Need Tools!

[AK Maniak]

Well guys if you have seen my other thread about my new GSX then you know that I am broke with a broken DSM and that is not a good combo.
I have a little bit of cash that I was hoping to spend on some tools but i'm not sure what would be the most useful for a relatively low cost.
Someone told me to get a 10,11,and 12mm wrench and that I could take half the car apart with that but I was just curious as to what you would recommend would be best to do things like general maintenance on a very low budget.
Or in other words, what are "must Haves" for any DSMer

 

[Oliver@Slowboy]

buy a dozen 10mm wrenches/sockets these are the ones that you will lose most often. Also 12, 14 and 17mm.


Last but not least a BIG hammer.

 

[thomcasey]

I agree^^. No need for an 11mm, I have only found that needed maybe once. 10, 12, 14, 17. Get a Dead-Blow hammer. You will also need a 32mm socket for axle nuts

 

[2GbTalonGuy]

Also get deep sockets and a few extensions for those hard to reach bolts. And I recommend getting good quality tools or they will just need to be replaced soon after and will probably round bolt heads too.

 

[tazndrew04]

a paint marker for those bolts with holes in the like the coolant lines for the turbo and oil bolt for the head to mark the outside of the head,thats come in handy for me,make sure its white,autozone has the assortment of bolts and washers and nuts that also good

 

[westcoast]

If you're short on cash and need tools, buy some cheap "throw away" tools from Harbor Freight. Use theem once and return them. But if you are intending on using them more than a couple of times stick with Snap-On, MAC or the likes. Unfortunately with these more reliable brands, you end up paying for that security.

Good Luck

 

[cookmeup272]

Bought a complete 180-something mechanics tool set from sears for 140 bucks

 

[Deuce_three]

I usually go to pawnshops, garage sales, flee market etc.. I get craftsman tools for dirt cheap, n if it does break i go tosears n replace em free of charge. I manage to find someone at the flee market selling a ammo box full of sockets n wrenches for $5 most of em were craftsman.

 

[GSXSixteenG]

If you don't have a breaker bar, I highly recommend it. I'd stick to 6 point sockets too.

If you don't go MAC you might as well send them back

 

[cookmeup272]

If you don't have a breaker bar, I highly recommend it. I'd stick to 6 point sockets too.

If you don't go MAC you might as well send them back

Except if you ever want to remove or install head studs....those are 14mm 12pt.

 

[Rengar18]

head ovr to walmart and get there $20 toolset (in a black case) they also have a set of wrenches 8mm-17mm which will fit most of your needs. Pawn shops are also a good place to find cheap tools (ive gotta various extensions and such for $1 each)

 

[Thomas91169]

1/2" drive ratchet and 10, 12, 14, 17 and 32mm sockets
1/2" drive breaker bar
misc steel piping for increasing breaker bar length (i use a 4' piece of steel fence post pipe)
1/2" drive long, medium and stubby extensions (and maybe a wobble head extensions and universal/swivel)
3/8" drive ratchet with 8, 10, 10, 12, 12, 12, 12, 14, 14, 17, 17mm sockets. Youll thank me later with those extras.
3/8" drive long, medium and stubby extensions (and maybe a wobble head extensions and universal/swivel)
1/4" ratchet with socket set from 3mm to 12mm (extra 8, 10 and 12mm)
1/4" drive long, medium and stubby extensions (and maybe a wobble head extensions and universal/swivel)

1/2" and 3/8" torque wrench (dont be a n00b - torque to spec!)

3/8" drive "Crows Feet" attachments (same sizes as above)

7mm, 8mm, 10mm, 12mm, 14mm nut drivers (like a screwdriver but a socket at the end)

ratcheting wrenches (8, 10, 12, 14, 17mm sizes)
combination wrenches (same as above)
stubby combo wrenches (same as above......they come in handy in tight spaces)
flare-nut wrenches (same as above for fittings - dont be a n00b and round off fuel pump fittings!)

screwdriver set (philips and flatheads)
pliers set (nnedle noses, standard pliers, dikes, etc)
crescent (adjustable end) wrench (sometimes comes in pliers sets)

1/2" drive nut extractors (for removing rounded nuts and bolts)

Allen (hex) head wrench set

low profile aluminum "racing" jack from harbor freight ($80) and jackstands (always a must)

tube of black rtv, little tube of red locktite, can of copper gasket spray.


Basically go to a local HarborFreight, grab a shopping cart, and go nuts. I remember i took $200 and had a freaking hayday at HF and that was 2004ish and TO THIS DAY 99% of all those same tools are still being used (the other 1% was lost due to lack of the below or taking them to friends house and forgetting them). Only thing ive changed up was my screwdriver set, because all my screwdrivers "migrated" to my fathers toolbox, and HF had a nice set of rubber gripped thick (fit nice in the hand) screwdriver sets for $6.

O R G A N I Z A T I O N A L S K I L L Z!

nothings worse than a wrencher that cant find the goddamn wrench he needs because he has shit scattered everywhere, his tools are disorganized, and his garage is cluttered mess. "one of them boxes over there" is not the answer i want to hear when i go to a buddy's house and help him re-install a head.

 

[Migsubishi]

1/2" drive ratchet and 10, 12, 14, 17 and 32mm sockets
1/2" drive breaker bar
misc steel piping for increasing breaker bar length (i use a 4' piece of steel fence post pipe)
1/2" drive long, medium and stubby extensions (and maybe a wobble head extensions and universal/swivel)
3/8" drive ratchet with 8, 10, 10, 12, 12, 12, 12, 14, 14, 17, 17mm sockets. Youll thank me later with those extras.
3/8" drive long, medium and stubby extensions (and maybe a wobble head extensions and universal/swivel)
1/4" ratchet with socket set from 3mm to 12mm (extra 8, 10 and 12mm)
1/4" drive long, medium and stubby extensions (and maybe a wobble head extensions and universal/swivel)

1/2" and 3/8" torque wrench (dont be a n00b - torque to spec!)

3/8" drive "Crows Feet" attachments (same sizes as above)

7mm, 8mm, 10mm, 12mm, 14mm nut drivers (like a screwdriver but a socket at the end)

ratcheting wrenches (8, 10, 12, 14, 17mm sizes)
combination wrenches (same as above)
stubby combo wrenches (same as above......they come in handy in tight spaces)
flare-nut wrenches (same as above for fittings - dont be a n00b and round off fuel pump fittings!)

screwdriver set (philips and flatheads)
pliers set (nnedle noses, standard pliers, dikes, etc)
crescent (adjustable end) wrench (sometimes comes in pliers sets)

1/2" drive nut extractors (for removing rounded nuts and bolts)

Allen (hex) head wrench set

low profile aluminum "racing" jack from harbor freight ($80) and jackstands (always a must)

tube of black rtv, little tube of red locktite, can of copper gasket spray.


Basically go to a local HarborFreight, grab a shopping cart, and go nuts. I remember i took $200 and had a freaking hayday at HF and that was 2004ish and TO THIS DAY 99% of all those same tools are still being used (the other 1% was lost due to lack of the below or taking them to friends house and forgetting them). Only thing ive changed up was my screwdriver set, because all my screwdrivers "migrated" to my fathers toolbox, and HF had a nice set of rubber gripped thick (fit nice in the hand) screwdriver sets for $6.

O R G A N I Z A T I O N A L S K I L L Z!

nothings worse than a wrencher that cant find the goddamn wrench he needs because he has shit scattered everywhere, his tools are disorganized, and his garage is cluttered mess. "one of them boxes over there" is not the answer i want to hear when i go to a buddy's house and help him re-install a head.

This man is on it, and racheting wrenches will be your best friends

 

[AK Maniak]

Thanks for all the responses guys, I ended up just going to walmart and getting an 80 piece stanley set. These aren't meant to be my tools for an extended period of time, just enough to get me through the near future.

 

[thomcasey]

If you don't have a breaker bar, I highly recommend it. I'd stick to 6 point sockets too.

If you don't go MAC you might as well send them back

MAC?? I say Snap-on/Blue-Point/Eagle!! They finance

Of course, for a college guy on a budget, Wal-Mart or AutoZone. Duralast tools are inexpensive and also have a lifetime warranty

 

[nitroazz]

If you are close to the canadian border, check out a store called canadian tire. they have tools with a lifetime warranty on them and they normally go on sale about twice a year.

Example - 12amp grinder with 3yr warranty $55 vs $128 retail.
pack of ratcheting wrenches $10, normally $60, got both metric and sae

So good luck and have at her.
Plus don't be scared to take a grinder to a socket to make a shallow walled socket. Works pretty good. Did that to a $2 socket instead of buying the $30 special order one.

 

[thomcasey]

I think he is living in Arizona, going to School in Flagstaff.

 

[AK Maniak]

I think he is living in Arizona, going to School in Flagstaff.

Ya, I just haven't updated my profile. But i'm attending college at NAU in flagstaff for the time being

 

[Blackrose]

Wow Alaska to Flagstaff. That is quite a climate change!

 

[westcoast]

MAC?? I say Snap-on/Blue-Point/Eagle!!

TruthSpeak.com

 

[AK Maniak]

Wow Alaska to Flagstaff. That is quite a climate change!

Your tellin me! I was so hot and in such a pissy mood for the first week. I wanted nothing more than to go home and walk around and in T-shirt with some nice 65 degree weather and a slight breeze. Instead i suffered in 85 at 7000ft elevation. Was miserable

 

[Thomas91169]

MAC?? I say Snap-on/Blue-Point/Eagle!! They finance

totally useless/overkill for a weekend wrencher, besides, who wants to be making payments on tools? Rather make those payments on a nicer car that I have to wrench on less.......

 

[westcoast]

totally useless/overkill for a weekend wrencher, besides, who wants to be making payments on tools? Rather make those payments on a nicer car that I have to wrench on less.......

This is a true if you only remain a occasional "wrencher". Take it from a "weekend wrencher" (turned Business Owner), who bought his Snap-On tools while going through Automotive Service Technology School, "buy quality or buy tools twice".

 

[AK Maniak]

Lol well I'm prelaw right now so I doubt I'm gonna switch to auto anytime soon