Having Just brought my new car, a 1969 GTV and having a couple of issues in the short month that I have had it, I thought I would ask those who had a longer experience than me this question.
What is the best set of tools to carry with you in the car to deal with minor breakdowns?
Looking forward to seeing the lists of what you would not leave home without!
Kind regards
Nath
Here's a rough idea of what I take in that sort of situation:
Fire extinguisher
workshop manual (or at least a wiring diagram)
medium sized flat + phillips head screwdriver
pliers
10mm/12mm/13mm/15mm/17mm spanners (2x10,2x13)
basic 3/8" socket set plus additional extension bars
300mm shifter
torch and mirror
multimeter
wire, spare fuses, electrical tape
a tube of "liquid steel" style epoxy
small tube of gasket sealant
a couple of hose clamps
cable ties
big screwdriver/small pry bar
a small selection of sheet metal screws, nuts, bolts, washes etc
WD-40 and duct tape
grease (just a small amount)
clean rags
phone ;)
plus water, oil etc
Most of that lives permanently in my toolbox.
The 3/8" socket set isn't "essential", but if you're forced to do major mechanical work to get home it's worth it's weight in gold.
Without being too flippant, the best things to have with you when you own a car over 25 years old is a mobile phone and auto club membership :D
All you need
Given until 5 years ago I had only ever owned old Italian cars, and I have had quite a few, not just 105s, I have always carried the same kit, much similar festy's list. Workshop manual, full set of screw drivers, open spanners, metric socket set, small hydraulic jack, fire extinguisher, water, oil, hose clamps, wire, brake fluid, rainx, small drop sheet, collection of screws, nuts, bolts, washers electrical tape, fuses, light bulbs, spare hoses, brake pads, small hammer, pliers, circlip pliers, and yes definitely a mobile and RACT (tas) membership. Put all together in a toolbox it doesn't have to take up too much space. I agree with the view that if you have enough such gear and some basic mechanical knowledge it should get you home in most instances.
I would like to add small compressor, that plugs into lighter socket and puncture kit, charged up mobile phone and good network coverage, [not vodafone], when i have been in a 'situation', i have had no coverage, some heavy duty length of wire, that can be used to wire things or hold up say broken mufflers, put the shop manual in a seled up plastic bad to avoid getting wet and the pages sticking together, Colin.
Fire extinguisher
workshop manual (or at least a wiring diagram)
medium sized flat + phillips head screwdriver
pliers
10mm/12mm/13mm/15mm/17mm spanners (2x10,2x13)
basic 3/8" socket set plus additional extension bars
300mm shifter
torch and mirror
multimeter
wire, spare fuses, electrical tape
a tube of "liquid steel" style epoxy
small tube of gasket sealant
a couple of hose clamps
cable ties
big screwdriver/small pry bar
a small selection of sheet metal screws, nuts, bolts, washes etc
WD-40 and duct tape
grease (just a small amount)
clean rags
phone
plus water, oil etc
I mean, I get it, it's great to be prepared, but really? That's almost as much shit as I take to the race track.
It'd be easier to just pay a mobile mechanic to drive behind you everywhere you go.
MacGyver and a swiss army knife
And Start Ya Bastard, maybe.
Sorry couldn't resist.
I just have RACV total care and worth every cent. Saves me calling my wife.
No matter what tools you carry, the tool you need will always be the one you left on the bench!!!
Oh, and the phone numbers on speed dial of my two trusted Alfa mechanics, we all know who they are.
(http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2007/07/macgyver-multitool.jpg)
i would pretty much agree with the list by Festy.
But would also add a BFH.
Neil
Quote from: Choderboy on January 10, 2013, 10:14:09 PM
It'd be easier to just pay a mobile mechanic to drive behind you everywhere you go.
That's what we did on the Shitbox Rally last year! Strangely enough Bruno and Giancarlo came in _very_ handy in the middle of the outback.
It's a good list festy - we're going for a long semi-outback trip in an old-ish Alfa in April. I'll be taking most of that if not all. Definitely need a length of medium gauge wire to re-hang exhausts (or make 'fuses').
I would add to the list:-
1 Spark plug
1 High tension lead
1 Set of points (if the car uses them)
1 Fan belt
1 Cam belt (if it uses one)
1 Headlight bulb
1 Penthouse mag if you can't use any of this stuff and have to kill time waiting for the breakdown service guy.. ;)
A small loop of fuel hose was very valuable when we smashed a hard fuel line on the rally (again probably overkill for regular driving, I'm using this thread for inspiration for what to take on a long road trip).
I feel this should be a 'what to take on a race weekend' thread.
But then I would be taking a trailer load of spares, engine, gearbox, shipload of spare tyres etc etc ! ;D
Flat head screwdriver and a rock.
If you're really good, you only need the rock.
;)
Scott - based on what I've seen you make/do I would say you don't need any tools.
And you don't have to stow it all in your toolbox, plenty of room in the spare wheel well of your car, spend hours carefully arrangeing it all to fit, some Solvol is good to wash up after getting the old girl going, Colin.
With all our talk about what to take, need for auto club membership etc that we havn't scared Nath off in his ownership of his new '69 GTV. After all a good well cared for/or restored 105 is at least from my experience normally a very reliable classic. So hopfully while good to be prepared, rarely should such gear be needed.
Quotewell cared for/or restored 105
Absolutely key advice there. I once had a 1968 2 litre Giulia Super. Refreshed all the mechancials but left the pretty stuff ugly. Looked like a bag of sheit but went like the powers of piss. Of course I had to go the whole wanker job and ditch the front lounge room seats for a set out of a gtv so it would look more sporty you understand. Authenticity has never been my strong point. :) Drove that car relentlessly everywhere I could.
It never let me down. More than once I pulled over on this highway or that travelling interstate to help out an Alfa owner on the roadside with much younger cars.
You can't always replace everything and it seems that Murphy always finds the one part you deemed to be "she'll be right". Bullshit items like, heater hoses, a driveshaft donut, a windscreen wiper motor, the fuel pump diaphragm, the radiator that's developed a leak in sympathy with the water pump that has developed a leak. The wheel bearing that is now noisey and the alternator that just used up the last 0.5mm of contact brushes. So the lesson here is, if it's mechancial, it's not a question of will it break down. It is simply WHEN is it going to break down. The better prepared you are, the less likelihood there is that you will break down. Yes, yes, I know that is earth shattering news... :)
Festy, that was a fantastic list and became the basis for my set of gear, not all of it but most. Anthony, I got a 2 year NRMA membership with a discount so sorted there! Alfagtv58 WD40 and Gaff tape in the kit! I also added a1lt of oil and the fire extinguisher but both not in the kit, there were also some jumper leads in the boot.
Choderboy, loved the Macgyver kit!
To answer Davidm1750, has all this talk scared me off?
Well no, I set about filling up an old canvas ammo pouch with all the tools that it could fit, WD40, screwdrivers, wire, duct tape spanners sockets, cable ties etc.
I was heading off on about a 150 mile round trip and it would be the first in my ownership.
So what have I used in the week, adjustable spanner, and the hammer from the knock ons to return a loose battery terminal, socket to tighten front passengers seat, and drivers seat, and that was looking about it until the door handle jammed. Then I used some more sockets and fine screwdrivers to get all of that back to normal.
All good thanks for all the tips, appreciated.