My real son is not interested in mechanical things.

He is a wonderful guy with many excellent qualities and we get along fabulously but fiddling with cars is not something he is or ever has been interested in.

It just occurred to me as I posted on a thread in the Diesel section that giving tips to less experienced DIYers here is kindof like I might do with my son if he were interested.

Tom W

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

tom, how old is he?

I didn't start fiddling til I was about 25 yo, still very much a novice

30.

Tom W

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Both my brothers tried their hand at wrenching - and neither one liked it. Both now own very nice Japanese cars that don't give them a whit of trouble. My dad is hopeless with a wrench and my sister hates dirt. My mom can swing a hammer and drive nails into oak fence posts all day, but only does that when necessary.

I seem to be the anomaly.

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1984 300TD

I grew up with buddies hanging out at the shop all night working on all kinds of projects. Since I've grown, nobody comes over any more, I don't have kids to help me out and it just gets boring working in the shop by myself... I really enjoyed being around guys who liked cars and enjoyed wrenching.

There's a guy up the street with some army trucks and a half-track that he's always fiddling with. I could probably go hang out at his place but I would never get anything done on my stuff...

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-Evan


Benz Fleet:
1968 UNIMOG 404.114
1998 E300
2008 E63


Non-Benz Fleet:
1992 Aerostar
1993 MR2
2000 F250

Just about all my friends have never worked on cars. Either they are all caught up in sports, or are drunk all day. I work on my friends cars some times, and they have no clue wait is going on. My dad never bought a car that ran growing up and I was always there helping. I am assuming that is why he gave me the 220D. every time I see someone new on this form from Florida I try to find out if they live near by.

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1976 240D
1976 240D parts car
1970 220D daily driver

High school and college were great for finding people interested in hanging out to fix up cars or to jam.

Those are lonely hobbies these days. My friends and family aren't even interested in hearing about what I've done to my car much less help me with it ... although my wife has helped me in a pinch with a few things like turning the wheel for a power steering flush and wielding the garden hose while tracking down water leaks.

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Chad
2006 Nissan Pathfinder LE
1998 Acura 3.0 CL
OBK#44
"Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work." - Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)

SOLD
1985 300TD - Red Dragon
1986 300SDL - Coda
1991 - 300TE
1995 - E320
1985 300CD - Gladys

Not having a son didn't stop me from engaging my daughter in my hobby.

Toting my daughter around for car shows gave her a love for all things on wheels...and so she ended up with a few of her own!

She even helped me do brakes once, then wrote a how-to paper as a 3rd grade class assignment. (Got an A+)!

She doesn't care much for hanging around the garage now that teen angst has befallen her, but claims she still loves the smell of gas fumes!

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2009 ML350 (106K) - Family vehicle
2001 CLK430 Cabriolet (80K) - Wife's car
2005 BMW 645CI (138K) - My daily driver
2016 Mustang (32K) - Daughter's car

My youngest daughter likes to autocross and has done a few with me.

Tom W

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Dear Dad:

I need a new server and a software upgrade. Please send cash immediately.

Sonny

I might make the same statement, Tom. I would be afraid that the forum might change its name though . . . .

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" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

Shopforum, or the people of shop forum?





I consider many here who I have never me to be my friends. I think those people know who they are....

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-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.

Other way around for me. Nobody in my family had any mechanical aptitude, nor in my extended family. At all. My dad would check the dipstick once in awhile, that's about it. Not sure where I got it from but everything I know was self taught.

Sorry about that. I didn't catch your irony the first time I read it.

Glad you aren't letting it get you down!

Tom W

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.