Tools needed to work on a camry

[zoni]

JR and I were talking about how he wants to replace his head gasket and his parents would never let him, PLUS he has no tools... so what tools does JR need to do engine work???

I figured this would be a good post, cause lots of people need to know what the proper tools to have when starting out are...

JR21777: i know i could fix my engine, but my parents wont hear any of that from me, id love to try replacing a head gasket but i have no tools
zonicamry: yeah yeah... gotta have tools
zonicamry: for a good mechanic style set, i would get a good set of ratcheting wrenches, 1/2 inch drive socket set, 3/8 drive socket set, 1/4 inch drive socket set, 2 vise grip pliars, set of screw drivers, 2 needlenose pliars, set of allen wrenches, a torque wrench, a breaker bar, extensions for your sockets, 2 adjustable wrenches, large and medium sizes regular pliars... jack, jackstands, i dont know if you need to do wiring, but if so, then a soldering gun, solder, electrical tape, wire stripper, wire cutters(dikes), i dunno... prolly missed some shit, OH cant forget the most important tools, a good hammer, and a good crowbar or 2, big and medium...
zonicamry: make sure all the tools are metric, cause for a toyota, all you need is metric.
JR21777: that helps big time, gonna save this
zonicamry: and im sure you will come to situations where you need some tools that arent on my list...

Guys, feel free to add on to my list, and add your personal preferances on which tools you use most or like most...

In my case...
I love my set of ratcheting wrenches... they make it a lot easier.
I use my breaker bar a LOT
I use my 9/16 deep impact socket the most. (9/16" = 14mm just so you know) (home depot didnt have a 14mm deep socket, so 9/16 it was...)

[luisitol]

nice list dave....I really love my Craftsman Deep socket set, they just come in handy in so many situations.

Dave you forgot to mention your air compressor and impact gun that sh*t helps a bunch when taking stuff apart (like an engine )

[.tony. .riot.]

I def. need to buy a tool set for myself, I hate using my dad's tools.

[zoni]

yeah air tools own, but you dont need them. I barely used my air tools while swapping this lexus motor... btw luis, im almost done with that, and you didnt get to come up to help

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v v v v i just read that oil filter wrench thing and didnt feel like post whoring tonight, so i used the EDIT button... yeah thats a damn good tool to have, we almost killed ourselves taking luis's oil filter off... but if you get the k&n oil filter it has a socket fitting on the top

[luisitol]

i think Zoni will agree with me when i add Oil filter Capr/Remover to the list

[BLUEMEANIE]

Sockets
Phillips/flat head driver
Breaker
Impact wrench
Extendable magnet thingy

[foompla]

that magent thing has saved my ass so many times. get a nice long one. like 2 bucks

the best filter wrench ive seen a friend got for me from napa. fits on like a socket. good stuff.

6 point sockets are best.
light
hammer
different screwdrivers
duct tape (solves all)
invest in good ratchets. i have these crappy craftsman ones that are hard to use in tight places.
impact 21 mm socket (deep)

[Redline]

Originally posted by Zoni_Camry
oil filter wrench...we almost killed ourselves taking luis's oil filter off... but if you get the k&n oil filter it has a socket fitting on the top

yah....that tool is very helpful. Without it, the oil filter I removed recently would have owned me...but b/c I have one, I OWNED it

I never knew that K&N had a socket fitting on their filters....nice touch FRAM has a hex/octo-head filter w/ a cylindrical body...basically just flat edges to get a better grip (by hand), but a round body for the oil fliter tool

[Stealth]

The best advice I've heard for people who work on cars alot is buy a decent mechanic set like Craftsman and just use that for a while. Now, when parts break, you could replace them but if the tool broke it will likely break again so "upgrade" the tool per se and get a better brand one (like Snap-On). For the most part though, Craftsman tools should be good enough for almost all of us.

[goretro77]

club4ag.com has a great article on tools for your garage. It is in the tech section. I cannot agree with it more. For precise work with fasteners like bolts and screws - it's worth getting something like Snap On tools. It's one of those places where you can strip the fastener and thus cause yourself more trouble. So preciseness in the way the tool is manufactured counts here. A stripped bolt or screw in a tight spot is no fun. i cannot count how many times i needed my wrench to hold that bolt and break it free or I am in for a LONG night.
For prybars and hammers, the craftsman brand and other brands are just as good. Cause this is less precise work, pliers also fall in the not- so- precise category.

So I go with Snap On wrenches and screwdrivers. hammers, prybars and pliers are from other brands. If you can afford Snap On everything - more power to you man!

But yeah....ya gotta have the tools and at the end, get a toolbox to put 'em all away properly. I lived with all my tools in a gym bag and after getting a tool storage system I cannot see ever going back! Makes the job go much faster and easier.

[foompla]

i get 50 percent off almost all mac tools as a student

i get anice discount from snap on too, but its from a special catalog, and much more limited