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Key tools to have?

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Old 05-23-13, 12:43 PM
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Key tools to have?

Sup guys. Just got an 89 turbo. Few mods and such. This is my first fc and I'm wondering if there are any key tools to own? I have a few basic tools but I'm just looking to make my life easier. I can see how this may be a stupid question lol. Also what brands would be good and what size compressor would be best to run some air tools.

This is what I thought of so far:
Set of decent sockets/ ratchets
Compressor
Impact gun

Thanks in advance.

Peace,
Nick
Attached Thumbnails Key tools to have?-image-4272200326.jpg  
Old 05-23-13, 02:59 PM
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Metric socket set
Metric wrenches.
oil filter wrench
Spark plug socket
screw driver set,short,long,etc.
swivel socket adapter.(for tight places)
decent impact set.
Jack stands,Floor jack( if possible a low profile model).
......................case of Beer......................
Old 05-23-13, 04:22 PM
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Torque wrench
Mitty vac
Test light
Punch set
Cheater bar
Pick set (seals, orings)
Old 05-23-13, 04:25 PM
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Snap ring pliers
Channel locks vice grips etc
Extra 10mm socket
Multi meter
Test light or you can borrow one
Any brand with lifetime warranty. I've been buying Kobalt lately.
60 gallon compressor is good for me.

Last edited by misterstyx69; 05-23-13 at 05:18 PM.
Old 05-23-13, 05:15 PM
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Originally Posted by marclong
Snap ring pliers
Channel locks vice grips etc
Extra 10mm socket
Multi meter
Teat light or you can borrow one
Any brand with lifetime warranty. I've been buying kobalt lately.
60 gallon compressor is good for me.
Thanks alot. The trek begins...
Old 05-23-13, 05:30 PM
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CA Welcome to the club

Congratulations on your TII purchase !

In addition to tools, here is my personal recommendations of must haves.

Back up engine parts in case of an emergency:
1. Alternator belt
2. Power steering belt
3. Air pump belt
4. A quart of engine oil
5. Oil cooler hoses (you never know...)
6. Radiator coolant (you might see a stranded motorist who needs some...)
7. Radiator Hoses (you never know...)
8. Fuel pulsation dampener (big time life saver)
9. ATV gasket sealer

Last edited by S4 Vert; 05-23-13 at 05:33 PM.
Old 05-23-13, 08:13 PM
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Originally Posted by marclong
Torque wrench
Mitty vac
^ I have found these to be the most useful.

Originally Posted by S4 Vert
Fuel pulsation dampener (big time life saver)
The OP has a S5 car, which has the pulsation dampener permanently attached to the fuel rail. A new rail is about $300. Some people prefer to upgrade to aftermarket rails and an Aeromotive fuel pressure regulator that has a built-in dampener function.
Old 05-23-13, 09:15 PM
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Originally Posted by marclong
Snap ring pliers
Channel locks vice grips etc
Extra 10mm socket
Multi meter
Test light or you can borrow one
Any brand with lifetime warranty. I've been buying Kobalt lately.
60 gallon compressor is good for me.
+1 for extra 10mm. I'm constantly ordering new ones on ebay
Old 05-23-13, 09:59 PM
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Factory Service Manual for the 89 TII.
Make one 10mm socket deep, the other shallow. Same for a 12mm, and 14mm. 21mm deep for lug nuts.
Set of extensions.
Set of metric "Ratchet Wrenchs".
Harbor Frieght's mailing list.
Old 05-23-13, 10:19 PM
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NY

lots of 10mm...got it lol

thanks fellow rotards
Old 05-23-13, 10:21 PM
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Originally Posted by Evil Aviator
^ I have found these to be the most useful.


The OP has a S5 car, which has the pulsation dampener permanently attached to the fuel rail. A new rail is about $300. Some people prefer to upgrade to aftermarket rails and an Aeromotive fuel pressure regulator that has a built-in dampener function.
Car has after market rails 720 injectors and the aero FPR

Lowes and harbor freight in the am haha
Old 05-24-13, 12:52 AM
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Red face

Originally Posted by Evil Aviator
^ I have found these to be the most useful.


The OP has a S5 car, which has the pulsation dampener permanently attached to the fuel rail. A new rail is about $300. Some people prefer to upgrade to aftermarket rails and an Aeromotive fuel pressure regulator that has a built-in dampener function.
My bad , good catch.
Old 05-24-13, 08:21 AM
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You can pick up a pry bar and breaker bar pretty easily at harbor freight. They come in handy if anything is rusty.
Old 05-25-13, 07:59 PM
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Originally Posted by marclong
Torque wrench
Mitty vac
Test light
Punch set
Cheater bar
Pick set (seals, orings)
This
Old 05-25-13, 10:32 PM
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Originally Posted by misterstyx69
Metric socket set
Metric wrenches.
oil filter wrench
Spark plug socket
screw driver set,short,long,etc.
swivel socket adapter.(for tight places)
decent impact set.
Jack stands,Floor jack( if possible a low profile model).
......................case of Beer......................
Case of beer lol. Unfortunately the tools I get don't matter, turns out my apartment complex doesn't appreciate me making the parking garage my private garage. Who knew?
Old 05-25-13, 11:08 PM
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I have a set of keys that have one of those little adjustable wrenches on it.(little 3-1/2 adjustable?)..also have a little screwdriver medallion that allows you to unscrew stuff like flat,phillips,robertson etc..but is more like a Coin.
It comes in So..SO handy!
Well,not exactly Handy when it had to go through the Metal detector in Edmonton and I got held up for a second..lol!
Old 05-25-13, 11:28 PM
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Originally Posted by ilveritas
Case of beer lol. Unfortunately the tools I get don't matter, turns out my apartment complex doesn't appreciate me making the parking garage my private garage. Who knew?
I am going through the same thing too, before I had a garage at my previous apartment building. I moved recently and I can not work on my car at my new complex.

This sucks, because now I have to pay a shop to do the work I could do myself and it's killing me money wise too. It's crazy how going from having a garage to not having a garage equates to saving money on a diy to paying a couple of hundred dollars to have simple work done .
Old 05-26-13, 03:25 AM
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I'm reading that list of tools to have, and I have no idea what any of those are. I plan on purchasing an RX-7 after I graduate from college in a few years. Do you think a newbie like me would drive myself nuts trying to maintain it? I'm worried about the maintenance mostly.
Old 05-26-13, 03:46 AM
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It's a good thing you plan on buying an RX7 after you graduate from college. Imo an RX7 is not the most practical car to have, or build while in college unless it is in excellent condition and maintained very well.

If you can, buy a junk motor and tear it down and rebuild it. This route, you will already know the RE inside out which is the most important aspect of owning an RX7, or RE powered car. And also you can find a donor car to install your RE and before you know it...you will be a college student with a project .

Last edited by S4 Vert; 05-26-13 at 03:54 AM.
Old 05-26-13, 09:17 AM
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Originally Posted by TwentyDW
I'm reading that list of tools to have, and I have no idea what any of those are. I plan on purchasing an RX-7 after I graduate from college in a few years. .... I'm worried about the maintenance mostly.
These are old cars, which require more attention to keep reliable and fun. Most of what's in the lists are basic hand tools. No offense, but if you don't know what they are, you're not likely to have the skills to maintain one of these cars.
Originally Posted by TwentyDW
Do you think a newbie like me would drive myself nuts trying to maintain it?
Yes.
Old 05-26-13, 10:31 AM
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Originally Posted by ;11476384
Car has after market rails 720 injectors and the aero FPR
Excellent. Hopefully it also has an Rtek chip or other type of fuel controller or EMS to properly run the injectors.

Originally Posted by TwentyDW
I'm reading that list of tools to have, and I have no idea what any of those are. I plan on purchasing an RX-7 after I graduate from college in a few years. Do you think a newbie like me would drive myself nuts trying to maintain it? I'm worried about the maintenance mostly.
As mentioned above, these cars are very old. I had an RX-7 in college, and it was a great car, but back then it was brand new. When in good shape the RX-7 is very reliable, but getting it into that shape is becoming more of a challenge as time goes on. I would recommend that you get a good new or nearly new car for your daily driver, and then get an RX-7 as a project car if you think you would like it for a hobby. If you just want one car, then an RX-8 or Scion FR-S would be the closest thing to an RX-7 without being too old and broken down. Also, a new RX-7 is supposed to come out around 2017, which may make a nice reward for yourself once you are established in your new job after college. Please be careful about spending your money right after graduation, as this may be the most financially-taxing period of your life, and all of your effort should go into attaining a good job to pay off your college debt and establish yourself in a new house or apartment. Yes, I'm a financial guy as well as an RX-7 guy.
Old 05-26-13, 11:23 AM
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Originally Posted by S4 Vert
I am going through the same thing too, before I had a garage at my previous apartment building. I moved recently and I can not work on my car at my new complex.

This sucks, because now I have to pay a shop to do the work I could do myself and it's killing me money wise too. It's crazy how going from having a garage to not having a garage equates to saving money on a diy to paying a couple of hundred dollars to have simple work done .
Amen...I was considering renting one of those storage units and turning it into my garage/workshop. Has anyone tried this? Will the large storage companies allow you to do it?
Old 05-26-13, 11:24 AM
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10mil
12mil
14mil
17mil sockets.

You can pretty much rebuild an RX-7 with those.
Old 05-26-13, 12:06 PM
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Originally Posted by Evil Aviator
Excellent. Hopefully it also has an Rtek chip or other type of fuel controller or EMS to properly run the injectors.
Yes sir rtek 1.8
Old 05-27-13, 05:17 PM
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Originally Posted by ilveritas
Amen...I was considering renting one of those storage units and turning it into my garage/workshop. Has anyone tried this? Will the large storage companies allow you to do it?
I looked into that myself and was told "sorry we do not allow any mechanical repairs done on our premises", and also because of insurance purposes too. I even looked into renting a small air plane hanger. I found a few small air ports that do rent/lease their hangers but require a minimum of 1 year to lease. If I had the money to cover an air plane hanger and rent for apartment I would do it. And believe me I would be working on my car daily .


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