What impact are you guys using when working on your F-Bodys? I have a good deal on a 3/8 Dewalt but I'm wondering if 1/2 inch will be better?

going to be doing heads and cam swap on the car this weekend and will do control arms, shocks and springs the following.

Really just wondering if the 3/8 is going to be under powered for pulling crank bolt and some of the more rusty bolts on the body for the control arms.

 

3/8 should be fine for everything, except MAYBE the crank bolt. I have a 1/2" milwaukee fuel and it blasts off any nut or bolt with ease

 

ya I think the 3/8 is the way to go tbh. 1/2 may be over kill

 

Hate too be that guy but, they both have there place. And if I could only have one it would be the 1/2... Cause I can always put on an adapter and put the DeWalt on setting 1 / low tourq.

 

Aluminum heads and block I like to break things loose by hand and put together by hand so I can feel what's going on. You can really jack up some threads with an impact wrench. And you have to final torque by hand anyway.

I have a Milwaukee M12 right angle wrench for moving long bolts in and out. That's pretty handy and can't hit with hard torque. The M18 is more sturdy but it's a too large for my liking.

And then I have a Milwaukee M18 fuel impact wrench for the big jobs. Freaking sweet tool! It has pre-programmed modes where you can change how it hits. One of the modes will immediately slow down when the fastener is loosened and walk it out slow. Again, I never try to final tighten a bolt with an impact wrench. You have no clue what it actually tightened to.

 

I have Milwaukee M12 impacts, drills as well as a Dewalt 1/2"

 

Definitely need different impacts for different stages or part removal. I'm all Milwaukee all the way, M12 1/4" impact driver with a 3/8" drive in it for intake removal, small bolts etc, or one of the fuel ratchets, m18 3/8 for most suspension and brake work, and the 1/2" for anything that the 3/8" wont budge. Removal of head bolts should be done by hand coming out of an aluminum block, at least break em loose by hand.

 

+1 on this, I have the 1/2 DeWalt and your just one setting away from doing most anything unless it's a cramped area, #2 setting tightens lugnuts to 95 ft/lb as checked by a torque wrench FYI....... as far as DeWalt vs Milwaukee I will just say this, BOTH are great but I switched from Milwaukee years ago because I got tired of buying their new style battery/tool platform every couple years when all my DeWalt friends kept the same platform for 20, both are fantastic top quality tools but my Dewalt 20V ownership has been considerably less expensive (and I have a lot of cordless tools) than my Milwaukee was.

 

another singer of the Milwaukee praise.... have the m12 1/2 stubby impact as well as the m18. for convenience I wish I had the 3/8's stubby but you can put an adapter on it just as easy. Have a 3.8's ratchet wrench i prefer to use on the engine bay, but for suspension/brakes and any other stuff the impacts are great.

 

Milwaukee fanboy here too. I have the Fuel M18 impact along with the M12 sub compact 3/8" ratchet that I use quite frequently. For the big stuff I just pull out my hose reel and kill out with my 1/2" air impact. Wanting to get the Milwaukee 1/2" Impact for convenience... much easier than dragging around the air hose.

 

Ive all but retired air tools, I even got their 12v tore inflator...
it's a bit of an addiction

 

Another vote for heads by hand to feel how the bolts react.

Only just started to use batt tools myself, always done it by hand or when needed got the 1/2 air impact out. Breaker bar and pipe!

 

3/8" Milwaukee Fuel Impact is my go to for almost everything. I also have a 1/2" Milwaukee Fuel for larger bolts. I find myself never needing to reach for my pneumatic impacts anymore

 

Also 100% Milwaulkee as well. I use mine religiously every day (GM Tech), but if planning on using for wheels, I highly suggest investing in a good torque stick with the 1/2" Fuel. Zip and go. 110-120 lbs-ft stick on 12mm studs, (f-body) and 140 stick on 14mm
I still use air a lot because theres just some things battery tools just can't do. Plus, in my job, speed is of the essence.

 

I own just about all of them... so I have no bias here to either brand..

there are newer versions of the same tool, so just going off a recommendation of brand and size can leave you with a tool that you’re disappointed with...

From my experience, the dewalt batteries pack a bigger punch. But I’m talking about the 20v flex batteries. You’ll need at least a 5ah to be happy with a 1/2” drive impact. That big impact Is good for lug nuts and suspension and steering. But you will NOT want To use it for the rest of the vehicle.

if I had to pick one as my go-to, it’d be the New Version M12 Fuel Milwaukee w/ 3/8” drive. This has crazy break away torque specs for a 3/8” drive tool. Has 3 speeds plus a breakaway setting., but you have to get the ‘new version’ with the short chunky body and the square drive anvil(The old version m12 fuel impacts are garbage in comparison). Or if you want to stick to all the same batteries, the Dewalt 3/8” drive DCF895 impact is the way to go. This was my go-to everyday tool for 5 years and never skipped a beat. You can get the 1/4” hex to socket adapters to use any drive sized sockets(1/4, 3/8 or 1/2”) in literally 2 seconds. The DCF895 had been discontinued by dewalt, but you can still find them easily, still get parts, and it’s a better tool than all the current dewalt impacts. It’s shorter and more compact and the quick release is also one handed and has 3 speeds.

Lastly, the m12 3/8” Milwaukee impact Ratchets are also great mechanics tools and real big time savers. They get in tight spaces, but aren’t that powerful.

the Only thing you will find that a battery powered 1/2” drive impact Won’t be able to handle on an F-body is the pinion nut. But a fresh charge on a 9ah 20v flex battery did the trick for me more than a few times.

Like i said, if you can only afford one right now, get the 3/8” m12 Milwaukee or 1/4” quick release dewalt first. Just have a break away bar handy at your side for the few times that it isn’t up to the task. You will be much happier with the 3/8 and it’ll get use 3 to 4 times as often as any 1/2” would.