Best way to learn?

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SpeedKrazy620

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Here's the thing, I am really interested in learning more about cars, technical-wise. I really enjoy going to car shows, but when I see all of these cars with their hoods popped open, I have no clue what anything is in there. I'm only 13 and obviously don't have my own car to examine and work on, but does anyone have any suggestions (websites, books, etc.) about what can help me learn more? Thanks alot. :)
 
Depends on the type of engine. If its the usual Piston engine, I dont have any sources for you. But if you're into rotary engines as a few people (including myself) here are, www.rotaryengineillustrated.com is a decent page to learn some good stuff. Maybe you could check out www.teamfc3s.com for some more Down to earth less techy stuff. Hope this helps a tad. :)
 
But I think the only manufacturer you're gonna find using rotarys is Mazda, I'm pretty sure lots of other companies have tried, but Mazda is the only ones who have gotten it right. Btw, what is the advantage of a rotary vs. a piston engine?
 
Well if you want to learn the parts, browse parts sites like HKS, Blitz, www.planetperformane.com , and alot of stuff. Then, you should try looking into the names of engine and the specifications of them. Wait, is the CC displacement? Oh well, anyways. Like the Skyline runs on an RB26, ITR on a B16 or B18, Prelude H22A. yeh, well I'm only 13 too, so yeh. I'm just obsessed wit cars. You could also like subscribe to super street or one of the performance/show tuner mgazines. :D

P.S. I remember hearing of a car with a rotor engine but I forget which one... not the Integra Type R...uhhhhhhh
 
You need to read a lot. www.howstuffworks.com has a few basic things, and the internet in general is a pretty good source of knowledge. Just type what you're looking for in a search engine, and voila, hundreds of pages on the subject!
 
Hopefully most of these posts helped you with what you were trying to figure out. You could always hang around the local garages if there are any.
 
Originally posted by Ev0
Btw, what is the advantage of a rotary vs. a piston engine?
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Less total weight = faster car all around, less rotating mass = smaller power loss, less parts = fewer things to replace/repair/go wrong.
 
Thanks for the advice, i'll try alittle bit of everything. If anyone else has anymore ideas, please, share!
 
Originally posted by Monster7
less parts = fewer things to replace/repair/go wrong.
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but they still do anyway:D

*runs and hides*

anywho

sites like howstuffworks is good, as for all the parts under a bonnet of a car (things that howstuffworks dont cover) go to the library and find some books
 
Originally posted by PunkRock
You need to read a lot. www.howstuffworks.com has a few basic things [...]
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Yup, definitely give that site a whirl... it's almost ridiculous how much you can learn from that site, and the guy's diagrams are top notch. :)
 
It's always nice to learn the basic stuffs about cars, but when you're trying to understand what purpose each part does, you'll scratch your head in frustration very quickly. It pays to learn right now than 5 years later, when the possibilities of a person puts, say, a turbo, without any proper maintanence, is highly likely.
 
Originally posted by SpeedKrazy620
Here's the thing, I am really interested in learning more about cars, technical-wise. I really enjoy going to car shows, but when I see all of these cars with their hoods popped open, I have no clue what anything is in there. I'm only 13 and obviously don't have my own car to examine and work on, but does anyone have any suggestions (websites, books, etc.) about what can help me learn more? Thanks alot. :)
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The best way to learn is to do. Find someone that races or someone that fixes up old cars and ask them if you can help. I got on a sprint car crew when I was 11 and by the time I was 14 I was helping build engines. Then my friend started racing modifieds so I joined his team and became the clutch/tranny builder, and I help my neighbor with stuff alot, he rebuilds classic and muscle era cars.
 
Slimer has the best method but that's simply not available to everyone. If you can do that do it! Otherwise, I used magazines and message boards about certain cars or makes like TCCoA, SCCoA, GM vs. Ford, etc...

"Less total weight = faster car all around, less rotating mass = smaller power loss, less parts = fewer things to replace/repair/go wrong."

This is true, and also less rotating mass also aids it's ability to rev high, but unfortunately the design has a relatively hard time with low-end torque. I've heard they are hard to work on though and I also heard that they still have some reliability issues but don't quote me on that.
 
Originally posted by Drifting Thunda
This is true, and also less rotating mass also aids it's ability to rev high, but unfortunately the design has a relatively hard time with low-end torque. I've heard they are hard to work on though and I also heard that they still have some reliability issues but don't quote me on that.
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Torque is overrated.

My experience with rotary's has been confined to the 13b-rew which is the motor in the 3rd generation RX-7. Out of the dozens of cars I have worked on in my life, it was by far the easiest. I'm looking forward to working on a 13b-bt.

The "reliability issue" is only an issue if the owner makes it one, or if the tuner who built the motor did a poor job. Show me a motor that is invincible, and I will show you the leprechan that I caught.
 
Originally posted by Drifting Thunda
Slimer has the best method but that's simply not available to everyone. If you can do that do it!
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Thank you, Drifting Thunda, I forgot to mention that in my post... But if it is an option available to you do it!!
 
Don't get the wrong idea I think rotaries are awesome... if nothing else the gifs I see showing how they work mesmerize me! :lol:

Torque isn't overrated per se, but the rotaries have proven that it isn't entirely necessary for the engine to produce its own torque when there's a plethora of turbochargers and superchargers available for engines to make torque for them.

You want to see an invincible motor? This is an obvious one. Chevy's 5.7L all alluminum V8 LS1 is said to be blessed by the hand of Allah, and is thusly deemed invincible! ;)
 
Originally posted by Monster7
Torque is overrated.
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that would depend on what you want your car to do....

If you want a drag car then low end torque is your best friend....

If you want an Indy/Champ car then torque is not as important....

If you are an offroader like me then you need a good balance of low end torque and mid-to-high end power with a little more low end then mid-to-high...

If you want a comfortable, dependable daily driver that you can have some fun in on the weekends then you are going to want a fair amount of low end torque (but not so much that it makes the car a pain to drive in daily traffic), good high end power(I.E. no upper rpm power loss like many cars have), and a very solid midrange power output......

It is also very possible to have a very light rotating assambly in a higher reving engine and still have very good low end torque... take the 383 Chevy SB (stroker) in my truck for example, it has a scat ultra light crank and rod setup and is balanced to 8000 rpm. Because the engine is so well balanced and the rotating assembly is so light the engine revs very quickly, this combined with the long stroke give it a dynamite torque curve from off-idle to about 6500 (peak torque is at about 2000 rpm and peak power at about 6400) If you are willing the spend the money to get an engine setup like this with the headwork, valvles, intake and headers to match you will be able to produce alot of very useable power across the rpm range of your engine without power adders...
 
A friend of mine has a '55 Chevy with a 383 stroker. Nice car, small powerband..

Mountains of torque are nice, but not necessary. Especially in a car like the fd3s rx-7 that weighs around 2700lbs.

This is an obvious one. Chevy's 5.7L all alluminum V8 LS1 is said to be blessed by the hand of Allah, and is thusly deemed invincible!
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:lol: Good motor.
 
Thats right torque is over rated. Horse power is nothing with out torque. .

Any ways there are a ton of books out there you can read up on to learn about cars. Also spend time with some one when they are doing anything, oil change to a brake job. Thats the best way to learn.
 
read.

search the internet. as mentioned, www.howstuffworks.com is a great site.

apply. find someone who will let you hang around and learn. dont expect to be appointed engine builder, but prepare to do a lot of dirty unglamorous work like tearing down engines and cleaning parts and getting lunch.

i had a book called fundamantals of automotive technology that was great. but having the book and seeing the part as its working are the best things you can hope for. just reading the book will not be enough. just working on motors will not be enough. understanding how each part works and why its designed/ manufactured and used is most effective.

for instance there are several different front end suspensions. it figures that a F350 superduty will need a stronger suspension than a tacoma right. so its possible for them to be different. you have to try and understand what makes on better than another, and in what ways.
heres another example; when honda went to the mcpherson strut type front suspension on the current civic (EK? i dont keep up with chassis codes!) they were immediately derided for being less responsive etc than the previous double wishbone setup. yet the same auto journalists praise BMW which uses a strut type suspension on all cars but the rolls royce. why the hypocrisy?

basically once you have a basic understanding you can shift out the BS from the truth. and theres a lot of BS on the internet and here.
but try to have fun.
 
Originally posted by Monster7
A friend of mine has a '55 Chevy with a 383 stroker. Nice car, small powerband..
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Must not have a very good setup on it then.... my 383 has one of the wider powerbands I have ever had to play with......
 
nah, to a rotory ;)

*runs for cover....... again*
 
nice slam there VIPERGTSR01..... maybe a little uncalled for but still a nice one....

and the only thing I have ever driven with a wider powerband is a mid 90's 454SS.....
 
Slam? :lol:

I'd like to see your 383 pull to 8500. You'll be picking up pieces of your rods and block with a broom.
 
Originally posted by Monster7
Slam? :lol:

I'd like to see your 383 pull to 8500. You'll be picking up pieces of your rods and block with a broom.
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Yeah he probably would, but 8,000 is still VERY commendable! Anyways there are a lot of high-revving piston engines, even ones with a lot of cylinders.
 
Originally posted by Monster7
Slam? :lol:

I'd like to see your 383 pull to 8500. You'll be picking up pieces of your rods and block with a broom.
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i would like to see a rotory (or any car engine for that matter) make 30000rpm like my nitro rc engine:D

revs isnt everything
 
Without a sufficient amount of torque a car would rely on shorter gear ratios to amplify torque more so it could move quick enough to be competition. Whereas a higher torque engine can afford to be mated with taller gears, which is better. That's how I look at it.

I love rotaries but I've never met a nice and respectful rotary car driver. Kinda sad huh?
 
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