Date:         Fri, 25 May 2001 00:05:00 -0500
Reply-To:     Joel Walker <jwalker17@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Joel Walker <jwalker17@EARTHLINK.NET>
Organization: not likely
Subject:      Re: Tools....
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

> As a new Westy owner wondering what the list would
> suggest as a starter set/must have's for tools?
> I've not done too much work on cars, so the tools I
> have are mainly for around the house stuff. Would like
> to put together a set for the Westy that can at least
> get me through some basic procedures.
> What do you recommend?

here's the deal.
sears has decent tools. they also have stores. stores that stay open
til 9pm at night and are open on weekends. prices aren't tooo bad and
their warranty on Craftsman tools is good. do NOT buy any tools from
sears that aren't Craftsman ... no warranty at all!

snap-on has good tools. so does cornwell and mac. but they sell out of
trucks. and the guys that have those trucks are franchise folks ...
they show up on a regular schedule at the service departments of the
local dealers. they finance the tools to the mechanics who make their
livings using those tools. they have a superb warranty ... break
anything in anyway and he'll give you a new one, no questions asked.
but finding these guys at nights and on weekends is impossible. and
even finding them in the daytime is hard to do, unless you know his
schedule. they do, however, have a much more extensive line of tools.

so what to do? get your basic tools from sears. get any specialty
tools from the truck-dealer of your choice, after chasing him down and
getting a catalog. check with local dealer service mechanics and find
out when the truck-guy shows up at their place. just ask for a catalog
and how he wants to be paid. some take credit cards, some don't.

a good list of basic tools is found in the Muir Idiot's Guide.

what i'd recommend as a starter set is this ..
1. sockets.
   get three sizes of sockets (and ratchet to go with them).
  a. 1/4-inch size. get the metric set, in a little plastic box. has
sizes 6mm to 10mm, with ratchet and extension. very handy.
  b. 3/8-inch size. used most of the time. get metric socket set that
covers about 10mm to 17mm.
don't need anything bigger than 17mm in this size. get a 3/8" size
spark plug socket (the one with the rubber cushion inside ... it holds
the spark plug securely so it doesn't drop out when you lift up the
socket). there are TWO spark plug sizes ... one is about 13/16" inch
and that's the one you want. the other is a tiny thing about 5/8" and
only fits GM cars. ignore it.
also get some extension bars ... 4-inch, 6-inch, and long mutha about
10-inches or so.
additional rachet ... get a long handle one, about 18 inches long. at
least 14 inches or so.
c. 1/2-inch size. only use this on wheels and suspension stuff. NEVER
use these on the engine!! you'll break bolts too easily!! get 19mm
socket to start, and a 6-inch extension. use this for your wheel
nuts/lugs. add other sockets as you find you need them, like 27mm for
the steering wheel nut. a long breaker bar (with flex
socket-gripper-thingie on the end) is very useful for breaking wheel
nuts loose. the 1/2 inch ratchet isn't quite long enough, but you'll
want it too for working on shock absorber bolts and such.

2. wrenches. get odd-sizes. germans use odd-sizes for some reason.
like 5-7mm, 7-9mm, 9-11mm, but also get a 10mm. go figure. 11-13mm,
13-15mm, 15-17mm, and 17-19mm. over 19 isn't really needed. get
open-end wreches AND box-end wrenches (has loops on both ends). or the
combo, that has open-end on one end and box-end on the other end. do
NOT get any box-end wrenches that are 12-point ... that is, they have
12 little gripper-thingies inside the closed box-end. as the wrench
wears, it will start rounding off bolts and create more problems than
it solves. get only the ones that have 6 sides inside the box-end.
this limits your choices, so you wind up having to get the 12-points
anyway, but you'll regret it. :(

3. screwdrivers. get the set in a box. it's got enough to last you.
and get one big mutha flat-blade screwdriver about two feet long ...
to use as a crowbar to adjust your alternator belt. :)

4. pliers. channel lock, medium and large. lineman's pliers. and
regular pliers (chrome, adjustable). that's about all you need. and
you can do without the large channel locks at first.

5. other stuff. get a mechanics mirror. the square folding one.
tremendous help at times.
a magnetic Gotcha-stick. :) a telescoping thingie like a radio antenna
with a magnet on one end. extremely useful for picking up dropped
washers and nuts and such.
a Gotcha-stick  that has a button on one end and when you push that
button, little claws come out the other end. also extremely useful.
pocket knife.
awl ... thing that looks like a screwdriver, but has sharp edges that
run along its length. useful for boring out holes to fit a bigger
screw.
punch ... looks like a screwdriver, but has a sharp end. useful for
punching holes in door panels for screws.
drifts and punches. useful for pushing those dufus roll-pins out of
the front seat arm rests. punches are good for putting a little dimple
in the metal so your drill bit doesn't wander all over the place when
you are trying to drill a hole in something.  get one punch and a
couple of sizes of drifts.

and last, but not least, a Tool Box! :) to put all this stuff in. i
recommend a two-drawer affair. don't get the no-drawer lift-out thing,
you have to dig out all the tools to find the one you want. with two
drawer (and the under-the-lid tray/storage), you can put the sockets
in the bottom drawer, the screwdrivers in the top drawer, and all the
other stuff up top. makes it easier to find. put some cork sheets (or
those k-mart kitchen shelf liners) in the bottom of each drawer .. it
keeps the sockets and such from making that clinking racket while you
drive. you ARE planning on keeping the toolbox IN the bus, right?? :)

good luck!
joel