NEWBIE's starter kit
 

Ok, so i am graduating from law school in Decemeber and will be working in dallas Texas. I want to be able to do any and all future work on my ws6.

Right now i have a minimal set of tools:
Craftsmen Socket Set
Floor Jack
2 Jack Stands


Now, I don't want to go out and spend 30 grand on tools like some of you guys. Simply don't need every gadget known to man, just enough to allow me to pull the engine ect.

I was thinking that a lift would be helpful, but i really don't know what else I would need.
Also, who makes quality tools at an affordable price? I heard snap-on was good, but there prices are outrageous IMO.


Thanks in advance:

Snap on is really expensive. So is craftsman but everytime I break an 8mm socket(every cam swap) I just exchange it at sears.

I'm a serious hobbyist and I started out with a set of socket wrenches in college.

Fathers' Day is coming up, Sears will put some Craftsman tools on sale. NEVER PAY FULL PRICE FOR CRAFTSMAN TOOLS! Always wait for sales. "Men's" holidays are the best time. Look for stuff on serious sale. It'll do fine, I have broken very few Craftsman tools.

And when it comes time to buy a toolbox, don't be cheap and buy the cheap Craftsman boxes. At least get ball bearing slides. You'll be glad you did. The 'quiet-glide' slides are crap, even for a serious hobbyist. Mine barely open any more. I'll buy nothing but ball bearing (last box was a Matco though, found locally on ebay).

Don't buy any power or pneumatic tools at Harbor Freight. They're crap. Spend a little more and get name brands. I've been there, done that, pissed away money on HF tools. I end up with names like DeWalt, Makita, Hitachi, Milwaukee, even Campbell-Hausfeld, etc. in my boxes anyway. Anything but HF junk. Many HF hand tools are crap, don't waste your time or money. Seriously, if it's a tool you see yourself using more than 3 times, do not buy it there. For example, the metal they use to make their 3-jaw pullers is so soft that the puller actually pulled itself apart on me. :bang: Chinese pot metal. That's what a lot of their tools are made from.

Thanks for the advice. What would you suggest I buy to start out with? In other words, assume that you were going to pull the motor. What would you want to have as far as tools go for a job like that?


I know that tools are accumulated over time, but you have to start somewhere right.

Snap on is expensive, because it is extremely high quality stuff, so is mac and matco compared to crapsman, I mean Craftsman.

Just pick up the tools to see the diff. That being said, you dont need snap on as a DYI'er, Craftsman will do fine. If your pulling motors, the new trend seems to be from the top, so an engine hoist would help, ramps, or if ya have $$$ a lift. various pullers, lots of wrenchs, gear wrenches, flexible sockets... the list goes on. If your pulling motors or tranny's some nice LOOOONG 3/8 extensions for the dreaded bellhousing bolts... It's endless. I Have 20,000 to 30,000 in tools, and constantly find myself buying more so be prepared.... It's not a cheap hobby..

I have a Complete set of tools Metric,Standard Torque wrenches every air tool you'd ever need Fabrication tools with a nice Snap on Box (all tools are Snap On or MAC) And will come in under your 30k...hahah

I could get there pretty quick without even thinking about hand tools...

Mig welder 1800
Tig welder 4500
plasma cutter 2500

snap on box 8 grand


Need an air compressor 80 gal 5 true hp 2 grand


etc...

I was talking about everything, not just hand tools...

I might have even more if you count duplicate sets. I have 7 air compressors at this point, 6 of which never get used so im probably the wrong person to ask about what stuff is required... never can turn down a deal

Do I really need welders? palsma cutters? I don't know how to weld, and am not really comfortable with the idea of cutting on my car.

I would like to tub it though, and get the 9" shortened. I had planned on sending it to a shop for that though.

LOL, not need for welders, etc not at this point anyway.

I was currently looking into buying one since I am getting more and more involved with this hobbie.

Start off with buying basic hand tools, like someone mentioned Craftsman. I get allot of there tools and they are tough, as well as there power tools. I too wait for the sales, Crappy Tire always is having 50% sales and go to town on them. Just picked up a very nice SAE and Metric Craftsman Tap/Die set from there last week for half the price. Think it was about 45 bucks :D You get the point, I love buying tools, can't ever have enough. Even if they sit for awhile without being used!

no, i was just making a point to CTSmechanic, that $30,000 in tools, is really nothing, and easy to get there quick.

You should get a decent air compressor though....

I have a little craftman set my parents bought me 3 years ago. i think its like 240 pices and comes in a little black box and the drawers are red. anyways i was able to pull out my motor with those tools and have only broken my 1/4 inch ratchet. in my opinion theyre good to start with and i think you can buy that same set for like less than 200. i only have my craftman stuff at home but for work i only use snap on,matco and mac. ive had 2 different craftsman impacts and they are crap and theyll only give you the warranty once so if you brake the second one youre screwed. if you do buy an impact from sears i recommend you go straight to the ingersoll rand.

I know all about it Im right at 23,000 rightnow and still need a few things... Not to mention I dont own any welders or shop equipment... that all supplied at work... I got 3400 in air tools...... 1200 in Rotabroaches.... alone..

If you're strictly working on late model f-bodies, and assuming your car hasn't been hacked by someone else ;) you can get away with mostly metric stuff. A good set of metric wrenches (8mm to 18mm), a good set of crowsfoot - both english and metric (for a/c and brake line disconnect), a good set of allen wrench sockets, a good set of torx sockets, a good pair of channel locks, a good pair of vise grips, needlenose pliers, magnetic pickup tool, wire cutters and strippers (I like the Paladin 1106), the Sears prybar kit (on sale for $20 sometimes), and of course a good jack, jackstands, etc. I have an AC Delco engine crane that works great, has a long boom so you can pluck the engine out of an F-body without worrying about scraping the nose (some engine hoists aren't long enough, you'll end up pushing up against the nose to get to the motor). Deep metric sockets are good as well. The list goes on, but I could yank and disassemble a motor with the above tools. :)

What about husky vs craftsmen?

If there is a single ratchet i couldn't live without its my 3/8s drive, offset handle, flex head.
I cant tell you how many times its saved my ass. Most often if i know im getting into something tight, its the first one ill reach for. Works great with a short extension to get out our plugs too, and a piece of pipe will slip right over the end for those times when you need extra kick ass power. I know you said you have a basic socket set, but do yourself a favor and add this ratchet to it. Youll thank me in no time!
http://s7.sears.com/is/image/Sears/0...sm=0.9,0.5,0,0

I have personally broke more Craftsman tools then Snap-on mac or matco, but thats just me. I used to have ONLY craftsman then I finally caved and got some stuff from our Tool guys that stop by the shop. they are a little high on some things, but I just picked up a Digital Micrometer for 40 lifetime warranty. So its really up to you, I like craftsman still buy them but I don't buy anything unless there is a sale. as far as Impacts, Air Ratchets, ext, cant go wrong with an Ingersol, I LOVE my IR Impact, its LOUD and has 650 Working torque with 1200 Ft/lbs, of breaking torque. If mine wont get it off not much else will lol. but as far as a list of things go, your going to need more than you think. tools rack up fast and so does the price tag. I know there is about 4-500 bucks worth of tools that I still NEED but I'm putting them off for now till I get some other stuff payed for. Just dont think that your not going to spend more than about 200 bucks for all your tools, a decent Impact, air ratchet combo costs that much.

Roger that. I have that ratchet and it has saved my ass more than once...

Another ratchet that I would HIGHLY recommend would be this:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y17...orff/42426.jpg

yeah i have mostly snap on and matco tools. some craftsman stuff aswell. well if u plan on doing motor work urself then a torque wrench is always good. also some other stuff that might be good for mechanical is an impact gun with impact sockets, a variety of screwdrivers and also some form of torx set weather you get them in socket form allen key form or however else they make them. something i have thats kind of unnesesary but nice when i need to drop the k-member for whatever reason in an engine support bar to hold the engine in place while the k-member is out.

to start out you only need the craftsman 100 somthing set, a t-25 torx bit, a some of the ratcheting open-ended wrenches (the gear wrench brand is a good value and goes on sale often at sears). you also need an inch lb torque wrench and a foot lb torque wrench, jack, and stands. I used these things for years before I was able to pick up other things on the way. If all you are interested in doing is maintance you will be set and able to pick things up as you need them. I do recommend getting a tool box though, you will be able to work faster and more effieciently, but never pay full price for one. craigslist is your friend.

I work at Sears Auto, so all of my stuff is Craftsman. I rarely break anything, but when a ratchet or something lets go, it's nice that I can just walk inside and swap it.

I'd say budget about $1000 for a good set of JUST hand tools and torque wrenches. That will get you most everything you could need if you spend it right. You needn't get fancy, and like said above, look for sales.

Then of course you will need a good toolbox, air tools, a compressor(almost a necessity), and I wouldn't go without a welder if I was setting up my own garage(I'm not there yet). You're going to need to fabricate something eventually, or maybe even do exhaust work. A press would also be really nice to have.

Basically, it can add up fast. However, there are certain things that you really don't want to be without...Even if you have to put some money into it now.

EDIT: I probably have $600 in hand tools at home, and that is everything I've needed to do the work I did on my car when I owned it, along with tearing my old Yamaha 850 down to the frame for a full rebuild. You can do a lot with a little. And in the world of tools, $600 is definitely a little.