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Can a mechanic build a car?

Discussion in 'General 4Runner Talk' started by The last breed, Dec 27, 2021.

  1. Dec 27, 2021 at 5:49 PM
    #1
    The last breed

    The last breed [OP] New Member

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    I have always wondered about this. Can a super talented and experienced mechanic go one step further and build their own car?
     
  2. Dec 27, 2021 at 6:07 PM
    #2
    Dillusion

    Dillusion New Member

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    Depends on what you mean by build.

    Piece together from frame and prefabbed panels sure. But if you are talking making their own panels and all the sheetmetal stuff I'd say no. Need to be more than just a "mechanic" for that.
     
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  3. Dec 27, 2021 at 6:22 PM
    #3
    The last breed

    The last breed [OP] New Member

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    If you give them the engine and transmission, that's it, and money for the raw materials, can they build a car around those two things?
     
  4. Dec 27, 2021 at 6:24 PM
    #4
    The last breed

    The last breed [OP] New Member

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    I do think that only a few engineers work for Toyota. The rest must be mechanics and body shop people. I also think mechanic type workers of Toyota give feedback and advice to Toyota engineers about real world problems and challenges
     
  5. Dec 27, 2021 at 6:30 PM
    #5
    OverRunner

    OverRunner rebmeM weN

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    Probably not. As Dillusion said, mechanics don’t typically “make” things. They teach themselves to disassemble and re-assemble.

    To build a car like you seem to be hinting at, you’d need at least a few engineers; electrical, mechanical, and structural to name a few. You’d need a specialist in upholstery to make the seats and trim. You’d need metal fabricators and welders. You’d need a suspension geometry specialist.

    If you’re talking about completely disassembling a previously-designed and built vehicle, and then re-assembling it, piece by piece, in the manner of the assembly line workers… I believe a good, experienced mechanic could probably manage that.
     
  6. Dec 27, 2021 at 6:36 PM
    #6
    The last breed

    The last breed [OP] New Member

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    Let us keep engineers aside for a moment. If you gather experienced body shop folks, nechanics, electricians, welders, upholstery folks etc, will they not manage to come up with some car lol? It won't be a Lexus but don't you think they will put together something? Something for poor countries lol
     
  7. Dec 27, 2021 at 7:11 PM
    #7
    OverRunner

    OverRunner rebmeM weN

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    I feel like there was a Discovery series like this… was it Junkyard Wars? Where teams of two average joes (not classically-trained engineers) competed to build a car from scratch in a handful of hours with nothing but junkyard parts? If you’re asking can your team of techs build something that would move down the road, I think probably.
     
  8. Dec 27, 2021 at 7:15 PM
    #8
    The last breed

    The last breed [OP] New Member

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    I recall something similar. Swat Cats cartoon series that I watched as a kid. Two fighter pilots are kicked out of the air force, and they gather stuff from junkyards and built a crazy capable fighter jet :D

    Gotta admit the soft power of the United States. These cartoons are loved around the world.

    @PhantomTweak Sir, you never thought of going rogue and build a Phantom in your backyard? :D
    https://youtu.be/H0IQBWWabuU
     
  9. Dec 27, 2021 at 7:47 PM
    #9
    Coupe

    Coupe New Member

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    Street rodders assemble cars from a collection of parts. Many of these are custom, one off parts.

    Rarely does the these cars get built by one person. Usually it breaks down to mechanical, paint and upholstery. While I know a few guys that can do it all, they usually sub out some of the work to there friends that may be more talented in any area they are lacking.

    And contrary to the BS you see on TV, it usually takes years to put together a car from scratch.
     
  10. Dec 27, 2021 at 8:24 PM
    #10
    PVT Pablo

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    I've never seen a mechanic make glass so I'm gonna say no.
     
  11. Dec 28, 2021 at 4:27 AM
    #11
    Toy4X4

    Toy4X4 New Member

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    This is a very true statement above. Over the years friends and I have "built" street hot rods and drag cars. We NEVER engineered the major components such as engine, drivetrain components, etc. But as Coupe says lots of things are 'subbed out' to the guy with the most knowledge on the subject at hand, the car may never leave it's 'building' place, but people are more mobile than the car at certain points of the build. Also, many of the components are modified and rebuilt, then they have the one-off status.... it's a labor of love!
     
  12. Dec 28, 2021 at 5:19 AM
    #12
    4Daughters

    4Daughters It’s how I know God has a sense of humor

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  13. Dec 28, 2021 at 9:23 AM
    #13
    Dillusion

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    I'm going to say a single "mechanic" no.

    Now a fabricator with mechanical skills yes. Mechanic in my terms would be someone that can fix the cars given the parts. But from scratch no. It takes a different breed to fab stuff up.

    Now if you give a mechanic pre fabbed parts I'm sure he can.
     
  14. Dec 28, 2021 at 10:59 AM
    #14
    4scooter19

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    Check out car masters on Netflix. They have a couple builds where they create their own body molds and have custom bodies made for one off cars. The main guy, I forget his name builds a car off a drawing he made years ago.
     
  15. Dec 28, 2021 at 12:00 PM
    #15
    PhantomTweak

    PhantomTweak New Member

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    None. Bone Stock. EXCEPT: Brushguard, tow hitch, both welded to the frame. It's good to have friends and a fully equipped garage!
    I would have loved to build a Phantom in my back yard. Problem is, the radar, and much of the avionics, are all classified to heck, and totally unavailable.

    Also, the J79 engines are unavailable. All the jet car types grab them up, and by the time they hit the civilian market, they need so much work, and rebuilding, there is no real hope of getting one, let alone two! Besides, I am NOT a jet mech. I'm an avionics type.

    Other than that, sure, I'd love to build/buy one. :D
    Pat☺
     
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  16. Dec 28, 2021 at 12:06 PM
    #16
    The last breed

    The last breed [OP] New Member

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    Question arises. What stuff
    It is amazing that the gov can have control over the defence companies to keep the technology classified. It is like the gov telling Microsoft to keep Windows classified and not sell the tech to anybody ever! So what makes McDonnel Douglas, Phantom maker, different than Microsoft?
    Or maybe if gov has Microsoft build something for them then they can dictate the fate of that tech.
     
  17. Dec 28, 2021 at 12:11 PM
    #17
    glwood54

    glwood54 Stop making me buy stuff!

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    Can a jeweler make a watch? Can a pipefitter build a battleship? Can an ironworker build a skyscraper?
     
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  18. Dec 28, 2021 at 12:27 PM
    #18
    4R21

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  19. Dec 28, 2021 at 12:29 PM
    #19
    The last breed

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  20. Dec 28, 2021 at 12:37 PM
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    4R21

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    Go rent a 4runner off TURO !! o_O:hattip:
     
  21. Dec 28, 2021 at 12:41 PM
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    The last breed

    The last breed [OP] New Member

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    Will try
     
  22. Dec 28, 2021 at 12:43 PM
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    4R21

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  23. Dec 28, 2021 at 12:47 PM
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    The last breed

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  24. Dec 28, 2021 at 12:49 PM
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    4R21

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  25. Dec 28, 2021 at 1:36 PM
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    Bikeric

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    Milton Friedman re-worded a Leonard Read poem I, Pencil.
    [​IMG]
     
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  26. Dec 28, 2021 at 8:37 PM
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    Trail Runnah

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    Well the US Govt pretty much keep the defense companies in business. So if they want those sweet, sweet, taxpayer dollars, they'll classify whatever daddy Govt tells them to. In return, the US will start a war somewhere to keep those dollars flowing. The SecDef is/was a Raytheon board member for crissakes. Nothing to see here, no conflict of interest AT ALL.
     
  27. Dec 28, 2021 at 9:36 PM
    #27
    The last breed

    The last breed [OP] New Member

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    Makes sense. Like the USAF bought the most number of F-16s and I think they still buy them. So General Dynamics won't give a crap about selling a dozen F-16s to freaking Pakistan, and pissing the US government off who bought/buy hundreds of F-16s. So even if you put patriotism aside for a moment, from financial aspect General Dynamics can't afford pissing off the US government.
     
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  28. Dec 28, 2021 at 9:51 PM
    #28
    The last breed

    The last breed [OP] New Member

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    Have you noticed, fighter jets and all high tech defence stuff are made in America. They never have Mexico or Bangladesh assemble them to cut costs. Imagine GM or Ford were in charge of building defense stuff. F-16s would be as awesome as Chevy Cruze :D
     
  29. Dec 28, 2021 at 9:54 PM
    #29
    The last breed

    The last breed [OP] New Member

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    I also wonder if Japan was making defence stuff. They would kick ass. The Mitsubishi Zero kicked some serious in WWII
     
  30. Dec 28, 2021 at 11:01 PM
    #30
    glwood54

    glwood54 Stop making me buy stuff!

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    Very. The General 4Runner Talk forum has thread after thread about pretty much everything BUT 4Runners since he sold his.
     

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