can not beat Sears return policy. its so easy it almost makes you feel a bit guilty for breaking it....... almost, cause then you realize you have a brand new tool and smile to yourself the whole way home.
Basic Tools
- Thread starter Atlanta Cruiser
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I have been thinking of the jack stands since I mentioned them earlier. Nicholas makes a great point - safety. When I was a teen I had a car come down on me - as luck would have it my head fit between the differential and the frame of my 280z and I was relatively uninjured (and knew I cheated death.)
Always use jack stands on solid surfaces - and asphalt is not a solid. If you have to put the stands on asphalt be sure it is cool to the touch - or put down a square of plywood underneath it. Once you jack up a side and remove the tire - stick the tire under the hub, or if you are working on the hub - stick it under the frame nearby. That way if the truck falls off the jack stand - it won't hit the ground.
scottm
SILVER Star
I've had several ratchets fail, they keep giving me rebuilt ratchets which also fail. I don't beat on these, I have up to 1" drive and pneumatic, but these small ratchets aren't holding up like they used to.
scottm
SILVER Star
My original metric gear wrenches came with inserts that turn them into thin socket wrenches, awesome. I haven't seen those inserts with the sets at the store in a while, are they available seperately?
tools
As stated before FSM is a must. Don not forget to check MUD archives thouroughly. Enough cannot be said about that either. Flex sockets are one of the best tools for 80 work especially when combined with looong extensions 24"or more. That combo makes removing a starter a 5 minute job. As far as jackstands go, if you look on Amazon sometimes one of their sellers has heavy duty Hein Warner jackstands 6 ton each, made in USA for a good price $100 a pair sometimes other times $100 each, good jackstands=save lives cant spend too much on them. We have all heard true horror stories of cheap stands. Do not skimp on them. Oh, and enjoy the satisfaction of working on your 80 yourself!
As stated before FSM is a must. Don not forget to check MUD archives thouroughly. Enough cannot be said about that either. Flex sockets are one of the best tools for 80 work especially when combined with looong extensions 24"or more. That combo makes removing a starter a 5 minute job. As far as jackstands go, if you look on Amazon sometimes one of their sellers has heavy duty Hein Warner jackstands 6 ton each, made in USA for a good price $100 a pair sometimes other times $100 each, good jackstands=save lives cant spend too much on them. We have all heard true horror stories of cheap stands. Do not skimp on them. Oh, and enjoy the satisfaction of working on your 80 yourself!
I received the Channel Lock set pictured below as a gift and was pleasantly surprised by the quality. The sockets are 6-point and the ratchets have a better minimum sweep angle and feel better in my hand than the current-production Craftsman. I think it is easily worth the ~$100 price plus shipping.
Also, you may wish to peruse the front axle service threads in the FAQ for a list of tools and unique sockets that will need to be purchased individually.
Also, you may wish to peruse the front axle service threads in the FAQ for a list of tools and unique sockets that will need to be purchased individually.
I love my gear wrenches, got 3 sets about a year ago at 50% off. I especially like the swivel ones. The stubbies are really useful for tight areas like tensioning the alternator. Snap ring plyers are nice to have too. They have reduced my swearing on certain items like the front axle. I have a $10 set of Radio Shack Hemostats I find myself using a lot too. They kept the grommet from falling in my valve cover when I replaced the PVC valve.
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You had better add a 40" long breaker bar with a 3/4" drive for the socket attachment... I broke two 1/2" drive bars getting my crank nut off!
I have this exact set
The fit and finish is as good as my SnapOn drives and as said before have a good feel too
Its the one I take with me in what I'll be driving any kind of distance away from home. I got it from Sams many moons ago (paid $60 or so)and have used it alot, put all the A/C components in my old Ford van that never had A/C with just this set I take it to the pick and pull as a quick look you can see if you are missing any tools before moving on when done .
I will grab this when Im working in the driveway under something so i dont have to keep crawling out to find the next size socket or what ever else I need at that moment .
Its way worth more then $100 after a couple of uses
The fit and finish is as good as my SnapOn drives and as said before have a good feel too
Its the one I take with me in what I'll be driving any kind of distance away from home. I got it from Sams many moons ago (paid $60 or so)and have used it alot, put all the A/C components in my old Ford van that never had A/C with just this set I take it to the pick and pull as a quick look you can see if you are missing any tools before moving on when done .
I will grab this when Im working in the driveway under something so i dont have to keep crawling out to find the next size socket or what ever else I need at that moment .
Its way worth more then $100 after a couple of uses
I received the Channel Lock set pictured below as a gift and was pleasantly surprised by the quality. The sockets are 6-point and the ratchets have a better minimum sweep angle and feel better in my hand than the current-production Craftsman. I think it is easily worth the ~$100 price plus shipping.
Also, you may wish to peruse the front axle service threads in the FAQ for a list of tools and unique sockets that will need to be purchased individually.
Better to have too many than not enough 
.
I think I saw this somewhere before - but does anyone have a definitive 'short list' of tools to carry on the road? Not "tools to cross the outback with" but an essential short list. I always seem to carry too many... and usually need none.[/QUOTE]
.I think I saw this somewhere before - but does anyone have a definitive 'short list' of tools to carry on the road? Not "tools to cross the outback with" but an essential short list. I always seem to carry too many... and usually need none.[/QUOTE]
for a long time I just carried the factory tool bag, there is a post in the FAQ that outlines a fairly thorough "will not stat" troubleshooting using just the tool bag. inclyuding checking for spark, fuel pressure and flow, ECU power, etc.
try using ratchets after loosening with a heavy duty tool, or tightening before using a torque wrench to set it at spec.
a high quality ratchet will take just about anything you can dish out, no "heavy duty tool" required, craftsman's ratchets are not high quality, good starter though,
No matter how many tools you have in the box you will allways be short the one critical tool required to complete the job.
I have been gathering tools for 35 years and I still suffer from this problem.
I have been gathering tools for 35 years and I still suffer from this problem.
x2 on high quality ratchets that have very fine teeth. With those and six point sockets of any decent quality you can do almost anything. I have Snap-on, Facom, and Hazet ratchets. Sears ratchets broke on me numerous times and I got the free replacement once. Toss those out ! Total knuckle-busters.
The one, totally invaluable "tool" yet to be mentioned.........PB Blaster !!!!! Get a couple of cans.
Also, get the biggest set of Channel Lock pliers made. Can't tell you how many times those have come in handy !
More ideas to come.
The one, totally invaluable "tool" yet to be mentioned.........PB Blaster !!!!! Get a couple of cans.
Also, get the biggest set of Channel Lock pliers made. Can't tell you how many times those have come in handy !
More ideas to come.
Are you sure after 35 years that you've just forgotten where you put them? I sometimes resemble that!
