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Chump car article in Jalopnik


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I've considered buying extra ratchets and cheap 8,10,11,12,13,15,17,18,19 socket sets.

I have a good sets of deep and short sockets and two lousy sets of short ones in my box as well.  It's aggravating to not find the tool you need.  I think I'm up to 7 3/8 ratchets, too.  Never enough haha

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Nice.   I have one person that puts the tools back as fast as Ican take them out. Priceless.

 Questions;  Does that cage have the Hoop horizontal?   What does Lemons want for cages that the car needed?  Thanks, MM

 

 PS. never wax the race car, it wil get smacked everytime.

 

 MM

Our back bars came down past the rear wheels--I think (if I was reading their ruleset right) LeMons wants them to attach in front of the rear wheels now so nothing becomes a battering ram in a collision. I'd have had to double check with the LeMons powers-that-be if our cage was legal or not, but I was unhappy enough with the messier welds in a few places that I was more than happy to have it redone anyway.

 

Not sure what you mean by the hoop horizontal. That was the cage that was in the car when we bought it, and we're sooooooo not leaving this up to a DIY job since none of us have the experience to rebuild it (or in my case, even know what the different pieces really are, haha).

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I always want to buy some massive mechanics set from craigslist but they never seem to really be worth it. Am I undervaluing how much the guys tools cost? They generally don't seem like a great deal.

I never thought they were as I have mostly Craftsman and the price differential was huge.  Now, several years later, I see the quality difference and value.  I generally use three general sources/types for tools:

 

Use once only or once in a blue moon - Harbor Freight, Northern Hydraulic

Use somewhat frequently - Craftman (I've taken many broken tools back for replacements and they let me use the value to get a different tool if I want to go with a different tool or size/version.  I had actually received most of my early tools via gifts.  Generally will work for most weekend wrenching and you won't kick yourself too hard if you end up losing one.  Friends and family all know where to shop for gifts.

Use all the time - Having used a team mate's Snap-on stuff, I'm sold on 'em.  I've added some ratchets after breaking no less than four Craftsman ones.  If it's stuff you're going to use constantly, I don't think you'll regret it.  Price the stuff out online and then look the Craigslist adds.  I'd love to had a whole set (and a million dollars and yacht, and...).  I have a card and contact now for my local Snap-on guy but my first purchase was driving by a dealer and seeing the truck.  Several mechanics and me (in a suit and tie) buying tools.  

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  • Technical Advisory Committee

We have slowly started buying everything from Harbor Freight. Better tools would be nice, but we can't afford them. Some tools like a harbor freight line wrench is useless, we just go right for a vice grip. Drill bits are also a no-no. The engine hoist worked OK.....thats a plus.


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I always want to buy some massive mechanics set from craigslist but they never seem to really be worth it. Am I undervaluing how much the guys tools cost? They generally don't seem like a great deal.

Simon,

 

You guys get more use out of you tools that many other teams.  It's probably worth it for you.  ^_^

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Exactly.  Racing incident.  Crappy situation, but not really anyone to blame or berate.  Very experienced driver spun and got unavoidably smacked.  

Oh wow, hate it when that happens. I was the second car behind the E30 that sprung /(continually banged against the curbing) a leak in the oil pan at CLT last week and I did a 4 wheel drift, the mustang that was in front of me totally lost it and hit the grass sideways, I was worried that he was going to flip but I think he made it out OK. That's why it's always nice to keep a 7-8/10 pace instead of trying to win the race during your stint!

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Simon,

 

You guys get more use out of you tools that many other teams.  It's probably worth it for you.  ^_^

 

Since we are young kiddos we don't have decades of race car wrenching experience. Best way to quickly gain decades of experience: try keeping a Saab together B)

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