My dad gave me my first car when I was fifteen. He took me out to the garage, pointed to my car, and then he pointed to most of my engine pieces. Over the next year, the only help Dad gave was a Chilton's manual. It took most of the next year, but I had the engine in put together and running.
Since then, I've done most of the work on my own cars, and helped friends with their cars. And now, I have a project car: a 1990 Acura Integra.