A big ass hammer, a breaker bar, and a cold chisel are a must have for any DIYer auto mechanic. They don't get the job done right but they get it done.

A come along, cinder blocks, a big sturdy shady tree, and a good beer cooler are nice too.

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green 85 300SD 200K miles "Das Schlepper Frog" With a OM603 TBO360 turbo ( To be intercooled someday )( Kalifornistani emissons )
white 79 300SD 200K'ish miles "Farfegnugen" (RIP - cracked crank)
desert storm primer 63 T-bird "The Undead" (long term hibernation)

http://ecomodder.com/forum/fe-graphs/sig692a.png

I have one from the 50's or 60's... not exactly the same, but does the same... I also have one of those. had it for quite a while. very handy tool that grip on the head sure makes it easy to use!

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 560SL convertible
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500 158"WB
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

electronic parts catalogue


the manuals on CD .. blow

nothing like the good ole analog book

The CD manual is the same EXACT thing as the book.

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'81 MB 300SD, '82 MB 300D Turbo (sold/RIP), '04 Lincoln Town Car Ultimate

Sooner or later every car falls apart, ours does it later!
-German Narrator in a MB Promotion Film about the then brand new W123.

Yeah I just print out whatever I am going to fix and make my own book. Better than spending $500+ for a complete set.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

OK, I'm almost embarrassed to say this because trust me, I know the quality here. But Harbor Freight has allowed me to have a whole bunch of tools for the cost of just one or two good ones. I don't make my living as an auto mechanic, so they have been fine for my uses, and actually have never had one break or cause a problem.
I started with Craftsman stuff for the most part, but as I add things, good ole cheap Harbor Freight has really been a good deal.....
There is a place in this world for cheap tools.

{self righteous Snap On guys, blast away......}

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Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

Some Craftsman stuff really sucks though. I have a pair of needle noise that I keep meaning to bring back to them and complain. They snapped with like no pressure, totaly junk. I even paid extra for the "better" Craftsman thinking they wouldn't break!

With tools I was totaly spoiled back in HS, they were in bed with Snap On and everything was Snap On. Oh they were so sweet, expensive but so nice!

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

X12/.

That's why I have original manuals, which I scan or print out .pdf files to have. I can't afford to get a 70 year old manual covered with grease. Besides, this way, it's like having two manuals so when I'm home from the shop, I can read, think, and "figger out" things.

X2 also on the brake bleeder. I had the professional one stolen when it was stored in a building with a bunch of independent contractors working for Comcast. This was the one that held 2 gallons of brake fluid and did flushes.

However, I have just found another one for cheap, so now I just need the adaptors.

My recommended tools: thin-wall metric socket sets that fit into tight corners and work well. Snap-On, MAC or FACOM. Hazet probably makes them too.

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Strelnik
Invest in America: Buy a Congressman!

1950 170SD
1951 Citroen 11BN
1953 Citroen 11BNF limo
1953 220a project
1959 180D
1960 190D
1960 Borgward Isabella TS 2dr
1983 240D daily driver
1983 380SL
1990 350SDL daily driver alt
3 x Citroen DS21M, down from 5
3 x Citroen 2CV, down from 6

Funny you mention that, a friend of mine brought his iPad out to his car when we were swapping out the front subframe mounts(on a mini cooper S), put it in a heavy duty ziplock and viola. We had the DIY, FSM, and parts details at our fingertips. Gotta love progress.

You cannot buy it, but good friends who know what they are talking about work wonders...




They work excellent on stuff like Flexdiscs. (You know who you are....)

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-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.

A moveable head ratchet. Proto Tools PRO5257L. You will be amazed at the tight spaces you can get to with this.

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Dave
1983 300D Daily Driver

Back to Harbor Freight-A great aid in troubleshooting; the about $3 (on sale) electrical Digital Multimeter that everyone should have Dieselhead or not. Turn it to AC volts and use it in your home.
Also from HF a electric Impact Wrench that plugs into your Cigarette Lighter and comes with battery clips. It is made for removing lug nuts but is great for most uses you would use an air powered Impact Wrench for. When on sale they are around $20 each.
HF makes a set of metric extra long handled Combination wrenches around $17 when on sale. The long 22mm is what I use on the power steering pump to rotate the engine.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

for my on Highway/junkyarding or lend it to friends repair tools--dont have to worry about losing them, but at home I like the good stuff

I have had several harbor freight tools bust on me, but they seem to be good about exchanging them. My heat gun started sparking, my vice had a foot break off and I exploded a torque wrench.

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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

I would think someone would sue the he__ out of them I mean could you imagine going in to work with a Compressor Tank imbedded in your chest and telling your coworkers your Harbor Freight compressor blew up...

Their dent puller was great, but I would never buy a Spring Compressor from them--of course nowadays, I really dont know who I would buy one from