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Tools - what do you recommend?

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Having had the 101 Projects book for a while now and with the 'working on the car' weather now almost truly here, I've been thinking about what tools to get. I don't have any for the car, and was wondering what people who've actually fixed things on their car would recommend to a tool n00b like myself. [:)]

I've seen various toolsets in Halfords, on the telly shopping channels, at German and Swedish, and various other places, and there are just too many adjustable this and multiple that, and I'm at a loss to know what's actually going to be useful and what will only be looked at wondering what I'll ever use it for.

Ideally, I'd like to be able to do things like take the between-seats heater unit apart, oil change, take out spark plugs, take apart the window mirrors, and all of those kinds of relatively straightforward things first, and progress later to some more challenging (for me) jobs as I learn more about the mechanics of my car and do as many jobs as possible myself.

Are there any standard recommendations or couldn't-be-without things that any of you use?

All advice gladly welcomed!
 
If you're over this way on Saturday John bring a note pad with you and you can jot down what I have , basic stuff really.
 
The Halfords sets are very good and the tools are all made by a reputable British manufacturer who's name escapes me at the moment. I think they have a fairly lengthy warranty, might even be life. I have the 90 piece set which costs about £100-120 pounds now. I think it was less when I bought it. Anyway, It has most things you will need for the jobs you mention. Other than this you need a few srewdrivers etc and may be a slightly longer bar if you come across anything stubborn. Oh, and perhaps a drive adaptor for the sockets so you can use 1/2" to 3/8" etc. I have rebuilt engines amongst most other jobs on Mini's, a Jaguar XJ40, A Range Rover and a Nissan 200SX (most things on this car) and these tools have stood me in good stead. Hope this helps, Cheers

Kristian
 
Kristian,

Where did you get that front end? Is it an RSR front bumper?

Oil cooler vent and brake ducts?

Cheers
 
If your doing almost anything that needs a proper toolset then you should have a couple of torque wrenches. I have Britool wrenches.

I have heard that some of the Halfords professional (?) range are quite good.

There are plenty of online tool suppliers so don't limit yourself to Halfords etc...

Since I had the Porsche I have always tried to buy good quality tools. Not snapon prices but not unbranded local car shop prices either. Decent kit makes the job easier, doesnt damage components and pays for itself over time.

I would also add that if your doing a particular job that needs or is helped by having special tools then buy them. The money you save doing it your self easily pays for the tools and if its a one off job you can always ebay them later. :)

Pelican parts 911 forum might have toolkit suggestions and is worth a search.

Cheers

Andy
 
Tim,

The front end came on the car when I bought it to be honest, so I probably will not be much help. However, I did find it on the web about 6 weeks ago, just after I had bought the car. This was while I was at my parents while recovering from an operation on my knee and so I haven't been back to their computer to try to trace the site I found it on. The reason I say this is that I haven't been able to find it since, no matter what search parameters I use. All I can tell you is that it was an American site. I have tried all sorts including IROC, RSR, RUF (because the RUF BTR used a very similar front spoiler) but to no avail. I know I used RSR when I originally found it but not sure what else. It does look great, I even saw a 993 owner double take and express his interest the other day whilst going in the opposite direction! If I find the site again I'll let you know. I could send you some more pictures aswell if you are interested? I haven't attached any brake ducts yet but will be for track days. The bumper is a whole unit if that is what you meant in your question???

I agree with 911POR, a torque wrench, ideally two, a small and large torque one are very useful, especially on a Porsche where all torques for almost everything seem to be specified, at least they do in the Bentley manual.

Cheers

Kristian

 
A little off topic but as you are not sure where your bumper came from... You'll find this sort of 934 bumper available for import along with loads of other fantasic items at http://www.betterbodiesmotorsport.com/
 
Andy, Kristian,

Great advice, thanks! I'm itching to get on and learn how to do as much as I'm capable of. Oh, and Bones - I'll be bringing a big notepad on Saturday, mate. [;)]

John
 
John
A good 3/8 socket set is a must have and deep sockets to go with it are very handy. Seally do some very nice tools that stand up to it very well. Buy as you go along then you wont buy stuff you dont need, but the list of nice to have is endless.
Good luck Baz
 
For those interested, I didn't find the site I found previously with my bumper on but this site has lots and mine included. Take a look, there's some nice looking bumpers etc. Cheers
http://www.9xauto.com/gtrall5.pdf

Kristian
 
FYI, the Halfords Professional range is only worth buying because of the lifetime warranty. My torque wrench broke after a year and was duly exchanged for a new one, which after a year appears OK. Perceived quality is pretty average IMHO.

BTW, the bumper is an IROC pattern bumper. Available from many including GT Racing, Better Bodies, MA Shaw etc. I have yet find a good European supplier for fibreglass panels and would be interested in any leads.
 
If you are a halfords shopper then their combi ratchet spanners with swivel heads can save an enormous amount of time in limited space areas.The set I bought on half price offer(£34) ran from 8mm to 19 mm with a couple of useful attachments.
On the whole though stick with good brand names such as Britool,gedore,CK,snapon(if you must),Facom,Stahlwille etc.By and large you do get what you pay for with tools.
I get a £250 a year tool allowance and it rarely buys many decent quality tools.
Ian
 
I like the metrinch socket sets (available from RS but other places sell them) they grab the walls not the corners which is very usefull on older corroded nuts and bolts. This also means one socket fits a wider range of sizes metric/AF etc. so a smaller set will cover a larger number of bolts.
Impact driver is often useful for those awkward screws (brake discs).
A small inspection mirror and a magnet on a stick are also usefull.
Axle stands / trolley jack / wheel brace.
Allen key / star bit adaptors for the soket set.

Tony
 
IMHO. apart from the other tools mentioned here, the most common tools I find I need are hex bits. or sockets. Tony (944 turbo) did mention this with regard to allen keys, but as a socket with a wrench, you can apply better leverage in more confirmed places.

Whilst I havent attempted anything major in dissassembly, in most small jobs it always seems I come up against hex bolts!
 
Talking of tools, I was looking through my tool roll last night and I'm not really sure what one of them is for. I don't have the handbook with the car. Does anyone know what the short tool with a flat bladed screw driver at one end and a small bolt at the other is for. It must screw into something and then do a job but I'm not sure what!

Also, I was changing my spark plugs last night, using my Halfords spark plug socket but the rubber insert holds onto the spark plug so well that when I try to romove it, my extension bar and universal joint part and leave the socket behind! Very annoying and took about an hour to sort one plug out. I tried everything, fairy liquid etc to make it more slippy! In the end, I managed to get it to just hold the plug i.e. not pushing the socket right on, and was careful not to push it on whilst tightening the plug. Once in I managed to pull it off OK. Previously I had to keep extracting the plug to get the socket back! Some of the most awkward spark plug changes I've ever had to do and there's enough room down there to loose small univeral joints etc!

Anyway, after all that struggling I then found the Porsche spark plug tool in the tool role! A much better item to use as there are no joints to pull apart!

Cheers

Kris
 
And for the more specialised goodies try http://www.frost.co.uk/ (though the prices are not always the best)
Tony
 
Thanks for all the great advice on tools - I will be sniffing about the stalls at the upcoming Enfield pageant! [:)]
 
I think we should try and arrange a P.C.G.B. 'prescence' for this event if there is enough interest, the autojumble is second to none I can assure you; so Johannes (London RO) and Martin (Chiltern RO) it's over to you.
Any thoughts on guitars yet John?
 
Hi Bones,

Yep, I'm wading through the links you sent me and compiling a new list of guitar-related questions to ask you in the not-too-distant future....!

John
 
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