I have all kinds of metric tools, but my "short set" for Vanagon use is (not in any particular order of importance unless otherwise noted: Sockets: 10mm, 13mm, (15mm and 16mm if you own a diesel) 17mm, 19mm and 22mm will do most everything. Combination wrenches: 7-19 at least, there are several 22mm items on the car. 10mm flare wrench for brake lines, 19mm and 22mm flares for PS rack fittings. Regular old combination screwdriver set. Wonderbar to pry with. Ball Peen hammer Bosch Grease Big box of latex gloves Deep sockets 10mm and 13mm Set of punches and drifts are a must! Jack stands Long-nose pliers, nippers, and one set of big-assed pliers about 14 inches long with adjustable jaws, get a good one of these if you can. Soft hammer Set of cold chisels Vise grips (great for holding up read door struts the first time it falls in cold weather). With this setup, unless I've omitted anything important, you can do anything under the dash, alternator, tuneup, window motor replacement, brake shoes, drums, etc. Of course there are other minor things that need special tools like exhaust, removing steering wheel, etc. but you'll have to decide what your threshold of pain is on getting into that and the tools needed. I've never seen much tool selection in NYC except maybe you can get a lot of cheap tools at World Liquidators or whatever they call it on broadway near bleecker, or the Kmart at Astor Place whose auto department gets smaller ever time I go in it. Probably on LI you could get anything automotive. Try online at at harborfreight.com for cheap tools, especially stuff you hardly ever use like flare wrenches and deep sockets. I've listed the sizes the vanagon actually uses often, of course you would get the whole set cheaper. Your 10 and 13 mm tools should be snapon or craftsman, the rest can be cheap. You'll need more extensive tools if you remove or repair major stuff, so I didn't list that. But you will be able to do just about everything to the engine and body with what I've listed here. Of course you'll need long and short extensions, maybe a U-joint drive here and there. Good luck, no doubt you'll receive many other opinions. Listen to them all and decide what work you're going to be doing, and browse harborfreight.com Jim
On Monday, December 1, 2003, at 08:52 AM, Matt Sutton wrote: > Hi folks, > I'm getting ready to build a decent tool-kit to use with my > Vanagon. Any > recommendations for tool vendors, on-line or otherwise(I live in NYC)? > I'm > looking at a set of wrenches, sockets, torque driver, hex keys. > thanks > > Matt Sutton > 88 GL > |
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