Obsolete tools.

[ttpete]

Timing light is still useful, have to ensure the computer & crank position sensor are doing their job correctly, even on modern cars.

Many of the tools mentioned here are still applicable on classic cars, such as my '67 Camaro shown below

as far as drum brakes, get the spring puller shown below, makes drum brakes easy!

That is a motorcycle tool for removing and installing exhaust system retaining springs. There are brake spring tools that work much better and easier for less money. I have 3 or 4 of them.

 

[Steinmetz]

The vacuum tube voltmeter, signal tracer, capacitance bridge, analog VOM (to some degree). Although I still use all of these occasionally.

 

[Cope]

You CAN'T be serious.

And if you are I just LMAO.



Very myopic view of tools if you really think they are.

This is because it seems nowadays that no fastener is allowed to be installed or removed manually.

 

[Cope]

Obsolete is in the eye of the beholder. If you don't use it and don't want it, it's obsolete. I have engine rebuilding tools and tach/dwell, volt amp meters and timing light that I will likely not use anytime soon. I also have old KD kits for alternator and A/C compressor service that fill up a drawer in my box. If I get rid of them I'll just buy something I don't need to fill the drawer. Besides, they would have little value on the market today.

 

[wild cowboy]

The vacuum tube voltmeter, signal tracer, capacitance bridge, analog VOM (to some degree). Although I still use all of these occasionally.

heck I still use an isolation transformer and a variac when repairing old tube amplifiers!

both work flawlessly and were likely built in the 1940's!

 

[WhiffySpark]

You CAN'T be serious.

And if you are I just LMAO.



Very myopic view of tools if you really think they are.

Haven't used one in at least 6 years.

 

[panknuckshovel]

Timing light is still useful, have to ensure the computer & crank position sensor are doing their job correctly, even on modern cars.

Many of the tools mentioned here are still applicable on classic cars, such as my '67 Camaro shown below

as far as drum brakes, get the spring puller shown below, makes drum brakes easy!

Did you sell or buy that camaro through Ron Susser?

http://www.ronsusser.com/inventory.htm?id=714

 

[ttpete]

heck I still use an isolation transformer and a variac when repairing old tube amplifiers!

both work flawlessly and were likely built in the 1940's!

Nothing obsolete about either one. I have two Variacs, one is used to regulate AC voltage for heating elements, and the other is in a variable voltage 50 amp DC power supply I use to run low voltage equipment on the bench. I don't really have a use for an isolation transformer, but I understand your use of one because I worked with tube electronics long ago.

 

[wild cowboy]

Did you sell or buy that camaro through Ron Susser?

http://www.ronsusser.com/inventory.htm?id=714

nah, that one is identical to mine, except that one is actually a fake, it's not numbers matching, it is a plain '67 Camaro convertible fixed up to look like a real RS/SS - I doubt it even has a 350 in it, probably just a garden variety 327.

They did nail the very rare Royal Plum color though (which is nearly a black), most restorations have it looking like some ridiculous Plum Crazy purple!

I am way too OCD to ever have my hidden headlights line up that crappy!

 

[wyo george]

nah, that one is identical to mine, except that one is actually a fake, it's not numbers matching, it is a plain '67 Camaro convertible fixed up to look like a real RS/SS - I doubt it even has a 350 in it, probably just a garden variety 327.

They did nail the very rare Royal Plum color though (which is nearly a black), most restorations have it looking like some ridiculous Plum Crazy purple!

I am way too OCD to ever have my hidden headlights line up that crappy!

Care to share some pics of yours?

 

[Steinmetz]

heck I still use an isolation transformer and a variac when repairing old tube amplifiers!

both work flawlessly and were likely built in the 1940's!

I forgot to include isolation transformers. Yes, I use one of them too. But you and I are probably the only ones.

Variacs have a wide variety of present day uses, so they're not really obsolete.

 

[wild cowboy]

Care to share some pics of yours?

eventually, but probably not in the main tool thread and not anytime soon as it is in one of my warehouses over 250 miles from here and I don't get over there every week!

I guess that should be posted in free parking?

I know one thing, it takes a lot of obsolete tools to fix it! - I got really lucky on the intake manifold for it, it came with a Corvette manifold, the only non-original part besides the carburetor, so I went to Howards Machine Shop in Huntsville, Alabama and they had a stack of old intakes in that dingy place and they let me look through them and I found one from the exact month to match the engine date code, couldn't believe it! - They charged me $10 for the old manifold and $10 to bead blast it to look like new! (This was in 1990)

I sold the Corvette intake (designed for a Holley and a similar 60's vintage) for $250 so that was how to make the car fully numbers matching and make some money to boot. To find the correct Quadrajet, a friend at Autozone let me look through about 50 of them until I found the right date on a rebuilt.

 

[wild cowboy]

I forgot to include isolation transformers. Yes, I use one of them too. But you and I are probably the only ones.

Variacs have a wide variety of present day uses, so they're not really obsolete.

I have the two daisy chained, so the old tube amps get their designed for 110V (~124V is common today) and I stay protected, as some cheap guitar amps have no transformer and are chassis live and you can get a real "charge out of fixing them"

 

[shephd]

Little store front maybe 12'X12' with a counter with ash trays everywhere and a couple of stools along with the massive books where they'd look up your parts.

Oh, yeah. The places that helped you!

 

[ChrisFox]

I seem to have 300 of them and always getting more somehow. I don't know of a single time I've ever used them.

 

[Steinmetz]

I have the two daisy chained, so the old tube amps get their designed for 110V (~124V is common today) and I stay protected, as some cheap guitar amps have no transformer and are chassis live and you can get a real "charge out of fixing them"

Yep. Been there.

 

[G_P]

I seem to have 300 of them and always getting more somehow. I don't know of a single time I've ever used them.

I also have a massive quantity of these pliers. Seems every box of tools I buy at a yard sale has 2 or 3 of them in it. Never found a job where they were the correct tool. They always seem to be the type of pliers you use when you dont have the correct tool for the job or are too lazy to go get the correct tool.

 

[chris142]

I sold a bunch of tube testers at our yard sale.

 

[Banjorear]

Valve spring compressor for flat head engines.

What? If you have one and want to sell it, PM me. Flatheads seem to always find there way to my garage.

 

[Banjorear]

I sold a bunch of tube testers at our yard sale.

I wish I was at your yard sale. Dang, I always miss the good stuff.

 

[BlkY2k]

My distributor wrenches don't get a lot of use anymore.

They come in handy for reaching T-stat housing bolts sometimes.

 

[wild cowboy]

I sold a bunch of tube testers at our yard sale.

well **** - some of them I would have paid ya stupid money for

 

[jim1987]

Ratcheting screwdrivers

Absolutely not. What are you thinking!?!?!

 

[jim1987]

Corded power tools. Flouresent trebel lights. 36 tooth ratchets. (Lol)

 

[skiingman]

Spinner handles

I bought one as a young man buying his first set of tools. I bought it because it looked really cool. It still has a prominent place in my toolbox and still looks cool. Shiny, new, and cool.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

Corded power tools.

Hardly obsolete. There are more to power tools than cordless impacts and drills. For a hard use, all day tool, the umbilical cord is the only way to roll. All my power tools are corded, with the exception of a power screwdriver I use for prepping brass for reloading.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

Spinner handles

I have them in all 3 drive sizes and use them on a fairly regular basis. Great for low torque, multiple fastener applications.

 

[rodsnratfinks]

Corded power tools

Can't get behind that one. I prefer corded for most things: Sawzall, 1/2" drill, grinder, circular saw, etc.

 

[rodsnratfinks]

I seem to have 300 of them and always getting more somehow. I don't know of a single time I've ever used them.

I saw a set of those awesome Snap On ones for a good price and was very tempted, but, yeah. I can't remember the last time I used mine.

 

[rodsnratfinks]

That is one of my Fav tools, I have a Mac set in SAE working on putting together a set in Metric

What do you use them for? I have some nice Mac ones, but never seem to find a good use for them that a flex head ratchet or a swivel extension doesn't do better.

 

[928'er]

Spinner handles

I saw a video of two NASCRAP guys doing an engine build at a show of some sort. Spinner handles were, virtually, all they used. Couldn't believe it, they didn't even touch a torque wrench except for the bearing caps.

 

[besibela]

I have quite a few of these wrenches. Since the fine tooth gearwrenches have come out, these have become obsolete. They're just too coarse.

 

[Farmall450]

Well, to be completely honest, I still use my points files fairly often, just not on points My only current points ignition vehicle is a '69 Dodge 318 ('65 Chevy is running petronix) and I can buy a set of points for about $5 so I just toss a new set in every six months when I change the oil. It takes about 15 minutes and I enjoy it as it's not a task I get to do anymore except on that old Mopar.

The last thing I used the points files on were a set of contacts in an industrial switch at work.

Figures, as I too use them just as much for other stuff that points. No auto points, but lots of older small gas engines. That's typically all they need plus a carb kit.

 

[SASORacing]

Regular non- ratcheting wrenches...

I literally never use them, I have doubles in ratcheting wrenches for my most used sizes though...

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

What do you use them for? I have some nice Mac ones, but never seem to find a good use for them that a flex head ratchet or a swivel extension doesn't do better.

I use my 1/4" spinner to open / close (and perform jaw "reversal") on my 3 jaw chuck for my SB Lathe 10K. I've tried using my drill, but I've broken a couple 1/4" drive bits.. and don't want to break my chuck / jaws! Also works good on my 4 jaw/independent..

That's about all I've used them for lately (not a professional mechanic .. just a weekender).

Dennis

 

[finn]

What? If you have one and want to sell it, PM me. Flatheads seem to always find there way to my garage.

Picked one up at a swap meet this past fall, already degreased and bead blasted, for $10.00.

I consider that a good score!

 

[BioNerd]

I must be obsolete too! I still use mine.

I have the flex spinner! And I use it! Lol!

 

[BioNerd]

 

[wagzilla]

Almost all my snap-on a/c seal tools compressor tools, I had lots of money *******

James

 

[Buster21]