Homemade useful tools.....

[donnj]

Was out in the garage today and was getting things ready to fire up the motor soon. Engine is back from the machine shop, in the car now and blower was bolted on this morning. So it was time to prime the motor and get the oil all thru the passages and up to the top of the motor, so I reached for my homemade oil priming tool. Im sure we all have seen the ones from the store and no bashing on them at all but with that tool you will only get oil to one side of the motor(drivers side) because the groove near the bottom of the casting on the distributor is the actual rear of one of the passages.

I took a old distributor from a junkyard run long time ago, and converted it to a great homemade tool. Grinding the teeth off the gear, removing the advance and other stuff not needed I was on my way, Up top I found a useless Chinese socket that made a very tight fit on the shaft and just hammered it on...it will take more torque than needed here. I dropped it into the block, grabbed a drill with a extention and I was able to prime away. Also remember guys you CANNOT oil all of the rockers on an SBC without rotating the engine some. Oil flow is timed by movement of the parts over the orifices. Usually a single small change of position is enough to pick up the ones that are dry after first pumping

Any other homemade tools out there?

[thehazguy]

Muscle Car or Horsepower TV also had a nice segment on making that tool as well. Probably can find other items on their website. Make the same tool as you did but I have to redo. Had a small bolt on top which eventually snapped off. I would be interested in hearing how folks get that last header bolt on the passenger side of the block by the firewall. Always standing on my head to get this one tight.

[Fast92RS]

That sounds good. I've been meaning to make one too. I make my own tools all the time at the shop. I always have a few cheap wrenches and sockets from harbor freight just for that purpose. They come in real handy when you have to make up a tool to get into a spot and you dont want to spend a load of cash to buy that tool or are in a pinch and have to get it done right away.

[NastyEllEssWon]

i have an old torque wrench that broke and wasnt accurate anymore, so i hollowed it out and now its a nifty breaker bar with a nice grip

[r0nin89]

Piece of 4' fence pipe + piece of 2x3 box tube with a few holes = one really long yoke holder for crushing crush sleeves w/o the $100+ price tag

1 can of ether + 1 stick lighter = worlds best tire beader

[WildBillyT]

Originally Posted by r0nin89

Piece of 4' fence pipe + piece of 2x3 box tube with a few holes = one really long yoke holder for crushing crush sleeves w/o the $100+ price tag

1 can of ether + 1 stick lighter = worlds best tire beader

I've got something similar to that LOL. Plus a threaded rod piston stop, a bunch of heated/bent wrenches, and a homemade panel seperator.

[r0nin89]

Originally Posted by WildBillyT

I've got something similar to that LOL. Plus a threaded rod piston stop, a bunch of heated/bent wrenches, and a homemade panel seperator.

When it comes to simplistic stuff homemade>snappy.

My friends 1/2in drive extra thick breaker bar had a serious bend in it versus my yoke holder. We were all holding our breath waiting for the damn thing to explode.

I've wanted to build a really serious cheater bar for a long time. Like two 5 foot sections of pipe with a sleeve and a pin to hold them together.

[91chevywt]

Homemade spark tester with some wire and an old spark plug. I think some jumper wires with alligator clips soldered on can be pretty handy too, almost every electrical diagnosis I find myself using my alligator clip jumper wires. Paper clips are great for back-probing electrical connectors too.

[BonzoHansen]

couple pieces of steel with a big bolt welded to the bottom = trans adapter for floor jack.

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4th gen door bar is the perfect persuader bar. big enough to go over any breaker bar I have and many wrenches. gm even put a hole near the end to hang it on the wall.