Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ engine mounts

In-Jeep Tool Kit

B00mb00m said:
I got my entire jeep tool box stolen out of my ford when they took the whole truck. I have about $500 to spend on a tools, what do you recommend? I saw some nice stanley complete kits with box I'm thinking about. Maybe some of you how have found a pretty complete kit that works well? I want lots of sockets and ALL the wrenches.
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I think I’m close to having a kit I can’t complain about I did a few of the socket organizers in some different sizes and I have some other sockets and wrenches I got individually not in these kits plus a breaker but this stuff carries in the jeep great and fits pretty much everything
Ernst Manufacturing 8-Inch Socket Organizer with 9 3/8-Inch Twist Lock Clips, Black -8427 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006H4OFQS/?tag=wranglerorg-20

Wrench Roll Up Pouch Tools Organizer Bag Super Storage with 23 pockets (Black) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Q811Q6F/?tag=wranglerorg-20

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GWD834I/?tag=wranglerorg-20
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QY7KKO4/?tag=wranglerorg-20
 
01TJ-Blues said:
Steer clear of Craftsman in my opinion. They aren’t the same tried and true brand you could take stuff back and get fixed or warrantied. It took me 6 weeks of battling to try and get 3 ratchets repaired or replaced. The “new Craftsman” won’t honor the warranty of the “old Craftsman” so you have to call Craftsman customer service (once you figure out which of the 3 numbers is the right one) go through a bunch of nonsense, send the photos, slow response times and then they load points into their Shop My Way website so you can order them. The even shittier part is they charge shipping and even worse most of the tools aren’t even in stock so they refer you to a store that may be 4 plus hours from you. It’s ridiculous. Buy tools you can get warrantied locally would be my advice.
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That sucks, I bought a ratcheting wrench from the pawn store for next to nothing because the ratcheting was messed up. I then went to Lowe's and exchanged it for a new one. They didn't have the size I had (12mm) in the same style so I grabbed a 13mm since that's the size I wanted anyway.
 
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I went with GearWrench stuff. It's even more available because its at Lowes and Home Depot. I just need to do a locking box in the back for both the truck and the jeep.
 
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While I was looking at the estate sale web site I saw one not too far out and went. They had a lot of hand tools, mostly Craftsman with the VV marking, circa early 1990’s, still good manufacturing. $2 each for wrenches but willing to bundle. I don’t need any more wrenches, but a good example of what is out there.

I did score a complete Victor oxy/acet kit on cart with two extra bottles and tips and supplies for $150. New it‘s closer to $800.
 
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B00mb00m said:
I went with GearWrench stuff. It's even more available because its at Lowes and Home Depot. I just need to do a locking box in the back for both the truck and the jeep.
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exactly why I built that enclosure in the back of my Jeep... I've had too much shit stolen from me over the years.
 
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DaveF said:
exactly why I built that enclosure in the back of my Jeep... I've had too much shit stolen from me over the years.
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I can’t think of where I saw it but there was a picture of a Jeep stuck climbing a ledge that made it so the person couldn’t open their tire carrier to get tools or recovery gear out. Hopefully you can with yours.
 
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Apparition said:
I can’t think of where I saw it but there was a picture of a Jeep stuck climbing a ledge that made it so the person couldn’t open their tire carrier to get tools or recovery gear out. Hopefully you can with yours.
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Nope, but I knew that with the way I designed it, and I usually don't have my winch controller, tow strap, tree saver, or soft shackles in there, they sit behind the seat.
 
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williambmac said:
At work, everything I own is SnapOn or MAC.

At home everything I own is either Husky or Craftsman.

There's no reason to own expensive ass tools for out on the trail or home use.

Husky/Cobalt/Craftsmans all offer a lifetime warranty. Their stuff is pretty decent, readily available and inexpensive.
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I own a facility and we exclusively use SK and Snap On. USA made is extremely important to us and honestly the only exclusive USA tool maker is SK. If they can't make it in the US they just don't sell them.
Snap On is mostly USA made but not all. Some of their pliers are Spanish and of course all Blue Point is Asian.
Mac hasn't had a presence here in a decade...Matco hasn't for three years...(although there are some Matco pieces floating around the shop....I still use their tire plug kit (very good) and I have a set of non-slip deep wells for fasteners mangled by the owner attempting to repair shit using the wrong size.
You wouldn't believe the amount of oil drain plugs that look like a piranha chewed on them. The non slips work great for that.

For a Jeep kit...
He'll I'd just slap some horrible freight tools in there and fuhgetaboutit.
Husky..kobalt...Horrible Freight...it's all Asian junk with lifetime warranty. Honestly if on the trail who gives a shit about warranty. You just want to get the hell home.
 
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Piece it together, never buy those sets. Waste of space and too many of the wrong tools. HF has some good stuff if you know what to look for. Gear wrench is nice stuff too for combination wrenches. Most kits people post links to you can toss half the stuff. Nobody needs a 1/2" ratchet, you need a 1/2" breaker and a 3/8" ratchet. A few impact adapters fill the gaps. Piecing together your set allows you to pick and choose nice stuff, put your money where it counts.
 
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Rubicon88 said:
I own a facility and we exclusively use SK and Snap On. USA made is extremely important to us and honestly the only exclusive USA tool maker is SK. If they can't make it in the US they just don't sell them.
Snap On is mostly USA made but not all. Some of their pliers are Spanish and of course all Blue Point is Asian.
Mac hasn't had a presence here in a decade...Matco hasn't for three years...(although there are some Matco pieces floating around the shop....I still use their tire plug kit (very good) and I have a set of non-slip deep wells for fasteners mangled by the owner attempting to repair shit using the wrong size.
You wouldn't believe the amount of oil drain plugs that look like a piranha chewed on them. The non slips work great for that.

For a Jeep kit...
He'll I'd just slap some horrible freight tools in there and fuhgetaboutit.
Husky..kobalt...Horrible Freight...it's all Asian junk with lifetime warranty. Honestly if on the trail who gives a shit about warranty. You just want to get the hell home.
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I used to stick with Snap On or Matco, and sometimes Mac for my shop. But now I’ve gone over to SK for the reasons you mentioned, but also because they a very easy to get quickly from Amazon. In my experience, if you are not a shop, buying from the big guys is a pain - their consumer web sites all are horrible, and shipping usually takes much longer.

Great quality on the SK tools. I’ve yet to have a failure. The only things I do still get from Snap On are things like torx and alan bits. The better steel on those small items makes a difference.
 
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I've pulled an engine, rebuilt it and put it back in; swapped axles, set up gears, pulled and installed transmissions and transfer cases, done every engine accessory in both my Jeep and my buddies jeep, all with ~$300 worth of Husky tools that I can fit in my Jeep. I've never broken a damn thing either. They sell replacements for everything in every home depot (except for 16 MM sockets, for some reason they do not sell singular 16 MM sockets, they are only in their socket sets :mad:)

My recommendation is buy the Husky 198 piece socket set, a gear wrench set, a crescent wrench, channel locks, a mallet, a breaker bar, a hook/pick set, a simple set of electricians tools for the pliers and cutters, maybe a milwaukkee bit set if you want to get fancy, theres nothing I haven't been able to do with just that.
 
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L0jik said:
I've pulled an engine, rebuilt it and put it back in; swapped axles, set up gears, pulled and installed transmissions and transfer cases, done every engine accessory in both my Jeep and my buddies jeep, all with ~$300 worth of Husky tools that I can fit in my Jeep. I've never broken a damn thing either. They sell replacements for everything in every home depot (except for 16 MM sockets, for some reason they do not sell singular 16 MM sockets, they are only in their socket sets :mad:)

My recommendation is buy the Husky 198 piece socket set, a gear wrench set, a crescent wrench, channel locks, a mallet, a breaker bar, a hook/pick set, a simple set of electricians tools for the pliers and cutters, maybe a milwaukkee bit set if you want to get fancy, theres nothing I haven't been able to do with just that.
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That's a great recommendation list. I like that the gear wrench sockets have the relieved edge design. Helps not strip bolts IMO. I'm doing Crows foot instead of large crescents for the control arm nuts.
 
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One of these helps too...

05795337-80E8-4BB4-B395-18495A5292C2.jpeg
 
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Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ engine mounts
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