MG Sports Cars

Quote:

Curtis
Does the Roadmaster carry its own tool box? Seems like it should have one, because even very simple issues like this one require tools to remedy. I'll volunteer the first tool... an American made four-way (blade/Phillips) screwdriver with a British Racing Green handle.

Maybe we should make a list of what tools should be carried in the car. Shouldn't take long for us to donate whatever is needed. I'd be happy to make a donation if I knew what was needed.

combination wrenches? How many and what sizes?
socket set? 3/8" drive? ratchet? flex drive? socket sizes?
pliers? needle nose, side cutters, slip joint?
screwdrivers? philips, standard - two sizes each (already got that)
allen wrenchs?
test lamp?
electrical connector assortment?
electrical wire - 14, 16 ga?
wire stripper?
duct tape?
small hammer?
adjustable wrench?
knife?
jack? what kind?
lug wrench? Size/type?
first aid kit?
something else?
prepaid cell phone?

Jump in, everybody, and add to the list. And then when the list is complete, donate!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/11/2012 07:21PM by danmas.

Dan, in lieu of a standard lug wrench I use a 1/2" drive torque wrench and socket in both my Midget and Lotus. You can buy the cheap ones at Harbor Freight and they work great and store in a pretty small space. Just crank up the torque setting to at least 20 to 30 ftlbs more than the lug torque to remove then lower it to the proper setting to reinstall. I also found a nice small canvas tool bag at HF which I use two of in the Louts, one for tools and the other for spare parts. Let me know what size socket fits the lug nuts and I'll kick in those items.
Also a scissors type jack is about the best way to go on most cars and works well when combined with the ratcheting type torque wrench to quickly an efficently raise and lower the car. We should be able to find something that would work at a salvage yard pretty easily.

A small rudametary lathe. ;-)

[www.craftsmanshipmuseum.com]

How about a smelter and forge?????? d:}

Isn't a swing press, some vice grips and a roll of duct tape all you really need ;)

Dan:

When the car was here we looked into a kit for it. There was one at Lowes (forget the part #) that was actually called an automotive kit. Price was $70 (and I think I've even seen it on sale for $50). The main reason I noticed it was it not only was wrenches and sockets, but also the wiring crimper and a (small) assortment of connectors, etc.

And, it came in a premolded case... :-)

If I get a chance I'll track it down and give the list of what IT has, and maybe we'd be money (and hassle) ahead to start with something like that and then "donate" the specialty tools on top?

$.02

M

This is it:

I'm not big on "cheap' tools, but if we just want something for emergencies and packs tidy....

www.lowes.com/pd_109737-87494-81185_0__?productId=3099513&Ntt=task+force+automotive&pl=1¤tURL=%2Fpl__0__s%3FNtt%3Dtask%2Bforce%2Bautomotive&facetInfo=

(In case that link doesn't work, go to Lowes and try "185 piece Task Force tool kit")

M

Max,. I already have purchased two black canvas zipper top tool bags for the car and have sent lug nut tools to Carl for the kit.
So far we have a 1/2" drive extension handle ratchet, a set of deep sockets for lug nuts, and a ratching type torque wrench. I can either bring the bags with me to Palestine or ship them to whereever the car is going to be before the trip to Texas. These should fit nicely behind each wheel well in the rear. The kit you describe would be a great addition to this collection. We shouldn't have any need for metric sizes though, I don't remember anything on the car that would be subject for road side repair that was metric. That will save space in the tool box. What I don't remember the car having is some type of jack. We did mention it before but I don't know if anyone has picked one up at the local salvage yard or not. I'm thinking some sort of scissors style would work best. Anything out in the bone yard beside Flying Circus that you can find?







Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/10/2012 08:26AM by Bill Young.

Would this jack work? It has a range of 5.5 - 12" It's surplus to my needs.

Maybe from the side. I had nothing that would go under that radiator support that is about 3 1/4" off the ground.

Bill, your care package from Harbor Freight arrived the day before I handed the car off to Steve.

Guys:

I wonder if one of those "lightweight racing jacks" would work? They have low clearance, not too heavy, and smaller dimension. (The bad part, then, is if the car is not on level ground and not properly chocked-- they can tip over!) They aren't too dear.... $79? I think they're Northern Tool, but there is likely an even cheaper version from Harbour Fright. :-/

Bill: I don't think the car can use an OE jack, and IMHO a scissors jack is just a Royal Pain in the Ass. I think Dan is on the right track with a small trolley jack of some kind... If we carry Fix-A-Flat rather than a spare, we probably have room to pack a more extensive survival kit.

$.02

M

Really, Max? I've carried a Honda Civic scissors jack in my MGB many, many years. It's not great, but it's tiny and lightweight. (Important criteria to me.) Have only used it a couple times, but it does exactly what it's supposed to do. My old Craftsman floor jack on the other hand will only hold a car up long enough to get jackstands under it. (Leaky seals.)

Or, as a tip I got from Curtis, the Mazda '86 to '91 RX-7 had a neat aluminum scissors jack - I have one in the trunk of my conversion.


Always on ebay....
[www.ebay.com]

Graham,

How high off the floor is your scissor jack when it is all the way down( for clearance on a low car)?

Calvin, 3 5/8"........I just went out and measured.

Wow. One of those things I used to know about and then forgot. Thanks for reminding me, Graham!

Thanks Graham, for making that measurement!

I put a jack in the car and also spare tire.

Steve

after the trouble Curtis had with the car, I put one of my travel tool kits in it for him to use. I would like to get it back sometime, say in Texas, if another kit is provided.

Steve

Here are snapshots of Roadmaster tools to date:

5-way screwdriver and LED torch


scissor jack and lug wrench


torque wrench and lugnut socket set


socket/ratchet set, adjustable spanner, dikes, and canvas bag


(I think these have all been mentioned previously except tools in the last photo, which Jim Watson donated.)