Tools needed to start tinkering?

[57s98Camaro]

Well after searching for 20 min for the correct socket size in my disaster of a garage, I'm thinkin about buying some of my own tools to use on my car. What kind of stuff should I buy to do the basic maintainence things on my vehicle? I'm thinking about buying a pre-made tool kit and I'd like to know what should be in it if I'm just starting off on working on my car.

It'll be helpful to have tools when I go to install a Whisper Lid and B&M Ripper. Thanks in advance :D

[Red V6 Raider]

mm, everything on the car is metric size. make sure everything is is mm. i use the 10mm socket the most i think. get a torque wrench too and a chiltons or haynes manual. everything else is prettymuch specific to whatever you're trying to do. oil is 15mm i think, maaybe 20mm, not sure.

for the ripper it helps to have an extension on for your socket

[V6Bob]

Sears makes a wide variety of Craftsman tool kits. Their guarantee used to be solid, don't know if it still is. If I destroyed a tool (happened a couple of times) I went in and handed it to the salesperson, they apologized and handed me a new one.

www.sears.com, click on tools, click on mechanics tool sets. I'd be looking in the range of $100-$200.

If you're bucks up, Snap-On is the best. A pleasure to look at and to use, I never managed to hurt one. But many $$$.

The one additional tool you need is a torque wrench. A simple beam model will do for not much money.

[BillyCobin]

After destroying a lot of cheap tools, I decieded to buy craftsman from then on. I looked at the different kits, but to me they didn't offer a vary good value.

For basic tools I would say:

* standard and metric 3/8" drive sockets
* standard and metric 1/4" drive sockets
* 3/8" Socket wrench
* 1" and 6" extensions
* 3/8" -> 1/4" drive converter
* 3/8" u-joint

* A set of standard and metric wrenches
* Standard, needle, and locking pliers.
* A couple of screw/philips drivers
* A good tool box that will keep everything organized

If you can find all of thoes in a kit, I would say go for it. I bought my stuff a little at a time. If you watch the sears adds, they have this stuff 50% off all the time.

[Blue94V6]

I didn't see anyone mention torx. You need to get a small set of torx, and not all of the bolts are metric, so make sure you have basic standard sockets also. Sears also has 10 piece screwdriver sets for like $15 and they should have anything you would need.
______________________________________
1994 Medium Quasar Blue L32 M5 Camaro
Eibach Pro-Kit
PFC Carbon Metallic brake pads
KYB Gas-A-Just shocks
K&N filter
Dynomax rear section with SS tips

[Wicked 3800 V6]

I have a $75 (clearance isle) set from Sears, along with a metric wrench set.
Also bought a Stanley toolbox / chest / roller and tool set from Walmart for $100, and believe it or not, it has served me VERY very well. Despite the Taiwan / import amking, I wouldn't discount stanley. Though I now have an assload of sockets. Wrenches are key, but expensive.
When you get into bigger things, you'll want jack, jackstands, spring compressor, vac / press pump, torque wrench, big honkin' flashlightand little flashlight, goggles, dremel (corded never runs outta juice).
Tools, having the right ones, rules.
-Rob

[57s98Camaro]

Thanks guys, I think when my next paycheck rolls around I'll be heading on over to Sears to check out the tool sets.

[Tyler]

i have a Sears Craftsman tool kit.

i believe it has 150 pieces..

it has EVERY tool you'll ever need to TINKER with your car.

i dont kno the price since my girlfriends dad gave it to me. its brand new still.. had it for about 2 months now. never broke a tool useing them

[PewterBird]

I spent a couple of hours just wandering the isles of Sears. I thought about buying a couple of sets here and there, then I saw one of the $1500 sets, and was amazed.

So I figure when I finnally get out on my own and have a garage of my own, I will treat myself to a nice large complete set. Then start collecting the pneumatic tools :D .

Till then my small 50 buck cheap *** tool set will last me. GO will craftsman, the warrenty is worth it.

[Lord_Verminaard]

Some of the Techs here give me a hard time when they see me using my Craftsman set because they all have Matco or Snap-on. Those tools are killer, but I'm not using mine EVERY DAY in the most severe way possible like they are. My Craftsman set is I think a 215 piece set, and I have various additions here and there, torx bits, allen keys, lots of extentions, about 15 different kinds of pliers, etc... It is a rare occasion that I dont have what I need to do something. That, and using the lifts at work and borrowing some of my friends air tools, I'm good to go. ;)

Brendan
2000 Camaro L36 M49

[ellik]

i was wandering the local hardware store lastweek and found a decent compressor for $150 and a cheap set of starter air tools.. ie ratchet, impact wrench, basic size sockets, grinder... ahhh... nothing like air tools. even when you have the correct high money gaurrantied ratchets and stuff, a cheap set of air tools can turn a 4 hour job into a 1 hour job. mmmmmm..... air tools..... mmmmm

[Loochy88]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by V6Bob:
Sears makes a wide variety of Craftsman tool kits. Their guarantee used to be solid, don't know if it still is. <hr></blockquote>

Their garuntee is very solid. most of their hand tools are protected by it. me and my dad returned a 30 year old ratchet the other day. the product number didnt even exist any more, so we got the newer cooler updated version.

[Blue94V6]

wow, i didn't know you could return tools that are that old. I have a huge set (400+ pieces) of craftsman tools that were my grandfathers that he bought back in the early 70's and they're great. The only problem I've had is with the sockets wearing out, but I guess I'll replace them now.

EDIT: You may also want to go over to www.ls1tech.com and check out their "tools of the trade" forum. Lots of good info there.
______________________________________
1994 Medium Quasar Blue L32 M5 Camaro
Eibach Pro-Kit
PFC Carbon Metallic brake pads
KYB Gas-A-Just shocks
K&N filter
Dynomax rear section with SS tips

[ September 17, 2003: Message edited by: Blue94V6 ]</p>

[SCv6]

for the ripper you need 7, 10, and 13mm sockets and an extension. I put mine in last week, for the whisper lid it's just a flat head screwdriver (for taking off the air silencers) and a socket (small but I dont know the size) for the hose clamps.

Also with the craftsman tools garuntee is deffinatly solid, one of my friends cut up one of his tools (an alen wrench) to use it for a specific task and then aferwords he took it into sears and they gave him a new one no questions asked. So they are deffinatly good tools.

Hope this helps,
Jon