Tools and 240's

[Caveit77777]

Alright so I've had my s14 zenki for about a year and a half to 2 years now. Before I was only doing bs upgrades to it and since my dad has his own construction company I've always had access to MOST of the tools I needed. He started me off with a ratchet kit made in taiwan and now im snapping wrenches and sockets left and right. I just graduated high school and already have a job so its time to get my own tools. Basically I'm starting with nothing because I only want namebarnd stuff that will last for awhile.

This is where I need help. I need to know the stuff you ABSOLUTELY should own if you plan on working on a 240. Best name brand stuff for the best price. What size deep sockets I should have, anything and everything. Hopefully this thread will be able to help other new and future car/240 owners.

So far I have

15 Gallon Air Compressor with a pretty good cfm at 90psi (can't remmember)
Phillips Screwdrivers
Kobalt Air Tools
Car jack and two stands
Torque Wrench
*63 Piece Kobalt Ratchet Set



and that's about it. I have access to a lot of stuff but I want to have my own stuff. I'm tired of my ghetto tools so yeah here we go.

[SoCal-S13]

75% of my S13 came apart with a 10 and 14

[FlipCoupe]

I don't know if you necessarily need to go out and buy massive tools, I stated off with a pretty much the same stuff you have but I added a couple socket sets, Usually you can pick up like a 70-100 piece set, i think mine was like a 100 piece set. Came with standard and deep sockets up to 17mm I think, after that I just bought individual sockets and whatnot as I needed them. Although I swear 10-14mm get up and walk off so often.

BTW, i've pretty much done a complete tear down of my motor and the stanley brand had held up no problem.

[badbob2121]

75% of my S13 came apart with a 10 and 14

lol, this is true^^

[numbnuts240]

Best name brand stuff

craftsman hand tools will do you just fine. don't waste the coin on snap-on or matco. and like was already said, a well rounded 100 piece set will get you by to do just about anything on a 240.

[240TKE128]

Personally i started off with a kobalt go through socket kit, had a nice little 10 metric and 10 SAE go throughs and 2 different handles. that set alone has pretty much done everything i need. However i haven't pulled the engine yet, just swapped headers/exhaust/intake and general maintenance.

[Hoffman5982]

As stated above, everything on the s14 is pretty much 8,10,12,14,and 17mm. A craftsman set with those size sockets and wrenches will be fine. ratcheting wrenches makes things easier also. I was in the same position last year when I graduated HS. I bought this set http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1260 ... ockType=G1 which did fine for my SR swap. The only think I needed was a 14mm hex socket for the head bolts

[Caveit77777]

Well I just got back from Lowes and ended up picking out this set
http://www.lowes.com/pd_338513-22328-85 ... facetInfo=

It was only $25 and I forgot my wallet but I'm gonna go back and get a deep drive kobalt set for $10 and a soldering iron. Pretty happy with the find plus its a no questions asked lifetime warranty though lowes so thats what I was looking for.

[240TKE128]

great find.

[Mitchum]

I have a fairly decent sized box(mind you im an apprentice tech...)

and if i have learned anything from doing a few fairly decent sized jobs on Nissan's/any Japanese car. its that there made to come apart fairly straight forward. Mind you i have access to multiple hoists. You can take apart any Japanese car with basic Metric sizes. i personally own alot of Master Craft tools, cheaper entry level stuff, very similar to craftsman, but i feel master craft has a few better designs in ratchets.

As for extra tools that I would ONLY but brand name is( mac/snap-on/Ingersoll Rand,etc) is air tools, and tools that saftey can depend on. I had/have a set of cheap prybars that I got at the hardware store on sale, They flex so much they scare me. If your looking for a set of good pry bars( don't under estimate the helpfulness of good pry bars, even if you don't think you need them) I LOVE my Mac pry bars, the set had 4 differnt lengths up to 36" with blow through hammer handles, there awesome, they were about $170....keep in mind life time warranty.

Im also a brand name stickler on air tools, specifically on impact guns. I had a junk 1/2" impact gun and hated it, it was heavy,loud,and weak. I spent $400 on the IR 3125TiMax and havent looked back since. The gun weighs only 4lbs, and has an intial 1100Ftlb torque and 780Ftlb normal torque. That will make easy work of almost anything. i also have the IR 2125TiMax 3/8" gun and its nice for tight spaces.

Id also recommend a good assortment of 1/2" and 3/8" extensions. Any socket you get shallow, get deep. a universal swivel is also a cheap way to make any size swivel as opposed to getting a dedicated swivel socket set.

foot notes- get lots of extensions. Get a decent metric socket set-shallow and deep, a good universal 3/8 and 1/2 swivel are handy to have. Dont cheap out on things that have safetey behind them like pry bars...you dont want it to snap and leave someone crushed/pinched/etc.

[Caveit77777]

^^^ That's the kind of stuff I was looking for. IDK how strong my kobalt impact gun is because as of right now I've only used it on lugnuts :/ Definitely going to get some deep 3/8 sockets and a soldering iron next.

[Lobo240sx]

Lots of deep sockets, and all size extensions. Swivels/wobbles are your best friend for those hard to reach places. Long extensions are good when you are trying to get the transmission off. Floor jack.

Most used 8,10,12,14,17mm

[ShouldaHadaV8]

[quote="badbob2121"][quote="SoCal-S13"]75% of my S13 came apart with a 10 and 14
+1
im an airplane structures mechanic , I buy craftsman period, go ahead and break it, get a new one free. GearWrenches are life time warranty , as well as duralast wrenches ,Chicago numatic ,Sioux, Ingersol Rand for descent quality air tools , Snap On is nice but too expensive for everything ,I mean $128.00 for a 1/4" drive flex head ratchet, from a snap on dealer.....yeah. But honestly cheap stuff works just fine on most of a 240sx trust me Its been done

[SilviablhS14]

^^^ That's the kind of stuff I was looking for. IDK how strong my kobalt impact gun is because as of right now I've only used it on lugnuts :/

I attempted to use a Kobalt impact gun when I changed out all of my suspension parts. The first one would barely move the bolts through the surface rust. I went and got a better one and it would do the job but when it was time to start putting everything back together it decided to start moving by itself so I went and got a Craftsmen and it worked just fine even with less torque than the better Kobalt.

[assassin7420]

Best bang for the buck air tools is ingersoll rand, hands down.

Snapon - matco is nice for those who can afford it. For the average DIY people I would only invest in some snap on ratchets. Also a TQ wrench if you plan on building your own engine.

Pretty much everything else can be craftsmen, with a mix of harbor freight. EX, I have 2 pairs of harbor freight ratcheting wrenches. I was just going to use them as throw tools to keep in my portable box for junkyards, but ended up buying them for my work box too. I've taken off exhaust manifolds with them a couple of times, and they still work the same as new. Plus, Life time warranty on everything.

[RollinEasy]

Ratchets, screwdrivers, plastic/rubber mallets, sockets and deepwells as well, universals, breaker bars, impact, jacks, compressor and other misc. tools like plastic pry sets and tap sets and you're pretty set. Just buy the tools as you need. I find Craftsman, Kobalt, and Mac tools to be the best.

[terry_240sx]

+1 for craftsman tools since they have a lifetime warranty.

[danshaz82]

i got my snap-on kit for like half price. but it was through school. plus its nice cause i still have my discount, so i can get a fair amount of tools for relatively cheap. by cheap, i mean fairly discounted.
this is the kit i have
http://buy1.snapon.com/sep/catalog/item ... u=9200AGSO
plus a 9 drawer top box. and its nice because i have access to a snap-on rep, so if i ever break a tool, or need a new one or anything, i just call him up.
if you end up going to school for anything mechanics related, see if snap-on offers anything for your school. if they do, you'll be able to get a nice discount.

[LoserCard]

Here's a tool list... It might be missing a couple of things, but I use most of them every day I work on my 240.

Philips/Flat Head Screw Driver
Stubby Phillips/Flat Head Screw Driver
1/4" Hex Hand Driver w/ a variety of bits
Metric Allen Wrenches (1-8mm)
1/4" Socket Hand Driver
3/8" Ratchet
1/4" Ratchet
1/2" Breaker Bar (18"-24" will do)
1/2" to 3/8" Socket Reducer
3/8" to 1/4" Socket Reducer
3", 6" 1/4" Extensions
3", 6", 10" 3/8" Extensions (Wobble Preferred)
3/8" Pivot Extension
8mm, 10mm, 12mm, 14mm, 17mm, 19mm, 21mm 3/8" Sockets
10mm, 12mm, 14mm 3/8" Deep Sockets
24mm, 28mm, 30mm, 36mm 1/2" Sockets
10mm, 12mm, 14mm, 17mm Wrenches (Socket/Open End Preferred)
10mm, 12mm, 14mm Line Wrenches
10mm Allen Head Socket (If you need to take off stock KA24DE Head)
Spark Plug Socket
Torque Wrench
Mini Sledge Hammer
Rubber Mallet
2 Ton Jack (Low Profile Racing Jack Preferred)
4 Jack Stands (2-4 Ramps Both/Preferred)
Multimeter/Voltage Tester
Scraper
Timing Light (I got an eBay one for $20 shipped and it works perfectly)
Thread Pitch Gauge (Micrometer Preferred)
Pliers
Needle Nose Pliers
Wire Strippers/Cutters
Zip Ties

Also for brand recommendations, Home Depot has a brand called Huskey and I swear on my car that they would survive the wrath of Chuck Norris... They are also cheap with a lifetime warranty I believe.

[LoserCard]

Ahhh! Forgot HANDS DOWN the most important tool for working on 240's...

WD-40 Hahaha! (Or any penetrating oil for that matter)

Damn those rusted bolts that want to break on you...

[240TKE128]

Ahhh! Forgot HANDS DOWN the most important tool for working on 240's...

WD-40 Hahaha! (Or any penetrating oil for that matter)

Damn those rusted bolts that want to break on you...

+1, Praise the world to who ever invented that stuff.

[sly240]

Yeah craftsman is the way to go for multiple reasons 1) lifetime warranty that can be used at any sears(don't have to wait on the snap on truck) 2) price you can’t beat it.( I have a 50% off discount on snap on and it still cost more than craftsman)

And about kobalt the last kit I had you have to return the hole set to get 1 piece fixed kind of a pain in the A**.

The only thing I found that is worth getting from snap on or Mac is there toll boxes. I have a snap on box and it is the best investment I have made. All my craftsman boxes were flimsy and never lasted but I have never had a problem with my snap on box it will probably go to my son when he's old enough.

I have craftsman impact that works fine (its a little heavy) but works great. I just can’t justify buying the more expensive brands when I can get a warranty I can use with craftsman and I can’t justify the cheap stuff.

[SoCal-S13]

snap-on or bust.

[esd51918]

The list that LoserCard gave is very thorough. I would also recommend a 4 piece set of picks, one or more small mirrors on extension rods, a magnet on a flex rod, and a flex rod with a part grabber on the end (I don't know the proper name for this tool). The picks are good for working on connectors and all manner of small parts. The mirrors are handy for getting a view of places you couldn't see otherwise. The magnet and flexible grabber are great for retrieving nuts, bolts, and sockets when you drop them in a place where you can't get your hand. Those two tools have saved me a bunch of frustration.

[OutToWinPAHC]

battery impact gun a must

[SoCal-S13]

^this

paid $350 for my Snap-On with a spare battery NEW!

[Lobo240sx]

Husky makes good tools also. I put 2 harbor freight 3/8 ratchets to the torture test. Broke one ratchet trying to remove an exhaust bolt that was already soaked in WD40 overnight. I had to use my foot for leverage. The other one I used a cheater bar to take out my head bolts. Got to the 5th one and the ratchet broke. Grabbed my GM tool from Auto Zone and took it right off lol. Both are manufactured in China so yeahh..

[biggie]

Rachet wrenches have been the best for car work to me. Have about 5 different sets, angled, straight, stubby, regular, etc.

And yes, WD-40 or PB Blaster.

Pry bar set helps.

Decent Vice mounted on a work bench helps.

C clamp pliers

Fuel hose separater tool works wonders.

Interior puller

[S14toRPS13]

I work as a diesel technician. I have a Snap On tool box at work, but at home my Harbor Frieght tool box works just as fine and I'd even go as far as to say that it's just as good of quality as my Snap On tool box.

I buy mostly craftsman hand tools because Snap Ons are too expensive, but one thing that I will say is worth the money are the Snap On fine tooth ratchets. I love Craftsman, but most of their ratchets are sloppy and feels like garbage after you've used quality ones.

I have a 27 gal air compressor and my IR air impact guns, but I still keep around a good breaker bar with cheater pipe.

A good low profile floor jack makes life so much easier as well, espeicially if you have coilovers on your 240. I have the Omega Blackhawk Low Profile jack and wonder why I didn't buy it sooner. http://www.amazon.com/Omega-Blackhawk-P ... 918&sr=8-5

Like Already mentioned, I use my battery powered 19.2v Craftsman Impact driver a lot. Especially when it comes to small bolts and screws. It just saves so much more time and can be used as a drill as well.

Good multimeter (I recommend Fluke)
Test Light
Wire crimper/cutter
Soldering gun
Good quality set of pliers and cutters.