slickfx3

don't want to weight the car down and hog space, but don't want to be caught off guard without the "basics"

what is a good kit "list"?

fire extinguisher for sure, i know.... not a tool


i know other manufacturers include tool kits like MB, doubt those see much use

and were was my factory jack?, i deleted the spare, so i won't be needing the jack

Staylor63

Those factory jacks are running from $300 to $600 for the correct year match! More expensive than an original radio !

keithinspace

Well, you can pretty much disassemble the car with the following socket sizes:
3/16"
1/4"
5/16"
3/8"
7/16"
1/2"
9/16"
5/8"
11/16"
3/4"

So I'd start with those sizes in 1/4 drive, 3/8 drive, and 1/2 drive with various extensions for each.

Combination wrenches of each of those sizes as well.

Pliers of a couple varieties...channel-lock, 'regular', locking, and needle nose.

I have "custom" tools made to reach my spark plugs and header bolts...I'd carry those with me.

Phillips head and Slot head screwdrivers of various sizes.

Duct tape. Electrical tape.

If you went nuts, a timing light is always helpful when diagnosing something...either to check timing or if you had to remove the dizzy to get a 'deeper' look at something. Be sure you have sufficient power cord to get to the battery...I have a separate battery in the garage I use for diagnosing things, but that isn't a luxury you have on the road.

One of those little light-up spark detector thingys is nice.

Harbor Freight multimeter is also nice just to check some basics.

Dunno...I know I'm missing something, but I could probably disassemble over 90% of the car with the above tools.

Of course, I'll politely offer that I've broken down twice and had a toolkit with all of the above items. In both cases, I was not able to service the vehicle. First time was complete ignition failure. Second time was a "follow on" ignition failure due to under-voltage to my new coil. VERY difficult to diagnose that one.

So...I now drive around town with little more than a couple screwdrivers and pliers. If it's beyond the capability of those tools, I'm probably not going to fix it on the side of the road.

If I went on a LONG trip, on the other hand, I WOULD carry a complete tool bag. Not so much so I could fix it in the moment, but so I could get the car to a safe location, procure the part, and fix it that night.

Different situations call for different strategies.

D_Williams

The jack should be in the rear compartment, behind the passenger seat, under the liner I believe

slickfx3

that is a heft of a tool box, 1/2 in drive?, that a monster!

i encountered some metric am i wrong?

let's see your spark plug tool...

Wee

I got most of that list above in a roll up pouch....I'll take pics and list my inventory tonight...it fits in the compartment with the jack.

Brian

The13Bats

Since I too have free towing and do not carry a spare because in 30 years I never had a flat tire out somewhere, I do not carry all that many tools,
I carry basic socket set pliers, screw drivers, open ends tape, wire a few others things, fact is I have helped others broken down more than I have ever had issues myself as I keep my cars up to snuff and again with free towing I have little interest in rebuilding my car at the road side....

Easy Mike

If your car is running well, you don't need to carry a tool kit.

jnb5101

Cell phone. Have it towed home. If it stops running, you're not going to be able to do a road side repair.

F22

I have one of those little zippered cloth tool bags, with a small selection of tools. It's come in handy, doesn't take much space and it's been helpful, twice so far.

Once, when the alternator wire broke 75 miles from home. That was a quick fix, versus waiting for a tow truck and then the long ride home. Second time, the shifter jammed and I pulled the carpet to access the side panel on the trans tunnel and undid the jam, put it back on, tucked the carpet in and I was on my way.

You don't have to bring a roll-away, but ya oughta bring a few. Those mini channel locks are very handy to have as well as a multi-bit screwdriver (with locking bits! Not cheap, but not going to drop bits either).

keithinspace

1/2" drive is probably overkill for any type of repair that could be made roadside. Perhaps thinking of lug nuts and stuff, so only 1 or 2 sockets would be needed in that size.

I have yet to find a single metric bolt on my 1970. I presume you'd start seeing them show up on the transmission or inside the car somewhere as the years wear on. I have no idea how true that is, though.

My "spark plug tools" are nothing more than a NAPA-quality 11/16 (I think) combination wrench that I cut in half and ground down. The resulting two wrenches have been trimmed to JUST fit between my sidemount Hooker headers. I use the open-end wrench for 1 or 2 of the plugs that are jammed behind other mounts (#2 under the AC mount, I believe is one of them) that does not allow my putting the closed end over the plug.

I made similar tools for my header bolts. Getting a turn on the bolts without hitting something metal is darn near impossible without trimming down the wrench.

qwank

your AAA card should be enough

keithinspace

As I mentioned, I actually don't carry many tools around anymore.

When I DID (or do) carry them around, I have them in a duffel with a rubberized flat bottom so they don't roll around. I still have it packed and actually use it for camping as well (just tossed the metric stuff in there). It's all spare Craftsman stuff that I've collected along with some hand-me-downs from my Dad.

Of course, the most important "tool" that rolls around in the back of my car is a 5# fire extinguisher. I don't go anywhere without that...

I pay a minimal amount on my Hagerty policy for unlimited 50 mile radius towing. Flat bed and soft strap. It worked like a wonder the two times I've needed it. Called them twice within 3 months. Premiums have never gone up.

dochorsepower

Cell phone !

Syl1953

AAA Gold, it tows you up to 100 miles, regular something like 7 or 8.

vettebuyer6369

I think ten bucks for a repro owners manual to have in the car to answer questions you might not have thought of, while you are on the road, would be as valuable as any tool you are considering here.

jkippin

LOL I don't get it what do you carry for tools in your daily driver?
I drive these old s boxes daily in the summer 500 to 1000 miles a week and don't have problems.
My old ratty 71 C10 was my daily cruiser and the only thing that left me stranded was a bum fuel pump. Walked to the local parts place got the tools and the part got her going in just over an hour.

Attachment 47932302

oldgto

"Platinum" will tow up to 200 miles!

slickfx3... I`m sorry I couldn`t find it, but I searched for about an hour.... for a couple pictures posted a long time ago by a forum member that used his spare tire tub for a luggage compartment. He had an assortment of gear laid out that would fill a pick-up truck! It was in Europe somewhere.

Mod75

I cleaned out the tool well this summer, after 40 years i ended up with this collection of stuff. Never have used any of it but just in case, also 3 spare belts, 1 long plug wire, 1 plug, dist cap/rotor.
Set of ase/metric sockets/wrenches. Most all of them are knuckle busters but to good to throw away.

Not really sure what i could use the claw hammer on?

COOLTED

Don't forget road flares, flashlight, thermal blanket, survival knife, first aid and fire starting stuff. Dryer lint mixed with candle wax makes a great fire starter, but then again so do road flares.

Hunting.