Help first Mechanic Tech. job!

[kickinindian]

So i see what u all are saying just after a week of working at the shop tranny rebuilding is fun but otherwise it's not for me. Going back to my old serving job to make more money keeping cars my hobby!

[Exodus_2pt0]

my advice to you op. Listen and learn as much as you can. The #1 most valuable thing in the industry is diag. Its what separates parts changers from actual techs. Im sure they have some good knowledge being in the business for 20+ years. Imo you cant put a price on working with someone who has that. Sounds like a great opportunity for you. I started out in a similar situation not knowing shit.

As far as tools go. get some good ratchets as stated above. everything else you can manage with cheap HF tools for a while. also a fancy box is nice but it doesnt get the job done like tools do. spend cash wisely on tools you really need first

Truth. I still use a Craftsman 36" (iirc) box. It's packed full and make organization a bitch, but it works and didn't cost me 5k. Had it since 06.

[Dj Buttchug]

my advice to you op. Listen and learn as much as you can. The #1 most valuable thing in the industry is diag. Its what separates parts changers from actual techs. Im sure they have some good knowledge being in the business for 20+ years. Imo you cant put a price on working with someone who has that. Sounds like a great opportunity for you. I started out in a similar situation not knowing shit.

As far as tools go. get some good ratchets as stated above. everything else you can manage with cheap HF tools for a while. also a fancy box is nice but it doesnt get the job done like tools do. spend cash wisely on tools you really need first

[mitchlikesbikes]

i will never go into debt to the snap on guy im not that kind of guy, ill buy snap on just used.

this is smart. like i said i have most of what i need short of random odds and ends and i have spent maybe $1500 on tools and about $700 on my box. i have zero debt to the tool guys and it feels great.

i do have about $2000 worth of tools and a $1000 box at home as well though :O

[kickinindian]

i will never go into debt to the snap on guy im not that kind of guy, ill buy snap on just used.

[e30austin]

If you plan on sticking with it, buy quality stuff. If not, then it isn't a big deal.

I started out with a bunch of hodgepodge craftsman and other brand crap. When I was in tech school, the snap on guy convinced me to max my credit out, so I did and bought everything I could ($7k worth.) Their air tools are well worth the money if you're serious. My 1/2" impact is rated for ~850 foot pounds. If it can't get a stuck bolt, I don't know what will. I have the KRA5311 box and I like it, though I have quickly out grown it. Haha.

I bought a 20v DeWALT impact and drill package and couldn't be happier. We beat on them all day long and have no complaints.

Good luck to you. I started out making my hobby my job since it wasn't really hard and fun at first. Got really burnt out on that shit quick. Now I'm 22 and don't know what I wanna do with my life...just as long as it isn't wrenching for a living.

[mitchlikesbikes]

the ingersol rand 1/2" electric impact is bad to the bone too. they're about $350 or so on ebay. i watched edutechnic remove two nasty CV axle nuts with his almost effortlessly. i was very impressed by that

[kickinindian]

Cool beans thanks guys I was thinking of getting the air stuff for work since it's easy to Have it available all day then get me the electric stuff for home/junkyard/side job stuff that is a little ways off though good to know the electrics are worth it!

[mitchlikesbikes]

i have had a makita 18v set with the hammer drill and the impact for like 2 years and it is still rock solid. i just bought the 12v milwaukee set and am so far very impressed with it as well. the impact is nearly as strong as my makita one and has 2/3 the voltage. you really can't go wrong with makita or milwaukee, just like exodus said.

i have the ingersol rand 231c 1/2 impact. $125 shipped on ebay and it performs very well. i considered the earthquake in 1/2 as well but the ingersol brand name for $25 more was definitely worth it to me.

[Exodus_2pt0]

Been using Milwaukee electrics for a year now daily on locomotive's, still going strong. I only bought the xc batteries and the run time is excellent. Bought the set with the 1/4" impact, 1/2" drill, 2 xc batteries, and got the 1/2" impact for Christmas last year.

Can't go wrong with Makita either. Just avoid craftsman, ryobi, and IMO dewalt. They are toys.

[kickinindian]

I might do that I was looking at that one too what about probably for at home use electric impacts? Makita or Milwaukee probably

[Exodus_2pt0]

I would find a used Ingersoll rand 1/2, the one with the plastic handle. I bought one new in 2004, then in 2010 I got a used one off the snap on truck, and sold my old one to a friend who still uses it. Mine are the Matco version but its the same thing.

Dead reliable, ridiculously tough, and 1100ft lbs break away.

[kickinindian]

i got a full 3/8ths metric, short and long socket set (have a couple snap-on ratchets from my grandpa), some organizers to put on my cart, picks, and screwdrivers of various types, a small vice grip to match my large one, small and large needle nose pliers.

next im going to match the socket set with SAE sockets, a couple long extensions, and some swivel head stuff/ universal sockets.

then next Earthquake (HF) 1/2" impact, and impact sockets

next 3/8th air ratchet, and thats all i have planned as far as my first couple checks go. what do you guys think?



now i think eventually im gonna need to buy air tools and compressor for at home i forgot how awesome air tools are for getting the trans bolts and other shit out!

[mitchlikesbikes]

A cordless 3/8 impact will be your best friend!

this too. soooooo handy to have when you're just doing small stuff. i hate having to deal with a high strung air gun in low torque applications, but ratchets are too slow. my cordless makita impact is one of my favorite tools i have.


the most money i think i've spent on one tool/set so far is my cornwell ratcheting wrench set. it came with metric sizes 8-24 and i got it for a pretty good "open box" deal on ebay, but i love it. if you're going to get ratcheting wrenches then expensive ones are the way to go. for regular box wrenches craftsman will do just fine.

i also almost dropped $150+ for a very basic snap on screwdriver set, but held off and ended up finding a nice stanley set at sears that has the same handle feel and a decent quality for like $20. the set also came with more sizes too. deals like this always make me glad that i'm being patient with it instead of throwing money at the tool truck names for everything. now i just get the stuff i want to there instead of relying on them to suck the life out of my checking account.

[jalopi]

watch a few videos / read a bit on rebuilding 4L60's and 4TXX's, considering GM still makes them you should be seeing a decent number of them coming in. i'm sure your boss will appreciate the initiative as well

learn how to rebuild a tranny right and you'll never go without a job

**at least for the next 20 years until conventional auto trannies go away