A bit of advice please

[geoffn]

Had the S2 since the summer and spent the time driving. Over the winter work will need to be done and I need to build up my toolkit. Any advice/help as to what should be purchased ie what size spanners/sockets, special tools. At this stage the work is not major, no body off for the moment.

[tvrgaas]

geoffn said:

special tools.

Most Haynes Manuals have a list of tools. Get the one on the donor Ford.
Also get the Steve Heath S Bible - available from the TVRCC - possibly the best tool for an S!

The main tools for the S are scrapper, wire brushes and hammerite paint brush for the chassis and a possibly multimeter for the electrics.

Of course every car mechanic should have Spanners and Sockets - I think the S is mainly Metric. If you do other older cars AF and even BSF/W may be of help. A set can be the best bet?

I guess a basic service might need wheels off so get a trolley jack which fits under the car. If you're going underneath then axle stands are required. Don't trust a jack - or bricks! An oil filter tool could also help.

Most of these are general tools for any car, get special tools basically when you need to do that job. See books for details.

[Barkychoc]

Everything I've done on the 'S' has been metric.
I've bought some secondhand tools off ebay, some from machine mart and others I already had.
I'd just buy tools as you need them - buy reasonable quality but no need to get premium brands as they are not going to get the kind of abuse that they would in the hands of a professional being used every day.
Avoid the cheap too good to be true type stuff.
All in my opinion!

If you are into looking at ebay, take a look at items close to home (you can filter on how far away things are) then you can save the postage costs by going to collect them.

Chris

[geoffn]

Thanks for the info, I already have a few tools but it is many years since I lifted a bonnet in anger. I had already thought of getting a basic metric set as most of my existing tools are A/F. I also have axle stands and ramps.

[bil]

i find 13mm, 17mm, 19mm to be the common spanners and sockets, 11mm and 7/16 good for brake and clutch hydralics, 1/2" and 3/4" useful for the odd unf bolt (or worn metric), deep sokects are useful in certain instances replaceing fuel cradle for example, a decent breaker bar helps with the stiff nuts and bolts. a volt meter that includes a continuity tester, 12" fingers with 6 knuckles, 3 elbow joints per arm, some stubby spanners, oh, would add a mug and coffee to your list as well some things are not worth rushing
B

[clarenceboddiger]

bil said:

i find 13mm, 17mm, 19mm to be the common spanners and sockets, 11mm and 7/16 good for brake and clutch hydralics, 1/2" and 3/4" useful for the odd unf bolt (or worn metric), deep sokects are useful in certain instances replaceing fuel cradle for example, a decent breaker bar helps with the stiff nuts and bolts. a volt meter that includes a continuity tester, 12" fingers with 6 knuckles, 3 elbow joints per arm, some stubby spanners, oh, would add a mug and coffee to your list as well some things are not worth rushing
B

Exactly as above except but I would add A 10,11 and 12mm to the Spanner set (get combination spanners ie open one end and ring at the other).It could be worth buying decent ones if you are sticking to this limited range. If you do invest in a multi meter, try and get one which has an audible continuity tester on it (Buzzer) its far easier to use when you are upside down in the footwell with your head under the dash as you dont have to be able to see the meter. Also have a walk round your local car boot sales on sunday mornings, you can pick up spanners for around 10p and sometimes its worth having a couple of the same size (17mm seems common for nuts with bolts). Names like Britool, Gedore, Hilka and Draper are worth keeping a look out for as they seem quite good quality.Dont be tempted by shiny spanners as although some are very good quality, they can be a pain to use when you have oil on your hands and they usually cost more anyway.

[SS2.]

I bought one of these sockets sets from Halfords' Professional range.

They have been used and abused are have proved to be very good quality. And they come with a lifetime guarantee..

Definitely worth considering, IMO..

[misterduncan]

Halfords Professional tools are back on offer. Picked up the big 150 tool set from the Barnstaple branch while on hols yesterday. Was reduced from 150 to 99. Also 10 voucher for future purchases with the current deal, so 89 for the big set .

(I don't have a pound sign on my merkin keyboard)