©By: John T. Blair (WA4OHZ)
1133 Chatmoss Dr., Va. Beach, Va. 23464; (757) 495-8229

Originally written: June 6, 2009
Last update: September 20, 2009 - Corrected misspellings, moved things around and added a few items.

I've always said that there is no gift giving occassion where a tool isn't welcomed. So keep a list of tools you'd like, include store, part number, and cost. So when your spouce, kids, or friends need some insight as to what to get you for your birthday, Christmas/Chanukah, mother's or father's day, you're ready. The list is setup keeping in mind that the average person starts out by doing simple things like oil changes, spark plugs, and brakes. But it's not the gospel. I quite often purchase a tool against a job. So you start a job and find out that you need a tool, go buy it. You'll probably spend as much, as or a little more, for the tool than the job would cost to have done. But now you have the tool, so the next time you use the tool, it will be making you money. (This goes for big ticket items also. I purchased a good MIG welder for about $800 - including helmet, autodarkening insert for the helmet, 64 cu. ft. Argon/CO2 bottle, and regulator - against all the welding that needed to be done during the restoration of my '75 Bricklin. I purchased my engine crain against removing the engine in my '65 Morgan and my Bricklin, etc.) Also keep in mind that many auto parts stores have lender tools. So if you need a special tool for a job very infrequently, look at borrowing the tool from the parts store. So what should you have in your automotive tool box? Keep in mind that this is just a start. The more jobs you tackle, the more tools you'll need. But here's the basic list: First Round of purchases 1. Safety Items        Goggles or face shield        Hearing Protectors (Micky Mouse Ears or ear plugs - I prefer the Micky Mouse Ears        Leather work gloves - when using grinders or handling sheet metal        Respirator or at least paper face masks 2. 3/8" drive socket set (consisting of)     See Note 1        ratchet        breaker bar        1 1/2" extension        3" extension        6" extension        18" extension        sockets (SAE and Metric)        spark plug sockets (5/8" and 13/16")        universal        3/8" to 1/4" drive adapter        3/8" to 1/2" drive adapter 3. Combination wrench set (SAE 3/8" to 1" and Metric 8mm - 22mm)     See Note 1 4. Screwdriver set 5. Pliers - either a set or individually.        Needle nose pliers        Slip joint pliers (a couple of sizes)        dikes        Channel locks 6.Locking pliers AKA Vise grips (regular and needle nose several sizes) 7. Floor jack - at least 1 1/2 ton - 2 to 2 1/2 tons are better. You want a big      one, not the small ones with the handle you have to move to jack and release. 8. Jack Stands 9. Brake tools        Brake Guide Pin Tool (Drum brakes)        Brake spring Tool (Drum Brakes)        Brake adjuster Tool (Drum Brakes)        4" or 6" C clamp or a real caliper retracting tool (Disk brakes)        Rear caliper retracting cube 10. Battery tools        Battery Post Puller        Battery Post Cleaner        Battery Terminal Spreader 11. Pan - for oil changes and draining radiator 12. Oil Filter wrench 13. Magnet pick up tool 14. Inspection mirror 15. Spark Plug gapping gauge 16. Utility Knife (razor blade knife) & cheap pocket knife 17. Pair of scissors 18. Allen wrench set (SAE and Metric) 19. Pry Bars set 20. Putty knives 21.Wire brush - hand held - several different sizes (tooth brush size, larger ones) 22. Ball-peen Hammer 23. Volt/ohm meter or test light 24. Drop light (and flash light - also a "Head light" is handy) 25. Extension cord Second Round of purchases 1. Box end wrench set (SAE 3/8" to 1" and Metric 8mm - 22mm)     See Note 1 2. Open end wrench set (SAE 3/8" to 1" and Metric 8mm - 22mm)     See Note 1 3. 1/4" drive socket set (consisting of)     See Note 1        ratchet        2" extension        6" extension        sockets (SAE and Metric)        universal 4. Torx set (quite often a Torx set comes with 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" drive sizes        depending on how big the Torx bit is) 5. Adjustable wrench (Crescent wrench) several sizes - 4", 8", 12", etc. 6. Vernier caliper - Especially the plastic one Harbor Freight sells. Then a     good one. Look for Harbor Freight to put their item 98563-0VGA on sale 7. Thread pitch gauge 8. Awl 9. Drills - corded and cordless 10. Drill bit set 11. Wire brush disk for your drill - also the green pads or flapper pads Third Round of purchases 1. 1/2" drive socket set (consisting of)     See Note 1        ratchet        breaker bar        5" extension        10" extension        sockets (SAE and Metric)        universal        1/2" to 3/8" drive adapter        1/2" to 3/4" drive adapter 2. Punch set 3. Center punch 4. Chisel 5. Feeler gauge 6. Hack saw and blades 7. Manual impact screw driver set Fourth Round of purchases 1. Tool box (You'll probably need something along the way. Look at an inexpensive RubberMaid        Plastic on. A good tool box, a roll around base and top box will run about $600 or up! 2. Misc. socket set add on:        1/2" drive standard impact socket set (SAE & Metric)     See Note 1, 2        1/2" drive deep wrench        3/8" drive Crowfoot wrench (SAE & Metric) 3. Ignition wrench set (SAE < 3/8" Metric < 8mm) (Combination end set although they come        in all 3 types box, open and combo) 4. Snap Ring / C clip pliers 5. Rubber mallet 6. Scrapper 7. Soldering pencil & Solder (I usually purchase .032 dia 60/40 Rosin Core solder) 8. Wire crimper/cutter/stripper 9. Pair of dividers 10. Shop vacuum Misc things you'll want to have on hand. 1. PB blast - for loosening rusted bolts 2. WD40 3. Squirt Oil can 4. Brake cleaner 5. Carb/Throttle body cleaner 6. Starting fluid 7. Several quarts of oil 8. Sand paper - (100 or 150 grit) for cleaning electrical connectors and grounds. 9. GoJo handcleaner 10. Shop rags or paper towels 11. Power steering fluid 12. Transmission fluid 13. Antifreeze 14. Brake fluid Notes: 1. If you're working on a late model car or import, you might want to start with the metric, and then the SAE sockets). If you're working on older American cars (Pre 76) then start with the SAE. 2. Not needed unless you have a compressor and an impact wrench. That said, quite often you can find impact sockets cheaper than you can find the regular ones. So if you are purchasing the sockets seperately you might want to get the impact sockets vise the regular ones.