mechanic tools

[mustangguy]

Hello, im new to the site i was just wondering what you guys suggest for mechanic tools i am 15 and starting off on my first project witch is under way. A 1989 mustang notch back i have like a complete mastercraft socket set a few mastercraft screw driver sets and a complete set of wrenches pliers angle grinder and sawsall and cordless drill all long with bits ect..what other tools have you guys seen that have been useful and make work go faster and easyer my bday is coming up so give me some ideas thanks.

joN


p.s i got a compressor but need air tools suggestion

 

[toolfreak]

If you have an air compressor one of the first things I would recommend is a 1/2 inch impact. As far as hand tools you will need allen wrenches and torx bits. What all are you doin to your mustang to give everyone an idea of what other tools you will need?

 

[mustangguy]

my mustang is going therw a 100% over haul i know its a large over takin for a 15 year old kid but for years people have told me you cant well i can and im gonna do it i already got a welder i got toque allens ect..i got a vice..my mustang is striped down to just the shell right know (unibody)

 

[jerryW]

An air cutoff tool makes sheetmetal cutting nice.


jerry

 

[wilbilt]

I sounds like you have the basics covered.

It really depends on what you plan to do, as there are thousands of specialty tools that make quick work of particular jobs.

For the '89 Mustang I might suggest some impact sockets to fit the front strut lower mount bolts, and an impact wrench strong enough to break them loose.

A good variety of Torx drivers and sockets up to T-45 would be a plus.

There are undoubtedly some specialty carb adjustment tools for whatever it has on it, and a good digital multimeter (Fluke) is a must for diagnosing anything built after 1972.

 

[the_duke]

a fluke would be a great upgrade. the impact would be cool. ratcheting wrenches are f'in awesome! also, a 3/8'' drive air ratchet would be a good time saver too. if you're doing wiring, you'll need some soldering equipment, which is a must prolly anyways. if you're doing bodywork, you'll want a da sander and you'll want a stroker. anything else, just ask.

 

[mustangguy]

what is a fluke?... and where is a good place to get some air tools for a good price also i am looking for a rolling tool cabinet where can i get one?

 

[MXtras]

A Fluke is a high quality digital multimeter.

Whatever you decide to get, buy the good stuff. Stay away from Horrible Freight and Lowes tools. Buy smaller quantities of high quality stuff instead of a lot of low quality tools - in the long run (by the time you are 20) you won't be disappointed.

Scott

 

[Canadian Charlie]

Why not get them from your local Canadian Tire store, most air tools today are made in Tiwaan or China. I have a couple of Mastercraft roll cabs in my garage from the 80's and thy are still in mint condition.

 

[ZRX61]

and you'll want a stroker.

A what ?

 

[l_bilyk]

get this

http://www.canadiantire.ca/assortme...4443287995&assortment=primary&fromSearch=true

one of these (when they go on sale... every month)

http://www.canadiantire.ca/assortme...<>ast_id=1408474396670271&bmUID=1160506472819

this set

http://www.canadiantire.ca/assortme...0506506175&assortment=primary&fromSearch=true

this

http://www.canadiantire.ca/assortme...0506561929&assortment=primary&fromSearch=true

and some snap on torque wrenches off ebay

 

[l_bilyk]

what is a fluke?... and where is a good place to get some air tools for a good price also i am looking for a rolling tool cabinet where can i get one?

Where in canada are you?

 

[kartracer55]

Welcome to the site.

Im only 16 so I know pretty much what your going through with that, but ya gotta remember 1 thing... Quality OVER Quantity.

Skip the cheapo imported hand tools. Youll probably wind up kicking your self for buying them later. You dont need to get top of the line Snap on tools or anything but at least get decent quality things. The US craftsman stuff is probably ideal for ya, I dont know where the canadian stuff is made though. Craftsman is a good balance of quality and price, which Is why Ill bet that only a few people on here can honestly say they dont own any craftsman tools.

Buy good tools. I have been tempted many times to buy **** tools from Harbor Frieght (aparantly its like your canadian tire) but Is it really worth it in the long run? Be smart about what you buy

Jim

 

[PAToyota]

Kartracer hits it - better to get stuff that lasts than always replacing the cheap stuff.

Despite what others have said, offhand I can think of one hammer, a socket wrench, a couple screwdrivers, and (most recently) a 3/4" 6-point socket that I've broken of Craftsman stuff - all replaced with minimal problems (the socket took forever for them to get in stock). When I started out in my late teens I got the biggest Craftsman set I could afford. Actually, my parents offered to get me one set for my birthday and I put down the extra money to go two steps up from that. The sets are inexpensive when you start pricing what it would cost to assemble the same tools individually or through small sets.

From there, it depends on the jobs that you'll be doing as to what tools you need - welders, body tools, plasma cutters, lifts, sandblasters, etc. Read through the posts on the site - a lot of information on tools, what people are using, what people are doing, and such. You can learn a lot!

 

[mustangguy]

im in canada b.c near vancouver

canadian tire is not like habor freight they offer a life time warretny on the master craft stuff pricessauto is just like habor freight

thanks guys

 

[the_duke]

A what ?

a 12 inch or 18 inch air sanding block. those are freaking awesome!

 

[l_bilyk]

Welcome to the site.

Im only 16 so I know pretty much what your going through with that, but ya gotta remember 1 thing... Quality OVER Quantity.

Skip the cheapo imported hand tools. Youll probably wind up kicking your self for buying them later. You dont need to get top of the line Snap on tools or anything but at least get decent quality things. The US craftsman stuff is probably ideal for ya, I dont know where the canadian stuff is made though. Craftsman is a good balance of quality and price, which Is why Ill bet that only a few people on here can honestly say they dont own any craftsman tools.

Buy good tools. I have been tempted many times to buy **** tools from Harbor Frieght (aparantly its like your canadian tire) but Is it really worth it in the long run? Be smart about what you buy

Jim

Jim, the crapsman stuff here is ALL made in china and alot worse than mastercraft (rebadged stanley, same as the husky line). Now if he's working on a 5.0 stang he obviously doesn't have alot of money to blow on tools. So i say the mastercraft maximum stuff is the absolute best buy for him. You can get a whole tool set, in nice little trays for 150 dollars (on sale) with lifetime warrantly. That barely buys you 3 snap-on wrenches. Not to mention some of the tools are IDENTICAL to mac stuff, others are imported 'version' of proto stuff.

And it's not like there is an alternative, because there isnt. No big chain stores up here that i am aware of carry domesticly made stuff. So you are limited to ordering online or chasing down a truck... which isn't really an option for someone younger.

And canadian tire is more like lowes or sears. They have a large tools section, an automotive section, consumer goods, electronics, camping/fishing/outdoors, gardening, babrbeques, and stuff like that. We have a 'horrible freight'-like chain called princess auto. They aren't all bad though... they carry some good lines like channellock, task (swiss made stuff), empire, dewalt, devilbiss, etc.

 

[kartracer55]

Hmmm What about these "gray had tools" I have read about. Made in Canada arnt they? Is it like a canadian truck brand or something?

Jim

 

[eschoendorff]

I swear... we should take a field trip to Canada to see this Canadian Tirre for ourselves. Jim, you in?

Mustangguy... I think that the others (esp. those residing in Canada) made a pretty good case for the Mastercraft Maximum line. I'd really like to see those tools up close myself.

Anyone know the Canadian postal code for Windsor?

 

[kartracer55]

HHHAHAHAHAHAHHA

lol wheres this stuff made?

 

[mustangguy]

prob made in canada i dunno i have never had a problem returning tools to them and my buddy has had there tools for 10 + years no problems returning he had snap on and it tooks 2 weeks to get a replacement canadian tire gives you it right away

 

[Jared]

kartracer, the grya stuff is many sold in autoparts and industrial supply stores, it is fairly decent stuff but it doesnt come cheap. For postal code for the canadian tire just use: m4s 2b8 its a toronto postal code.

 

[mikeatrpi]

A great way to waste a ton of money is to buy tools you don't need. Start doing small projects on the car, then move on to the larger ones. Then, when you encounter the need for a tool you can't rent or don't own- purchase a new tool to add to your collection. It sounds like you're off to a pretty good start already. Take your time and enjoy the car project for what it is. Good luck.

 

[chevy302dz]

What you need to do is buy the most complete and best quality set to cover sockets, ratchets, and wrenches, after that a good full set of screwdrivers, a set of pliers (including vise grips), a few hammers a set of punches and chisels, and a set of pry bars. Everything else should be bought on a as needed basis Pullers, speciality wernches and sockets, air tools, pickle forks, etc.

 

[wythors]

Now if he's working on a 5.0 stang he obviously doesn't have alot of money to blow on tools.

What the hell is that crack supposed to mean?


Back on subject, I'm surprised that noone has mentioned torque wrenches. If you're going to be doing engine work on your 'Stang, you're going to need two good torque wrenches: an inch-pound and a foot pound. Get decent quality, i.e. Craftsman or better. I've been very happy with my S-K units.

One of the best tools I have in my arsenal is a complete set of factory service manuals for all four of my vehicles. You can usually find really good deals on eBay if you keep your eyes open.

Good luck with your Pony. If you need any e-help, let me know. I know a thing or two about late-model Mustangs.

 

[the intimidator]

now now fellas stop pickin on us canuks

I can vouch for the master craft maximum tools they are good quality tools and are very nice to use I would buy this set it is a great price http://www.canadiantire.ca/assortme...4443287995&assortment=primary&fromSearch=true
and has most every socket you will need to work on you're car. Once you get the basics coverd save up some mony and go buy some snap-on ratchets to replace the ones included they are a very strong design and work great but they just dont have the same feel and quality the snappys do once you use them you'll be curse'ing the cheaper ones. hint get the industrial finish tools if you dont mind not having crome you'll save 40$ or so lol

I think the other guy's coverd pretty much everything else except what size compresser do you have? depending on the size you may or may not be able to run anything they reccomended most of those tools need upwards of 15-20 cfm and a minimum 60 gal tank to run them decent

 

[the intimidator]

oops one more thing to add I would not buy any cheap/chinease torque wrench aka craftsman mastercraft stanly princess auto ect that is one area you do not want to mess up think abought it you spend all the time and possibly alot of mony on that 5.0L of you're only to gamble on a 39.99$ torque wrench I would spend the extra 100$ or so and buy a nice used snap-on (have any used precision tools calibrated) or other quality tool I am sure there are a few threads on them here somewhere do a search You should also look at ebay you can find quality tools at a fraction of new think abought it they are made of steel and have a lifetime warrenty what much can go wrong? Also subscribe to the princess auto flyer they do have some great deals in there I have a half inch set of impact sockets impearial and metric deep and shallow all for 29 or 39$ I have not used them much with a impact gun but I have yet to break them with my 6 foot long super breaker bar

 

[wilbilt]

A what ?

Air-powered straight-stroke body sander. aka "long bondo board", surfboard", "longboard", "USS Nimitz", etc....

 

[mustangguy]

my compressor is like 26 gallons it was my buddys old one and it ran the impact ok

 

[l_bilyk]

Hmmm What about these "gray had tools" I have read about. Made in Canada arnt they? Is it like a canadian truck brand or something?

Jim

looong gone... been gone from major stores for at least 10 years now... i think they are still around but no one carries them

 

[l_bilyk]

I think that the others (esp. those residing in Canada) made a pretty good case for the Mastercraft Maximum line.

They're almost the same as husky stuff you get down there... but much cheaper. Like 50%-70% cheaper

 

[l_bilyk]

What the hell is that crack supposed to mean?

nothing... just saying all 80's domestics are cheap

 

[wythors]

nothing... just saying all 80's GM products are cheap

Fixt.

 

[eschoendorff]

Fixt.

Orly?????

 

[l_bilyk]

Fixt.

GN's are expensive...
B2K corvettes are espensive
Syclones are expensive

 

[rambler]

looong gone... been gone from major stores for at least 10 years now... i think they are still around but no one carries them

Gray Tools are still around. Ackland Grainger carrys some of their hand tools in their cataloque and Source One carries them in their tool truck that goes around to all the mechanical shops. They are a great Canadian tool company.

 

[ZRX61]

What the hell is that crack supposed to mean?

I think he was saying something about FFR donors

 

[Rickster]

You'll also need a Ford diagnostic code reader, its an 89 so it'll be the cheaper OBD-1 reader (verify it's OBD1 and not the pre-OBD1 system). Oh, and also a floor jack with some good jackstands.

 

[eschoendorff]

Gray Tools are still around. Ackland Grainger carrys some of their hand tools in their cataloque and Source One carries them in their tool truck that goes around to all the mechanical shops. They are a great Canadian tool company.

Di they have a website? I'd love to see their stuff...

 

[eschoendorff]

You'll also need a Ford diagnostic code reader, its an 89 so it'll be the cheaper OBD-1 reader (verify it's OBD1 and not the pre-OBD1 system). Oh, and also a floor jack with some good jackstands.

Can't you just jumper the A and B terminals on the Data Link and read the codes on the dash? For GM OBD1, all you need is a paper clip!