Beginners Tool Box

[drk_fly]

im not sure as to where this fits but i thought it might fit in an engine sub forumsorry if its not in the right spot

anyways, as a beginner who is getting into cars, what should be in my tool box? i just need to do basic things. regular maintenance, and simple bolt ons and what not.

are there special tools that i may need? *if possible, throw an estimate price in*

the tool box includes power tools too!

thanks!!

ps. post what is in your tool box/garage/whateverpss. about how much room do you need to do simple things? i have a gargage that is tiny!. im wondering if i will be able to do anything. its 19 feet in length, and 9 feet wide. might be better to do work outside on the driveway....

[Kenrik]

This is the KA-T section... (Turbocharged KA24 engine) which I doubt you have unless you paid a shop to install one... so yeah it's in the wrong section

Anyway to answer your question.. a set of Metric Socks and cresent wrenches upto 21mm + maybe a few extra like a 30mm for wheel hubs etc..

some extensions, etc.. to get into hard to reach areas.

A breaker bar

A torque wrench

Screw drivers

That's pretty much it.

Maybe $100-$200 in tools are all you need to completely take apart and put together almost anything on your car.

[benemorius]

Buy each tool as you need it. Before you know it, your wallet will be empty and your garage will be full.

[Florida240sx]

Rubber mallet137piece craftsman socket kit.19,17,14,12,10mm wrenchesCrescent wrenches various sizemetal pipe to go over ratchet for more leverageElectrical box $20 kit for common things*Most Importantly*Fridge to put your beer in

[SeanC]

ps. post what is in your tool box/garage/whatever

haha that would take more room to type than this server wants to handle. but basically a large 52" snap-on box, full of the standard tools, alot of percise tools ie calipers, dial indicators, speciality tools like hub kits, snap ring pliers, alot of other real wierd ones that i use once in a decade, then all the power tools like impact, 1/2" and 3/8" air ratchet, air chisel, air grinder, then all the electric tools, sawz-all, drill press, porta-band, millermatic 210, grinders, sawz-all etc and it gets added to alot.

[drk_fly]

wwooowzers

so theres s sh*tload of tools to get? but i guess if its simple stuff (i think thats all i will be doing) all ill need are like allen keys (do they use those on cars?? ), lots of screwdrivers, ratchet set, wrenches and general stuffs?

thanks, o and sorry about the wrong post. but for the ka-t, can you not install a tubro on a n/a ka engine and it will be referred to as a ka-t?

sorry and thanks!

[lrb_2000]

the "ka-t" is the N/A KA engine with a Turbo.. considering the KA never came from the factory with a turbo...

First off, i'd get at least two jackstands, and a jack.. if possible, 4 jackstands and two jacks. Some wheel chalks, some sort of pan for fluids/oils and the such... for your garage at least... I figure, if you walk a complete circle around your car, then you're good to go.. as long as you have plenty of room in front of the car at least.

What I think your tool box should consist of.-Factory Service Manual, book/cd.. or both.-Ratchet set 1/2" and 3/8".. I've had to use 8mm-22mm.. maybe even some standard sizes-Lots of extensions, short and long.. and also some "wobblers"-Ratchet end wrenches are nice, or regular end wrenches work fine. -Torque Wrench up to 80ft.lbs at least.-Screw drivers, small, big.. flat head, philips, everything..-"Cheater Bars' for the really tight bolts I usually just use different sizes of piping laying around-Tape Measure-Pens, Markers, Chalk.
Modified by lrb_2000 at 8:32 AM 7/2/2006

[Florida240sx]

Your going to need a 27mm deep socket as well. I got 4 jackstands for myself.Sawzall, grinder, and drill is a must as well.

[drk_fly]

okay sounds like a plan.

whats a wobbler?

[Slipstream]

A good 5" C clamp and caliper square are good for doing brakes, line wrench (10mm), and a good razor knife come in handy.

[lrb_2000]

okay sounds like a plan.

whats a wobbler?

I guess they're called swivel joints, haha..they make life a lot easier when you can't get a straight extension on a bolt.



Maybe get different types of pliers.. i'd go on a little shopping spree with a premade list, and get the stuff you think looks best.

[Florida240sx]

I end up spending 100-300 everytime I'm in Sears buying more tools.I

[Draginzuzu]

PB Blaster.

[Slipstream]

11" needle nose pliers in case you have a plug boot rip from age or hard to reach spring clamps.

[jr_ss]

You should throw some common sense in that box too, it'll go a long way...

[JesusLikesKFC]

A good 5" C clamp and caliper square are good for doing brakes, line wrench (10mm), and a good razor knife come in handy.

a 14 is all ya need for a change buuudy. man i need tools n water.

[cowboyrps13]

maybe add some wire strippers/crimpers to the list if you decide to get into any electrical work.

im a mechanic so ive got most of the tools needed to work on cars. i easily have $2000 in tools right now and i hardly have anything. but i work on far more than the 240. my friend has close to $6000 in tools. and he is still missing a lot of specialty tools that would make life easier. of course this is mostly snapon and mac tools. so not cheap.

THE best ratchet i have ever bought:http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog...talog

[cowboyrps13]

i just realized i might have scared you with how much me and my friend have spent on tools, you can go to sears, spend MAYBE $500, probably less, and have almost every tool you needed to comfortably work on a 240. you could probably get away with under $200. like people said, a set of metric sockets (3/8" and 1/2" most used), metric wrenches, jack, jack stands, some pliers and probably a decent sized ball-peen hammer would get you started on most of the easy stuff and some suspension work too. you can use the jack handle as a breaker bar on the ratchet.

[hannibal]

Go to Sears and take a gander at the kits they offer. I started with a basic ~100 piece kit and added deep sockets, breaker bar, pliers, vice grips, compresser tester, and a few other random things. Those tools have taken me thru a year of maintainence and small repairs. Theyve done everything i needed them to do. I also bought a creeper seat, two jackstands and floor jack. The total for the tools and jacks was under $200.

When I setup shop again, I'm going back for a round 2 of tool shopping. I expect to spend another $200-300.

[virus77]

Ive got a doctors bag thats always in the trunk of my car with the more common things that the 240 needs. I can do almost 90% of things I need to get done with my bag-o-tools. I recommend you buy a nice cheap starter set from sears and get specific stuff as they come up, most of the time you use the same 20 tools for almost any regular job.

[SSS]

metal pipe to go over ratchet for more leverage

That's what a breaker bar is for, you should NEVER try and get more leverage on a ratchet by using a metal pipe; unless you don't want your tools to last.

Air compressor and the following air tools:- a GOOD rattle gun- die grinder (straight & 90deg if you can afford both)- reciprocating saw- cut off tool

[Slipstream]

a 14 is all ya need for a change buuudy. man i need tools n water.

I mean as far as if you remove your calipers and need to bleed them, then a 10mm line wrench comes in handy, the 14mm and also a 17mm.

[SHIFTrl240]

holy crap i cant believe noone has said vice grips yet... those are the best tool in the shed along side the zip ties!

[cowboyrps13]

holy crap i cant believe noone has said vice grips yet... those are the best tool in the shed along side the zip ties!

vice grips subbing for steering wheels since 1910.

[teddy]

Go to Sears and take a gander at the kits they offer. I started with a basic ~100 piece kit and added deep sockets, breaker bar, pliers, vice grips, compresser tester, and a few other random things. Those tools have taken me thru a year of maintainence and small repairs. Theyve done everything i needed them to do. I also bought a creeper seat, two jackstands and floor jack. The total for the tools and jacks was under $200.

When I setup shop again, I'm going back for a round 2 of tool shopping. I expect to spend another $200-300.

Words of wisdom right there. I bought a standard craftsman 150 piece kit at Sears. Comes with multiple metric and standard sockets and ratchets, 3/8", 1/2", etc. Came with a screw driver, allen wrenches, regular wrenches, a spark plug socket, and some extensions. That got me throught he first two years of bolt ons for my car. Aside from that, a good jack and jackstands, rubber mallet, vice grips, wd40/pb blaster and torque wrench will get you a long way.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

you gotta have some pry-bars, and I cant think of a tool ive been more happy to have than ratchet-wrenches. Also, look into buying a vise.

[JesusLikesKFC]

dont forget a snickers bar

[chandler]

And to think I spent 30k on my snap on tool box and tools to fill it up......... oh wait, I do this for a living. =). You dont need much, knowing which tool is right for the job is almost as important as having the tool in the first place. dont for get the 3# and 4# ball peen hammers, and watch out for the fingers when using them.

C.