I have about $350 to spend on something. I can't decide what mod so I'm really thinking about buying tools with it. Give me a list of all the stuff I will ever need to work on my car. Any good kits that already have everything would be nice as well. All I have currently is an itty bitty Craftsman socket set. Thanks in advance.

 

* Gear wrench set - 10mm ~ 18mm (ratcheting wrench)
* BFH
* ratchet wrench w/ sockets
* Deep socket 10,12,14
* Breaker bar
* Screwdrivers
* Nice big jack w/ jackstand
* Valve adj tool along w/ feeler guages

you should be able to do 90% or more of the work on the car w/ these tools

 

torque wrench if you don't have it...

 

19mm deepsocket (lug nuts)
17mm? 12pt (flywheel bolts)
10mm 12pt deepsocket (pressure plate bolts)
32mm 1/2" drive socket (axle nuts)
22mm box wrench (oxygen sensor and something else)
8mm to 14mm line/flare nut wrenches
8mm to 19mm box wrenches (with open-end and 12pt closed-end *6pt closed-ends are harder to use in tight spaces*)
1/2" drive 24" breaker bar
1/2" drive torque wrench
3/8" drive torque wrench
Moroso Honda crankshaft pulley holder tool
1/4" drive ratchet w/ 1/4" drive socket set
3/8" drive ratchet w/ 3/8" drive socket set (which should include a 5/8" spark plug socket)
1/2" drive rachet w/ 1/2" drive socket set
1/4" drive 1" extension
3/8" drive 6" extension
3/8" drive 12" extension
1/2" drive 1.5" extension
set of miracle wrenches
various screwdrivers
plug-in dremel tool (battery-powered ones are weak)
6" 5lb sledgehammer
adjustable wrench
lockjaw pliers
needle nose pliers
compression gauge
timing light
electric impact wrench w/ impact wrench sockets (all 1/2" drive)
creeper
valve spring compressor tool
various shaped and sized files (if you ever have to clean out damaged threads or stripped heads to get a good seat)
saw blade
multimeter

oh...and Hondabond too.


[Modified by IN VTEC, 7:07 PM 10/25/2002]

 

Nice list....

 

go to Sears on a weekend when they have a sale and get one of those 100 or 200+ socket tool sets.

also get a jack and stands and a torque wrench.

Snap-On specific parts for your car are also good.

 

You forgot the smoke wrench.

 

8mm punch to get shift linkage off tranny, too.

 

Most of the hand tools I have are from Sears or Autozone (ie: breaker bar).

The basic engine assembly tools are also from Sears, but precision tools I have are either from Snap On or Mitutoyo. If you're into building engines, I can recommend a whole 'nother set of task-specific tools. I'm sure sgT Steve has a bunch of tool tricks in his tool chest too.

I still need a whole bunch of swivel joint sockets. Way expensive tho.

A couple of different razor knives also come in handy for scraping paper gaskets or slitting stuck coolant hoses.

I can also recommend Permatex paper gasket remover.

I also like the engine assembly lube that comes with the ARP head studs. Nice, thick, moly stuff. The other red and green lubes I've used are too runny and not pasty enough to keep a hold of onto the parts for more than a few minutes.

 

the most special t00l in the b0x

 

A good breaker bar!!

 

Most of the sockets and ratchets that you will need will be 3/8ths inch drive, except for a few 1/2 inch drive for lug nuts, etc.

Combination wrenches (box and open ends)

Simple digital multi-tester ($15)

Decent screwdriver set ($15)

Floor jack that lifts to 19 inches plus with two jack stands (as low as $50-60)

If you 'cherry-pick' at Sears when stuff is on sale you will do very well on your budget. Buy sets of tools, but only if they include what you will need. Many of the bigger sets include sizes you may never see (18mm?)

I prefer 6-point sockets, etc, as there is less chance of 'rounding off' the corners of the fasteners.

Magnetic pick up tool and magnetic tray are good investments. Very small flashlight. Small tape measure. 2 feet of 3/16ths id vinyl tubing used to pull sparkplugs out of sparkplug well and to get them back into threaded hole is very handy. Straight and bent feeler guages (Sears).

The three sizes of curved jaw Vise Grips. Two sizes of needle nose pliers. A Best-Quality side cutter (don't scrimp on price here-buy the best you can find). I have little use for regular pliers, water pump pliers, or Crescent adjustable wrenches.

Four drawer tool box is on sale at Sears through TODAY for $40. Good deal. I also like their yellow plastic tool boxes when on sale.

Personally and FWIW, I HATE the push button release on Sears ratchets. I always hit it at wrong time.

Lisle brand oil filter remover. The one with two jaws that uses a 3/6ths drive ratchet to BITE into the oil filter when removing. Four stars!

A set of Sharpie large tip PERMANENT markers. Couple old tooth brushes. 3M Abrasive pads. GOOD cordless drill (probably not Sears) and a set of Ti coated drill bits.

A tube of Dow Corning Silicone Vacumm (sp?) grease.

Somebody stop me!

Have fun
John

 

For $350, I'd buy:

100-200 piece socket set
Jack stands
Hydraulic Jack
Dremel
Torque Wrench

I've stripped a few bolts with 12 pt sockets and it was a craftsman socket too. One day I'd like to own some air tools or perhaps an electrical impact gun (I don't know how strong these are).

 

Jack stands
Hydraulic Jack

Argh I need to get these 2