Mods before the internet?

jaserion · 01-03-2009, 04:47 PM

just wondering the followings:

1. where do you get your mod info from?
2. how do you visualize the mods on your car?
3. where/how would you order your mods?
4. where do you find DYIs?
5. how do you connect with other enthusiasts?
6. others?

i'm not young. i just recently got infected with the mod'ing bugs! the internet, this and other forums have been a major resource to feed my needs for instant gratification!

thanks!

vachss · 01-03-2009, 05:24 PM

Back in the prehistoric '80s I was fairly into modding my old 240Z. Best ideas came from folks I competed against in AutoX. Also there were specialty car clubs (Z club of America and ZONC - Z Owners of Northern CA) that would meet and blather about just this sort of thing into my impressionable young ears. Finally I'd hang out at the local import/mods shop and drool over whatever cool hardware was being displayed.

This all led to a learning process through some very useful mods (sway bars, intake, exhaust and ultimately engine swaps) and some stupid ones (fender flares, cut springs). But by the end of it I had a pretty good idea what worked and was cost effective...

That was all good fun, but I think the net is a whole lot more efficient information source and would have saved me countless hours/dollars.

evoi19 · 01-03-2009, 05:27 PM

I've been around the scene since 92 and back then it was experimenting and trial by error.

Parts were expensive and hard to come by. I recall the excitement when someone would lower their car or got a k&n intake. hahaha

1. where do you get your mod info from?
magazines, word of mouth, friends

2. how do you visualize the mods on your car?
I don't know if anyone did this, but we'd take a sideview pic and cut around the fender well and then lower the picture and tape it back...so it looks lower.

Then cut out some wheels and put them up to the pic. (our version of photoshop)

3. where/how would you order your mods?
Order through your local shop or if they didn't carry it, you'd call the company directly.

4. where do you find DYIs?
DYI's were non-existant. You try it yourself and if you need help, you call a buddy over or take it to the shop.

5. how do you connect with other enthusiasts?
Usually it's through car clubs or your circle of friends.

jaserion · 01-03-2009, 05:33 PM

thanks vachss and andrew! great responses! wow, the whole trial and error thing must cost a fortune, not to mention the time invested!!

HighQ · 01-04-2009, 09:48 AM

I bought a lot of magazines back in the day, this covered all my information needs.

01-03-2009, 04:47 PM	#1
jaserion Captain 120 Rep 973 Posts Drives: BMW Onsh'mo... Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: New York iTrader: (0)	Mods before the internet? just wondering the followings: 1. where do you get your mod info from? 2. how do you visualize the mods on your car? 3. where/how would you order your mods? 4. where do you find DYIs? 5. how do you connect with other enthusiasts? 6. others? i'm not young. i just recently got infected with the mod'ing bugs! the internet, this and other forums have been a major resource to feed my needs for instant gratification! thanks! __________________ 2015 F31 Sport Wagon 2014 Tesla Model S 2011 E93 M3 - Gone 2008 E92 M3 - Gone 2006 E90 325i - Gone
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01-03-2009, 05:24 PM	#2
vachss Captain 55 Rep 815 Posts Drives: Z4 Coupe Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ventura County, CA iTrader: (1)	Back in the prehistoric '80s I was fairly into modding my old 240Z. Best ideas came from folks I competed against in AutoX. Also there were specialty car clubs (Z club of America and ZONC - Z Owners of Northern CA) that would meet and blather about just this sort of thing into my impressionable young ears. Finally I'd hang out at the local import/mods shop and drool over whatever cool hardware was being displayed. This all led to a learning process through some very useful mods (sway bars, intake, exhaust and ultimately engine swaps) and some stupid ones (fender flares, cut springs). But by the end of it I had a pretty good idea what worked and was cost effective... That was all good fun, but I think the net is a whole lot more efficient information source and would have saved me countless hours/dollars.
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01-03-2009, 05:27 PM	#3
evoi19 Lieutenant General 1524 Rep 17,386 Posts Drives: 2022 G80C Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (18)	I've been around the scene since 92 and back then it was experimenting and trial by error. Parts were expensive and hard to come by. I recall the excitement when someone would lower their car or got a k&n intake. hahaha 1. where do you get your mod info from? magazines, word of mouth, friends 2. how do you visualize the mods on your car? I don't know if anyone did this, but we'd take a sideview pic and cut around the fender well and then lower the picture and tape it back...so it looks lower. Then cut out some wheels and put them up to the pic. (our version of photoshop) 3. where/how would you order your mods? Order through your local shop or if they didn't carry it, you'd call the company directly. 4. where do you find DYIs? DYI's were non-existant. You try it yourself and if you need help, you call a buddy over or take it to the shop. 5. how do you connect with other enthusiasts? Usually it's through car clubs or your circle of friends.
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01-03-2009, 05:33 PM	#4
jaserion Captain 120 Rep 973 Posts Drives: BMW Onsh'mo... Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: New York iTrader: (0)	thanks vachss and andrew! great responses! wow, the whole trial and error thing must cost a fortune, not to mention the time invested!! __________________ 2015 F31 Sport Wagon 2014 Tesla Model S 2011 E93 M3 - Gone 2008 E92 M3 - Gone 2006 E90 325i - Gone
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01-04-2009, 09:48 AM	#5
HighQ Quality is everything 12 Rep 756 Posts Drives: you mad Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	I bought a lot of magazines back in the day, this covered all my information needs.
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