Most frequently used tools?

[Winums2]

Just beginning to work on a car (1960 falcon) for the first time and am wondering how to approach acquiring tools.

What tools do you use most frequently?

If you had it to do over again, would you purchase complete sets of things such as wrenches (with sizes from 1/2" up to 2") and socket sets (for example ones containing three sizes of drives and about 10 deep and 10 regular sockets in each of metric and SAE sizes for each drive) or are most of them sitting unused so that it would have been better to purchase individual sockets or wrenches as you went along?

Would you get only impact strength sets?

Are you getting the most use from human powered tools or powered ones such as air powered tools?

[65fastfalcon]

I would go with craftsman tools because of the lifetime warranty and they last.....you will need a good floor jack and stands as well........I would also look at acquiring tools either thru pawn shops, flea markets, etc to get some good deals......a good air ratchet with compressor is a must......also have a good supply of extensions to use in those tight spots

[theoldwizard]

Most popular tool, anything that can act like a hammer and is close at hand.

I either buy Craftsman (I have a socket set that I got when I was 14 which is ... too long ago. Stick with 6 point sockets. The 12 point round of the heads of old nuts and bolts. Watch for sale, especially around Christmas. You are better to start with a small set and add just the pieces you need. The big sets have lots of things you won't use.

Air tools are a luxury. Many times I won't use them as it takes to long to drag out the hose and the put it away. 1/4" and 3/8" ratchets are all you need 90% of the time. SAE and Metric. Standard and Deep.

Occasionally I shop the "Chinese discount store" for things that wear out (wire brushes etc). Actually, their HD jack stands are pretty well made.

[gearhed1971]

Don't cheap on tools,they enable you to do what it is that you need done.Go to a place where they will actually let you check them out,then maybe shop around for the same thing if you don't like the price.BUY AMERICAN!!!!!!! Don't get that cheap Harbor freight crap,I regret everything I've ever bought there.Chinese steel SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
On a lighter note,pick up a good vacuum gauge and a compression gauge too.I like husky tools,they are good for the money.Stay away from pit pro,their rachets sh*t the bed.

[sabrecustom]

I agree with Gearhed whole heartedly! Nothing is more gratifying then working with a good set of tools. And its always easier when you have the right tool for the job. (ex. good spring compressor) And a note on Harbor freight, don't buy your main hand tools from them such as, sockets, ratchets, wrenches... their cheap and will brake at some point, but since you already know its gonna brake at least its cheap enough to replace without hesitation. Ps. I'm for American all the way! But I'm also a broke American!

[60FALCON]

go to harbor freight and get the "color " sockets and the "rachet" type
wreches that r all also color coded took apart a old rusted 60 falcon piece by piece and the dam habor frieght tools did not F@CKING break still kept on ticking !!!!best price socket set of 10 $12.99 and the wrech set like 30 bucks so for like $100 bucks u can get standed and metic sets great deal and they r also the lifetime warranty

[60FALCON]

- Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices - Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices - Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices
- Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices - Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices are the tool i used to strip the whole falcon take pics of what is left soon and post

[SC Car Dude]

I was reflecting on this subject myself a few days ago. I noticed I managed to slowly build a huge collection of tools over the years. Which ones have been the most useful to me? A shallow answer would be sockets and wrenches 1/2", 9/16", and 5/8" size, plus the various extensions which you rejoice when you find them but curse when you misplace. When I put a bit more thought into it I realized that the value of a tool is determined not by what kind it is, but whether or not you have it when you need it.

Rather than considering exactly what kind of tools you might use most you first need to ask yourself how much wrenching do you plan on doing yourself versus taking the vehicle to a mechanic. If you are just a nuts & bolts guy then you won't need a spring compressor for the cylinder heads, or a compression gauge to diagnose a bad cylinder or leaking valve, and you won't need a multimeter to track down electrical gremlins either.

On the other hand, if you insist on fixing everything yourself then be prepared to buy one of practically every tool made because you will need each one at one point or another.

Looking back on my years of wrenching I realize that the type of tools I bought was determined by what the job required, and that required me choosing between doing the job myself or hiring a mechanic. Due to the enormous amount of money which can be saved by doing auto repairs yourself investing in whatever tool is needed at the moment is easy to justify. The only things left to consider is your knowledge level for the job at hand, and your competence doing things many of which are extremely dangerous if not done carefully.

Which tools do you need to buy?

Which problems with your car do you intend to tackle yourself?

[yank with ute]

Beer, lotsa beer. If you are a Yank working on an Aussie Falcon you need cases of Fosters or XXXX ("Four X") to understand why the Aussies did some unsual things to the basic Falcon design (like the bolts on the front guards/fenders).

No, to be quite honest the best "Tool" is being able to deal with the fact that the Falcons were built with state-of-art technoligy of the late 1950's. Far too many people on this board expect the 60's Falcons to comply with the consturction of new Asian-built cars.

There has been radical changes in auto construction over the last 50 years and working on the car in the same mind-set as it was built is the only way to approach the subject.

A good example of the state-of-art methods apploied on the Falcon is the placement of the fuse panel. People complain about having to stand on their heads to change fuses and never bother to notice the fuse box can be dropped below the dash after removing ONE fastener (hint: the chrome bezel of the light switch is the fastener. Of course the same people don't stop and thing about how to remove the light switch knob in order to unscrew the bezel (hint: feel around the top of the light switch and you will find the button that releases the knob and shaft)).

To be honest I am surprised that there are any old cars let alone Falcons left the way people try to work on old cars.

[RCH62Falcon]

I have found that many of the tools that I have used to do restoration work on my 62 Falcon have been standard sockets and wrenches. I use a 12 inch long section of iron pipe to slip over the end of my socket when I need a "breaker bar". It works every time. I have yet to bust a nut or strip a head bolt. Plenty of "liquid wrench" and WD-40 help with tough stuff. Also a great tip for cleaning those dirty bolts. Use a dozen tea bags and make a gallon of tea in a gallon bucket. Drop your old greasy bolts into the "tea" overnight and the next day they will be clean and "black steel" as the day they were new. Some real greasy ones may need a little brushing.