Few things in life are more rewarding than pouring your blood, sweat, and tears into a collector car restoration project. When the work is complete, being able to fire up that engine and see a classic car run like new is nothing short of incredible. Still, you can’t expect to properly restore an old car without the proper tools. Specifically, there are some must-have hand tools that can make your job a lot easier and help your restoration project turn out even better.
Dent Puller
When you’re working with classic cars, there are bound to be some dents here and there. Unfortunately, removing dents manually can be a painstaking job on an older car—and without perfect technique, you could end up damaging the paint job or causing further damage. By having access to a dent puller tool, you’ll be able to quickly and effectively remove dents without too much trouble. For most car restoration jobs, a basic hand-operated dent puller will do the trick just fine.
Grinder
When you need to remove unsightly areas of rust from the body of an old car or buff sharp edges, having an angle grinder can make all the difference. This versatile tool is one that you’ll reach for again and again, especially when it comes to body restoration work.
Impact Wrench
If you don’t have an impact wrench as part of your toolkit already, you probably haven’t been doing restoration work for very long! A quality impact wrench is useful for everything from removing lug nuts to tightening bolts without destroying your hands in the process.
Breaker Bar
Many car restoration jobs require lots of torque to get the job done. This is especially true, for example, when you’re trying to remove nuts and bolts from an older car that has some rust or corrosion at play. A quality breaker bar will make it much easier to get a tight grip and achieve the torque you need to remove stubborn parts and accessories.
Hammer or Mallet
A basic hammer or even a rubber mallet can go a long way in making your restoration jobs easier. When selecting a hammer or mallet for this type of work, look for something that is medium-sized. A hammer that is too large will not be able to be used in tight spaces, whereas one that is too small probably won’t get the job done.
Gasket Stripper
If you’re still using razor blades to do your gasket stripping, it’s time to treat yourself to a set of actual gasket strippers. These are typically made out of lightweight yet durable aluminum and come with long handles for greater dexterity and control. And when you purchase them in a set, you’ll have access to different sizes needed to get the job done correctly.
Line Wrenches
Many classic cars have flared fittings that can be difficult to remove with a traditional combination wrench. This is where having a set of line wrenches can make your life so much easier. Specifically, these wrenches are designed to provide extra grip that will remove those flared fittings easily without causing any damage. With as useful as these wrenches are, you might even be able to replace your existing set of combination wrenches with a line wrench set and save some space in your toolbox!
Pry Bars
If you’ve been using an old screwdriver or some other tool as a pry bar in your classic car restoration work, it’s time you treated yourself to a set of actual pry bars that are designed precisely for this purpose. Pry bars will provide you with the angle and torque that you need to remove even the most stubborn of parts. They’re also designed to be used in this manner (unlike your screwdrivers), so you won’t have to worry about them breaking from repeated use.
Stock Up on the Tools You Need for Your Collector Car
When you work on classic cars, having the right hand tools can make all the difference. And while your tool box may already be crowded, the tools listed above are sure to get plenty of use with each new project you take on.
Looking to stay on top of all the latest collector car news? Be sure to follow the Wayfarer Insurance Group blog, where we are constantly publishing new posts about classic cars and restoration. Got further questions about protecting your classic cars? Contact our team today!
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