Hey mate,

I know EXACTLY how you feel. I was in exactly the same boat when i first bought my ute about 6 months ago. I didn't know anything and didn't have the confidence to change a spark plug......HONESTLY!!!

My advice is just to throw yourself headlong into the world of datto and pick up as much as you can from different sources. I have just lived datto for the past few months and learnt a whole heap.

This site is a great source of info. Just start reading as much as you can. If you come accross terms you don't understand look up some auto sites that have dictionary's for auto related words.

Another great source is people you know who can help you. My missus' old man helps me out heaps (and hinders me 2 but thats another story). Any questions i have i just ask him and he usually knows the answer.

That's the other thing too. Don't be afraid to as ANY question, no matter how silly, as by asking is the only way you will find out.

Another good thing is the generosity of others. There is a dude on this site (he knows who he is) who has helped me out a tonne! He has had quite a few datto's over the years so has a fair knowledge of all things datto, and he has been kind enough to help me out with info and contacts that have helped heaps.

The final tip i can give you is just get in there and have a go!!! Sean told me that piece of advice when i first started out and it's been the best piece of advice i've had. Just learn as much as you can, get yourself a workshop manual and go to work. Don't worry if you don't know about something, the only way to find out in my experience is sticking your head in there and seeing it for yourself. Most of it is just common sense. I found the hardest thing was all the different terms and lingo. Once you start to pick that up you should be fine.

6 months ago i didn't even know what a carbie, inlet manifold, strut or a contol arm was, now i'm just on the verge of doing a complete front end strut conversion, rear end lowering and shock swap, prepping the whole ute by myself for a spray job plus a whole heap of other body and interior work without a mechanic in sight.

In fact the only thing i will need a mechanic for in builing my car will be building my engine and maybe someone to rebuild my diff if needed. That's about it. Everything else i plan to do myself. And trust me if i can do it with the knowledge (or complete lack therof) that i had anyone can.

As they say JUST DO IT!!!

That's my story and advice anyways.
Trav