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Old 03-12-2008, 08:37 PM   #1
nyncompute
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Show your homemade tools

I'm a little embarrassed showing these in light of the talent we have on this board, but if you're like me, sometimes you don't have the right tool to do the job. So what do you do? Go caveman and make your own!
Example1:

I found it difficult to set the rivets when I rebuilt my wing windows so I got a $1.00 Harbor Fright chisel and notched and welded the setting tool to the end. This allowed me to swing the hammer safely above the frame of window.
Example 2:

I ground a cheap 17MM socket and fashioned a crude spanner to work with the switch bezels.
Example:3 The most shameful of all , I hammered a piece of coat hanger to fit in the electrical terminals to release them from their case.
I know it's not much but I pretty sure these separate me from lower forms of life.
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Last edited by nyncompute; 03-12-2008 at 08:38 PM.
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Old 03-12-2008, 08:49 PM   #2
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Re: Show your homemade tools

I have a few at home I made when I was in highschool. Also a few that my dad made (around the same time). I will post pics tonight.
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Old 03-12-2008, 08:57 PM   #3
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Re: Show your homemade tools

This was the prototype. The finished "tool" didn't work much better, but with a little more creative ingenuity I think it would be handy.
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Old 03-12-2008, 09:38 PM   #4
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Re: Show your homemade tools

Quote:
Originally Posted by Blue'72 View Post
This was the prototype. The finished "tool" didn't work much better, but with a little more creative ingenuity I think it would be handy.
Attachment 343657
Wouldn't a wire wheel bit for your drill or hand-held grinder do the job.


Here's my custom header spark plug socket. Best $1 ever spent at Advance auto parts. Make sure to buy the cheap socket found at the register, the metal isn't as hard to cut.




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Old 03-12-2008, 09:43 PM   #5
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Re: Show your homemade tools

Like the eletric tooth brush there.
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Old 03-12-2008, 09:51 PM   #6
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Re: Show your homemade tools

I was wondering what was up with that spark plug socket until I saw the picture in use. That's a cool idea!

The electric "tooth" brush was supposed to be for the hard to reach areas inside the frame rails. If I had a dog gone blade that didn't wobble back and forth so much, I think it would have worked.. It did help using heavy duty wire ties to keep the brush from flying off...
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'01 Ranger (I've gotta long commute..)
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Last edited by Blue'72; 03-12-2008 at 09:52 PM.
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Old 03-12-2008, 11:01 PM   #7
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Re: Show your homemade tools

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Originally Posted by Blue'72 View Post
I was wondering what was up with that spark plug socket until I saw the picture in use. That's a cool idea!

The electric "tooth" brush was supposed to be for the hard to reach areas inside the frame rails. If I had a dog gone blade that didn't wobble back and forth so much, I think it would have worked.. It did help using heavy duty wire ties to keep the brush from flying off...
HA HA! Only laughing because I could see myself attempting the exact same thing.

Yeah, if you look at my spark plug inside the head, you can see there's no way to tighten them with a wrench. So, I either needed to make this tool, or buy a real headersocket for $40, or buy shorty plugs. I have that socket in a very special place now, so I'm sure it doesn't get lost.
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Old 03-13-2008, 12:50 AM   #8
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Re: Show your homemade tools

Here are a bunch.

First off is the SBC oil pump pick up tube installer. Makes it easier to tap it in.

Another view


Second are these plates I made to pressure test the coolant passages when an engine is assembled. I have a bunch of plates and rubber gaskets.

Another view


Next is a tool for carrying SBC heads easily. Just screws into spark plug hole.


This one is to prime an engine with oil before start up. Take dizzy out and clamp this in place. Run it with a drill. Just an old SBC push rod squished on one end, and a mounting peice made by my father.


Next 2 pics are a special socket made to slide on the end of the crankshaft. I use this when assembling the engine. Using a beam type torque wrench you can check the amount of pressure needed to turn the crank over. Makes it easy to spot a problem before you get too far into the assembly.

Another view


This last tool is a cam bearing installer. The top part goes in the end of the shaft, this is what you hit with the hammer. The second piece slides in the bearing. Wrap it one time with masking tape to protect the bearing. The bottom one, is keeps everything centered. Only thing not pictured is the metal tube.



Kind of a long post, but there are my homemade tools. Only thing not shown is a finger of a leather glove I cut off. I put this over the open end wrench when I am working with batteries, and stuff. A little security, so I don't worry about banging it on something and arc welding it haha.
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Old 03-13-2008, 05:43 AM   #9
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Re: Show your homemade tools

Just what I was afraid of. That engine rebuiling stuff makes my "innovations" look prehistoric.
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Old 03-13-2008, 06:18 AM   #10
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Re: Show your homemade tools

Nonsense. I was looking at that socket you made thinking........damn I wish I had that last week haha.
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Old 03-13-2008, 06:31 AM   #11
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Re: Show your homemade tools

i have a pretty sweet slidehammer with vicegrips on one end my dad made... i use it all the time

and on the oil priming tools you have to have the distributer body on there if you want oil pressure to both sides of the motor...

i'll have to get some pics of mine
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Old 03-13-2008, 06:41 AM   #12
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Re: Show your homemade tools

....nobody has patents on any of these tools yet,
do they???


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Old 03-13-2008, 06:51 AM   #13
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Re: Show your homemade tools

Being less than tall, I climb in and sit in the engine bay often. It didn't take too many reminders to ram a chunk of styrofoam down over the hood catch!
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Old 03-13-2008, 07:23 AM   #14
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Re: Show your homemade tools

This may be a funny time and place but tools often come in handy when you never expected them to. Yesterday my kitchen sink handle broke off of post and I have not had a chance to get to hardware store. My trusty old tool box provided a deep 5 MM and extension to get the dishes done. Maybe a little Home Improvement coming soon.

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Old 03-13-2008, 07:27 AM   #15
68 short step
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Re: Show your homemade tools

sheshhhhhh, you're all professional like...those tools dont look to ghetto at all...



Quote:
Originally Posted by joedoozer View Post
Here are a bunch.

First off is the SBC oil pump pick up tube installer. Makes it easier to tap it in.

Another view


Second are these plates I made to pressure test the coolant passages when an engine is assembled. I have a bunch of plates and rubber gaskets.

Another view


Next is a tool for carrying SBC heads easily. Just screws into spark plug hole.


This one is to prime an engine with oil before start up. Take dizzy out and clamp this in place. Run it with a drill. Just an old SBC push rod squished on one end, and a mounting peice made by my father.


Next 2 pics are a special socket made to slide on the end of the crankshaft. I use this when assembling the engine. Using a beam type torque wrench you can check the amount of pressure needed to turn the crank over. Makes it easy to spot a problem before you get too far into the assembly.

Another view


This last tool is a cam bearing installer. The top part goes in the end of the shaft, this is what you hit with the hammer. The second piece slides in the bearing. Wrap it one time with masking tape to protect the bearing. The bottom one, is keeps everything centered. Only thing not pictured is the metal tube.



Kind of a long post, but there are my homemade tools. Only thing not shown is a finger of a leather glove I cut off. I put this over the open end wrench when I am working with batteries, and stuff. A little security, so I don't worry about banging it on something and arc welding it haha.
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Old 03-13-2008, 07:28 AM   #16
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Re: Show your homemade tools









Quote:
Originally Posted by DavesRide View Post
This may be a funny time and place but tools often come in handy when you never expected them to. Yesterday my kitchen sink handle broke off of post and I have not had a chance to get to hardware store. My trusty old tool box provided a deep 5 MM and extension to get the dishes done. Maybe a little Home Improvement coming soon.

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Old 03-13-2008, 09:12 AM   #17
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Re: Show your homemade tools

Been hanging light in my shop made a tool to make location and modified a tool to install hangers in the joists
A little grinding and some tape and I was in business !
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Old 03-14-2008, 10:09 PM   #18
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Re: Show your homemade tools

I'm no genius inventor. I did although make a couple items.
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Old 03-14-2008, 11:28 PM   #19
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Re: Show your homemade tools

What kind of headers are those?
B


Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim_PA View Post
Wouldn't a wire wheel bit for your drill or hand-held grinder do the job.


Here's my custom header spark plug socket. Best $1 ever spent at Advance auto parts. Make sure to buy the cheap socket found at the register, the metal isn't as hard to cut.




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Old 03-14-2008, 11:45 PM   #20
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Re: Show your homemade tools

These are some bigger things I made because I needed them, A press and engine stand.I also have a engine hoist.
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Old 03-15-2008, 03:13 AM   #21
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Re: Show your homemade tools

Quote:
Originally Posted by NONHOG View Post
Been hanging light in my shop made a tool to make location and modified a tool to install hangers in the joists
A little grinding and some tape and I was in business !
Is that a pencil taped to a wrapping paper tube?!

Whatever gets the job done though.
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Old 03-15-2008, 03:25 AM   #22
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Re: Show your homemade tools

Heres my test light that buzzes instead of a light. Handy for tail lite work & such...

Last edited by corn; 10-10-2009 at 12:15 PM.
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Old 03-15-2008, 03:48 AM   #23
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Re: Show your homemade tools

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Originally Posted by bryanw1968 View Post
What kind of headers are those?
B
I will answer for Jim as I know (I kept pinging him on his exhuast). They are Doug Thorly Tri'y's. No idea on the part number, but he has thread on the exhaust install.
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Old 03-15-2008, 03:56 AM   #24
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Re: Show your homemade tools

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Originally Posted by whatnow123 View Post
I will answer for Jim as I know (I kept pinging him on his exhuast). They are Doug Thorly Tri'y's. No idea on the part number, but he has thread on the exhaust install.

Thanks, didn't see that... yeah, I'm not done with it enough to post any pics of the Magnaflow system, I kinda got caught up in some body work.
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Old 03-15-2008, 04:01 AM   #25
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Re: Show your homemade tools

Quote:
Originally Posted by corn View Post
Heres my test light that buzzes instead of a light. Handy for tail lite work & such...
dang, thats really a great idea....you better patten that one..
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