Swanicyouth
New member
Ron's thread inspired me to post this. I quit wrenching sometime around 2000 and some of my specialty tools have been in storage. I haven't seen them until last Monday when I decided to unpack them and clean them up - as they were still as greasy and filthy as I put them away the last time I used them.
Some favs:
Snap-On SL710 1/2" drive ratchet (1986 date code):
Looks pretty right? Well it was destroyed. I called Snap on Monday and they sent me out a rebuild kit (rebuilt today). Check out the old ratchet mechanism & dust cap:
Stant ST270 12270 Colling System Pressure Tester:
Outside of case was filthy and covered with grease from a grease gun dripping on it for 15 years (tool & inside were pristine). Obviously, I already "detailed" this tool.
OTC Ford Power Steering Pump Pulley Tools:
These were the only way to remove most Ford power steering pump in the 1990s. Prolly never use these again, but they have held up to like a zillion past uses good as new:
OTC 7023 Tie Rod Sleeve Tool:
Mandatory for adjusting toe on older Ford trucks and vans with steering boxes. I always liked this style more than the toe hook on a ratchet. Another tool that has held up to a million uses.
Snap-On YA 2222 5 Rack and Pinion Toe Adjustment Tool:
Used this tool on so many alignments for a bunch of years and I always loved it. The hook part goes around the inner tie rod and the head pivots and ratchets to adjust front toe on FWD cars.
Blue Point YA9065 5 Rear Toe Adjustment Tool for 1990s Ford Taurus:
The rear toe adjustments on this era of Taurus was always SEIZED! This was the only tool you remotely had a chance to turn them with. You would hook a half inch ratchet and like 4 foot of pipe as a breaker bar and swing from it with your feet off the ground - hoping they may budge. The ratchet might snap, the adjuster might snap - but the tool was bullet proof.
OTC Pickle Fork Set:
This thing has been beat on to death and none of the pieces will break. It's just indestructible.
Mac TR2587 5 Piece Wheel Stud Re-Thread Kit
This thing was great because it would save you so much time if a car came in with a wheel stud where the threads were messed up. Instead of replacing the stud, and pulling the brakes and rotors - you could just re-thread it. Another tool that was covered in tons of thick grease. The whole case hd to be scrubbed with an SOS pad & cleaned with Brake Kleen.
Matco M-326 Trim Retainer Pliers.
These were the original tool to remove door panels and interior trim held on by push pins when manufacturers started using them widely.
You know this tool is OLD (~1992) because it says: MADE IN USA... Matco has most of these type of tool manufactured overseas today.
Mac Metric Impact Sockets 12-24mm
I'm convinced these sockets are just unbreakable. Used them as sockets, to beat in bushings, etc... Never broke one. Looking at the case gives you an idea of how much use these saw.
Channel Lock 460 Alligator Pliers (the oil filter crushers):
These things will either remove or destroy almost anything. Another company that was "Made in the USA", but has since gone to Asia for production:
Some favs:
Snap-On SL710 1/2" drive ratchet (1986 date code):
Looks pretty right? Well it was destroyed. I called Snap on Monday and they sent me out a rebuild kit (rebuilt today). Check out the old ratchet mechanism & dust cap:
Stant ST270 12270 Colling System Pressure Tester:
Outside of case was filthy and covered with grease from a grease gun dripping on it for 15 years (tool & inside were pristine). Obviously, I already "detailed" this tool.
OTC Ford Power Steering Pump Pulley Tools:
These were the only way to remove most Ford power steering pump in the 1990s. Prolly never use these again, but they have held up to like a zillion past uses good as new:
OTC 7023 Tie Rod Sleeve Tool:
Mandatory for adjusting toe on older Ford trucks and vans with steering boxes. I always liked this style more than the toe hook on a ratchet. Another tool that has held up to a million uses.
Snap-On YA 2222 5 Rack and Pinion Toe Adjustment Tool:
Used this tool on so many alignments for a bunch of years and I always loved it. The hook part goes around the inner tie rod and the head pivots and ratchets to adjust front toe on FWD cars.
Blue Point YA9065 5 Rear Toe Adjustment Tool for 1990s Ford Taurus:
The rear toe adjustments on this era of Taurus was always SEIZED! This was the only tool you remotely had a chance to turn them with. You would hook a half inch ratchet and like 4 foot of pipe as a breaker bar and swing from it with your feet off the ground - hoping they may budge. The ratchet might snap, the adjuster might snap - but the tool was bullet proof.
OTC Pickle Fork Set:
This thing has been beat on to death and none of the pieces will break. It's just indestructible.
Mac TR2587 5 Piece Wheel Stud Re-Thread Kit
This thing was great because it would save you so much time if a car came in with a wheel stud where the threads were messed up. Instead of replacing the stud, and pulling the brakes and rotors - you could just re-thread it. Another tool that was covered in tons of thick grease. The whole case hd to be scrubbed with an SOS pad & cleaned with Brake Kleen.
Matco M-326 Trim Retainer Pliers.
These were the original tool to remove door panels and interior trim held on by push pins when manufacturers started using them widely.
You know this tool is OLD (~1992) because it says: MADE IN USA... Matco has most of these type of tool manufactured overseas today.
Mac Metric Impact Sockets 12-24mm
I'm convinced these sockets are just unbreakable. Used them as sockets, to beat in bushings, etc... Never broke one. Looking at the case gives you an idea of how much use these saw.
Channel Lock 460 Alligator Pliers (the oil filter crushers):
These things will either remove or destroy almost anything. Another company that was "Made in the USA", but has since gone to Asia for production:
