Useful DIY Tools
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 11,050
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St. Jude Donor '03 & '05
Useful DIY Tools
In this thread http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=161783 GaryS showed his cost-saving homemade sandblaster. Anyone else have useful homemade tools/jigs they've used during their corvette resto/maintenance?
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 38,897
Likes: 1,926
From: Washington Michigan
Re: Useful DIY Tools (six-T-six)
Here are a couple of simple homemade items that simplify my C1 maintenance:
1. Wooden "saddle" to jack up and support the rear of the engine while removing/reinstalling the transmission; it fits snugly on both sides of the pan and lifts the engine on the heads of the pan bolts, avoiding any damage to the pan itself (these C1 baffled/trap-door pans were discontinued three years ago, and are now very rare and expensive). It's made from a 9-1/2"-long piece of 2"x 6" and two pieces of 3/4" pine or plywood. The 2"x 6" forms the base, and the two side pieces are 9"-high and about 5-1/2" wide, to match the width of the 2"x 6", and the left side piece is notched out to clear the dipstick "bump" in the pan rail. The side pieces sit on top of the 2"x 6", and are attached from below with 4" wood screws. You slip it in place, jack under the center of the 2"x 6", and it supports the engine without contacting the pan at all; this supports the engine forward of the bellhousing and gives you room to work:
2. These are two guide studs made from 1/2"-13 x 3" bolts with the heads cut off, rounded on a grinder, with screwdriver slots made with a hacksaw. When removing or installing the transmission, they replace the two upper transmission-to-bellhousing bolts and aid in guiding the transmission in or out of place, support its weight, and avoid distorting the clutch disc. The orange plastic tool replaces the driveshaft yoke during the swap so trans lube doesn't dribble all over you while you're manhandling the transmission in or out.
1. Wooden "saddle" to jack up and support the rear of the engine while removing/reinstalling the transmission; it fits snugly on both sides of the pan and lifts the engine on the heads of the pan bolts, avoiding any damage to the pan itself (these C1 baffled/trap-door pans were discontinued three years ago, and are now very rare and expensive). It's made from a 9-1/2"-long piece of 2"x 6" and two pieces of 3/4" pine or plywood. The 2"x 6" forms the base, and the two side pieces are 9"-high and about 5-1/2" wide, to match the width of the 2"x 6", and the left side piece is notched out to clear the dipstick "bump" in the pan rail. The side pieces sit on top of the 2"x 6", and are attached from below with 4" wood screws. You slip it in place, jack under the center of the 2"x 6", and it supports the engine without contacting the pan at all; this supports the engine forward of the bellhousing and gives you room to work:
2. These are two guide studs made from 1/2"-13 x 3" bolts with the heads cut off, rounded on a grinder, with screwdriver slots made with a hacksaw. When removing or installing the transmission, they replace the two upper transmission-to-bellhousing bolts and aid in guiding the transmission in or out of place, support its weight, and avoid distorting the clutch disc. The orange plastic tool replaces the driveshaft yoke during the swap so trans lube doesn't dribble all over you while you're manhandling the transmission in or out.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,456
Likes: 6
From: Spicewood, Texas, USA TX-Texas
Re: Useful DIY Tools (JohnZ)
Thanks for some good tips, John. Hey, I am glad to see I am not the only one with stuff laying around with the front, right, left, rear, etc. marked with an appropriate letter designator. :lol: :lol: :lol:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,501
Likes: 0
Re: Useful DIY Tools (JohnZ)
I particularly like the guide studs. There's nothing worse than trying to get everything lined up, particularly if you're working by yourself. Gonna build me a set of those next time I'm pulling a tranny.
