Knowledge can never be overlooked. Find clubs or individuals with the same interest in cars who have done it before. Go online and build your "mechanic's mental toolbox". Example... Visit some of the larger bolt and fastener shops or purchase "The Engineer's Little Black Book". These will help you identify nut and bolt types, grades, thread patterns, thread types, taps and dies to use, and helicoils. I take anything that may apply and keep it in a book of "knowledge". Technical articles, drawings, suppliers information, phone numbers of people with additional knowledge or expertise, anything I find that might relate to what I am doing placed in document protector sheets in a binder. I am rebuilding/modifying a '54 331 Chrysler Hemi, rebuilding/modifying a '54 264 Nailhead and I have my wife's '36 Buick Straight 8 to rebuild. T here are tricks to ALL three of these engines that if you miss, there is a good chance you'll see the inside of the engine again really soon! Most of all, make sure you build a pedigree of your project. Later on, when you are wondering what part number of the head gasket you need to replace the one you just blew, going back and finding that receipt, or being able to contact "that guy" in "BFE" who helped you find that "thing-a-ma-jigger" really helps put the mind at ease. This knowledge and knowing what to look for has also saved me at swap meets where I might have easily purchased a part thinking or being told it is what I needed only to find that it doesn't fit, won't do the job I need it to, or is actually a cheap knock-off of the original and will fail. Knowledge is power and soon you'll find the word gets out and people will be reaching out to you for help.
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