Guidance for Impact Extensions

[Bull]

I have a 1/2 drive older IR impact that I recently found at my parents' garage. I used to use it years ago when I worked on cars there. I also found a full set of Proto 1/2 drive shallow impacts and some Proto deeps as well.

Soon, I will be removing the trans and engine from my '76 Trans Am. I'd love to be able to use the impact for the bellhousing bolts. This will require some long extensions and some swiveling ability.

I'd prefer to stay away from Chinese stuff, for personal reasons. Cripe doesn't have any long impact extensions in 1/2 drive, and eBay in general seems like slim pickins at this time. I'd prefer new to used.

Do any of you know of any good deals on sets of impact extensions and/or swivel sockets and/or wobble extensions that I might want to look at?

 

[pottsie454]

Both Matco and Snapon have wobble extensions. You can buy individual or in a set. I think the individual price for a 12 inch wobble is about $65. Sounds expensive but it is worth the money. They do not wear out nearly as easy as say a Harbor frieght or Craftsman.

 

[otis66]

I've had my Snap On impacted universial and extensions for over 20 years. No problem.

 

[wornoutoldman]

You can use a Snap on 3/8 drive 9/16 impact swivel socket with a SO chrome 24 or 36 inch extension and 1/2 to 3/8 reducer and spin those right out.

 

[amolaver]

what you really want is this:

http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/p-5721-sk-hand-tool-46175.aspx

generally referred to as a 'transmission extension'. basically, its the perfect tool to get to most bellhousing bolts when used in conjunction with a swivel socket.

it is 1/2" female by 3/8" male - the 3/8" sockets tend to be smaller in diameter, so getting into the cramped spaces between unibody and trans is easier.

swivel sockets...well, when you say china, do you actually mean PRC, or do you mean anything not 'murican? if the former, sunex and grey both make excellent, reasonably priced impact swivels made in taiwan i believe. gearwrench are probably PRC now, but excellent. craftsman are expensive (for craftsman) but use the same mechanism as the matco, which most consider to be superior. not sure where the are made though.

ahm

 

[theoldwizard1]

There us a reason you don't see many long extensions for impacts. It is not because they might break, it is because they reduce the effect of the "impact" !

Any piece of metal, when you try to twist/bend it, will absorb some of that load/torque and then bounce back.

For a job like you are describing, use standard extension and universals to loosen the bolts. You can then use an impact to run them out, but for this you should probably swap in an impact universal. Their design limits their angle so you can not get into a bind situation.

When installing, finally tighten should be by hand, preferably with a torque wrench.

 

[bcradio]

One thing to note with impacts is that you will lose dramatic amounts of torque the longer you go with extensions. If the bolts are very tight, you might be better off just using the extensions with a breaker bar. I would try it with the impact first, and then switch to the breaker if it doesn't give.

 

[theoldwizard1]

what you really want is this:

http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/p-5721-sk-hand-tool-46175.aspx

generally referred to as a 'transmission extension'. basically, its the perfect tool to get to most bellhousing bolts when used in conjunction with a swivel socket.

it is 1/2" female by 3/8" male - the 3/8" sockets tend to be smaller in diameter, so getting into the cramped spaces between unibody and trans is easier.

Interesting ! But at $42 plus $10 for shipping, I don't think this would qualify for "a deal" as the OP requested.

 

[amolaver]

its a bargain compared to snapon - http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...roup_ID=681233&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog and still US made (never mind 5" longer...and who doesn't want 5 more inches ).

if the OP is looking for US-made, and prefers new to used, $50 for a 36" impact extension doesn't sound unreasonable to me. i do transmissions pretty regularly, and a single long extension saps a LOT less power from the impact than multiple shorter ones connected together. i've NEVER had a bellhousing bolt NOT come free with my IR2131QT (far from the most powerful gun), this extension, and a swivel socket.

the long extension is somewhat limited in its purpose, so i understand not wanting to have it lying around most of the time with $50+ ******* in it, but it is the 'correct' tool for the job and makes it much less of a hassle.

ahm

 

[amolaver]

oh, and amazon has the sk extension as well, and it is prime eligible...

http://www.amazon.com/SK-SKT-46175-Impact-Extension-Adapter/dp/tech-data/B00061SNGQ

ahm

 

[stonesfan68]

Ingersoll-Rand makes a line of 1/2" impact extensions from 3-36 inches that won't brake the bank. They have a universal joint, too.

IR Bolting Catalog

The tools are made in Taiwan. I've been pleased with the extensions and sockets that I have used.

 

[amolaver]

Bull - can you clarify your preference for non-chinese pieces? Are you requesting US only, US/Europe, Taiwan as acceptable, etc?

If taiwanese is acceptable, there are lots of quality choices for extensions and swivel sockets. If not, the list of manufacturers is significantly smaller (or so it appears to me).

ahm

 

[signcrafter]

PM sent to you

 

[Bull]

Great leads and ideas in here, thank you.

I saw those long 1/2 extensions with the 3/8 male end on eBay and didn't know exactly what the idea was. Now I do, so thank you amolaver. I think I would like one of those, with a swivel socket, but also some basic extensions for other situations.

My preference for tools is always American, though I don't try to be confrontational about it on here like some folks. That being said, European tools would be fine, and Taiwan is also acceptable. I just get more pride of lifelong ownership from the USA stuff.

I hadn't thought about the issue of an extension and swivel reducing he effectiveness of the gun. But even so, it must put out as much of not more than my arms are capable of while in a prone position under a car?

 

[plinker]

I have a mix of Craftsman/Allen, Sunex, Toptul and Truecraft (Japan).

For US made I'd get S-K, Tooltopia had a decent price on a 3/8 set. For Taiwan made, Sunex is hard to beat. Matco/Armstong & Craftsman pinless swivel's are the best from what I gather.

For 3/8 drive I have 1-3/4", 3", 6", 10" & 15" And for 1/2 drive 3", 6", 10" & 15". The 15's mostly get used with a ratchet, but I have used them with an impact for Y-pipe bolt's. I mostly use the 3" & 6" for the most part.

 

[plinker]

Not to hijack, but I have a question on the "Transmission extension's" usage.

If your going to use a 3/8 drive socket on the end, why not just use a straight 3/8 extension (3/8 to 3/8 vs. 1/2 to 3/8)? Clearence issue's or torque loss?

 

[sdguy55]

Great leads and ideas in here, thank you.

I saw those long 1/2 extensions with the 3/8 male end on eBay and didn't know exactly what the idea was. Now I do, so thank you amolaver. I think I would like one of those, with a swivel socket, but also some basic extensions for other situations.

My preference for tools is always American, though I don't try to be confrontational about it on here like some folks. That being said, European tools would be fine, and Taiwan is also acceptable. I just get more pride of lifelong ownership from the USA stuff.

I hadn't thought about the issue of an extension and swivel reducing he effectiveness of the gun. But even so, it must put out as much of not more than my arms are capable of while in a prone position under a car?

You would be surprised my friend. There are just some situations, and i have no idea why, where a breaker bar (and not that long of one, the one i have is 18.5 in long) just does a better job where my impact struggled. And i have a SO 725.

 

[sdguy55]

Not to hijack, but I have a question on the "Transmission extension's" usage.

If your going to use a 3/8 drive socket on the end, why not just use a straight 3/8 extension (3/8 to 3/8 vs. 1/2 to 3/8)? Clearence issue's or torque loss?

Well i would guess, and its strictly just a guess, that an extension that long saps about 1/3-1/2 the power of an impact. So you would need a 1/2 to make up the difference. And as stated above the 3/8 swivels tend to be smaller.

 

[MrMark]

Well i would guess, and its strictly just a guess, that an extension that long saps about 1/3-1/2 the power of an impact. So you would need a 1/2 to make up the difference. And as stated above the 3/8 swivels tend to be smaller.

Possible, but I think the main reason was that Bull said he had a 1/2 gun. Interesting point you raise though.

Would the 3/8 gun be the best choice here?

I have the Craftsman impact swivels. Very expensive for Craftsman but they are supposed to be the best from all I've read and my use. They are US made by Armstrong from what I gather. I only have rather limited SO swivels to compare them to, but the Craftsman do seem to have better range of motion with their pinless design.

You can buy them one at a time if that makes sense.

 

[sdguy55]

I have an Armstrong 'pinless' one also and i have compared the 'swiveling' to my SO, CP's etc. and i have noticed no difference in how far one swivels compared to the other.

 

[shampoop]

Well i would guess, and its strictly just a guess, that an extension that long saps about 1/3-1/2 the power of an impact. So you would need a 1/2 to make up the difference. And as stated above the 3/8 swivels tend to be smaller.

This, except I'd guess 50% at the bare minimum. Plus the thicker 1/2" shank will lose less torque than a 3/8" shank no matter what size gun you're using.

Typically you'd want to use these with impact swivel sockets. These are much more common to have in 3/8" drive size for working on passenger vehicles.

 

[sdguy55]

Just use this an adapt it down
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ingersoll-Rand-1-1-2-Drive-2945-Air-Impact-Wrench-/190463759232#ht_606wt_1139

 

[amolaver]

so, to get back to the original ask...

all sunex..i've got a good portion of their impact stuff and have been nothing but pleased with all of it, including both of the extension sets below and i think both swivel sets as well (one of those might be another brand).

1/2" impact extension set (3/5/10/15") $34 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002SIJBDO/?tag=atomicindus08-20
3/8" impact extension set (3/5/10/15") $26 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003XIJ86S/?tag=atomicindus08-20

10pc 3/8 impact swivel set (10-19mm) $84 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002SRAO4/?tag=atomicindus08-20
13pm 1/2 impact swivel set (12-24mm) $140 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002LUQBWI/?tag=atomicindus08-20

ahm

 

[coolformula]

Just a note i'm sure most people know. A lot of the cheap "impact" tools if you look is CR-V and not CR-M

I always make sure even if its black that it says CR-M usually you can tell also how they fill.

The impact extensions at HF are CR-V, but at northern tool you can find CR-M.

 

[Matt018]

I like the whack the end of a breaker bar with a deadblow first, if that doesnt work then a sledge certainly does, I know its not something proper to do and i wouldnt do it if i had a 100-200 breaker bar but for my 10 dollar harborfreight one it does the job fine.

 

[GirchyGirchy]

There us a reason you don't see many long extensions for impacts. It is not because they might break, it is because they reduce the effect of the "impact" !

That's no joke....I was trying to use a 6" extension when removing the crank timing gear bolt from my wife's car, and it just wasn't happening. Got rid of the extension and it came right off.