What's in your junkyard tool kit?: Grassroots Motorsports forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

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Nov. 12, 2011 3:45 p.m. Sky_Render Reader

I need to head to the local pick-and-pull next week to find some parts to get my "new" winter beater to pass Maryland inspections. As I was making sure I have my tool kit all together, I thought of GRM and wondered what everyone else carries with them when they go junkyard-diving.

I carry a Craftsman "Professional" series tool bag with the following in it:

Sockets of all sizes, metric and standard, in 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2" drive. (The socket sizes don't overlap among the different drives to keep weight down.), Ratchets for the sockets, A magnetic bit driver and ratcheting bit driver along with various bits, including one to allow me to attach 1/4" drive sockets to it, A set of "stubby" screw drivers and a thumb-wheel ratchet, Adjustable wrench, Pliers, Wire cutters, Razor blade, A set of allen wrenches, A very long flat-head screwdriver that can act as a pry bar, An interior trim panel removal tool, A tape measure, A BFH

What other stuff do you carry with you to the junkyard? And feel free to tell me if you think I'm lugging too much crap around.
Nov. 12, 2011 3:59 p.m. Twin_Cam SuperDork

1/2" and 3/8" drive metric sockets (I'm usually there for Saturn parts, don't need SAE sockets!), socket wrenches, 1/4" socket set, couple Philips screwdrivers, one or two flathead screwdrivers, breaker bar, cheater bar (4-foot piece of SS tubing), needlenose pliers, slip joint pliers, wire cutters, one or two Torx drivers, 36" pry bar, and a bright orange deadblow BFH. And I have a black plastic Craftsman case for it all.

If I'm pulling an engine or trans, I'll bring an axle socket, box-end wrenches, and if the yard allows it, a blowtorch for loosening chassis and crankshaft nuts.
Nov. 12, 2011 4:14 p.m. Hungary Bill New Reader

Hammer, crowbar, and WD40.
Nov. 12, 2011 5:48 p.m. mw HalfDork

What is this junk yard you speak of? I find it's much easier to keep a few junk cars next to my garage where all my tools are. I've got two parts miata out back and parts from at least two others I've stripped. All within reach of my air tools.
Nov. 12, 2011 5:51 p.m. 11110000 Reader

I bring everything EXCEPT that one special tool I forgot I needed...
Nov. 12, 2011 7:42 p.m. Sky_Render Reader

mw wrote:

What is this junk yard you speak of? I find it's much easier to keep a few junk cars next to my garage where all my tools are. I've got two parts miata out back and parts from at least two others I've stripped. All within reach of my air tools.

That doesn't work too good when you live in a townhouse, though.

11110000 wrote:

I bring everything EXCEPT that one special tool I forgot I needed...

Yep, no kidding!
Nov. 12, 2011 8:26 p.m. fasted58 SuperDork

pretty much what others said plus 1/2" impact driver, frees stubborn nuts n bolts and provides huge torque increase w/ driver bits over screw drivers. Short bottle hot wrench where allowed.
Nov. 12, 2011 11:26 p.m. curtis73 Dork

typical wrenches, sockets, rachets, and screwdrivers. I always take my Rigid impact driver. There is nothing like disassembling things quickly with that little sucker.

I also take my Rigid sawzall, a sharp utility knife, and a big prybar.
Nov. 13, 2011 6:25 a.m. Woody SuperDork

I only did this once, but it was a true, Miata-based emergency.

The small bag held all the loose stuff and was inside the backpack.
Nov. 13, 2011 7:03 a.m. dmyntti New Reader

All sizes sockets in 3/8 and 1/2 drive, wrenches, assorted pliers and wire cutters, prybars, 24V cordless drill with adapters to drive socktes, big hammer, cordless impact wrench, and most importantly a cordless sawzall.

The sawzall is my favorite as I am usually pulling engines or transmissions and it is much quicker to cut off the exhaust then to unbolt it. It is also great for cutting off fuel lines and even the core support to make easy access.

I carry all this in a 2'x4' rubber wheeled garden cart that can also carry parts out.
Nov. 13, 2011 7:28 a.m. mad_machine SuperDork

I just bring the toolbag that I keep in my car at all times
Nov. 13, 2011 2:09 p.m. Sky_Render Reader

I should probably start keeping my tool bag in the back of my beater. Then again it's a '93 Corolla, and I'm pretty sure the only two things that would survive a nuclear winter are cockroaches and early-90s toyotas.