I finally have the available work space in our garage/carport to take on some DIY projects (motorswaps, tranny, suspension, interior, etc..)

My quesition to you is, what are the main tools one needs to do the basic, and sometimes more in depth projects? As well I'm trying to start up my tool collection.

just general ideas guys.. I'm not a huge tool guru, so ideas and opinions help. These are some of the things Ive have in mind... but your input is appreciated. I'm looking at car application type tools, anything for wood work or around the house type jobs... i'll figure that out.

Air Tank (what size? 80g+ ??)
Air Tools (impact gun (what size/torque pwr?)
Engine Hoist
Engine Stand
Floor Jack
Jack Stands
Typical tools you need for everyday car work (what are the most common tools, and sizes used?)

 

Although I'd love to have them, I've never really needed air tools for anything, unless your plan is to do alot of bodywork where air-powered grinding tools are great. Alot of guys who I know who have air don't use it much, and the only worthwhile air setup is a high-end one with high CFM, which will cost you $$. Don't buy some "on sale" or "good deal" compressor because it won't be worthwhile. Air is the LAST thing I would go for, after you get everything else. Unless, again, you plan to do alot of bodywork/grinding/metalwork.

Otherwise, a corded or cordless impact gun is a must (but a hihg-end one like Snap-On...much more powerful than Sears or Harbor Frieght, even though they advertise similar numbers. Mine has never NOT been able to get a bolt off, etc. Plus I can take it anywhere with me, unlike air.

Big, strong toolbench. Get somethign HEAVY that won't wobble or flex under hundreds of lbs of weight. I use an old music studio soundboard table that weighs 200-300lbs by itself! Get one around 6' long and 3' deep if you have that kind of space. The bigger the better.

Bolt a large vise to the corner of it with the most empty space around it. My 5-ton vise is one of the most-used tools in my garage for all kinds of projects.



Engine hoist is a must (harbor freight...cheap ones work fine)
Engine stand.....good if you're doing rebuilts/internals, but not really necessary otherwise.
Floor jack - get the biggest, heaviest one you can find, preferably with a low profile height to fit under lowered cars. Also get a cheap, smaller one (like from autozone or whatever). Sometimes you want 2 floor jacks. I think I have 4, and all get used!
Bottle jack - get a large-size one. They come in handy for all kinds of things where you want leverage but can't fit a floor jack.
Jack stands - I have about 10 of them and use them all. Get one smaller set that can fit in low areas under the car to hold things up (exhaust, suspension parts, etc). Get a couple standard sets to put the car up. Get a "truck" set because you may want to have the high reach for certain projects.

Full sets:
Metric 1/2" drive impact sockets
Metric 1/2" drive standard sockets (also get 24 and 27mm, which don't usually come in a set)
Metric 1/2" drive deep sockets
2 full sets of metric box-end wrenches
2 x 1/2" drive ratchets
1/2" drive large breaker bar
1/2" drive torque wrench
(SAE proabably not needed if working on Jap cars)
several 1/2" extensions and flex joints

Then go to sears and get a combo set that has 3/8" and 1/4" drive socket sets and various extra wrenches. Use them as backups, for small things where 1/2" won't fit, for interior parts, etc.

BFH (big f*cking hammer)....likea 5lb mini-slege
Soft-blow mallet/hammer/brass hammer

Get a big set of screwdrivers...big, small, philips, flat. I buy them from Sears, because if you break one (using as a prybar or something) they'll replace for free, no matter what you did to it

Large prybar

balljoint seperator / pickling fork (get a set with mutliple size forks)

electrical multimeter - digital is nice

timing light

Extensive set of allen/hex wrenches

large vise-grip pliers, and a smaller vise-grip with a more pointed nose.

several crescent and adjustable wrenches and needle-nose/blunt-nose pliers

wire stripper wrench

various types of snips (for wires, metal, etc)

ok, that's what I have off the top of my head.

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now, if you just want a set of "standard" sizes for everyday work on the car (and nothing too hardcore), just go to Sears during a holiday sale and buy the biggest tool set they sell in those big black plastic carrying cases. It should have most of the tools and sizes you need, and can form the base of your collection. Then buy more specialized tools as/when you need them.

 

I have three Snap-On electric impacts, I only like using them when I'm working on the 2 post. Batteries are a consumable and after a couple years of ownership they show it. My air compressor has saved my rear more than a few times with my big friggen air impact hammer doing ball joints on 1 ton Dodges and also knocking stubborn axles out of spindles (sisters Scooby). I couldn't even begin to explain how much I would hate life without air to power my die grinder for gasket surface cleaning. Like Josh said, get as many CFMs as possible. If you can afford it buy a two stage, or stick the compressor in a shed and run a hard line to the garage.

Costco has floor jacks that are hard to beat for $80.

Buy nice sockets, you'll own them the rest of your life and having one break on you will ruin the momentum of a project. Also have that one nice wrench for each drive size, the snap-on dual 80 tooth is amazing.

Having 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2" tech wrenches is nice but you can get away with the 1/4 and 1/2 (which is ironic because I use the 3/8th the most) and hit any torque spec. You won't need the 1/4 until you start assembling engines. Actually just pick up the 3/8ths, you'll be covered.

Once you own a welder you will find ways to use it like you never imagined. Miller makes the best welders hands down but you can't go wrong with Lincoln and Hobart. Avoid the cheap harbor freight ones. Eastwood has a decent looking 135amp welder with a regulator for around $350ish IIRC, and it comes with a hood. I've never used it but it looks decent enough and the kit is fairly complete and looks like it was designed for the hobbyist. Use the welder to build a work bench (and put it on casters) and build some smaller carts as well if you have room in your garage.

Buy a bunch of brake cleaner, it will be your parts washer for a home garage.

Kubotas make great engine hoists, I've done one or two engines back in the day using the backhoe

Buy a heat gun. Also buy an assortment of electrical stuff if you plan on doing it. I got tired of having to run to the store mid project for connectors and such that I just bough a bunch and keep them in a drawer with heat shrink, the heat gun and soldering/testing equipment.

Have at least a small mapp gas/propane torch, heat coaxes stuck bolts to move.

Flash lights. I have four mag lights that I keep on the shelf for working in the garage (but I only ever see 3 there). I might use two per project but no matter how many times you ask a family member will always at some point need to "borrow one really quickly" and you won't see it for months. Or you'll leave one in the car and it will stay there lol. On the other side of things my friends dad has one of those couple hundred dollar ones police/emts use with the charger on the wall and it never wanders off (probably because no one wants to fork over the money to buy a replacement so you are really aware of where the light is and putting it back lol).

my 3 favorite tools I will sucker punch someone to get them back if they are using when I need it are my dual 80 tooth ratchets, my 3/8" wobble plus extensions, and my flank drive plus ratcheting box open end wrenches, everything else I will wait patiently for

 

a good radio

 

I just got my two impact batteries re-cored to original spec for under $100. Very reputable company and I know several people who have had theirs done by the same guys over the last few years and never had a problem. They actually sell re-cores through ebay as well. Shipped them to them, and had them back 5 days later working good as new (albeit still in my scuffed up casings!)

Actually far cheaper than buying new batteries from Snap-on....plus my gun is an older model that they don't sell batteries for anymore.

Here's a link to one of their auctions - for more or less money, you can get different kinds of re-cores depending on how many mah you want. Highly suggested. And they'll redo pretty much any battery for anything....

http://cgi.ebay.com/WE-REBUILD-YOUR-...item45efa670cf

 

I wouldn't get a "good" radio lol. I'd get a cheap component amp and put up 4 speakers (mine were from 2 older high-end boomboxes, lol). Rig an RCA out for your iPod and an antenna (for listening to radio/sports).

Don't buy something you would care about ruining...because in a garage it is going to get all kinds of junk inside of it over time.

 

mini fridge

 

with beverages

 

I have a full-size right through the door in the house. Not gonna waste space in the garage with a fridge.....

 

ratcheting wrenches
good set of sockets
breaker bar

these would be my top 3 tools to have.

and I will say, that you can get by with the sears ratchet, but if you ever use a high end one like snap-on or SK you will know the difference in feel immediately...they are so much easier on your hands

and don't forget a nice set of mechanix gloves and one of those telescoping magnets for when you drop that nut that never makes it to the floor

 

magnet bowl is pretty handy for small jobs under the hood.

good hand shop light.

 

good for you...mine i have to cross 3 doors and walk up a flight of stairs...so yes it makes sense to have mine out in the garage.

 

we should put pics of the garages up!

 

I never knew they sold cordless impact guns!!! About how much do they run? I may need to get one once I do my rear struts. Ive got a good bit of tools myself, but not nearly as much as you guys have. I was looking to get a nice large floor jack, and a bottle jack, Ive got like 4 jack stands. If It comes to having to replace anything under the car, ( like the oxygen sensor) im not really prepared in the tool category.

 

Around $500+ for the Snap On 1/2" 18V. 400+ftlbs of torque to boot!

 

I will definitely say that the ratchet is the #1 tool in a box. you can go buy a few sets of cheap sockets, but a cheap ratchet will make a job hell.
been happy with my harbor freight sockets, so far (aside from a couple rolling off somewhere), but hate hate hate their ratchets. I would love to have me an 80 tooth Snap-on, they are beautiful.

also been incredibly happy with every Kobalt tool I have owned.

 

My single most useful tool is probably my LONG 1/2" drive ratchet with adjustable angle head. By long I mean like 20" long. You can break nearly anything loose with it, and it lends itself to a cheater bar very well. It's worlds more usable than similarly sized breaker bars because you can ratchet with it rather than having to remove and reposition in tight spaces. Huge time saver for some operations. I love it.

Second is an impact, though if I had it to do over again I'd probably get a strong electric impact (for super heavy duty operations) and a nice lightweight cordless like the Hitachi WR18DL for use in lighter operations and at the track.

Wratcheting wrenches are probably next on the list.

Also a good floor jack (for god's sake NOT one of those $150-200 craftsman lightweight aluminum racing jacks). There are other lightweight ones that work great (which is what I'd get since it will go to the track with me too) but do NOT get one of the craftsman aluminum ones.

A decent impact swivel is awesome to have. Really helpful and way more useful than the crappy chrome plated ones.

Lastly some good lighting. Both portable/position adjustable, permanent overhead, and small LED pen lights or whatever for tight places.

 

I got the sears 300 piece mechanics toolset. Its been pretty good to me. I got a 3/4" 2 ft breaker as well for the tough stuff. A torch is also pretty useful. Vice grips are essential.

 

Speaking of Snap-on tools, my dad use to sell them as seems to own everything in the catalog just before Batteries became standard. I just barrow what I head to his place, as his garage will fit 4 cars with two being painted at a time.

But i agree the the 80 tooth ratchet is amazing!

 

good call on the torch. torch is a must for loosening seized bolts. people don't understand how much help some heat is until they've done their time as a DYI mechanic and then get a torch and remember all the bolts they struggled with over the years and see how much easier it is with a torch.

 

I love my air compressor, welder, dremel, 12 point sockets, ratcheting box wrenches, bench grinder, step bits and saw zaw

 

Saw Zaw?



Dunno about Saw Zaws but I do love my Sawzall