Beginner's toolset

[copbait]

As far as a tool set, i have the 99.99 dollar craftsman tool set. The main sockets you will use when working on a cb7 is 10mm,12mm,14mm,17mm, and 3/4 or 13/16 depending on what lug-nuts you have. Deep well and short well's are a must for these sizes. There are also some smaller ones like under 10mm will help you with the interior stuff you may come across. The kit I purchased came with a few wrenches but I prefer those gear wrenches. They maybe pricey but, god they are a life saver. If you have a decent budget to spend on tools remember you will need other things such as breaker bars, axle nut removal tools, pliers, a good hammer, pryer bars and a ball joint fork, for prying the ball joints apart. sometimes you can buy a axle nut kit that come with a breaker bar but may not fit the standard sizes on sockets 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 inch that come with your craftsman set.

[drummersteve7]

do you have access to the basic tools right now?
if so, I recommend buying the specialty tools first.
The ones not everyone has, but you will need to do your work.

That kit plus... Here are a few:
19mm with breaker bar for lugs ( I love breakers)
12 pt 17mm socket for flywheel
12 pt 10mm socket for pressure plate
36mm Axle Nut Socket
Open end wrenches (ratching, if you can)
Breaker Bar
Magnet
Magnetic Tray

[Kboers]

I don't know about you guys but craigslist sales are the best, closely followed by garage sales. You can find partial and complete sets of tools for sale for a fraction of what they are worth because some poor buck is desperate for cash. Even if it is missing a few pieces (usually every form of the 10mm socket is gone) you can always track down individual sockets from some stores. Just do a quick search on craigslist and see what comes up first, if there is anything that looks promising local go check it out, then you can always go back to autozone and sears tool set deals. For more basic tools such as sockets and screw drivers and wrenches the cheap stuff will always work well enough. For more intricate stuff like an impact gun or socket wrenches go name brand, snap-on, matco, craftsmen (meh), ect...
And in a final note, don't forget to get shallow and deep sockets, especially in metric sizes other wise you're gonna cry when the socket can't clear the threads and a wrench won't fit

[JTM]

I don't know about you guys but craigslist sales are the best, closely followed by garage sales. You can find partial and complete sets of tools for sale for a fraction of what they are worth because some poor buck is desperate for cash. Even if it is missing a few pieces (usually every form of the 10mm socket is gone) you can always track down individual sockets from some stores. Just do a quick search on craigslist and see what comes up first, if there is anything that looks promising local go check it out, then you can always go back to autozone and sears tool set deals. For more basic tools such as sockets and screw drivers and wrenches the cheap stuff will always work well enough. For more intricate stuff like an impact gun or socket wrenches go name brand, snap-on, matco, craftsmen (meh), ect...
And in a final note, don't forget to get shallow and deep sockets, especially in metric sizes other wise you're gonna cry when the socket can't clear the threads and a wrench won't fit

Thanks for the advice! I actually started my search on Craigslist and only found expensive Snap-On stuff I will keep looking though.

[JTM]

do you have access to the basic tools right now?
if so, I recommend buying the specialty tools first.
The ones not everyone has, but you will need to do your work.

That kit plus... Here are a few:
19mm with breaker bar for lugs ( I love breakers)
12 pt 17mm socket for flywheel
12 pt 10mm socket for pressure plate
36mm Axle Nut Socket
Open end wrenches (ratching, if you can)
Breaker Bar
Magnet
Magnetic Tray

I don't really have too many tools that I can access right now. I like the list you gave me though! I won't be buying stuff until roughly April so I have some time to figure out what I am going to get.

[Noridetoolow]

As to the mention of a 36mm axle nut....mine are 50 or 55mm....I forget which but was not aware of this till my 32mm wasn't even close! Lol

I am all about the high end sets but my daily tools that I use most of the time is a $20 Stanley socket set from walmart. Lifetime warranty and the case fits in most all tool bags. With that and some extentions you can do quite a bit. You will need 1/2" drive ratchet and some sockets, breaker bar as mentioned and metric wrench set. I use a shorty wrench set from Harbor Frieght, my Gear Wrench ratching wrenches and various screw drivers and pry bars. One of the best things you can buy is a good tool bag and I suggest one with a shoulder strap. Long walks in the junk yard and you will be thanking me! It's also very handy as you can easily grab your tools when you need them. My tool bag is usually in my car and I can pull a motor with what I carry with me if I need to. Granted i dont typically carry an axle nut or ball joint separator but y'all get the idea. Oh and Stanley tools also have a lifetime warranty, had a broken wratchet out of the box, called the 800 number 2 years later and they shipped me another, no questions asked.

[Losiracer2]

what I would do is buy a nice 100-150 piece craftsman mechanics tool set, I've got a 96 pc. thats a few years old and is still holding up well. And it keeps everything organized. Just that the hinges on the box are kinda falling apart.

Then I would buy all the other tools: deep sockets, Breaker bar, 36mm socket, and others at Harbor Freight.

Whats essential is a good quality ratcheting wrench, 1/4" and 3/8" so thats why I opted for Craftsman.

[HATCHing]

Buy the 190 or 200 pc set and use the rest of the money for axle socket, air compressor (buy it use for around $50-100) and 500-600 ft.-lbs of torque impact gun.

Dont forget hydrolic jack and 4 jackstands.

[JTM]

Thanks for all the advice. I definitely will be getting four jack stands and a hydraulic jack. I'll also look into Stanley, I didn't realize that they had a lifetime warranty.

[HATCHing]

Thanks for all the advice. I definitely will be getting four jack stands and a hydraulic jack. I'll also look into Stanley, I didn't realize that they had a lifetime warranty.

Dont..do not get Stanley stuff... they're cheap and has the lifetime warranty but does not worth your time.

[JTM]

Dont not get Stanley stuff... they're cheap and has the lifetime warranty but does not worth your time.

There goes that idea...haha. Craftsman it is!

[tru2037]

I'm pretty sure Craftsman dosen't have a lifetime warranty anymore, I could be wrong though, but anyway I used to work for a Canadian company and I was shown to the company Mastercraft. The have cheap stuff as well as a professional line. Putting the Mastercraft wrench next to a Snap-On you could not tell the difference at all and I have never broke one in 10 years. CanadianTire used to sell them online, I'm not sure it they do anymore but I've seen a few US places here and there selling them. I also like the sets they have, and you couldn't beat the price.

I have had a cheap-o HarborFreight MIT set of 3/4" sockets, and ratchet forever and it has been very useful. The sockets double as drivers.

From experience I can say nothing beats a Snap-On screw-driver set - a bit pricey but not having to put your entire weight into losening a stuck philips makes it worth it every time

:EDIT: It looks like Craftsman covers their hand tools, guess I was thinking of something else.... I just don't like how Craftsman wrenches are as they get to the larger sizes - They're dependible but they are thicker than any other wrench out there - I've had to grind on some to fit them into tight places.

[steelbluesleepR]

i really like getting used tools off craigslist and at auctions. they have some wear on them, but to me thats just character. you can find some really good deals too.

for a good starter set, like has been said go metric only unless you work on a lot of different cars.
DEFINITELY get a decent set of metric ratcheting wrenches, i am in love with my set and might just have to buy a set for the hydrogen fuel cell team that i'm on just so i dont have to take forever using regular wrenches anymore.

other tools i consider indispensable:
hydraulic floor jack
at least 1 pair of good jackstands
decent compressor
impact wrench
pry bar
big hammer
Cordless Drill

[JTM]

i really like getting used tools off craigslist and at auctions. they have some wear on them, but to me thats just character. you can find some really good deals too.

for a good starter set, like has been said go metric only unless you work on a lot of different cars.
DEFINITELY get a decent set of metric ratcheting wrenches, i am in love with my set and might just have to buy a set for the hydrogen fuel cell team that i'm on just so i dont have to take forever using regular wrenches anymore.

other tools i consider indispensable:
hydraulic floor jack
at least 1 pair of good jackstands
decent compressor
impact wrench
pry bar
big hammer
Cordless Drill

A compressor isn't really needed though right? It would just make life a lot easier?

[tru2037]

A nice compresser will make your life easier - a cheap-o will not.... I really love my 1/2 cordless impact, but if you aren't going to need it every day it's problably not worth the $$$.