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Thread: Tool suggestions?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2008
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    Default Tool suggestions?

    Last season was my first season and I trudged my way through well enough, though I did spend way more than my budget. Probably due to the fact that I hadn't really set one...learned my lesson there. However we are expecting our first child this year and so I need to ensure that my now limited racing dollars are well spent. I have a list of tools I need to purchase, either because I don't currently own them, or because the ones I have/had are/were junk. I'm looking to hear from your experience regarding particular tools you're happy with, and whether it should be a Harbor Freight, Craftsman, or Snap-on/Mac/etc purchase. I plan on racing for awhile and I don't mind spending the money on a quality tool if it is justified but I also don't mind Harbor Freight provided that I'm not going to have eventually buy a Snap-on version because I go through five HB tools.
    The sort of things I want to avoid - my HF rivet gun doesn't work anymore after only two uses, my "nice" Intercomp tire gauge is now junk after a season as it always reads 10psi(even after being babied all year), and a fuel pressure regulator from Summit that doesn't regulate.

    Here are a few things on my list:
    1) Leak Down Tester - $40 for HB, or $95 for Longacre?
    2) Variable Timing light - is variable needed? Who makes a good one?
    3) Rivet gun - good brand?
    4) Wire crimper and wire stripper - there are many different styles out there, what style(and brand) works best?
    5) Camber/caster/toe gauges - what brand or build your own?
    Ryan Scott
    ITC CRX #23

    Sponsors: GoPro, PR Machine Works, SAS, Yoke's Body Shop, Signature Signs
    Great Scott Motorsports
    Rally Team for Dreams

  2. #2
    Join Date
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    Default

    variable timing light is cool--I have a snap-on

    Rivet Gun? hmm... hand powered or air/ electric?

    Toe plates from long acre are not expensive although a super flat floor is what is needed for any alignment work. With it you can use string, jackstands and bubble gauges...nothing fancy.

    Leak down tester? for a Honda?

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2002
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    newington, ct
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    Default

    1 & 2 - you probably don't need.

    3) Rivet gun - good brand?
    4) Wire crimper and wire stripper - there are many different styles out there, what style(and brand) works best?
    Rivet gun - get a hand one if you need it for $15 from Home Depot.
    Wire crimper / stripper - same as above.

    Toe gauge - easy to use 2 straight L pieces of aluminum and four bolts to build your own. But if you'll be racing for a while, the Longacre one are nice.

    There are tons of people at the track who are more than willing to help you and let you borrow their tools. Just be sure to bring them back.
    Dave Gran
    Real Roads, Real Car Guys – Real World Road Tests
    Go Ahead - Take the Wheel's Free Guide to Racing

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2002
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by boywonder View Post
    Here are a few things on my list:
    1) Leak Down Tester - $40 for HB, or $95 for Longacre?
    Check Aircraft Tool Supply. Tavia made a nice one for cheap, but I think they're out of business.

    Quote Originally Posted by boywonder View Post
    2) Variable Timing light - is variable needed? Who makes a good one?
    MSD has a good selection.

    Quote Originally Posted by boywonder View Post
    3) Rivet gun - good brand?
    Marson makes nice ones, but the Home Depot (Arrow brand) ones work great. Also check Aircraft Tool Supply.

    Quote Originally Posted by boywonder View Post
    4) Wire crimper and wire stripper - there are many different styles out there, what style(and brand) works best?
    Home Depot for Klein crimper and Ideal Industries Stripmaster. Klein and Ideal make top-shelf electrical tooling. If you need die type crimpers check with Greenlee, PRS and DMC.

    Quote Originally Posted by boywonder View Post
    5) Camber/caster/toe gauges - what brand or build your own?
    Build your own string bars out of conduit (don't use jack stands). You can make a cheap camber gauge with a piece of angle iron and a mag base angle gauge. Otherwise the Smart products are nice.

    Just my $0.02 based on the tools I've used and purchased for myself. I usually find the tool and then scour the internet for the best price & free shipping.

    Home Depot has a decent set of flush cuts to trim up all of your ty-raps too. (folks using dykes to trim ty-raps leaving a sharp lip is a pet peeve of mine)
    David Russell
    IT Volvo 242

  5. #5

    Default

    Better yet Ryan, I have all those tools at the track already (with the exception of the camber gauge). I think I'm at all the events you run! Save your money for important things like tires and baby formula (in that order). Just ask and you shall receive. By the way congradulations!, I hadn't heard the news.
    Frenchy

  6. #6
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    Aug 2005
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    BFH and blue duct tape.
    ITC #05
    '82 Jetta
    NEOhio
    Shutter-Up Inc.
    Olmsted Auto Care
    Light Doctor

  7. #7
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    Oct 2002
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    Concord, NH 03301
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    1 - Tavia. Don't remember what I paid, but it still works well & gets passed around to/from others alot.
    2 Craftsman. 15 years old, still works well, take care of it.
    3 Craftsman w/ swivel head.
    4 Good luck. Don't go bottom of the price range, but not too far off the bottom and expect it to be a consumable. Otherwise you'll pay a ton.
    5. Search around on how & you can build your own for way less money. A simple digital level & a straigt edge can work for camber & two strait edges & a tape measure for toe if you have time to properly seek them out.

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by jay05 View Post
    BFH and blue duct tape.
    I thought he needed a truck and a chain.
    Jim Hardesty
    ITC 1986 Honda Civic Diablo Rojo Verde
    Never argue your tab at the end of the night. Remember, you're hammered and they’re sober.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    May 2008
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    Columbus, OH
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    Thanks for all your input, it's good to see what has worked for other people before throwing down the money. While I sure appreciate how cool everyone is with lending out tools at the track, and benefited from it last season, I don't want to become that guy.

    rsportvolvo: I'm one of those people that use side cuts and leave the deadly lip on my zip ties. But no longer, I'll pick up a dyke (that could get interesting...) and do it right, especially since my car is built on a foundation of zip ties.

    Frenchy: thanks for the offer and congrats. If ours turn out half as cool as your kids we'll be set.

    Jay and Jim: Yes, yes, and yes (though it was actually a strap, not a chain. Pay attention).
    Ryan Scott
    ITC CRX #23

    Sponsors: GoPro, PR Machine Works, SAS, Yoke's Body Shop, Signature Signs
    Great Scott Motorsports
    Rally Team for Dreams

  10. #10
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    Aug 2005
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    Brunswick, Oh
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    Get a variable timing light. Check on eBay or Craigslist. I got a mac off eBay for $50. I hear the craftsmans are good also. I say don't worry about it and get something the rest of us don't have, since we'll be at the same events. Camber plates come to mind.
    ITC #05
    '82 Jetta
    NEOhio
    Shutter-Up Inc.
    Olmsted Auto Care
    Light Doctor

  11. #11
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    Jan 2010
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    Rivet gun.. I've only put a couple hundred 1/8" and 3/16" aluminum rivets through my Stanley so far, but it still looks brand new. no complaints. bought it at local hardware store.

    Don't buy a cheapo timing gun. I have a $25 autozone unit and it suuuucks compared to my buddy's variable snap-on. I can use it to get the job done, but his is soo much easier to use. dial in the timing you want on the top and line the timing marks up to TDC. Way easier than trying to ballpark 22* when my pulley is only in 5* marks and the ECU continually fiddles with the timing.

    Toe plates... I made my own out of a few pieces of square aluminum tubing, as well as a stringer setup. Fabricated some brackets and mounted them onto the bottom of my bumper and rear toe hooks, then I screw the stringer sticks to them so they're in the same place every time with no measuring.. notches cut in the sticks provide positive marking for the strings and voila!

    Leak down tester.. When I need one, I just go to Autozone and "rent" theirs. I don't imagine needing one at the track unless you think you cratered the engine. a regular compression tester wouldn't hurt though and are much cheaper.

    Wire strippers & such.. I have some $15 Craftsman ones that are about 10 years old and they're still going. I use them regularly on my job as an electronics tech and strip everything from 22awg to 4awg. They'll crimp 22awg to 8awg. not bad for $15.

    hope my $0.04 helped..

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
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    What, no one has offered up who is a tool on this forum yet?

    You guys are slipping...
    Stephanie Funk
    <Couple of NARRC and NERRC bragging things here>
    HP Honda CRX in progress, ITB Honda Civic, ITA Honda CRX, ITC Honda CRX
    "Green Booger Racing"

  13. #13
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    Speaking of which, dear----
    Ed Funk
    NER ITA CRX, ITB Civic, ITC CRX (wanna buy a Honda?)
    Smart as a horse, hung like Einstein!

  14. #14

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    I didn't notice the picture the other day! I think you win for having the first French car in your avatar?

  15. #15
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    Ryan: I'm thinking of getting the HF hydraulic crimping tool. Want to borrow it?
    Bill Stevens - Mbr # 103106
    BnS Racing www.bnsracing.net
    92 ITA Saturn
    83 ITB Shelby Dodge Charger
    Sponsors - Race-Keeper Data/Video Aquisition Systems www.race-keeper.com
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  16. #16
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    May 2008
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    Bill: I think I'm good at the moment, thanks though.

    Jay, Jim, Jim: Interesting that you all changed your avatar after I finally added one. And Jay, your previous one was better. Just sayin'...

    Also, I like how in my avatar I'm in front of Frenchy, and in his he's in front of Jim. Hopefully that's how this season will pan out...but where are Jay and Bill?
    Last edited by boywonder; 02-25-2010 at 04:47 PM. Reason: To pick on Jim
    Ryan Scott
    ITC CRX #23

    Sponsors: GoPro, PR Machine Works, SAS, Yoke's Body Shop, Signature Signs
    Great Scott Motorsports
    Rally Team for Dreams

  17. #17
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    I fixed mine.
    Jim Hardesty
    ITC 1986 Honda Civic Diablo Rojo Verde
    Never argue your tab at the end of the night. Remember, you're hammered and they’re sober.

  18. #18
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    May 2008
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    Columbus, OH
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    Quote Originally Posted by jumbojimbo View Post
    I fixed mine.
    Argh, well played.

    Look kids, this is how you destroy tires. And piss off a Mustang. And pee your pants.
    Ryan Scott
    ITC CRX #23

    Sponsors: GoPro, PR Machine Works, SAS, Yoke's Body Shop, Signature Signs
    Great Scott Motorsports
    Rally Team for Dreams

  19. #19
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    Aug 2005
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    There you go Jim.
    ITC #05
    '82 Jetta
    NEOhio
    Shutter-Up Inc.
    Olmsted Auto Care
    Light Doctor

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
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    Okay, here is one that has been bugging me for a while. What do people do for air?

    Back in the old days my little 7 gallon tank worked just fine for autocross. But that was before the free compressor broke at the skanky no-name gas station. My Sunoco station will give me free air if I ask, but it's not always on the way to the track and I'm not always smart enough to remember to fill the tank.

    So I show up at the track with an empty tank, I forget to fill it at the track (or the compressor is not turned on) and I've got 2 tires with 20# of air 3 minutes to grid.

    I've burned up a couple of little compressors at home trying to fill my 7 gallon tank. Apparently that's a bad idea. Even though they say they are good to 120# they give up like the French army at 70PSI.

    What does everyone else do besides (duh) remember to fill the tank at home or first thing at the track?

    I see HF has a "250psi compressor" for $8 that looks just like the one I got from my brother-in-law that couldn't blow a prom date. Or, they have a spiffy chrome 12V 150PSI model for $55 that actually lists 1.05 CFM at 90PSI. Or is that just going to be another doorstop in a month? Will a 3 gallon compressor allow me to fill my 7 gallon tank, or am I going to learn a painful lesson about equilibrium?

    Should I bite the bullet and get an actual 7 or 10 gallon compressor? That seems like a pain to carry to the track and again, can I fill my portable 7 gallon tank from it?
    Jim Hardesty
    ITC 1986 Honda Civic Diablo Rojo Verde
    Never argue your tab at the end of the night. Remember, you're hammered and they’re sober.

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