First, a story.
After successfully and uneventfully driving my 58 Panel in and out of the carport for two months, I thought I would get a one day permit for a reliability ride and a refresh of why I bought the thing in the first place. It must have known something was happening, so it started running like a bag of hammers. It felt like spark plug wires (hesitation under load but OK idle.) Replace wires, then no start. Turned out it was now out of gas. Filled, but still ran the same.
No accelerator pump squirt so pulled off the carb top and found sludge. Sucked it out with pump but still no squirt. Then, started to run great. Drove out to a friend's place to show off. Column shift linkage fell off and shifter fork went out of alignment. Manually put in third and drove home. Fixed shifter, then ran like crap again. Pulled carb and got rid of more sludge (yes I do have a filter but just small glass. Installing a big one with drain and water trap tonight.) Put it back on and idle no more. Ordered carb kit for Carter YF. So, altogether a disappointing day.
So, now my topic! I know lots of you guys have been doing this for years. Can you help me to build a little tool kit to carry with me? No cherry pickers or 3 ton floor jacks - just something for minor issues. I don't have one of those fancy show trucks that has been worked on in detail for the past 15 years, more of a resurrection from junk status. Here is what I am thinking so far:
Some nitrile gloves
1/2 wrench
9/16 wrench
3/8 drive ratchet with a few sockets
small adjustable wrench
Slot and Phillips screw drivers
Needle nose pliers
Vise grips
electrical test light
small collection of washers
small collection of cotter pins
short length of mechanics wire
Thanks all!
