Restoring old cars can be an incredibly satisfying endeavour, particularly if you can make a living from it. Whether you’re a motoring hobbyist, a young engineer wanting to develop your hands-on experience or a classic car lover – knowing how to repair and restore cars can be a valuable skill that you can benefit from in the future. However, it’s a steep learning curve and you’ll need to get to grips with a number of key pieces of equipment. What are some of these and what part do they play in the process?

Basic Tool Kit

First and foremost, you won’t get very far without a basic tool kit. Screwdrivers, pliers, wrenches, a utility knife and other fundamental tools will help you with the little fixes and repairs that may need doing around and under a car. More specialist tools will inevitably be needed at some point, but these basics will provide a good foundation for a restoration project.

Torque Wrench And Socket Set

A torque wrench and an extensive socket set range will help you to tackle any difficult bolts or screws in a car restoration project. Old vehicles can often have rusty wheel nuts or other fixings, meaning you need some serious power to loosen them. Sockets will also help under the bonnet and on the underside of the car if you are removing or replacing parts.

Car Jack

You’re more than likely going to need to get under the car if you’re dealing with an old or faulty vehicle. A car jack will help to reliably raise the car to reduce the risk of you being injured and to allow you better access under the chassis. A jack will also be needed if you are replacing a tyre, brake pad or wheel.

Ultrasonic Cleaner

You may not be familiar with one of these, but an ultrasonic cleaner can be a handy piece of equipment to have for a restoration project. They can help to clean individual components and elements that can be removed from a vehicle. Things like plugs, cylinder blocks, bolts and screws can all be cleaned to a very high standard, removing contaminants like carbon deposits, oil, grease and dirt from crucial internal systems. With this piece of equipment, you could save money through cleaning rather than replacing every component.

Angle Grinder

An angle grinder can be invaluable if your project car has any bodywork or external issues. Scratches and markings can be ground down, reprimed and painted to give the vehicle a fresh look. Grinders can also be used to polish bodywork with the right attachment, perfect for applying the finishing touches to your restoration.