perhaps this could be a pinned thing, figured a list of every tool you could need for a vw would be mighty useful for newbies etc... ill give it a go 2 list every tool ive needed so far and what would make it alot easier having:thumb for starters....

several socket sets eg 3/8ths inch, 3/4inch 1/2inch drive sets then a HUGE 1inch for axle nuts and other bits
sockets spanners etc in the following mm's 10,12,13,14,15,17,19,22,25,27,36,40

um a bolt or somethign similar to undo irs arms and the gearbox drain/fill holes both are 17mm will need a breaker bar or heat 2 do the irs arms

trolley jack, 2x is even better

jack stands, 4x or 8x if you wish to have the body and pan on them separately

drills, hammer, BFH for persuasion, lots of screwdrivers from tiny to HUGE, both blade and phillips head, a 10mm 12 spline bit for cv joints, Grinder, vernier calipers, circlip pliers, normal pliers, vice grips, both big and needle nose, rattle gun, blower,


other useful stuff...

Air compressor, bigger the better
Mig Welder
Oxy / gas axe for more persuasion
Press
Tube bender
creeper
mechanics seat thingo, comes with some creepers
LOTS of degreaser,
fluids for everything
HD carwash, consumables, wire brushes, grinding discs etc
Oh yeh finally about 2-4 extra people to help is an ENORMOUS HELP!
Ill add more as i think of it im too tired to think anymore
hopefully someone finds this helpful

Have you got a workshop manual?

Muirs VW idiots guide has quite a number of helpful hints also.

idiot guide, gregories, and something else, im plenty covered for theory, just thought some people may find this a useful bit of info, eg chris88 was askin awhile ago i believe, i said it would be a good help for newbies... like ones that dont have the books etc

nope im loaded with theory, got lotsa books, then heaps of other stuff on the computer, and bits of a factory workshop manual from a friend, rather useful thing fatcory manuals are too

Oh I see more now!

It has got me thinking.
Does having a lot of books and/or theory answer questions for you?
Does it create more questions for you to ask?

It has got me asking questions now!

books answer most questions, but the day they come up with stainless paper so u dont have 2 wash ur hands every time u need em will be a great day in history, they dotn raise any for me generally, unless they all quote different facts/figures, i figure the newest thing is generaly best, or an average or the factoey book cos its factory specs afterall, or failing that, common, well not so common anymore sence, and logic, and then trial and error 2 adjust logic etc, however you cna NEVER know everything so its constantly a learning process, just putting a few years the theory into practise now

wire brushes, and a large flat blade type thing for peeling/scraping sound deadner off easily is good to, i just need to find mine now.... anyone wanna help clean my shed/garage? and no you cant keep any of my goodies

2 post hoist?

yes that would be rather useful aswell, got one i could have?:P perhaps some hydrolic ram jacks inside the a and c? pillars like v8supercar style would be good aswell for roadside repairs... hehe oh yeh does anyone have an magic way to remove/replace hard lines, fuel, brakes etc?

I don't see....

Timing light

Circuit tester

feeler guages

8mm 12 point internal spline socket for the IRS bolts

13 mm (or 11mm if you've got the reduced exhaust nuts) "hooked end" spanner. Will make the rear carby nut and driver's side top heater box nut removal just so much more pleasurable.......
Stahlwille make one, Aircooled.net has one and I'm ploughing through the snap-on cattledog for one....

And while I'm at it....a torque tool for the gland nut/rear axle nut removal. Stuff hanging off pipe lengths and such while trying to stabilise your donk....


Enjoy
Ctefeh

thanks 4 those, the cv bolt thing was mentioned tho now that ive read it all again i did pretty damn good for beting rather tired and slightly hungover if i do say so myself:thumb

I have simplified it, I've got a job and I pay my mechanic. He reckons it is a good system and my cars have not let me down.

Yeah, but where's the fun in that? You don't have the joy of breaking your breaker bar whilst removing axle nuts or trying to find where to buy a god dam M8 12 point spline socket!!!!

By the way, I'll add forklift to that list. My one makes lifting anything easy (Especially rusted out Toyotas!!)

Snap-on list a 11 x 13 half moon spanner and a 11 x 13 'S' spanner for those nasty bolts I mentioned, and they are still available to be purcha$$ed.

Same goes for the CV Bolt tool, I forgot to mention it is generally listed as an 8mm Trisquare, 3/8" drive.
CVD and other volksie accessory suppliers would have them and for a lot less folding green too.

Enjoy
Ctefeh

Too true..

lobus and stenguns, the purpose was 2 inform what tools u need to do it all yourself, not just your fingers and chequebooks/credit cards etc required to pay someone else for it, some people get the most enjoyment from the actual work more than driving it...

In time you will learn grasshopper,
the 2 most important tools I ALWAYS carry with me are my RACV membership and mobile phone.

[ Edited on 5-1-2006 by lobus ]

All you need in your man bag when cruising is your Cards and phone.
Life couldn`t get better than that! Amen:thumb

Good point.. I'm not bagging yr thread.. I have a standard range of tools.. No torque wrench, bearing puller type gear though.. As lobus said.. you get over that when you get older (and probably lazier.. no offense lobus).. I was so into beetles years ago that I dreamed what I needed to do, woke up, got dressed and went and started it,.. It is an absolute buzz.. I have huge respect for guys that rebuild and repair themselves.. You need a lot of things besides tools.. patience, logic, swear words, beer.. Get into it mate.. Wish I could find more time.. I have a storage unit in Tempe with a half stripped bug in it.. haven't been near it in 6 months..
Rob

Quote:

Originally posted by 1stcarbug lobus and stenguns, the purpose was 2 inform what tools u need to do it all yourself, not just your fingers and chequebooks/credit cards etc required to pay someone else for it, some people get the most enjoyment from the actual work more than driving it...

Sorry for hijack..
Did anyone mention a magnet on a stick.. great for picking up that nut that has dropped into a hole..

Compression Tester

true, ill probably get older, fatter, lazier, richer, and probably end up getting some boring car sometime after that, but until that day, ill make the most of it.:thumb

got a magnet on the stick, compresion tester, tach, and a heap of other diagnostic things, just gotta learn how to use them all, didnt even know i had some of the stuff.

ar! while i think of it, panel beating dolleys and hammers, mighty useful things, and a dent puller aswell, theres more i just cant remember tho cos i havent used them for ages

a torch

wasnt implying you fit in that category at all, was sayin "I" will most likely end up like that