A bunch of great replies. I seem to have everything mentioned plus many specialty tools. I don't have room for a lift so I bought "Quick Jacks". They are extremely handy for me since I have a bad back and it takes me a while to get on my creeper to get under a car so I don't like just using one of my floor jacks and jackstands. I also have 5 gallon buckets with lids for waste oil and another just for used filters. I do own 11 cars and 2 motorcycles and have been working on my rides and collecting tools for well over 50 years.
Tools and things I'd never be without in my garage...
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My Giulietta Sprint's tool set was incomplete in 1966 when I got it, only having the wrenches, hammer and pliers as I recall. The canvas tool roll itself disintegrated from the battery tipping over too many times (wonder how that happened), but the wrenches with the "Alfa Romeo" script I gave to my son Mike. He treasures them. 
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3,366 Posts
Excellent quality 1/2 inch battery powered impact wrench. Great for anything stuck of a larger size.
0xy/Acetylene torch, even a small home gamer setup. For when the Snap-on impact isn’t getting the job done
Wiring tools. High quality crimper and stripper. Like JoeCab I have a really good heat gun for shrink wrap. Buy good quality terminals and connectors. Nothing from ACE or McParts store qualifies.
Magnets, all different sizes. When you need a third or fourth hand. Magnet trays keep the bolts you need from rolling off the fenders, and you know you’re screwed because you didn’t hear it it hit the floor…especially true if you’re working on a 164.
Bearing grease, rubber grease, dielectric grease, and whatever grease you need to hold the bearings in, when you invert the part.
Fridge and/or cabinet holding the tempering libations when the urge to throw wrenches must be overcome.
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0xy/Acetylene torch, even a small home gamer setup. For when the Snap-on impact isn’t getting the job done
Wiring tools. High quality crimper and stripper. Like JoeCab I have a really good heat gun for shrink wrap. Buy good quality terminals and connectors. Nothing from ACE or McParts store qualifies.
Magnets, all different sizes. When you need a third or fourth hand. Magnet trays keep the bolts you need from rolling off the fenders, and you know you’re screwed because you didn’t hear it it hit the floor…especially true if you’re working on a 164.
Bearing grease, rubber grease, dielectric grease, and whatever grease you need to hold the bearings in, when you invert the part.
Fridge and/or cabinet holding the tempering libations when the urge to throw wrenches must be overcome.
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1,606 Posts
Punch set when you have to make a gasket. Tap and die set to fix threads. Vise-grips when you strip a bolt or nut.
Ken
Ken
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1,606 Posts
I use my drive up ramp a lot too. What a fun topic!
Ken
Ken
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5,174 Posts
Just remembered-- A little set of tools but one that has been very handy, is the Parker Seals brass o-ring extractor tools I have in a little pouch.
I've got no idea how many o-rings and square cut brake seals I've replaced with those little tools!
I've got no idea how many o-rings and square cut brake seals I've replaced with those little tools!
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3,322 Posts
I couldn’t do without the big orange 3-ton floor jack, which must be 35 years old or so. I’ve never put new seals in it... hmm..
A long 1/2” breaker bar. I actually put one in every car trunk so anyone in the family can get lug nuts off on the road.
I finally got a 1/2” corded impact from HF, and it’s saved me on some big suspension bolts on a Land Rover, FWD axle nuts, etc. I don’t expect it to last from harbor fright, though.
Something I didn’t realize I’d use so much is a nice 1/4” ratchet and sockets and driver. So many fasteners on the interior and around the engine compartment and torx screws and cheap hose clamps are way easier with a 1/4”. Fits into little spaces. Flexible shaft driver so handy for hose clamps.
And lights - oh man do I need good lights.
A long 1/2” breaker bar. I actually put one in every car trunk so anyone in the family can get lug nuts off on the road.
I finally got a 1/2” corded impact from HF, and it’s saved me on some big suspension bolts on a Land Rover, FWD axle nuts, etc. I don’t expect it to last from harbor fright, though.
Something I didn’t realize I’d use so much is a nice 1/4” ratchet and sockets and driver. So many fasteners on the interior and around the engine compartment and torx screws and cheap hose clamps are way easier with a 1/4”. Fits into little spaces. Flexible shaft driver so handy for hose clamps.
And lights - oh man do I need good lights.
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10,980 Posts
Snap-on swivel headed 1/4" drive ratchet; 1/4" U joints with long and short extensions; Snap-on reversible screw driver; dental picks; blue paper shop dispenser; cut-off tool; bench grinder; solid mounted vice; 7, 8, 10 mm nut drivers; assortment of rasps and rat-tailed files
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10,980 Posts
Also stubby ratcheted box-ed wrenches.. then my most fav is a Snap-on offset box combo with 13 and 14 mm ends a must for Giuliettas which had a lot of 14mm nuts. This wrench is a shorty about 6 inches long... Then there are the magnet trays.CHEAP . they keep popping into my head
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5,174 Posts
Oh man, yeah you can't beat those weird wrenches when you need them. I bought a set of S wrenches a few years ago, only recall using them maybe twice, but it sure was nice to have them!
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I’m a recent convert to the 1/4” ratchets, sockets and extensions. Especially on Alfas.
Tight spaces where 3/8s wasn’t the answer, the 1/4” is.
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Tight spaces where 3/8s wasn’t the answer, the 1/4” is.
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These three guys don't get used very often, but they're necessary anyway. L to R, a ground-down slender 13mm combination wrench I use for U joint nuts, a bike wrench I bent to R & R the oil pressure sender, and a thin open end wrench for certain intake manifold nuts. All applies to my 115 Spider.
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7,635 Posts
yep I have those three also! Its pretty amazing that only a handful of tools are absolutely required to do 90% of the work on an Alfa -- 13mm wrench, pliers, 10mm wrench, etc. I forgot to mention the VW snap=on 'S' shaped wrench 13mm for the exhaust mani nuts -- makes those a breeze!!!
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3,322 Posts
This is something interesting I learned a few years ago. A friend owns a specialty Soobie shop here (and is also a big classic sportscar fan). I was struggling with some job with no room to work and he said, "Let me show you what we do." Then he took my socket to a grinder and made it much shorter, but still enough depth to bite.
So the Snap-on man comes around every week, the mechanics have a list of bits and bobs they need. He told me they often pick up 2 or 3 of the same bit or socket, and then they grind or cut or bevel them as needed for very specific tasks on an engine or transmission.
He said, You're doing great, you just don't know the tricks." So now I'm way less likely to hold on to that single "tool for life" piece, and get another one, or two, and a second deep one to boot. They split (when leaning on them with a long pipe), they wear down, you need to shorten them. So I have some nice Snap-on's and old Craftsman that stay nice forever, and then others they I have for one specific job, in their own little drawer. Same drawer as the weird shaped Audi / VW / Volvo specialty tools that fit their strange transmission drain fittings or hold down the timing chain tensioner or lock the camshafts or.....
For my son's old BMW project, we had to get a set of reverse torx sockets for all the bell housing bolts - I'd never seen them before. One of my sportscar buddies has a whole box of Whitworth tools....I think for working on steam locomotives or something....
Something I might pick up are a few wobble bit sockets, rather than a 10 mm socket on a universal on an extension. They fit into places better and don't flop sideways as much.
Check, check,check, check, and check. Have to have that fridge!
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Snap On 3/8 wobble extension and 3/8 13mm Snap On chrome socket. Used with 3/8 impact gun. Socket will slide on to the drive shafts bolts allow quick removal and install.
You can only find them on ebay now. True Craft flex head 1/4 drive ratchet. Picture of the 3/8 one posted. I have 5 or 6 of the 1/4 and one of the 3/8 and 1/2 inch. Plus I picked up rebuild kits for all of them years ago.
The 1/4 drive one is the ratchet that will fit in the space where the trans shifter handle is to remove the shifter bolt so you don't have to remove the consoles.
I would buy Craftsman wrenches to cut up and grind on. Could never bring myself to do that to the Snap On wrenches. I paid 20 to 40 bucks a month to the 3 different tool trucks for to many years to do that.
You can only find them on ebay now. True Craft flex head 1/4 drive ratchet. Picture of the 3/8 one posted. I have 5 or 6 of the 1/4 and one of the 3/8 and 1/2 inch. Plus I picked up rebuild kits for all of them years ago.
The 1/4 drive one is the ratchet that will fit in the space where the trans shifter handle is to remove the shifter bolt so you don't have to remove the consoles.
I would buy Craftsman wrenches to cut up and grind on. Could never bring myself to do that to the Snap On wrenches. I paid 20 to 40 bucks a month to the 3 different tool trucks for to many years to do that.
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Jim, I bet that 13mm socket is a thin-wall... I got one also, might even be a Snap On, as far as I know. That's what I use it for, too. The only place I need it is the driveshaft flanges. My 3/8" wobble extension has saved my bacon more times than I can count.
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