List of Special Tools

[Holyroller125]

I've been looking in (Matco, Snap On) catalogs on mechanic's special tools. For instance, the special tools for working on (brakes, changing oil, ignition, spark plugs, carburetor, inside engine, piston, valve, cam shaft, transmission, drive shaft, differential, etc.), and also under-car (suspension, wheels, tie-rods, etc.).

Which 'special tools' should an 'Individual' mechanic have in his/her toolbox? For the particular areas?

Please, break down by category like what is in a Matco or Snap-On catalog.

Thank You Much,
Greg

 

[zkling]

Me thinks it is going to be pretty dependent on what type of vehicle(s) you typically work on?

Carburetor? Are we talking car or other type of engine? If car you are going to be looking at a different set of tools compared to more modern EFI. Will we also need to check and adjust the points and coil?

 

[signcrafter]

It all depends on what you do? Do you do everything or just maintenance and small repairs or engine rebuilding or body work or whatever? I'm just a weekend warrior but I have a bunch of specialty stuff that I have added along the years as repairs came along. Getting into body work now so slowly adding those tools also.

Some of the best investments I've made were diagnostic tools. You can never have to many of them. From multi meter, cylinder compression tester, fuel pressure tester, leak down tester, coolant pressure tester, combustion leak tester, power probe III, battery tester, mityvac, etc. You can never have to many tools to diagnose problems so you know exactly what the problem is and what you need to fix it so you're not just throwing parts at it.

 

[Holyroller125]

It all depends on what you do? Do you do everything or just maintenance and small repairs or engine rebuilding or body work or whatever? I'm just a weekend warrior but I have a bunch of specialty stuff that I have added along the years as repairs came along. Getting into body work now so slowly adding those tools also.

Type of Work - I do some engine rebuilding, and some maintenance.

Type of Cars - Not modern cars, I'd say 70's and sooner. I am a classic car, muscle car, mechanic. I even help around demolition derbies

Thank You,
Greg

 

[Fedwrench]

You can get by with alot fewer specialty tools working on older cars.

One thing to consider though is that many specialty tools found in the tool truck catalogs are often rebadged KD, Lisle, OTC, Vim, and maybe CalVan.