SteveG

Related issue. As you know the GTS is lower. I discovered this weekend that my cheap (not bad but cheap) discount store floor jack (the kind the lever slips into/out of sleeve) is useless for the rear cross member, works on the '85, but not GTS. You need the longer reach of a real jack with the long arm or you won't be able to operate the lever up/down. I tried coming in foreward of the rear wheels, the muffler is too low. You probably need both jacks anyway, it's not a waste of $29.95, but I wish I had the 30 minutes back I spent trying to get under there.

Bus

Being a technician (ok, well, it was 20 years ago), I've come to appreciate good tools... at least, the ones you use everyday.

If I were in the position you were in, I'd watch ebay, and the local tool vendors to buy the top notch basic tools. What happens often is; Bobby decides he's gonna be a tech... goes to a school or gets sent by a dealership, gets a job at the local Hundai dealer and meets Mr. Snap On.... He buys the "initial set", which sets him back about $3500 for a small box and hand tools... then pays the guy everyweek when he comes by... year goes by, and Bobby learns that he just can't seem to make book on any job, and he decides he's gonna deliver pizza for more money than he's bringing home at Joe's Hundai...

Then, you see it on Ebay, in the local paper, or advertised in the Mr. Snap On truck itself... a $3500 set of Snap On tools and a small box for $1000 to $1500.... buy these, and organize/take care of them, you'll have them forever.

Then, the oft used items tend to get supplemented by Harbor Freight in my box... seems like a contradiction of Mac, Snap On and Harbor Freight, but it's working...

The Lowes brand "Cobalt" tools are made by Snap On, including thier excellent top line boxes. Problem is, they started offering the really good stuff to the public for about 50% less than the cost of Snap on, and it was still 30% higher than the stuff at Home Depot... so now they're back to selling the cheap wrenches and sockets.

jheis

I'd avoid the Home Depot wrench sets (I don't remember their brand name).

I bought a set of Home Depot's "professional" wrenches and had two of the open ended wrenches break while applying only moderate torque. I'd never broken a wrench before (or since).

Their wrenches are nicely chromed, fully polished junk - fortunately they have a no hassle return policy. Returned the wrenches and went back to Craftsman.

By the way, purchasing sets of tools is MUCH less expensive than buying them one at a time.

James

Tass 928

I appreciate owning good quality tools and I take good care of them. When you are trying to do a nice job, top quality stuff makes it much more enjoyable. That said, I also own a lot of “cheapy” imported stuff that I use when I have to do something ugly like hit a wrench with a hammer or heat and bend one to reach that impossible bolt. The price of some imported tools ( harbor freight type stuff) also lets the home hobby guy buy stuff that is not professional quality but still great for occasional use.

Flott Leben

If you have a good Sears nearby with a large tool selection, go with Craftsman to start. They are good, reasonably-priced, reliable tools with a lifetime warranty and mostly made in the USA. Join the Craftsman Club and watch for sales on full metric mechanic's sets. The largest one you can afford will be a good start. No matter what, you will need to supplment your tools as needed by the project. I can't ell you how many times I've had to run out to Sears to pick up a specality tool or socket at 9:25 pm - 5 minutes before they closed. Being able to do this was a hugh incentive to stick with the Craftsman brand.

rhys

The passage of time may have rendered this thinking obselete, but back in the day, when I spent quite a bit of time as a motorcycle mechanic, I discovered the real difference between home-mechanic tools (Craftsman) and real professional-grade tools (Snap-On). Yes, Sears is convenient and the tools are OK and quite a bit cheaper, but if you are going to do really serious work, I would definitely try to go with Snap-On... you'll thank me later.

FlyingDog

I love gear wrenches, but I'd never get rid of standard wrenches. You can't hammer on a gear wrench and they will not take as much torque. If they get dirt and grease inside, they will behave oddly. Also, standard wrenches usually have smaller head that get intoplaces gear wrenches could not. Taking the headers off of my car would take twice as long if I didn't have access to both types. Make sure the gear wrenches you buy are reversible, because you can get into situations where you have to reverse the wrench or start cutting...

The set I have:
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...seBVCookie=Yes

redpathtribe

I started in high school (a little while ago, it just seems like yesterday though ) with a Craftsman set I got for Christmas. Been using it ever since. Had to replace the 1/2" drive ratchet just a couple years ago, took it to Sears and they just gave me a new one, lifetime warranty

I also remember a few years ago Wally recommending Stanley tools at Walmart. I've had good luck with these too, good pricing on various "sets" (sockets, wrenches, etc.) and lifetime warranty as well.

Oh, and one more vote for the Gearwrench ratcheting wrenches, GREAT investment (watch for them on sale at Sears).

FlyingDog

I have a set of Stanley Walmart wrenches that I bought while I was in college. They bend way more than they should and will deform around a very stuck bolt if I push hard (I'm not very strong). They're low profile to get into smaller spaces and not back for light work, but if I was doing it again I'd spend the extra $10-20 to buy the Craftsman equivalent.

BTW, the warranty is through Stanley, not Walmart so you can't just take them to your local store 5 years from now and exchange them for new tools. You have to ship them to Stanley.

Joe F

I will +1 this sentiment. Particularly, the basic open-end wrenches. Buy the Snap-on set. You cannot believe the difference unless you've used them.

Once i was at a race out in the boonies of Western Canada (Westwood) and was trying to remove some driveshaft bolts. Simple setup, bolt through the flange on the output shaft of the trans and the flange of the driveshaft with a locking nut on the other end. The craftsman 9/16 open end wrench was the only thing that would fit. I could not get a box end wrench on the nut. As I turned the bolt, the arms of the open end wrench were spreading and not holding the nut and rounding off the corners. I borrowed a friends snap on wrench, it held nicely and I got the pieces apart. It made a believer of me. Snap-on wrenches in my toolbox.

I used to ask them for Christmas. My wife always said they should come in little velvet bags for what they cost. but Like Rhys said, "You'll thank me later."

Cheers

AO

What was I thinking.... This is ALL you'll ever need.

MGW-Fla

I have some Thorsen wrenches, ratchets & sockets from way back in my college days when I ran a tool dept at a hardware store. I've abused them at times,(hammered on both wrenches & ratchets) & have not ever ONCE had one fail me, ratchet, wrench, or socket. I've had a Craftsman ratchet fail, but they do replace them. Thorsen started back in the 1920s, and are lifetime guarantee, although a company named Olympic bought them out about 5 yrs ago. I ran across another testamony on a Camaro forum when searching for info on them that sounds alot like my experience. http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=3961 Never hear anyone mention them anymore though. They certainly have been cost effective for me & I'm sure they'll continue to provide me good service for many years to come.

blown 87

You are right about the Snap-On, many people think there is no difference in tools, there is.

The problem is the cost, I am a pro wrench so I can justify the cost, but for most it just does not make good economic sense to spend that amount of money on tools that are not used every day.

But, if you want the best, there is only one way to go and that is Snap-On.

Mark

The BEST tool addition I have made in a while....a set of LASER ETCHED Craftman Sockets...they have BIG laser-etched sizes. GREAT for the older eyes!

the flyin' scotsman

Snap-On gets my vote hands down although they are expensive.


I raced Westwood many times back in the early 90's.............now the tracks a housing development but they still have a street call 'Deer's Leap' after a steep rise in the old track that would sometimes have deer coming through the trees on trackside and yes you're WFO at that point .........but I digress.