Restoration projects take a lot of work. They typically require patience, auto body knowledge, skill, and most importantly, the right tools.
Whether you’re a DIY enthusiast or a trained mechanic, having the right car restoration tools and equipment can simplify your project. They can help you complete certain steps faster and with less effort.
Of course, the tools for a restoration project will vary depending on the nature of the work. Here’s a list of tools you should consider if the project involves metalworking, painting, and engine repair.
Restoring vehicles often requires significant metalwork. If you’re planning to add body panels, remove rusted parts, or replace structural chassis components, consider investing in the following tools.
Depending on your restoration, you might need one or two types of welders. Metal Insert Gas (MIG) welding is common for body panel repair, while Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) welding is used for precisely welding thin metals.
Removing rusted or damaged panel sections is easier with an angle grinder. Grinders are also useful for trimming body panels and preparing metal surfaces for welding.
Power drills aren’t just for drilling holes. You can also use their various attachments to cut materials and polish surfaces.
These can come in the form of sandpaper in varying grits, a belt sander, a sanding disc and angle grinder, or an orbital sander.
You need different grits to progressively smooth metal after welding two pieces of metal together, particularly on a vehicle body. Sanders is also critical for preparing surfaces for painting.
A good paint job can completely transform a well-repaired vehicle into a beautifully restored classic, and that’s easier to achieve with these handy tools.
A sandblaster is a common tool to remove rust and old paint. This can easily prepare surfaces and parts before they’re painted. Sandblasting parts allow the paint to adhere to components properly. At the same time, sandblasting also smooths out surfaces. That said, this process can be quite messy and noisy.
Sandpaper is essential to any paint job. Use it before you paint over a surface to ensure the primer and subsequent coats of paint will stick to the vehicle’s metal bodywork. You can also use it to smoothen the filler.
Sanding typically involves different stages that require several types of sandpaper, from coarse grits to fine grits.
With spray guns, it’s easier to apply paint evenly on your vehicle’s surface. They spread color consistently, speed up the painting process, and make it easier to paint hard-to-reach spots, giving way to a professional-looking finish with less effort.
An air compressor is required to power spray guns, sandblasters, and other pneumatic tools. But, beyond that, having the ability to blow compressed air to remove debris from corners and other tricky spots can also come in quite handy.
You need masking tape and either paper or plastic to protect areas of the vehicle that you’re not painting. Cover windows and gaps with tape before the job. These ensure you’re painting the proper areas, creating clean lines, and preventing unsightly overspray.
Engine repair tools are critical in vehicle restoration because the engine is the heart of the car. A beautifully restored body is useless if the engine doesn’t run reliably and perform as it should.
Engines can weigh anywhere from 300 lbs to 700 lbs, depending on the type. Lifting and maneuvering this much steel can be quite dangerous. Engine hoists allow you to safely remove and install an engine.
An engine stand is a place where you can secure an engine while working on it. This ensures the engine stays put while you disassemble, clean, and repair it.
Putting together an engine and getting it to function optimally and efficiently can be a challenge. One tool that you need after putting together an engine is a timing light, which is used to set an engine’s ignition timing. Timing lights allow you to check and set an engine’s ignition timing, which can have a significant effect on engine performance.
A compression tester ensures the engine’s valves, gaskets, pistons, and other components don’t have leaks. An engine that can’t hold compression will lead to an array of engine-related issues down the line.
Take note that the list of tools you’ll need doesn’t end here. Depending on your vehicle and your components, you might also need tools to install critical brake and suspension components. Some of these tools include brake line benders, brake bleeder kits, and ball joint removal tools.
Besides automotive restoration tools, having basic mechanic tools can help you resolve issues that you might encounter during the project.
These include wrenches, jacks, jack stands, screwdrivers, Allen and Torx wrenches, a multimeter, pliers, and safety gear, which include gloves and goggles. A respirator is also a must because you’ll be working with paint.
Here’s a comprehensive list of tools that any mechanic needs.
Essential hand tools, shop equipment, and diagnostic equipment are great investments because you can use them for future repairs, upgrades, and installations.
You can do a lot with just the basic tools, but having the right tools, particularly power tools, is going to make many tasks much easier and faster to complete.
For example, if you intend to restore a fully functional vehicle’s looks, then investing in a good spray gun and air compressor can go a long way. If you intend to rebuild an engine, then having a hoist and stand is going to be a must.
That said, not everyone has an unlimited budget for auto projects. If you’re working on a new project and want to save money, be strategic. Invest only in the tools that are essential to your specific goals.
Any information provided on this Website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace consultation with a professional mechanic. The accuracy and timeliness of the information may change from the time of publication.