Getting into cars srsly

[Tomash]

OK, I have to admit: I haven't been really interested in cars (both models and what's going on under the hood) until I became fascinated with Camaro. Treated my Opel just like a tool to get from point A to point B, nothing passionate. Well, this has changed, Camaro has awoken a car-fan inside me.

So, my question is - what and from what should I learn about cars, mostly their internals, how stuff works, technologies used today... and generally stuff that'd let me talk with Spike like an equal?

I got a handbook for professional car mechanics, that explains a lot (how engine, powertrain, suspension etc. works and what it consists of) and I'm slowly digging through it, but would like to go a step further.

You know, get to know about recent developments in car internals like, for instance, per-wheel power transmission (I mean different amounts of power being applied to wheels on the same axis, while taking turns, to improve handling - late Evo has it, will 5th gen Camaro have it too?) and stuff exclusive to rear-wheel drives, like wheel hop recently discussed on this forum.

So, any resouces (books) you'd recommend?

[BitchinCamaro]

The best way to start out, I think, is to start small. Pick one car, the 5th gen, or your Astra, and learn everything you can about it. Once you understand how it works, it will be easier to learn the difference between it and other cars. With a solid foundation to compare against, the theoretical and future tech will be easier to understand.
Hit the forums and magazines for the car. Read about mods, why some work, others don't, and what is needed to support them.

[Angrybird 12]

Magazines like Hot Rod, Super Chevy, and any that have technical articals will help you to understand the workings and mods you can make to make a car better. Stay away from your basic car review type magazines (motor trend, Car and Driver, Edmunds etc), because they are mostly opinions and are not much help in the learning department.

If you look at a Car magazine cover and see "How ---- Works", or "How to----"- then buy it...

[Tomash]

Bitchin, the "start small" advice is a very good one indeed.

Skyman, I'd prefer books, eBay-available ones. I have a pretty limited access to american car magazines due to living in Europe

[Mr. Wyndham]

Go to howstuffworks.com, and go to their auto-section. They don't have anything "in-depth", but the info they provide gives a real solid base to learn off of.

[BowtieGuy]

If older school engines is something you are intersted in, I would point you toward David Vizard, he has some excellent technical engine building books and a few for later model cars. Something more recent, I'm not sure where to point you, but memorizing numbers is where I started.

[Tomash]

@Dragoneye: How come I didn't know about that site first? Cool stuff, thanks!

@BowTieGuy: Seems that older engines have simpler and thus easier to understand construction. So yeah, I'll check the name

[Angrybird 12]

Originally Posted by Tomash

Bitchin, the "start small" advice is a very good one indeed.

Skyman, I'd prefer books, eBay-available ones. I have a pretty limited access to american car magazines due to living in Europe

Lots of car mags new and old also available on E-bay... Check it out, I did a search on hot rod magazine and found 362 listed...
Got any friends that are in the US military? I bet they could get some for you at the base store

[Mr. Wyndham]

No problem. I also want to second what everyone else is saying here, pickup some techy-magazines. Read through a few of those, and it'll start clicking.

[Mindz]

Also, if you're into cartoons, Initial D the anime is decent for mostly common knowledge. It seems childish, and it's drifting (powersliding for the mods) with imports, but for small little fun facts and basic differences/strategies for racing under various circumstances it's something fun to watch and learn tidbits at the same time.

[The_Blur]

Originally Posted by BitchinCamaro

The best way to start out, I think, is to start small. Pick one car, the 5th gen, or your Astra, and learn everything you can about it. Once you understand how it works, it will be easier to learn the difference between it and other cars. With a solid foundation to compare against, the theoretical and future tech will be easier to understand.
Hit the forums and magazines for the car. Read about mods, why some work, others don't, and what is needed to support them.

I started with the Cobalt. Before I ever got the car, I was on the forums discussing what companies make the best parts, what the parts do, how much the parts cost, and what other parts need to be upgraded to get the most benefit from the part in question.

[JiXeR'z DoDgE/FoRd KiLLeR]

Originally Posted by Dragoneye

Go to howstuffworks.com, and go to their auto-section. They don't have anything "in-depth", but the info they provide gives a real solid base to learn off of.

Dude this was so helpful! Thanks!

[Tomash]

You guys deliver!