Special tools

[Advancedynamix]

I thought it might be helpful to start a thread where we share the special tools we use to work on these cars. Post up pictures, part numbers or whatever you've got to help others get the right tools for the job. I make a lot of my own tools, and I'll do my best to share them with everyone.

[Advancedynamix]

Valve seal removal pliers:

I buy the hose plier set# 37909 from Harbor Freight. The 1/2" pliers are about the right size to fit around the valve seals on a DOHC B or Z series engine. If you look through the inventory at HF, you'll see that every set has a different bend angle. Choose the set with the tightest bend on the middle pliers in the package. I then clamp the end in a vice and heat the bend till red with a torch and hammer the bend to tighten it past 90 degrees. I then grind a radius on each edge of the pliers that is opposite the hose pincher. This tool now works awesome to pull stuck valve seals.




I've used snap on, Lisle and other random seal pullers and these work as good if not better than the pricey stuff. And they only cost 3 bucks if you split the 9 dollars 3 ways. The hose pliers are nice to have as well.

[firebush357]

I know everyone seemed to be interested in my Flexible bit holder that I use on my 18Volt Ryobi Impact. Here is the Link. I use this tool a lot when working inside the car or when getting to bolts in hard to reach places such as bumper covers and stuff. You do loose a little bit of torque when using it but it makes things so much quicker if you don't have to use a socket wrench.
large_92b6f2d7-ed7c-47e2-8446-fa1d28d78c46.jpg

[likeJIF]

Cool thread, I've had that tool for years Charlie and only used it once when I was struggling wroth something in the STi, haha, maybe now in the Festy I'll get some use out of it.

[dliverance]

Flying miata has a special tool to hold the cam gears in place for dohc motors. here's the link

https://www.flyinmiata.com/flyin-miata-cam-gear-ninja-tool.html

cam seal installer

https://www.flyinmiata.com/flyin-miata-cam-seal-installer-tool.html

Mazdatrix has an rx7 flywheel stopper tool. It worked pretty well for me when I was installing my flywheel on my b6d. Here's the link https://www.mazdatrix.com/ftools.htm
I was only able to use one of the bolt holes but a simple c clamp held the other side on. Here's a pic.

[reddragon]

I know everyone seemed to be interested in my Flexible bit holder that I use on my 18Volt Ryobi Impact. Here is the Link. I use this tool a lot when working inside the car or when getting to bolts in hard to reach places such as bumper covers and stuff. You do loose a little bit of torque when using it but it makes things so much quicker if you don't have to use a socket wrench.
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I have one similar, but for 1/2" sockets..

[sc72]

I'm fat bald and over 60 so that means I'm lazy and have a bad back, so I made some dowel pins to help when changing transmissions, in the first pic you can see it was a bolt, in the second I cut the heads off and cut a grove in the end so you can use a straight screw driver to turn them in, the rest is self explanatory, these work great with auto trans, it keeps the input shaft straight when removing the trans so not to gall the bushing on the way in or out. I think I spent $5

[sc72]

Remember the part about me being old, well I also don't like being HOT in the summer so I bought these cute little tools. almost all of the AC compressors that I have had needed to be repaired, well the seal down at the bottom of the shaft leaks and when you put Freon in the system under pressure you will hear a hissing sound,yup the seal is bad, you can draw vacuum and it will hold but put pressure to it and it will not hold, so these tools will remove and replace the bad seal. If anyone needs these tools I will gladly rent them to you for $10, they cost a lot more than that to buy and you can't rent them from the Mc parts store.

[bravekozak]

I wish I had some of these long radius benders. I could make art with all tubing, including non-automotive stuff.
Even under my sinks.
For example, the normal bend radius for 3/8 tubing is 15/16".

Another toy.