Hi I'm gonna start body work this winter on a 72 Chevelle. I don't have any body tools yet.I plan on replacing quarter panels fenders floor pans and doing a few body filler spots. what Tools am I gonna need to get the job done? I don't have a compressor but plan on getting one as i plan to do the painting myself also,what size A/C would i need? also some tools I can get that are electric to get me started, are they ok or are air tools better. I don't really want to spend a fortune on the tools cause more i spend on tools less i'll have for car, and also after car is done i'll probally never use most of em again. I have done body work before but been many years since, hope it's like riding a bike once you learn you never forget http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif anyway thanks for any info. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif

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A Little Power Is Good,
More Is Better,
To Much Is Just Right!

What do you have now? Who do you know that will lend/rent tools to you. Here is my list.
1/2,3/8&1/4" sockets and wrenches, combination wrenches, screw drivers, pliers & vise grips, hammers, 4"grinder,drill&bits, longboard for sanding and small sanding block. If You do buy an air comp. the biggest you can get. Do you have heat? is the garage finished? The nicer your work area the easier it is to motovate yourself.
If you have the listed items email me for more I like to spend your money Thanks, Dave

Well, Gary, actually, the LESS you spend on tools, the MORE you'll spend having someone else do the job! I've owned my Chevelle for 32 years now, AND it's a daily driver. I have a Sears tool cabinet in the garage with enough tools to do most any repair on the car, including pulling engines and transmissions. If you're going to keep an older car on the road, it pays to have the necessary tools to do it yourself. It's very hard to give an accurate list of what you'll need, because most of us acquired the tools as they were needed. If you have nothing, then start out with a good set of sockets, wrenches and screwdrivers. Basic tools. As you progress, you can add to them. Engine hoists, pullers, etc, can be rented, although I own those too (don't like running around trying to find a rental open on the weekend!). Body tools are a whole other ball game. When it comes time to do the body work, pick up a good book such as a Haynes manual, which will demonstrate the necessary tools required for each job. I have those too! I have a 57 Chevy, a 70 Chevelle, and my son drives an 86 Olds, so it pays for me to have all of these tools at my disposal. These were all acquired over the course of many years. Buy them as you need them. First and foremost, spend some money on manuals for the car AND some manuals on body work. You'll be glad you did.


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MalibuJerry350
TC Member #1279
Original owner '70 Chevelle.
593,000 miles on car.
Hey, if it's got wheels, DRIVE IT!
My Chevelle: http://hometown.aol.com/erie614/myhomepage/index.html

I have all the basic wrenches and stuff like that. and yup garage is heated. I just ordered a haynes autobody book I just gonna have to get the bodywork tools. would that lincoln $300 mig welder be good enough for doing the job? and would a 6hp 150psi air compressor do the job? Thanks for you help http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif

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A Little Power Is Good,
More Is Better,
To Much Is Just Right!

gary just like you said at the end of your post to much power is just right the bigger mig welder the better get the gas setup the lincoln will do but again when it comes to welder the bigger the better also for a compressor i have an ingersol rand 5 hp 2 stage got it at home depot it was the best investment i ever made some of the compressors sold especially at sears wont cut it especially if your going to be running autobody air tools those things suck up a ton of air like a dual action sander the lower end compressor wont keep up and you'll run out of air and will have to what for the compressor to fill the IR i have stays ahead off the sander it gets a little uncomfortable to work when the compressor never shuts off especially if your working within 20-30 feet of the thing so look at the IR it was a great investment