Off the chain

Made in England, it's special

Over the years i've accumulated quite a few tools.  From old wooden handled screw drivers to just odd specialty tools which have stumped me on it's purpose.  Like this tool above, do you know it's purpose.  It's been sitting in my tool box for years and I never new what I did.  That is until recentl,y this tool geek showed me a chain breaker that he uses for rebuilding bike chains.  WTH?? it's like a light bulb went off.  All these years (over 15) this tool has been sitting in the tool box and I finally know it does. 

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Handi tool

 The trusty handi cut by craftsman tools.  They cut just about everything with easy.  But it's one of the best tools i found for cutting silicon hoses in to nice neat lengths.  No more janky cuts from using that silly razor blade.

It looks JDM fresh with it's JDM hose clamps, fo' sho'.  But make sure you never ever let your, girlfriend, wife, mistress, etc. ever know you have this thing.  This may have dreadful results if you ever make her angry.

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A new purpose

If you've got that job, that just requires something that's not in your arsenal of weapons, and you're short on cash to buy it from that Snap on guy.  The only alternative is to modify an existing tool to suit ones purpose.  This little gem was used to get those pesky bosch type fuel injection plugs.  The ones with the wire clips, they're such a pain.  A couple swipes with the grinder and we have a special tool. Now it's used quite a bit on other odd jobs.  Definitely worth the sacrifice.

This is what was before it went under the grinder.

The Soldiers

Always organized and ready for the next job.

Making more tools

When I first installed a limited slip into my car, it required special tool which I didn't want to buy. There are times when you don't wanna cough cash for a tool you think you'll only use once or twice. Though I could have gone and used needle nose pliers. But I love my Snap On tools that much not to use them in that manner.


Hence I made this tool. To set back lash on the adjusting rings. Which is a requirement for Toyota differentials.


I even tried using it to tighten down the crush sleeve. And if you know the torque required for that, then you know it's futile. I ended up making another bar that's as long as a breaker bar to handle that job.

Even after a few years and a bunch more diffs later I still use it. Now it's like why bother getting the special tool when this one works so well.

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More tool especial

If you got a big american v8 with a big american air cleaner then you'll probably using or will be needing these. I haven't even used these yet, since the old carb import air cleaners were still accessible with a simple flat head. May i'll need to buy one. A big american sedan that is.

Image via Wikipedia

Like a 1963 Lincoln Continental one of my favorites.

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Old School tool

Dunno if i'll ever use it. I don't come across cars with external regs. Don't even know if the guy I got it from way back then even used cause it looks so new. It measures the temperature of an alternator regulator. This was when cars had their regulators mounted outside. But i'm sure you guys already knew that.


The original Snap-On box with label, I wonder how old this piece of equipment is? Could'nt find much information on the net.

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AE86 Tech #86-13: The cheap bender

Image via Wikipedia

Since it's nearing Halloween and being this is the 13th tech, means absolutely nothing. Except for another cheap way of doing stuff. This time I explore bending brakes. Since I can't afford one I made a cheap one. With a couple pieces of metal and a hydraulic press.


Welding a couple pieces of metal I came up with this. Not too bad.


And this is how it works.

Sure i could probably get the same results with a vise and a good size hammer. But we're really after the cosmetics. You know me, it's gotta look good for sho'!


Anyways I don't think you can make this on the vise.


Another thing that this thing is good for is holding pipe on the the drill press. Too bad I don't have a drill press to utilize this amazing piece.

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Replacement Battery

Jumper boxes are probably one of the best investments when working on cars. Besides jumping cars, i've used it to power air compressors, and use it as a 12v source to test ecus and other electronics. I've had mine for a number of years and it's served me well. When it was time to replace, instead of buying a new one, I decided to look for a replacement battery. But the price on just a replacement was almost the same as buying a new one. But me being the frugal person, I looked elsewhere.


Found comparable battery at batterymart.com at half the price. I don't know how good it's going to be, or even how long it will last. Only time will tell, but for the price you can't knock it.

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Tool Book

I've received my share of tool catalogs during my time as a tech. They're usually just cheap and simple books. From Snap-On to S-K tools they were pretty much all the same. Until I came across this one from Beta tools. It's a hardbound book that looks like more an encyclopedia.

Yes. Friday is good

For Good Friday I had the day off. To take advantage of this rare weekday off, I headed in search of tools. Sure I probably could have assisted in helping a privateer in the Formula D event this weekend. But i'm semi retired from wrenching and nobody asked.


In a nondescript building in Huntington Beach, California, is a tool distributor known quietly selling Beta tools. Fortunate for me they just opened up the show room just a week ago. I can't say I have a tool fetish like some others, but I do own some rare tools that have some european heritage. This is where Beta comes in, it's the Snap On of europe and have supplied tools to


Formula One and MotoGP.

Here some stuff if you're a Ferrari owner and need tools to work on your prancing horse, cause you know will. But you probably take your car to Luigi anyways rather than work on it yourself.



Another thing that may tickle your fancy is that Beta is just a side business. The place is actually called California Hot Rod Shop. Their main business is of course high end hot rods. If you've seen the show Chop, Cut, Rebuild on Speed. Then you'll know of this shop. It's where they built the bonneville car. I was given a small tour of the shop and it is definitely a cool shop to see.

Finding the place is also very easy. As most racers know of Sube Sports, this place is right up the street from them.

And no the shop doesn't look like this. This was actually the shop up in Denver, Colorado. It's closed down and all operations are at the Huntington Beach facility.

For more information on Beta tools USA please take a look at the site. For the Italian site click here

The replacements

Image by CARLOS62 via Flickr

Got some Snap on and Mac tools replaced recently. It really sucks that if you break a Snap on or other big branded tool, you can't them replaced as easily with other brands i.e. Craftsman. Usually, I end up sitting on them since i haven't really worked in the automotive industry for a few years. It's just a hassle to find a tool truck and beg the tool guy to replace it especially if he doesn't know you. Since he's not making money off you, he could care less. Sometimes i'm happy I have some Craftsman tools in the arsenal, so at least I break'em I can get them replaced anywhere there's a Sears and in no time so no time or money lost.

Improvise, yes we do.

I used to spend alot of money on tools when I wrenched for a living. Since i've all but given up the profession. I have a lot more money to spend on other things. But there's days I won't have the tools I need to get the job done. This is where being filipino comes into play. Yes I did use a connecting rod, pinion bearing and a socket to press a couple of ball joints in. And yes it did work take that bitches! Unfortunately, a Snap On tool was sacraficed in the line of duty.

What's in your Garage?

I came across this blog called Garage Envy. And yes you will be in envy when you see some of these garages that are featured on this site, I know I am. I can only dream to have a garage like that. But in reality I just need to clean out the garage and sell all the junk that's in there, yeah right. One man's junk is another man's treasure.

Finding the right tools

If you choose automotive as a career or a hobby, you gotta have tools right? Borrowing the neighbors tools will only go so far. Most rookies start off with Craftsman tools cause it does the job and the price is reasonable, it's what started with when I first started out in the industry. Sears is also in every major city so if it breaks you have a place to go to for a replacement. But when you start using high end tools you can really appreciate them, something I didn't do initial due to price. But since I don't wrench for a living any more I still like to get my hands on the high end tools. But it's hard chasing the tool truck around, looking for a couple tools that you hope he may have stashed in his truck. Or I could go on each tool makers site and order from there. But either way it gets expensive really fast. And I'm cheap, so I've started scouring places like ebay, swap meets and garage sales for tools. Sure it's used but it does the same job. Lately I've been dealing with Carl who sells tools at swap meets and ebay. A really nice guy with awesome prices on used tools. He carries names like Snap-On and Mac (which I prefer). So take a visit to his site http://www.landonlawtools.com/ or if you're a Southern California local you can also see him personally at the Long Beach Hi Performance Swap Meet at Veterans Stadium