Muscle Car Restoration: The Tools You Need

The truth is that there are many tools that will be needed during a car restoration. In this article I will not talk about how to set up a workshop, but about the tools you need to restore your car at home. We all know this is a big job, so get ready to get dirty.

The first suggestion I’ll make is that you absolutely must have a garage to get the job done. It doesn’t need to be a huge outrageous garage, just somewhere you can leave your car for a while that will keep it out of the weather, this won’t be a quick process.

The garage you work from also needs to have power, this is also a must. It is not possible to do all the work with hand tools. There are a few tools I’ll suggest that you could live without if need be, but most of them will be must-haves.

It would also be a good idea to have heating in your garage, this will make it more comfortable for you to do your work. Below I will add a list of the tools you will need to restore your classic car. This list may not cover all of the tools, but it will cover most of the must-haves.

Let me also give you a warning here, if you are one of those people who think that everything has to have a time limit, and that time limit should push you to move quickly at work, this may not be much fun for you. it will take a long time.

List of tools you need to do a car restoration

1. This is a must, you will need an air compressor that can handle the workload you will have to do.

2. You will need a complete set of wrenches, both metric and SAE.

3. You will need a ratchet and a complete set of sockets.

4. You will need a full set of screwdrivers.

5. You will need a 5″ air grinder.

6. You will need a 1/2″ and a 3/8″ breaker bar and sockets to use with them.

7. You will need a complete set of levers.

8. You will need air lines to connect your tools to the air.

9. Optional, it’s always nice to have a pendant light when you need it.

10. You will need paint guns to spray the primer, I don’t suggest a cheap spray gun, get a mid range name brand gun.

11. You will need air files to shape the body filler you will use.

12. You will also need long hand filing boards, shape is always better when done by hand.

13. You will need body hammers and dollies to remove teeth.

14. Optional, you should also have a uni-spotter nail welder to pull out dents, a good brand to look at is stinger.

15. You will need a die grinder, this is an absolute must if you have rust or dents that require you to cut the area to fix the problem.

16. You will need a mig welder, this is another piece of equipment that is not an option, it is a must. Don’t do it for a nameless welder, either.

These may not be all the tools you’ll need, but they will help you get the job done efficiently. You shouldn’t have to search for tools every time you turn around if you have these basic tools.

The other thing I always insist on is safety, you should always work with another friend nearby, in case something happens during the process and you need help. The key idea here is to have fun and get the job done in a safe mansion.

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