essential tools

[DarnPB]

I would say you need a small trolley jack and at least one pair of axle stands.
Set of metric combination spanners from 8mm up to 20mm.
3/8 and 1/2 drive sockets of the same range, and an assortment of extensions. Any bigger ones you need, buy as and when you need them.
Set of good quality metric allen keys.
Small and medium size hammers.
Set of screw drivers which should include No.1 philips, No.2 philips and an assoartment of flat blade screw divers. And No.2 dumpy philips and straight.
Set of punches.
Spark plug socket.
Wire snips, normal pliers, long nose pliers and medium size vice grips.
This lot should get you started. Anything else you need you will find out as you go along. Specialist tools are not worth buying unless you know you will need them again. Engine tuning equipment depends on how confident you are on doing the job. Its pointless buying things like timing lights, CO meters etc unless you know what you are doing.
No need to buy new all the time. There is alot of use equipment out there in the small ads that can be good quality.
Hope this helps.

[Peel]

Story so far:
*Have zero mechanical know how.
*Bought a mk2 8v
*Have got it booked into the garage on Friday to have everything serviced/looked at/fixed etc... and have budgetted a grand so hopefully it should be sweet when it's back.
*Realised this can't continue!
*Bought a Haynes manual
So ambitious as it may be I'm hoping with a bit of common sense, and the ability to read I should be able to start Cheers fellas

Sounds like you & I have an awful lot in common!
Good post and thanks for all the helpful replies.

[Sukhi]

Just one little question - what's copper slip?

It's copper grease mate 

[Agreeable Slick]

if you live in the midlands, use click and collect on the halfords website, as it is normally about 10% cheaper. Plus it will be ready to collect when you arrive. Well it always is in my store.

[dabill]

get a girlfriend that works in the local halfrauds... or as i have done, get a girlfriend and a sister to work there! trade and staff discount... amaaazing!

another thing to buy is some engine cleaner, so when you have the bits off, give them a clean as you go along...and some carb cleaner...oh oh oh! and some kitchen roll...infact, Sh*t loads of kitchen roll... and if you have a garage, and dont already have a work surface, build one!

but, imo, the best thing to do, once you have all the tools... is keep them all organised! make sure everything has its place, buy storage equipment, and kepp it neat, at the end of every little tinker, have a tidy around! nothing like getting half way through a job, and not being able to find the 12mm spanner!

[...joe]

^^^ cool, looks like tom26's car before i got my hands on it!

copper slip is usefull for putting on bolts etc, where you don't want corrosion. its cheap so buy a pot of it and slap some on your wheel bolts and where the wheel touches the hubs etc etc etc. it'll save time and stop damaged hands next time you undo something that was previously coated in the stuff.

[Mr Blue]

A torch

Wd40

a large hammer


are in my top 10 essential's

[Agreeable Slick]

get a girlfriend that works in the local halfrauds... or as i have done, get a girlfriend and a sister to work there! trade and staff discount... amaaazing!

Your girlfriends your sister.... 

[Gary_B]

torque wrench

[Mr Blue]

who needs a trade discount when you know the guy on the till.

And your total is £3.99