As most all of us have discovered when the tank ran dry, an engine requires fuel to run. As this fuel is flammable and generally explosive, it is kept in a tank away from the combustive action going on inside the engine. This setup presents the problem of how to get the fuel from the tank to the carburetor or fuel injectors that feed the engine fuel. Enter the fuel pump. The … [Read more...]
Tool of the Week: Magnetic Tray
From the tools that support the use of other tools department comes this week's featured tool of the week - the magnetic tool and parts tray. While there are dozens of different shapes and styles of this useful shop item, the simple yet effective concept is one that works as it should. Magnets attached to the bottom of the tray keep wrenches and errant nuts, bolts, and other … [Read more...]
Tool of the Week: Flare Nut Wrench
There are moments in the do-it-yourself automotive world where one truly wishes something didn't just happen. One of the more famous of such moments is stripping out or rounding off a fuel or brake line fitting. Finding out that these fittings are often made of a softer metal the hard way is not fun. Since these fittings are captured by the flare on the steel line or tube … [Read more...]
Jack and Stands
Working on any car sometimes involves getting safely underneath to spin wrenches, or swing hammers. A floor jack and jack stands are the right tools for the job when it comes time to working on an automobile with more than one of its wheels removed. Choosing the right floor jack and jack stand set depends on the weight of your automobile. There's no need to get a 12-ton set if … [Read more...]
Baling Wire Bonanza
Tools that have specific or singular purpose are useful tools indeed. The one that does just about everything is a requirement. Sitting on the bottom shelf of the rolling tool cart for over five years now is an well-used spool of baling wire. From a roadside repair made to hold up a teetering muffler and tailpipe, to more driveway-based uses such as suspending brake calipers … [Read more...]