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Old tools almost nobody (else) uses anymore


Crusty Trucker

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The small tools and gauges for setting up the GM CCC (Computer Command Control) 2 & 4 bbl carbs during the ~1981 - ~1990 model years.

 

I had the complete "set" because I rebuilt the Rochester E4MC Quadrajet on my 1984 Toronado several times over 28 years of ownership.  When the carb

was setup correctly, the very reliable CCC system worked quite well...

 

Paul

Edited by pfloro (see edit history)
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10 hours ago, arcticbuicks said:

BangShift.com BangShift Question Of The Day: Do You Want Hardcopy Repair  Manuals For Your Vehicles? - BangShift.comshop manuals.......i cant think of the last time i bought one

That's not a shop manual. That's a get-in-trouble-quick manual.

 

Give me a factory published original shop book every time.

 

People don't buy manuals because the answer (correct or not) to their car questions is usually on the internet. These people also get pretty demanding when they're told they should own their own shop manuals. They want the information for free.

 

I'll help people if I can but, like many of us, I have thousands of dollars tied up in my service literature.

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22 hours ago, rocketraider said:

That's not a shop manual. That's a get-in-trouble-quick manual.

 

Give me a factory published original shop book every time.

 

People don't buy manuals because the answer (correct or not) to their car questions is usually on the internet. These people also get pretty demanding when they're told they should own their own shop manuals. They want the information for free.

 

I'll help people if I can but, like many of us, I have thousands of dollars tied up in my service literature.

Your right, that's not a shop manual. Today there are shop manuals printed for every car/truck built. They're large, usually many volumes and very expensive. A simple Dodge pickup (not so simple) has 5-6 volumes with a total thickness of over 12". Cost? Several hundred dollars. Not at all like the days of old.

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Yep, there were GM shop manuals for every year Camaro, sold by the Helm Inc. 👍 Some are still available from them:

 

https://www.helminc.com/helm/homepage.asp?r=https://www.google.com/3.

 

Others by reprinters.

 

Brains are a very important tool!

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We were the tools nobody uses any more. Who here grew up running and  fetching tools for their dad?  Try to get our kids to do that for us? Is not happening with mine. Of course with every third trip he add "and bring me another beer will ya"

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Since I'm between British cars at the moment (and will be until my kids are out of college), my whitworth sockets and wrenches do little but gather dust, same as my SU wrench. Still keep a 4 carb motorcycle around, so sooner or later my sync gauges will be put to good use again.  

 

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45 minutes ago, ckowner said:

How about Yankee screw drivers. I used them before the introduction of battery powered screw guns and drivers

 

They're still about as easy to grab and use, and the batteries are never dead!

 

I have several of them and am known to scour estate sales, swap meets and antique shops for them. 

 

I have one marked "Bell Telephone Co". Love my push drills/screwdrivers, especially when they come with all their bits!

 

Mmm... spray a little Lock-Ease graphite lube on their spirals and they work so nice...🥰

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Funny, I just came across two Yankee screwdrivers last night in an old tool box (garage sorting). They need lubricating, and I have Lock-Ease, thanks! My Yankee drill is working fine! Still in original box.

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Both of these tools are used for serious work on an engine while still in the car, Now, that's something not done too much anymore. The second photo is for removal and installation of the main bearing seal. Now, who's going to describe what the items in the first photo are used for.

 

IMG_1760.JPG

Main bearing seal puller.jpg

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1 hour ago, plymouthcranbrook said:

Around here it was common knowledge that Chiltons manuals were full of incorrect information. Things as simple as a firing order for  a Ford Escort were wrong.

That's not even the caliber of a Chilton, or a Glenn's or Motor's.

 

I always found the Professional Trades Editions of those to be pretty good. 'Course the last one of those I owned was a 1977, covering 1970-77 American cars.

 

Those Haynes books are abysmal. That's the kindest I can be.

 

Factory shop book was/is/will always be the best reference for any car, provided you can find one.

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2 hours ago, hook said:

Both of these tools are used for serious work on an engine while still in the car, Now, that's something not done too much anymore. The second photo is for removal and installation of the main bearing seal.

Main bearing seal puller.jpg

Ye olde packing hook! 🙂

 

Spent many an hour in powerplant using those and this contraption to repair leaking valves.

 

images.jpeg-1.jpg

Packing valves was where I learned the value of 50/50 acetone and transmission fluid mix to break stubborn packing gland nuts loose.

 

 

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Remember, to use a Haynes manual you needed a US to Britain conversion, not only words but phrases.:D

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Among what has been stated above, I still have a special tool that removed the nuts holding a circa 1970's Ford radio in the dash. My shop foreman said if I mar up a customers radio with needle nose pliers while removing the radio I would be paying for new parts. It is still in my tool box but doubt it will ever be used again anytime soon. Do not think anyone would recognize it any more but brings back memories of those days.

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On 2/26/2023 at 8:58 AM, Dodge1934 said:

cell checker used to check  voltage on individual cells in batteries when the each cell had contacts on top of the battery.... 2 volts each

IMG_20220221_085026258.jpg

IMG_20220221_084934200.jpg

I remember using one of these as a kid working at a service station around 1965

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28 minutes ago, Don Jr. said:

Among what has been stated above, I still have a special tool that removed the nuts holding a circa 1970's Ford radio in the dash. My shop foreman said if I mar up a customers radio with needle nose pliers while removing the radio I would be paying for new parts. It is still in my tool box but doubt it will ever be used again anytime soon. Do not think anyone would recognize it any more but brings back memories of those days.

I have a set of those. A lot of GM radio shafts, headlight switches and sometimes wiper switches had those slotted ring nuts too.

 

Got one for antenna nuts too. It has four prongs.

 

I got tired of fighting needle nose pliers and saved up for several months to buy those tools off the tool truck.

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"Tool of the trade in the 60's"  I picked this up a couple weeks ago from a friend.  ECO was a Canadian company that supplied service stations with the hand crank air pumps for customers to fill up their tires.  They were outside the service station, usually white or red.  The sales reps would frequently come by to service them and drop off these free glass oilers for the mechanics.  I remember them as a 14 year old working at the service station.  One of my jobs was cleaning up all the broken glass and oil off the floor.  The mechanics were not all that careful with them to say the least.  

20230215_141238.jpg

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29 minutes ago, rocketraider said:

I have a set of those. A lot of GM radio shafts, headlight switches and sometimes wiper switches had those slotted ring nuts too.

The market for those tools is big enough that a friend is now making those nut removing/installing tools. Makes them  for the ignition switch rings and antenna bases too! 

 

https://www.bluechiptools.com/

 

He also makes Corvair tools and parts.👍

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