What's the strangest tool used?

[Jdav]

In light of some of the responses on my brake line bending thread (using a tree and a garden rake to get bends), I thought it would be interesting to hear what are some of the strangest 'tools' you have used on your build (and what did you use it for)?

[mikeinatlanta]

From what I've been reading around here, I'd say a high quality tubing bender.

[phileas_fogg]

Good one Mike.

The Army has a saying: If it's stupid but it works, it's not stupid.


John

[GoDadGo]

A Paint Roller Extension Handle!

We used it to hold the tailshaft up when we installed the engine and transmission.

https://youtu.be/3f1Q4aS5SG4

[2bking]

Many years ago I was gifted a rechargeable Skill 3/8" ratchet wrench. It produced about 20 ft-lbs of torque but would only spin at about 2 rpm with no load. It was well made but somewhat useless because it was too slow. I hung it up on the workbench, only used it twice, and threw it away the third time when I tried a few years later because the battery was dead even though the charged was connected.

[myjones]

scratch free
I bought a 4 pack of large cutting boards from the kitchen gadget aisle. They are only about 1/32" thick and made of really tough mylar.
When you are drilling in tight quarters and the drill body wants to scratch your finished chassis slip one of these between the finished part and the work area.
They're flexible and work great to protect things like the firewall when shoehorning in the engine, tranny etc.
HTH
DB

[Jeff Kleiner]

Dozens of 'em but this came to mind since I actually have a photo of it:

From what I've been reading around here, I'd say a high quality tubing bender.

Whatchutalkinabout Mike:



It takes a special kind of tube bender to do this! {{{This car actually came to me to finish building as a steering and stopping roller. When I saw this I told the owner that I knew exactly what I had to do...tear it all back down to the bare chassis and start over which is what I did!}}}

Jeff

[JRL16]

I found that a small plastic jar of wood putty worked very well to form my brake line coils.

[JohnnyB]

I was going with the expert advise at the time on this one.
The advise was to "Beat on it until it fits"
It worked great but hopefully this is no longer necessary.

[phileas_fogg]

I used the same tools to get my driver's side engine mount to seat in its bracket on the frame.


John

[edwardb]

I was going with the expert advise at the time on this one.
The advise was to "Beat on it until it fits"
It worked great but hopefully this is no longer necessary.

Let me guess... The next post was joining the broken windshield club?

[JohnnyB]

Let me guess... The next post was joining the broken windshield club?

To look at that picture I can see why you would think that, but no. I managed to get the dash hoop "adjusted" and have made it through 17 years without so much as a stone chip. If I go out to the garage tomorrow morning and see the dreaded diagonal crack, I'm blaming you Edwardb!