Old tools.

[Dirtman]

So with cleaning out my old junk tool box I started finding all the tools I use to use frequently 20+ years ago and brought back some memories but haven't touched in decades.

Found my ignition/distributor wrenches. My old sunpro pre-OBD scanner that takes Nintendo style cartridges. Carter carb adjustment tool kit. Dana 60 kingpin tool (just a massive piece of hex stock). My battery "toaster" load tester. A collection of OHV valve compressors, hog ring pliers and upholstery tools.

I'm sure some of you still use these things. But what kinda older stuff do you guys still have laying around that aint used much these days on modern vehicles?

 

[MikeG]

Model T Ford wrenches.

Used to have an air brake adjustment tool, gave it to a relative who drove semis for a living. And a lug nut socket for the same.

 

[sgtsandman]

I still have a dwell meter that I haven't used in years. It's the only thing I can think of off hand.

 

[adsm08]

I have a Model T wrench that my grandfather found at a flea market and bought for me.

Not really tools, per se, but I also have the full set of course texts and tests from the automotive service correspondence courses my great grandfather took from 1916 to 1917.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Suprinsgly i dont have many tools like that. I do have an old sears "engine analyzer" that checks dwell, volts, rpm, etc.


other then then that i always made do with standard tools.

Actually scratch that....i know i got 2 or 3 bumper jacks kicking around.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

My FIL gave me an armature growler, I never have used it.

I can't think of anything else offhand, I don't really have anything all that "modern" though.

 

[Rick W]

I’ve got a cast iron 24” deep scroll saw from late ‘40s, dewalt cast iron radial arm saw from the early ‘60s, cast iron/steel drill press from the ‘50s, all bought new by my father and uncle, and grandfather. I’ve got pre-WWII cast iron jack stands my grandfather bought at a liquidation sale in the 19-teens (weigh like lead), under the ‘93 donar right now. All kinds of hand tools pre-WWII, and railroad-rail rail tongs (and a RR clock) from when grandfather worked for the RR at the 1800/1900 turn of the century, and his steel/iron-worker tools from when he worked for Bethlehem Steel in the Brooklyn Navy yards.

Not tools per se, but I also have great grandfather’s butcher block, brought over from Poland in late 1800’s, along with his ham slicer, carving knife, and cleaver. When they immigrated here, he started a butcher shop/grocery/vegetable stand/shop on Jersey Street on Staten Island and ran it for 50 years into the depression and beyond. In the shadow of the Verrezano Br now. I’m guessing 1/2” in depth of the carving knife is gone from sharpening, it curves in instead of out! The butcher block has about 3” tall spacers under the legs to raise it up, and the top looks like a wave, I’m guessing the same 3-4” has been cut out of the top from carving for 50+ years (and it’s still 12-14” thick, weighs a ton!). 1928/29 Cable-connover baby grand, and late 19th century stained glass from my parents home in NJ I put in here after being squashed by the ‘98 Dunwoody tornado. All kinds of other stuff. If I ever hit the lottery, I’d buy OLDER stuff!! I was the only one interested in the family history, and we’re blessed to have kept it all in the family.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

My bedroom furniture...
My kitchen table....

A Bear engine analyzer with an oxygen tester.
Various bumper Jack's and some quite old hydraulic Jack's, one rises to 34".
Couple of old welders, a Lincoln 300 amp Dial an arc I bought for $100 with about 100' of lead (the copper is worth more than I paid), a Sears 295 amp buzz box I got from my gramps. ..

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Thought of a couple others.
An old valve grinder and seat grinder with reamers.
A manual cylinder hone that uses a drill. There are still stones available.

 

[Dirtman]

I want this thing...

 

[Rick W]

Haha, that reminds me, I also still have my
Panasonic “Quadraphonic” (4-channel) receiver, the quad turntable with about a dozen quad vinyls (rare Led Zepplin, but can no longer get needles), a cassette deck, and a more modern 5-cd changer, and -wait for this....




...an 8-track play/record deck!!!

I use the 8-track tapes in the ‘78 Lincoln Mark V regularly. I’ve actually taped new artist/concert tapes to use in the land yacht. Nothing brings out the sound quality like the loud KA-CHUNK during the libretto....

My CB base station is temporarily in storage....

 

[Dirtman]

I've been looking for my old radar detector. Its an old super fox (I'm guessing from the 80's?)

I hooked it up a couple years ago and it literally beeped at everything. Garage doors, cell phones, pretty sure even wifi set it off. I think they had a little too much power back then.

This isn't mine (online pic) but this is the model.

 

[racsan]

ignition wrenches, feeler guages, inductive timing light, special 9/16 wrench heated & bent for disributor use.
thats all that comes to mind at the moment.

 

[Rick W]

I've been looking for my old radar detector. Its an old super fox (I'm guessing from the 80's?)

To be installed in the 87 Rick-storation, Rick’s Ranger Rig, and the Lincolns. Half of them SSB, all vintage correct, all pennies on Craigslist or eBay...

There are 2-3 radar detectors buried in there. Just bought six 102” whips, had the balls and springs...

 

[19Walt93]

I have a Snap On dwell tach I bought in 1972, it's metal and I still use the tach function. Dwell is the measurement in degrees of the time that the points are closed, charging the condenser for you young guys who didn't know. I've got a valve guide driver for air cooled VW's I bought while working at a Sunoco station- they were such a P.O.S. that we were rebuilding the engines. I have a rear axle seal driver for the early banjo rear ends- the seal installs from the inside so the rear end needs a major teardown just to change them. I have feeler gauges( how else would you gap plugs?), a special screw driver to start points screws. I have a setback timing light, 1/2" and 9/16" Snap On distributor wrenches, a 2'+ long #2 Philips Snap On screw driver to aim headlights, a Snap On hook tool to remove the spring holding round sealed beams in place, an assortment of bent metric wrenches I used on NFG Couriers, front hub sockets for Ford/GM/Dodge with Dana axles and one for Scouts, 3 tappet wrenches, and the Sioux valve seat grinding equipment from the dealer because the new manager was going to throw it out.