It sounds like you have the basics covered. Do you have any of these yet?
Flare nut wrenches
Vise-grip pliers
Ball-pein hammer
mini-sledge
rethreading kit (Sears kit is a great value)
Breaker bar
pry bars
gasket scrapers
hook and pick set
cold chisels and punches
aviation snips
good drill bits
My advice - think about the projects you intend to tackle and what tools are must haves for that sort of work.
spitfirebill wrote:logdog wrote: Vise Bench Grinder BenchGet the bench first
In my day we bolted the vice to the dirt floor of our cabin. That's the way it was and we liked it!
Looks like Sears is selling a rolling 3 drawer project center for $99.99 and you get a free cordless drill ($79.99 value). I don't really NEED either of those things, but seems like it may be something to pick up for the price.
What's your tool storage system and is it easy for you to find what you need in a hurry? A nice roll-around tool drawer setup might be worth looking into. Some of Harbor Freight's higher cost items in this department seem pretty decent but the cheap stuff is pretty awful.
OK, the quote function is on the blink, but mikeatrpi mentioned to think about the projects I intend to tackle and I agree. My skills are not strong now, so I want to go from there. No intention of major restoration jobs right now. Focusing mostly on LeMons type stuff and hopefully a "light restoration" type project. Yeah...I know, there is no such thing, but you get my drift.
Tool storage consists of a Craftsman 5 drawer rolling box. It's enough for now, but I'll need to add to that shortly. No work bench to speak of.
In reply to Klayfish:
Time to get serious about a bench.
did someone say welders?
http://www.eastwood.com/promotions/black-friday-sale.html?p=4
The site should prompt you for an email address, then send you another 10% off coupon. No idea if it stacks with the Black Friday deals...
If it does, here's a $360 jobby: http://www.eastwood.com/tig200dc-welder.html
and here's a $630 one that can handle aluminum: http://www.eastwood.com/tig-welders-eastwood-tig-ac-dc-welder.html
Air compressor would be my #1. With a good hose reel.
Be careful shopping for "deals" on some name brand power tools at big box stores. Often their specials are cheaper versions of the regular tool. Check the part number carefully, and be sure it matches the tool sold at more professional based suppliers.
How old are your cars? I would put together a tool bag for each car if you haven't already. Nothing too fancy; I have a small harbor freight 1/4" metric drive set, 3/8" metric drive set, good vice grips, mechanix gloves, and a few other odds and ends in there. It has saved me from a tow on a few occasions.
Used one of these recently to tap and install helicoil's. Need to get one. One of Harbor Freight's better ideas.
Installing a helicoil, that job made me a bit nervous; no turning back. That tool may have made it a bit easier.
Toyman01 wrote:pinchvalve wrote: Speaking of Gear Wrench, they make great Hex / Allan Wrenches:More info on these please. I can't find them on the Gear Wrench site.
Well, I found them. They are discontinued. 
trucke wrote: Used one of these recently to tap and install helicoil's. Need to get one. One of Harbor Freight's better ideas.
We've got a non-HF one of those in the shop and I've got one at home. Very nice to have.
For benches, Sam's Club offers a great heavy duty wood top workbench if you don't want to roll your own. Otherwise, spend the money on a welder and some scrap steel and build your own. I've told the story of my steel workbench enough times in the past. You cannot have a workbench that's too strong.
If you work on anything German I would get Allen and hex socket set. Even if it's the cheap ones still saves so much time.
Woody wrote: Gear Wrench Flex Heads are the most useful tools that I own.
Advance Auto currently has the non-flex head Gear Wrenches on sale for 50% off ($29). SAE or Metric. I think they're discontinuing them.
http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/gear-wrench-8-piece-reversible-ratcheting-combination-wrench-set-sae-9533n/25984315-P?navigationPath=L114924|L215040#
Gearwrenches are almost always on the Black Friday list at Sears.
BTW, the colored set (different color for each size) I bought at HF has proven to be rock solid over the past 5 years or so.
In reply to trucke:
What's better than a ratcheting tap holder? Sockets that adapt taps to standard ratchets:
http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/lisle-70620-P20935.aspx
Lowe's has BOGO deal on rolling 5 drawer tool chest and 5 drawer tool box. Seemed to be good quality so I pulled the trigger. I have been operating out of just a 5 drawer tool box for over 20 yrs so I am looking forward to expanding and actually being able to see all the tools that I have accumulated over the years.
Tool choices depends on what cars you work on and the most common sizes and situations you end up doing projects. Jap cars generally use 12's and 14's whereas the Porsche has 13's. There are always plenty of 10's, 17's and 19's in each of these cars. You cant have too many sockets and wrenches in the common sizes used in your car. I am very big now on having 3/8 and 1/2 18v or better impact wrenches in the box.
Big 2nds on:
The flex-head NON-reversible (you reverse them by flipping them over) Gearwrenches
And the Knipex channel locks. Not just the crescent-wrench-y thing already posted but the Cobra channel locks. These things have a hex shape in the heads with very hard teeth and will grab and turn anything. I typically use these when i think a line wrench is going to round off a fastener. I have safely broken so much E36 M3 loose with these, they are amazing.
Other than that, 1/4" hex drive cordless impact is the E36 M3. Tons of good ones out there.
6 piece ,non-swivel Gearhead sets are $9.99 at Ace Hardware this weekend.
The only complaint I ever had with my flex Gearwrenches was that whichever one you use a lot (in my case 9/16, I've had three already) will wear out. It's a pain when the end of it won't stay where you want.
pinchvalve wrote:I picked up a 30 gallon, 250 psi air compressor with a decent SCFM rating at a Black Friday Sale. It has served me well for changing tires, suspension work, engine swaps, grinding and body work. Every shop should have one.
What kind of power does that thing require?
Wire crimper/cutter is another good tool to have.
Yes, but that style is typically made pretty crappily.
I have a Snap-on one i got for ~$35 and it is VERY nice!
VERY heavy-duty and inflexible but also very compact so its easy to use in tight spots.
Get a ratcheting crimper. They're not that expensive and you'll get much better results. Cheap crimpers are one of the most expensive tools you can own from a reliability standpoint.
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