IN CAR TOOL KIT

[horrace]

HI IM JUST assembling an in car tool kit in a tool roll to go under the seat. it will be just enought to get me out of a spot of bother, so all i was going to put in it was pliers side cutters needle nose small phillips larger phillips small flat and larger flat screwdriver and as my car has been part replaced with metric nuts, i was going with 8 10 11 12 13 14 15 mm spanners and a small adjustable. and of course a wheel brace and jack. i want to keep it pretty small so i can get it all wrapped up tidy and out the way. Any other tools that you guys thiink i should have? maybe a small hammer?

[MarkyB]

my car has been part replaced with metric nuts

Are you sure? How was it done?
There a several threads about this already (tools not converting to metric) have a quick search.

[horrace]

sorry that would make more sense if i said when i rebuilt the car i used some metric bolts! when im tonkering i tend to ise mainly metric although i know a few dont fit!

[bmcecosse]

A LARGE hammer - and an AA Recovery Card...... Then of course - you need a large box of spares...........
Crazy to carry only Metric spanners - ALL of the engine/box etc is Imperial - and ALL of the chassis is British Standard...

[horrace]

ive got the breakdown recovery but just wanted a small kit to tighten this or wack that! Ill sort some imperial stuff as well then. I Wasnt planning ontaking any spare, bits ....

[MarkyB]

You can pick up AF and Whitworth spanners and sockets for next to nothing at boot fairs.
If you have lots of spare cash you can but a Metrinch set which will cover most things.
Cable ties and coat hanger wire are handy to have too.

[bmcecosse]

You NEED -spare dizzy complete, fuelpump, carb complete, headgasket,cylinder head, fan belt, alternator, full set of hoses, bulbs - possibly flexi hoses/brake shoes/cylinders........ Certainly brake fluid/oil/water/fuel

[mike.perry]

Under the seat is not the place for a tool roll unless you struggle to get from one layby to the next. There is plenty of space under the boot floor next to the spare wheel.
I agree with the comments about about metric spanners. get yourself a set of A/F and Whitworth spanners and sockets, and not just combination spanners. It is difficult to hold the other end of a bolt when the size you need is on the other end of the spanner.
Also forget the adjustable, that is the lazy mechanic's tool. All you do is round off the corners of the bolts.
You might find a decent jack and wheel brace useful
Roy You need a trailer to carry all those spares

[beero]

In addition I carry a length of wire with a test lamp and crock clips, a torch, an emery board and some wipes to clean up after you have fixed the car

[horrace]

ok that all sounds good to me,

mines a pick up so tools have to go in cab til i get a safe toolbox and tonneau for the back.

so now the kit will be metric and af spanners (still gonna put my adjustable in but be careful not to round off nuts)

cable ties basic elect tester, torch emery cloth, clean up cloths, jack (already have) & will get wheel brace

and ill get a trailer to put all the spares in, or maybe just a trailer with a spare car on

[bmcecosse]

Some combination spanner sets have different sizes each end - MUCH more useful! Sadly hard to find..... Make sure that 'jack' is NOT the standard issue BMC item......

[horrace]

the jack is a lake one i think is that ok? I may just get a scissor jack for normal use as these are alot smaller and less cumbersome

[ASL642]

Spare fuses are always usefuly in case one blows when you're out and a torch to see what you're looking at.

[alainmoran]

I find that you can get pretty much every tool you will ever need into the space under the boot in a 2 door ... the two little trays at the back are great for spanners, sockets, screwdrivers, mole-grips etc .. oil water & other gubbins can slip up under the boot by the side of the spare tyre, I used to even carry a trolley jack in there, but decided it was overkill & now have a scary looking scissor jack which I'm dreading needing to use!!!

In addition I carry a torque wrench, head-gasket, water pump, fan belt, carb-needle valve, bulbs, spark plugs (used but ok), haynes book of lies, thermostat, water filler cap, pretty sure I still have a set of points & a condenser in there from before I put the electronic ignition on, plus there are a bunch of tools under the back seat too .. including a hammer ;)

Basically whichever tool you dont have, you will need - for instance last weekend I really wished I was carrying a ball-joint-splitter ... but hey, you cant carry EVERYTHING - that's what the recovery card is for (but I hate using it)

[bmcecosse]

Spare cylinder head goes up there alongside the spare wheel. And of course - some folks put the wheel under the bonnet -so releasing LOTS of space for spares at the back!

[alainmoran]

Yeah, I've thought about doing that myself, but was worried my hinges wouldn't cope :s

[mike.perry]

It also makes the bonnet very heavy and relies on the strength of the welds at the ends of the cross brace which can be pop rivetted

[alainmoran]

I imagine all that weight high-up would affect the handling too :s

[daveyl]

If it hasn't been mentioned, a SPARK PLUG REMOVER.
I carry a very basic kit, metric spanners, small and big screw drivers, 2x pliers (Pointy and standard). Medium hammer. Spark plug remover. Insulation tape.
Spare coil, cap,rotar arm, points, condenser. Bulbs, oil, water. All this is enough for me, as if I need to do more than the basics, I'd rather do it at home. Suppose, it depends what and where you're going.
I use my car most days to work (9 miles each way). The thing is, in my own experience, to test how a car performs reliably, i would say at least a solid non stop 20 mile run and finish with a drive into town on a hot day, will tell you all you need to know about a car.

[alainmoran]

Spark plug removers are a great tool ... I prefer them to plug sockets as it makes it harder to over-tighten the plugs!