The tool(s) you could not do with out...

[j33ptj]

So which tool or tools that you bought would you have considered to be the best ever or can not be missed for the construction of your FFR?

Just curious....

[egchewy79]

torque wrench, riviter, nutsert tool, clecos, engine hoist, low hydraulic jack
you can get many of these things at harbor freight and save a ton of $$

[David Williamson]

Dremel with small cutting discs and a tap & die set
David W

[FLPBFoot]

Flaring set for brake and fuel lines.

[Indy Shu]

shop vac

[nuhale]

Fully stocked beer fridge. This will come in handy in just about all situations.

[narly1]

I'm going to get all new school on you guys and say....."THE INTERNET".....specifically this forum!

[cob427sc]

Beer, bandaids, adhesive tape & gauze, pneumatic rivet gun, taps & dies, body working tools including jitterbug sander, air compressor, SAE & Metric wrenches, torque wrench. That should get you started. Also cordless drill and a box of 1/8" bits.

[Jacob McCrea]

A Snap On rethreading/thread repair kit for metric and SAE nuts and bolts. It's like a tap and die kit, but fixes existing threads, rather than cutting new ones. Not as useful on the FFR, but has saved the day many times.

[UpNorth]

Patience...and what narly1 said: This forum!

[bobl]

The most used tool by far is a small cordless impact driver. After my very expensive Snap-On broke I started using my 1/4" Dewalt. Handiest tool I've ever owned. I've still got the big air tools for high torque stuff, but that little Dewalt handles about 90% of everything I do.

[frankeeski]

Common sense..............

[Jeff Kleiner]

Common sense..............

Best answer yet :)

Jeff

[Dave 53]

6" vice grip C clamps for body fitment - been getting by with 8 of them. Dremel with cutting wheels. 4.5" angle grinder. Bench grinder. Deep 6 point sockets. 90 degree drill driver with stubby drill bits. Good soldering iron and alligator clip holder for splicing wires.

[ydousurf]

The Factory Five Forum and specifically all those out here who provide solid and helpful advice ----- You know who you are!

I could not be building my own dream to the extreme limit without all the wonderful guidance from all those whom have gone before me. There is no way I would have discovered all the cool "mods" and extras that one can implement in their own build. That, and avoiding the many; pitfalls, gotchas and mistakes that one would otherwise possibly make in a particular phase of their own build. The Factory Five Forum brings a vast array of knowledge, ideas and approaches for a particular solution and deserves another round of applause {Standing and clapping.....}

As for power tools, you really do need quite a few speciality tools, but my cordless drill (x2 batteries) for all the drilling needed for the aluminum panel assembly. And if you choose to do the Russ Thompson Steering Column and Turn Signal addition, and you plan to add a NRG removable steering wheel adapter, you really should have a drill press in that case. Oh, and don't take my dremel away! I couldn't have done all the intricate cuts without it!

Dj

[McGuyver]

Buy a good quality bench vice.

[Alan_C]

Garage space.

[Jetfuel]

Floor to ceiling shelves ....lots of them

Jet

[j33ptj]

Common sense..............

and it is not as common as we think.... :D

[progmgr1]

I'm doing a lot of mods to the basic kit, so some basic tools are the most useful - bench vice, saws-all, angle grinder and Dremel.

Also, my wonky back dictated using a lift to build the car - I just wish I could have fit in something that would lift the car higher than my MaxJax.

Keith HR #894

[JimLev]

Agree with all of the above, especially the garage beer fridge.
Add a bench grinder to the list. If your doing any electrical mods a volt/ohm meter too.
You’ll need a few different size hole saws too.
Maybe a MIG/TIG welder depending on how elaborate your going to get with the build.

[Kay_B]

I am considering buying a new lawn mower. The lawn is growing back, it will grow even faster in the summer, and the old lawn mower started to junk last year.

[GoDadGo]

Common sense..............

Amen, I Say Amen Regarding Common Sense & At Least 50 Cleco Fasteners!

[toadster]

clecos

[GThompson]

There have been 3:
1) Credit card
2) “Log Out” button on FaceBook
3) Telephone for the “Call a friend” lifeline

Otherwise, the tools you need all depend on your build. Straight, by-the-book build, a Craftsman 199-piece set, a set of jackstands, a jack, and an engine hoist should get you 99% of the way to the bodywork. Custom build may require tools even the Snap-On guy can’t help you with.

[toadster]

There have been 3:
1) Credit card
2) “Log Out” button on FaceBook
3) Telephone for the “Call a friend” lifeline

Otherwise, the tools you need all depend on your build. Straight, by-the-book build, a Craftsman 199-piece set, a set of jackstands, a jack, and an engine hoist should get you 99% of the way to the bodywork. Custom build may require tools even the Snap-On guy can’t help you with.

LOL OMG so true!!!

[RJD]

All of the above plus wheel dollies.

[hineas]

I also think that a headlamp is very useful!

Especially if you suspend the body from the ceiling and it blocks the lights. I bet you can guess how I know...

[RedRaider58]

If you are planning on IRS a drift pin is a must

[NiceGuyEddie]

Water soluble cutting fluid for the zillions of rivet holes. It doesn't "smoke up" like petroleum based cutting fluid does and doesn't affect your lungs as much. It also wipes away easier.

[OSU Cowboy]

During my build of just over 11 years ... I think I would have paid a couple hundred bucks for a "tool finder". I might have spent as much time searching for the tool that I just had in my hands, set it down, and then needed it again and have difficulty locating it.

The struggle was real.

[FF33rod]

Die grinder with small drum sander, grinder with flap disks, tap set (#10 ad 1/4)

[j33ptj]

During my build of just over 11 years ... I think I would have paid a couple hundred bucks for a "tool finder". I might have spent as much time searching for the tool that I just had in my hands, set it down, and then needed it again and have difficulty locating it.

The struggle was real.

now there is a gap in the market... all tools equipped with a chip that will show where they are on your phone....


now where did I put my phone?

[UpNorth]

During my build of just over 11 years ... I think I would have paid a couple hundred bucks for a "tool finder". I might have spent as much time searching for the tool that I just had in my hands, set it down, and then needed it again and have difficulty locating it.

The struggle was real.

Soooo true!...

[msbrown6]

I'm thinking an air driven rivet gun might be nice... We'll see.

[Chris Wingardh]

Absolutely! I went to the build school where we used the hand rivit tool, every rivet that was put in, the tool slid to the right or left and made a small "scar" on the frame or aluminum. I bougt a air rivit from Hatrbor freight for $49... I Think... have only practiced with it but it is awesome. I cant see doing any build with out it. I have a small old Craftsman 5 Gal compressor and it does just fine. Kit will be her in Oct, so lots of practicing until then.

[UpNorth]

I don’t have an air compressor so I bought a Milwaukee battery-operated rivet gun M12. Not cheap, but very happy with it!

[RoadRacer]

clamps of all sizes and shapes are super handy, but now I'd add an alignment tool of some kind. I've done 4 alignments on my car now to fine-tune the handling - would have been much harder and more expensive using a shop. Now, I admit that I'm sacrificing accuracy for a cost & time saving