Metric Toolset for keeping in VW Beetle

[AffableCurmudgeon]

I need a "Metric only" tool set to keep in a 60's Beetle. Not looking for professional truck brands. Would prefer a set that has only metric sockets (deep and regular), combination wrenches, ratchet and extensions, etc.

Is my best bet to buy all this individually or is there such a thing as a metric only set that has this in a case?

Thanks

 

[matt_i]

Unfortunately you just missed out. Around the horn to Grand Rapids and you could buy Tektons at Meijer for 40% off Th and Fri of Thanksgiving weekend. They have all of that as sets you could combine into one.

There's something like a 15% off sale right now at Tekton.com on certain stuff plus when you order direct you get 10% back as a credit to future orders.

They're not the only game either. You could shop at Lowes, HD, Menards, HF, and come up with something about the same. The quality of sockets and wrenches has elevated a lot since the butter soft el-cheapo tools my Dad got a few of in the early 80s.

 

[AGuinn]

Depends on how much you want to be able to do on the side of the road.

It's been many years, but iirc, you can disassemble maybe 90% of a Beetle using nothing more than a 10, 13, and 17mm, and a flat and #2 Phillips screwdriver. I did a body-off restoration with a minimal toolkit that all fit in a small 3-drawer Craftsman box, and I could have probably tossed at least half of that kit...

To start, I'd get a standard and deep socket and a combo wrench in a 10, 13, and 17mm. Flat and Phillips screwdriver, 3 and 6" extensions, spark plug socket, a 3/8dr ratchet, and a good flashlight and stuff all of that in a tool roll. Maybe a 10-12" Crescent wrench (for setting wheel bearings), feeler gauges (for setting points), and a test light.

You want enough to change spark plugs, points, and the belt at a minimum. These are simple cars, designed to be repaired in the field with minimal tools - I wouldn't try to over complicate things.

 

[Monte]

Hazet

 

[Junkdrawer Dog]

Yeah...now that's my kind of car. One you can work on with a small collection of ordinary hand tools. Today's cars take half the SO catalog just to do the routine stuff. Thankfully, they do go a good ways between services.

 

[Ton ton]

Channel lock or Carlyle.

 

[Ton ton]

Maybe an adjustable wrench for the odd nut or bolt.

 

[milwaukeephil]

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-3-8-in-Drive-Metric-Ratchet-and-Socket-Mechanics-Tool-Set-32-Piece-48-22-9508/305144366

I bought this one for my car kit recently. All metric, includes a swivel and a really nice slim case.

When I was looking for this I noticed there are very few metric only sets and even fewer that include a universal swivel.

 

[Swervyjoe]

Really dont need much in a VW. Various style 13mms, 10, 11, 15, 17, 19, 21, and 36. 27 or 32 and 46 for a bus. Feeler gauges, couple screw drivers and a test light. How carried away are you really going to get out on the road?

 

[Junkdrawer Dog]

Samstagsales.com Go to the lefthand toolbar and select "old Hazet tools". Shows you what was in the original kit and the current Hazet equivalent where available.

 

[drtyler]

This, along with pliers and some replacement fuel hose & ignition parts (points, condenser, cap, rotor) should do the trick.

Really dont need much in a VW. Various style 13mms, 10, 11, 15, 17, 19, 21, and 36. 27 or 32 and 46 for a bus. Feeler gauges, couple screw drivers and a test light. How carried away are you really going to get out on the road?

 

[txvwnut]

This is what I carry in mine. https://tengtoolsusa.com/collection...-piece-3-8-inch-drive-metric-and-sae-tool-set

 

[1cargarage]

Hazet

I knew somebody would post the original Hazet kit within the first couple responses. Not surprised Monte was the one to do it. Monte knows.

Maybe an adjustable wrench for the odd nut or bolt.

It's a VW so you're going to want to go with a METRIC adjustable wrench. I've made that mistake once or twice before. Been there, done that.

Samstagsales.com Go to the lefthand toolbar and select "old Hazet tools". Shows you what was in the original kit and the current Hazet equivalent where available.

+1
Samstagsales is your best bet if you want to keep it all German and period-"correct"

 

[Nineeightyone]

Kobalt offers a metric shallow and deep set 10mm-18mm in metric for ~$25, the rest can be gotten from HF for next to no money and the whole thing can be tossed in a bag. I've been looking for a basic set for a friend's junkyard bag, and trying to find cheap shallow AND deep sockets in metric has been a real pain.

 

[Ton ton]

You got me on the metric adjustable wrench. LOL.

 

[AffableCurmudgeon]

Thanks for the responses folks. If I do get a Hazet set, I won't be using that to actually fix anything

Since this is just an emergency roadside kit, I am going with the following in a tool bag under the rear seat. The toy is in great shape and I keep up with all maintenance on my cars, so chances of me actually using this are slim to none. In any event, if I can't fix it with these tools on the side of the road to get home, I will tow it home where I have everything I need.

1. Cheap go-through type socket/ratchet set (10mm to 19mm).
2. 8, 9, 21 and 36mm sockets and a ratchet.
3. Couple of extension bars.
4. Cheap set of metric combination wrenches.
5. Short length of cheater pipe.
6. Spark plug socket.
7. 17mm hex socket for the gearbox plugs.
8. Hammer.
9. Electrical tape, multi-meter, fuses, small length of wire.
10. Clutch and throttle cables.
11. Couple of spark plugs.
12. Feeler gauge.
13. Valve cover gasket set.
14. Fan belt.
15. Few Screwdrivers.
16. Quart of Oil, bake fluid.
17. Pliers.
18. And the all important METRIC adjustable wrench lol_hitti).

 

[pfaustus]

For the Beetle, it is semi-traditional to skip the feeler gauge and use a match book cover to set the points. You'll need a couple of the matches to adjust mental state anyways, but since your have "bake fluid" listed, maybe you have that covered. The VW screwdriver you could flip from straight to Philips was always handy. I must have at least six floating around. A length of that cloth covered VW hose and a jack knife got me going again several times. Definitely fuses, I don't know if you get those kind just anywhere nowadays. Add a static test light if you are going to screw with timing. You aren't getting the axle nuts off on the road without a 6' cheater, so why bother with the 36 mm socket? The short VW DOE wrenches were handy enough that I've got a set that has been moved from one car to the next as a second set for a couple decades now, with a couple of additions for new sizes, I don't think there were any 12 or 15 mm anything in a Beetle. 16mm too? I'd toss in a hacksaw blade and an old fashioned ignition file too. Otherwise, it looks like a good list.

 

[1cargarage]

For the Beetle, it is semi-traditional to skip the feeler gauge and use a match book cover to set the points. You'll need a couple of the matches to adjust mental state anyways, but since your have "bake fluid" listed, maybe you have that covered...

Again, make sure the matches are the metric variety - VERY IMPORTANT.