In this segment, host Steve Magnante goes over some of the tools that will be helpful in any automotive restoration.Suggested Tools:
Digital camera
Standard automotive tools (socket wrenches, extensions, combination wrenches, screwdrivers, nut-drivers, etc.)
Torque wrenches
Cordless drill
Air compressor and impact wrenches (optional)
Tap-and-die set
Tubing benders
Flaring tools
Compression tester
Pressurizer
Timing light
Fluorescent drop-light
Jack and jack-stands
Creeper
Mobile workbench
Bench vise
Parts cleaner
Spray degreaser
Safety Equipment:
Respirator mask
Work gloves
Safety glasses or other eye protection
Fire extinguisher
Car restoration can be a very enjoyable and rewarding hobby if you take your time, use the resources available to you and get the right tools. One of the most fundamental and helpful of tools for car restoration is a digital camera (figure A). With it you can take digital photos of the car before and during the restoration process. These provide a progress log, and may prove very helpful in later re-assembly steps.Think safety first. Make sure that you have essential safety equipment like a respirator mask (figure B), safety glasses and protective work gloves.
Don't fall for the myth that you need a huge toolbox to work on cars. It's just not true. Instead, basic combination wrenches, torque wrenches, sockets, extensions -- your basic hand tools -- really will handle most of what you're going to do with your old car.
If you're lucky enough to have an air compressor, it's true that things like impact wrenches (figure C) will allow certain jobs to go faster. But they're not mandatory. Consider them a luxury.
When it comes to older cars, you'll likely find that a lot of the fasteners might be rusted in place, and may break when you attempt to take them apart. To handle those problems, get yourself a good tap-and-die set with easy outs (figure D).
A lot of the steel tubing on these cars, things like brake lines and fuel lines, can be rusty or brittle, so, tubing-benders and flaring tools will allow you to make those repairs.
A good electric drill is one of the most versatile tools for many do-it-yourself projects, and automotive work is no exception.
When it comes to lighting while you're working on your car, an inexpensive drop-light is a good start but they're not very durable. A better choice is a fluorescent drop light that offers excellent illumination and is less likely to break with rough handling or if dropped.
Basic diagnostic equipment includes of a compression tester (figure E), which will allow you to check the condition of the rings, the valves and the valve seats. A pressurizer allows you to pressurize the radiator and look for coolant leaks, and also diagnose things like blown head gaskets, bad freeze plugs and bad water pumps.
A timing light (figure F) allows you to confirm proper ignition timing during the tune-up and re-building of the engine.
A bench vise is essential as it allows you to hold parts steady while working on them. A good mobile workbench is very convenient as it allows us to take our tools from the garage out to the work site.
To clean dirty and greasy parts that come off the car, a parts cleaner is the best choice. Or, if all else fails, cans of Gunk© and a running hose will do the job too. But remember, any time you're dealing with flammable liquids, you need to have a working fire extinguisher on hand.
To lift our Thunderbird off the ground, we used a floor jack rated for 6,000 pounds and a set of jack stands (figure G). To go underneath the car, we used a creeper. And when it comes to jack stands, the higher, the better. If you can get the car more than two feet off the ground, it'll make it a lot easier to get under there and turn wrenches.
Safety Alert: Never go underneath a car that has not been supported with jack stands.
![PHOTO](javascript:popup("http://img.diynetwork.com/DIY/2004/03/23/dcr301_2xa_e.jpg",350,450))
![PHOTO](javascript:popup("http://img.diynetwork.com/DIY/2004/03/23/dcr301_4fa_e.jpg",350,450))
![PHOTO](javascript:popup("http://img.diynetwork.com/DIY/2004/03/23/dcr301_4fb_e.jpg",350,450))
![PHOTO](javascript:popup("http://img.diynetwork.com/DIY/2004/03/23/dcr301_4fd_e.jpg",350,450))
![PHOTO](javascript:popup("http://img.diynetwork.com/DIY/2004/03/23/dcr301_4fe_e.jpg",350,450))
![PHOTO](javascript:popup("http://img.diynetwork.com/DIY/2004/03/23/dcr301_4ff_e.jpg",350,450))
![PHOTO](javascript:popup("http://img.diynetwork.com/DIY/2004/03/23/dcr301_4fg_e.jpg",350,450))
![PHOTO](javascript:popup("http://img.diynetwork.com/DIY/2004/03/23/dcr301_4fh_e.jpg",350,450))
