Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Aesthetics How do I learn to do my own customizing?

I am getting envious seeing all the fun you are all having with your cars - where do I learn how to do this? This sounds kind of dumb, but is there a book or something?? I can't afford to pay someone else to do it, and they may not do it just how I want anyway. (Love the new LED lights post, btw.)

Tara, it's kind of a personal touch type thing. Basically if you have an idea, but are not sure how to do it, search here first and if you have no luck, post a topic about it. We are always wiling to help our fellow ceg'ers with new ideas. Hope this helps.

Rick

You know how I learned? Buy breaking stuff... Seriously. Either breaking it or taking it apart. I remember many an afternoon when I had my old Honda in a pile of parts in the driveway for no really good reason. When I put those green LED's in my door handles, it was a matter of figuring out how the door panel came off, then where to bogart power from, etc, etc. I'd say what you really need is just a basic electrical knowledge (pos/neg, etc...), basic mechanical sense, and a lack of fear. j/k

First off, you need to be some kind of freak. This freak is someone who is flawed in the fact that they have no concept of time when it comes to working on stuff. Nothing can phase them. Not hunger, sleep, or even that massive cramp in their leg from sitting on the floor for five hours straight working on headlights, can distract them from creating stuff.

As far as knowledge, I think Drumnut hit it on the head. It starts out when you are four or five years old, and you just figured out how to use a screwdriver and some pliers. The Dremel, heatgun, etc. come later.

You also need to be fearless when modifying. I was sure I was going to totally ruin my headlights when I started taking them apart. This didn't make me more reckless, I just was concentrating on modifying them, not worrying about breaking them. It just turned out I got it right the first time.

I would recommend going to a junk yard and picking up some parts of a Contour similar to yours. Think of it as a craft or hobby. I do.

Ehehehe,

I think the same way Chris thinks. I personally know nothing about mechanic or body work but I have the guts to stick fiber glass on to my cars body and hope it looks good. Think about it this way, if you screw up when modifying something on the cars body, it can always be fixed somehow (Don't burn the vehicule doh! ).

It's all about balls and thinking! :p

That's my opinion!

Canada man is right. Just be creative, and always remember that everything that is put together is meant to be taken apart at some point. That is why we have nuts and bolts and fasteners... (Well, almost...) Just be creative and remember to be brave and inventive. And, oh by the way, you have to have an imagination for things... Well, you get the idea!