went to college and needed a car had hardly any money so bought cheap and fixed it myself that car the gearbox blew so I bought another cheap car and fixed it and sold it on then I drove my 2nd car again after rebuilding the engine but sadly that car was cursed to spend its days parked up I had no brakes so I got a van and turned it into a camper then that failed. That's now parked beside the 2nd car I bought another car and that packed up at this point I was having enough of cars so I bought a old Toyota wagon in a field drove it home and it sort of felt like I found that car the one I liked the one I wanted but I was in no mood to work on it or do anything to it till I was crashed into and was left wondering what if I did this to it and now I have turned that car into a one of a kind looking car I love driving it love working on it. I no more drive it every day cause my wife hates it so I have another car but when every I go somewhere on my own I take that car

gonna comment on the dwindling intrest toward cars, and modding them.. My intrest in cars is coming back, as i remember that the cars i like still exsist in some places.. I live deeeep in the salt belt. A 1st gen Honda Prelude that's mint in the west, i have not seen since 1993 here, and that was owned by my aunt, who frankly kept it beyond its safe operation.. The oldest car i see on a daily basis is my own 88 Accord, and it's about 13 years older than the average second oldest.. For a long while, i lost intrest almost completely, but thankfully i had a 1973 BMW 2002 show up at the shop and i have had my intrest renewed. Went on a 6 hour drive yesterday for fun, down a country road. But, if a man born loving cars loses intrest cos of todays cars.. i can't imagine how few younger children are freaking out over a 2015 car...any one of them. Back in the day even a shitty car was more interesting..

I was born into being mechanical in 1953, every male in my family was very mechanical , and even very good with metal working & electrical and carpentry and I was mentored by all of them , I would not trade my upbringing for anything.

Thumbs up buddy!

initially 60's Mustangs and Fairlanes. All FE series.The gretest engine ever if you know what to do to it. Later on; 2 stroke bikes. 500 Titan, GT 750 Water Buffalo. H2 Kawi. Yamaha RD. Nowadays. FJ and BJ 40 series Toyotas with a renewed interest in the bikes. Kinda leaning toward a Beetle street rod too.I had a sand rail that pulled under 14.I love me some simplicity.I cringe when I see you guys reaching for meters.Utterly un-necessary. Gimme a Willys........A Studebaker will suffice.My feeler gauges,dwell-tach and timing light work just fine.

Anyone ever run into someone who just doesn't get it? In laws are on my ass all the time about my 97 wrangler."its a money pit, its unsafe, its unreliable, just get a new car"- based on the blood, sweat, frustration, and time to get it where its at now. That car has become an extension of me, lol. Too bad those that lack curiosity and initiative will never understand. 8bit games never got old :)

I wonder why sometimes it cost so much for labor. On my 1999 Mercury Cougar the Oil Presser Switch had when bad and it was licking oil from it. When I went to the shop to see how much it would be for it to get fixed and finding out that the shop wanted $150 for do the job. I just paid them the $25 for looking at it and I was going to wait to get it done and ended up looking up the part I needed thinking it would take off of the price and found out that the switch as only $10. So i got the part and did it myself. But why that much in labor?

I would like to disagree on your point about today's cars being strictly appliance like. The tuning world for Japanese and Korean imports is still strong. Subaru, Scion, Hyundai, Nissan and more make cars that can be modified with ease. There are more and more tuning cults that you've probably never heard of like bosozoku and Bippu style. The aftermarket support for wrx, BRZ, frs, 370z, jukes gtr, Lexus RC f, ls460, Genesis coupe, miata's, and kia Forte's is stronger than ever. Those are only the sport models. Nowdays the whole stance nation movement is getting out of hand. They've modded camry, accords. And whatever they can get their hands on. You just have to look ha-ha. The JDM movement is strong and with the release of the new nsx and ft-1 it will be even stronger. ETCG1 thanks for all your videos.

You are very intelligent 💯

:D i also feel safe in my car. agree 100% :)

I know the fairmonts' a really cool car but;........ I just don't hear or see anyone thinking a '69- '70 ford Maverick; either repairing or "improving" them can you find one and talk about the history of them?

You should watch Tom Turbo Garage build about the miata ls3

The Monstang

Hey Eric, what are your opinions about rotary engine-powered cars? I do know they require more-than-usual maintenance, I got a good deal on a 2004 Mazda RX-8.

You'd better love working on cars if you have a ford. Not called fix or repair dailys for nuthin'. And found on rubish dumps, and f'd old rooted dogs. The best ones I've had are actually rebadged mazdas. In 1969 at Bathurst the 289ci Mustang was beaten by a 1300 cc Mini Cooper S.

you're like me and my 1959 Cadillac when I get it ....390...6 deuces....glasspacks.... very soon!!!!

Not nearly as much as I did 50 years ago. Affordable cars today have quirks and niggling faults but no personalities. Plastic molded headlamps and body coverings donlt excite me nearly as much as diecast chromedvhrilles and stamped steel fenders did when I was a kid. The new stuff feels like cheap toys, rides like well insulated padded concrete blocks, and looks like rubble after minor collisions. What I can diy with basic hand tools is declining every year. I could confidently dismantle my 1976 Toyota Corolla SR-5 Liftback in my driveway with $100 Craftsman toolset reassemble it,, align the chassis and do a valve adjust and tuneup by adding a feeler gage and timing light using a Chiltons manual. Not so my 2008 Element. It has so much computer junk integrated into it that I'm reluctant to touch most of it, and I'm an electronics engineer by profession. With 100,000 mile major maintenance interval, the satisfaction I used to get from doing a tuneup every 10,000 miles is gone. Instead I do dirty work like brake jobs - something that I used to trust to "professionals". They used to be professional mechanics, now they are grease jockies who know even less about my car than I do. The last one told me that my parking brake cable needed replacing because it wasnt compressing the disk pads didnt believe me that the parking brake shoes were inside the rotor hub. I'm hoping that self driving electric hearses become commonplace before I need one, so I can enjoy being a passenger in a genuinely new technology vehicle.

My friends and I used to joke about "Leveling up" at skills in life. Me....Auto repair= level 10, Guitar playing= level 67...backwards priorities.

eric iwant to know do ya need to put ya car on a lift to change a water pump on a 2000 dodge caravan

Whoa, is that a foxbody? I must be behind a couple videos :/