tools

[Ben91@access-4-free.com]

Let's not forget Wright and Armstrong hand tools.  I used to sell them a few
years back and they had a very good reputation, and were great tools.  Tighter
tolerances, great warranty and still a little cheaper than Snap-On etc.  For
pliers, screwdrivers and electrical tools I would go with Klein, who has now
sold out to Home Depot.  I like Florida and Chicago Pneumatic for air and
Ingersol Rand for compressors, although I seem to have cheap taste in cars and
expensive taste in tools.  Bosch used to make really nice cordless tools
(including a 12v cordless impact, may have been the first) along with Porter
Cable.

As for ramps I picked mine up at Grand Auto a few years ago before
Checker/Schucks/Kragen bought them.  They were ~$50 with ramp extenders they get
the car up high enough to do a shifter replacement, motor mount install, and
header swap, and enough room to mess around with belt replacements and such.

One of the most important lessons I learned this year is never settle on a
mediocre floor jack.  When my 4 ton got stolen I replaced it with 2.5 ton
Craftsman jack, and have been kicking myself ever since.  It's really sad when
you go from a jack you can slide under and have the front wheels off the ground
in 4 pumps to having to use the floor jack and factory jack to do a break job.
Oh well Today is my B-day and if the wife has been listening I'll have a
replacement today.

Ben
'91 SE-R
'92 SE-R