Most of the tools you’d expect to see in a starter set for mechanics are going to be familiar to anyone who has used hand tools a lot. The difference beween automotive tools for mechanics and a general hand tool set is less about what is in it and more about what additional accessories are there to help you reach into hard to navigate spaces under the car or inside its engine compartment.
Basic Mechanic’s Tools for Brake and Engine Repair
The basic setup you need to do most DIY automotive maintenance is going to revolve around a socket set. You will want a complete set of socket sizes, as well as several ratchet sizes to accommodate them. Most importantly, though, you will also want a full set of extenders of various sizes and shapes to make sure you can put the ratchet somplace where it has the clearance to turn when you are removing a part that does not leave you a lot of room to move right by it.
Remember, spark plug sockets are their own specialized class of sockets that you need in addition to a common set. A good set of open-ended box wrenches is also important. If you are looking to do more than just your own brakes, tires, and basic repair work, you will probably also need advanced mechanic’s tools.
Complete Tool Kit Setups for Advanced Automotive Customization
There’s probably no such thing as a complete toolkit because new tools are being devised all the time, but if you want to be sure you can do everything from changing the air conditioner to welding up a set of Hooker headers when you need to upgrade the exhaust, then you need tools that let you get into electrical work and welding, not just a mechanic’s toolset.
That means you need wire strippers and connectors, the right sizes of wrench and screwdriver for fine electrical work, and specialized equipment that lets you do the heavy work like welding. Some of that requires prior training to use safely, so this tends to be a hobby that involves a lot of learning, usually with some hands-on instruction from more experience folks.
Make the Most of Your Street Racer
If you are just starting to put together a high-performance setup, one of the first things to look into is an EFI conversion kit that will let you get more out of the stock engine setup than you could with a carburetor. Something like the Holley Sniper EFI will work for most pre-injection vehicles and many performance cars that continued using carburetion after the first generation of EFI came out.
Holley has worked hard to coordinate the company’s efforts with other major automotive part manufacturers so that the conversion kits they produce are well-supported. That means you can get Sniper-compatible fuel pumps and tanks, additional modules to make it more customizable, and a lot of other add-ons. Check out the options available for your vehicle today to learn more about the complementary parts designed to work with a Holley Sniper setup.
