I am updating and organizing my tool box. Outside of a standard set of sockets, screwdrivers, box wrenches; what do you think are must have tools? (This can include aforementioned tools is sizes not generally found in standard sets) Help me justify buying more stuff.
I believe the following are on the list, so I have bought......
Snail gauge
17mm male socket
Twist ties
Torque wrench
Timing light
Feeler gauge
Test light (2 clip)
Duct tape
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I don't think a torque wrench is worth the size and weight.
1" Blue painters tape
10/12/13/15 mm combo wrenches and sockets
Nylon zip ties - over twisties
Cory did a great tool bag back in 2014 for Carlisle - might be time for another or at least a 3" round embroidered emblem that could be sewn to a bag or a hat. (Both sides shown).
Wolfgang, the twist ties are for cleaning the idle jets. Add a spray can of carb cleaner. And some clean rags.
Chris, I have a 3/8 and a 1/4 ratchet along with a couple short extensions and a full set of 6 point sockets, 7-19. Also all open end sizes. Don't forget a deep 18mm for your plugs.
Extra set of spark plugs, pre-gapped.( I also keep a little round plug gauge in my bag)
Why do you need feeler gauges? Don't you have chromoly pushrods? Loose zero there, no feeler gauges needed. If you have electronic ignition, no points. If you have points, by all means, and a spare set with cap, rotor, and condenser. When you pull the dizzy, leave the clamp attached, that way your timing should be close enough until you get back home.
A spare fan belt and the box wrench for that.
Definitely the trans plug socket.
A couple screwdrivers of each type, and a right angle screwdriver is a good idea.
Any tools that are very specific to your car: I keep a 9/16 socket for Pauter rocker studs, a 5/16 hex wrench for valve covers, and 1/8" hex-key and 11mm(7/16) to adjust valves.
Chris: do an advanced search on here for:
Ryan in NorCal started a thread that included both spares and tools and made an Amazon wishlist for them. Good discussion. I would provide the link but my iPad is being grumpy this morning.
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I don't have the specifics of the pushrods, don't know how to adjust them (but on a list of things to try. I have 2 of pretty much everything.
In my bag, I have:
Deep sockets to 21mm 3/8 with ratchet
Full screwdriver set
Box wrenches, mainly metric but a few standard that fit my car in random places
Full set of 1/4 sockets and rachet
Random 3/8 socket
Needle nose and standard pliars
Mirror
Magnet stick
Stethoscope
Vice grips
Adjustable wrench
Allen wrench set
1/2 ratchet with a few sockets
Test light
Blue tape
Zip ties
Fan belt
Springs
Gloves
A rag
Hose clamps
Pushrods: touch a magnet to them to see if it sticks. If it sticks, they are chrom-moly steel. If not, they are aluminum - different adjustments on both. No feeler gauge needed on steel pushrods.
Small inexpensive voltmeter
a leatherman tool is often helpful and some sort of utility knife.
Just a few more possible items:
An extra plug lead, preferably the longest of an old set.
Carb cleaner does come in a small can.
A chunk of wire with means of cutting and splicing.
Rain X with paper towels.
Spare bulbs and fuses, of course.
Flashlight.
A can or two of fix a flat and a plug kit.
A means to pump air.
Carlos G posted:
...A means to pump air...
Times two.
One of the last things I thought about for my on-the-road kit.
Yeah, you can carry a spare, and a jack, and tire chocks - all of which I do.
But.
Most of the time, you've picked up a nail and have a slow leak, which you only notice when the tire is too low to drive on. You could hassle out putting on the spare, but, well, hassle.
If you could just make it home, or to a more convenient spot to do the wheel change, or to a tire shop that could do a proper repair, life would be good.
If you ride a bike, you know about these:
I like the Topeak Morph, but there are a bunch like it. This takes up no space and has a few cute tricks. A real handle, A little foot peg. An inline gauge. An extendable hose that will actually reach the valve. No wires to hook up. No expendables to replace. Simple. Neat.
Yeah, you will be pumping a lot to pressure up a car tire, but how often will you need to do this?
Besides, cheap insurance. If you have it with you, you'll never need it.
What about the 10mm wrench that was "kicked around" on this forum a few months ago? 
Was it ultimately deemed unnecessary, and dropped from further consideration by the "resident" knuckleheads? 
For longer trips, I bring more stuff. One of those being a can of fix a flat. I have a 12 volt bike pump but usually don't bring it. The bike pump is a neat idea. I do bring some of the things listed but no bulbs or fuses. Good call.
I thought about buying one of those handheld emergency auto tire pumps but just haven't bought one.
Oh yeah, one more thing.
If you carry a spare, when is the last time you checked its pressure?
You bust a tire, get out the spare, and it's flat, too!
Bike pump!
Mitch - using that bicycle-style pump on a car tire might take longer to pump it up than to walk home.
Instead, I bought a 12 volt tire pump like this. Hook it up, turn it on and wait - It even has a pressure gauge.
Maybe so, Gordon, but for me, it's mainly the Murphy thing. As long as I carry the pump, I will never get a flat.
But then, now that I've typed that...
Did you guys ever pump a car tire up with a bicycle pump? I have a hard enough time filling a mountain bike tire with a hand pump.
12v pump is the way to go. And don't you guys check the air in your spare routinely?
I sometimes have to use a bicycle pump on the car tires. It's not my preference, but it works.
A spare throttle cable can be useful. You can drive it without a clutch cable, but it's more difficult without a throttle cable.
Full disclosure:
I don't have a compressor in the garage, so have always used a bicycle floor pump to top up my tires. (Floor pumps are way easier to use than the little portable bike pumps.)
This works fine if you just have to add 5-10 pounds of pressure - which is probably all you'd need to limp home if you have a nail in the tire and it's seeping slowly. Remember, I carry a spare tire and jack in the Speedster if there's a serious tire problem.
I've always used the Topeak Morph as my frame-mount take-with-you bike pump. It works great on the road for bike tires. I had an extra one, so threw it in the Speedster frunk, figuring what the hey - better than nothing.
So last night, after posting here, I went out to the garage and tried using the mini pump to top up a Speedster tire and... well, not so much fun.
The 12V pump is more bulk than I want to add to my frunk (especially since I'd be using it maybe once every five years), so now I'm looking for another solution. I see that Lezyne has a higher volume 'floor-style' compact pump that I may check out.
Stay tuned.
I have something like this. It's smaller than an iPad
https://www.ebay.com/i/1129753...ZuCF7exoCcZIQAvD_BwE
For emergency only. I also have fix a flat, a jack and a messed up spare tire.
I do carry a good assortment of tools, and some spares that are very specific: like a Ford coilpack and extra EDIS computer.
Having said that, I do have the Hagerty towing coverage to fall back on. I don't carry a spare or a compressor.
