The MGA With An Attitude
OTHER TRAVELING TOOLS - TP-101C
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THINGS LEFT IN TOOL BOX AS A MATTER OF CONVENIENCE:
(not absolutely necessary for road trips)
- Socket drive adapters, 3/8-1/4, 1/4-3/8, 3/8-1/2, 1/2-3/8. (No use unless you also carry the other size socket parts).
- Small spark plug socket (not for MG, but assists others occasionally).
- 5/16" hex driver on 3/8 drive base (Duh? Leave this one out.)
- Open end wrench 11/16"-3/4"
- Box end wrench 11/16"-3/4"
- 6" slip joint pliers
- 10" channel lock pliers (a bit of overkill).
- Small flex-shank straight tip screwdriver (good for some carb adjustment screws in tight places, not necessarily for MGs).
- Ratcheting handle screwdriver with #1 and 2 Phillips tips.
- Ratcheting handle screwdriver with #1 and 2 straight tips.
- 6" steel ruler.
- 12" adjustable wrench, for a few of the big things you might run up against on the road once every 10 years or so, also to turn the crankshaft occasionally. For me this is more of a tradition (and a bit of humor), as I actually bought this tool when I needed it one day to R&R the crankshaft during a long road trip, and thereafter also bought a slightly larger tool box to accommodate it.
- Compression tester gauge, 7" model with rubber tip (diagnostic tool).
- 10" long double (bent) flat end brake adjuster tool (not for the MG but makes a nice little pry bar on occasion).
- Tapered plastic plug that fits inside of 1/2" heater hose (used to stop off a hose if the heater valve fails).
- 12-volt soldering iron (so far never used on the road, and usually not carried).
- Gasket sealer. Either in or out, but really belongs in the next list below. This is of limited use without gaskets, but may serve as emergency substitute for no gasket. More often used to assist another motorist.
At this point the loaded toolbox weighs 15 pounds, so for day trips you might consider leaving out some of the unnecessary tools and/or a few of the larger occasional tools such as the 12" adjustable wrench, channel lock pliers, and couple of 3/4" end wrenches.
THINGS ONLY CARRIED ON REALLY LONG ROAD TRIPS:
- Jumper cables (push start will usually suffice for an MG).
These are most often used to help other cars.
- Hand size grease gun.
- Tire patch/plugging kit.
- 1/4" drive socket set.
- Roll of racer's tape (Duct tape).
- Battery terminal puller.
- Battery terminal cleaner.
- Torque wrench (doesn't fit in tool box but packed with spare parts).
- Piston ring compressor (ditto, packed with the spares).
- 14 to 16-inches of 1/4-inch link log chain used to lift engine by valve cover studs.
- Gasket sealer (to go with the gaskets when I carry some parts).
These lists may be missing a few small items, but most of the important stuff is here. Other suggestions and revisions welcome.
Happy traveling,
Barney Gaylord
1958 MGA with an attitude
PS
So I suppose your next question will be what to carry for spare parts?
BG
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