Hey guys, i looked but didnt see a thread for homemade tools anywhere so i thought i would start a thread. I was searching for a tool to take off valve springs and i came across a few good ideas and thought i would share.

If anyone else can post some pics of your inventions and ideas feel free, i would like to see them.

this here was used for engine pulling

http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af257/joe-balls/Homemade%20Tools/tool1.jpg

This is a handheld sheet metal brake

http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af257/joe-balls/Homemade%20Tools/IMG_2927.jpg

This was built to convert engine stands for axles

http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af257/joe-balls/Homemade%20Tools/axlestand.jpg

and this here is an engine tester

http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af257/joe-balls/Homemade%20Tools/MVC-237S.jpg

i'm still looking around so if i find anything else i post em up

joe

I like the little metal brake idea, im gonna get some cheapie clamps and make one of those.

i was thinking that to, i want to built one of those axle stand things also.

i was thinking that to, i want to built one of those axle stand things also.

That axle stand is a great idea. I might just make one too. :bowtie:

In this pic you can see the brackets I made to hold a differential on an engine stand and still use it for engines if i wanted too..

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u281/BTTB71SS/DifferentialStand3.jpg

Here is something i created to install the bushings in the control arms

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u281/BTTB71SS/71%20camaro/InstallingContralArmBushings2.jpg

Wow, your pretty creative great work man. good ideas

I've come up with all kinds of crap over the years.

Looking around the garage today, this is the only thing out in the open that's home made:

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y120/dwright406/100_7013.jpg

Cut out of a piece of I beam, this thing has installed more engines than I care to remember.

IF the garage were cleaner (inlaws sold their house and I got hooked into storing all his wood working equipment in MY garage) I'd post pictures of the two engine stands, engine hoist, and various other tools I've built over the years.

I don't know about you guys and gals, but I LOVE making my own tools and fixtures. I have fixtures for making motor mounts and transmission crossmembers for S10s, and Adjust-A-Covers for small block Chevy hydraulic lifter valve covers, just to name a few things I've made over the years.

I also made piston stops out of old spark plugs, harmonic balancer puller out of a 1" piece of billet aluminum, cam degree kit made up from various parts that I accumulated along the way.

I started making this Lathe as an Apprentice many years ago.
It's still not finished, and I'm still working on the power feeds gearbox.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v291/ozchevy/000_1945.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v291/ozchevy/000_1948.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v291/ozchevy/000_1947.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v291/ozchevy/000_1946.jpg

I've also made a 4' Panbrake Folder, Lathe Toolpost grinder, Rotating engine stand, Coil spring compressor, Air compressor 16 cfm, Engine lifter, and a heap of things that just don't come to mind at this moment.

the home made 4x4x8 sand blasting cabinet i made

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g135/mikey_424/tools/CopyofDSCF0371.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G02ZMzYOLIo

I guess i dont have pictures of the finished product only videos.

I'd consider making these as a kit, the frame work anyways, then people just bolt it together and add their own 4x8 sheets of wood to keep shipping down.

also gonna start on a 4x8 or maybe a 5x10 cnc machine this winter, so i can use my plasma and a router on it, make it out of metal, see how money goes this fall though.

the home made 4x4x8 sand blasting cabinet i made

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G02ZMzYOLIo

also gonna start on a 4x8 or maybe a 5x10 cnc machine this winter, so i can use my plasma and a router on it, make it out of metal, see how money goes this fall though.

Hey thats a pretty darn cool booth ya got there, need to make me one of those (not as big).

Another bushing installation tool

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f15/SafariRob/BushingInstallToolInPlaceEmail.jpg

http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af257/joe-balls/Homemade%20Tools/7BinderAssembled.jpg

A couple pullers I have made, in the midst of building a compressor and an axle stand and engine hoist. Wanna make a test stand soon. Also I wanna make a pipe bender for exhaust.

Another bushing installation tool

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f15/SafariRob/BushingInstallToolInPlaceEmail.jpg


hey now theres a tool i could of used very much to do my control arms, got any other pictures of this? i still have one rubber bushing that i have to slide into the sleeve, and it wont budge, but here the catch, the control arms on the car and all attached....just the nut wont tighten the rubber bushing into the sleeve... any suggestions?

Very creative ideas. I could use a control arm bushing tool now. They are giving me hell going in

Great ideas

S10 TH350/Powerglide cross member (I sell them for $65 plus shipping):

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n260/Cardinal_03/S10%20Mounts/S10TH350TransMount-1.jpg

Motor mounts for SBC into '82 to '92 S10 (which I sell for $35 plus shippin):

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n260/Cardinal_03/S10%20Mounts/S10V8MtrMtFaceUP.jpg

AR15 handguard removing tool:

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n260/Cardinal_03/Smith%20and%20Wesson%20AR15/AR15Handgardtool002.jpg

TH350 Tools:

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n260/Cardinal_03/TH350%20Tools%20and%20Parts/Insidetool.jpg

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n260/Cardinal_03/TH350%20Tools%20and%20Parts/OutsideTool.jpg

Isolator for the direct read fuel pressure gauge in the '87 S10 Xcab drag truck:

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n260/Cardinal_03/87%20S10%20Drag%20Truck/FinishedIsolator001.jpg

Harmonic balancer puller I made YEARS ago:

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n260/Cardinal_03/87%20S10%20Drag%20Truck/HarmonicBalancerPullerInstaller.jpg

Dual axle car hauler trailer (2nd one I built):

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n260/Cardinal_03/Dual%20Axle%20Car%20Hauler%20Trailer/ACDWallpaper.jpg

Bodine drive I installed on my Grizzly Lathe/Mill machine for the carriage drive:

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n260/Cardinal_03/Grizzly%20Lathe%20and%20Mill/GrizzlyLatheandMill002.jpg

Marbles game I made (thanks Jdove for printing out my drawing for this!):

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n260/Cardinal_03/Marbles%20Game/4PlayerMarblesGame.jpg

Adjust-A-Cover (that I sell for $35 plus shipping) for adjusting SBC hydraulic lifters:

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n260/Cardinal_03/Adjust-A-Cover/TallSBCAdjCoverTop.jpg

I'll post pics of my engine stands and engine hoist IF I get time!

heres a quick and easy way to hoist and move a shell without the sub frame

http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/5953/kgrhqvjce3mbyidjbn1w6sg.jpg

i built an engine lift plate at work out of stainless
planning on drilling holes to bolt it to intake and drill holes on the corners to use eye bolts with chains on for heavier engines that get lifted and other things i may need to pick up.
http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac107/81forme/100_2247.jpg
http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac107/81forme/100_2246.jpg

also working on a shop press now

heres a quick and easy way to hoist and move a shell without the sub frame

http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/5953/kgrhqvjce3mbyidjbn1w6sg.jpg


I'll be using this idea by tomorrow afternoon, I hope.

This is a picture of a tent shelter that I had before it got ruined by too much snow on it:

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n260/Cardinal_03/Theoldleantoo.jpg

I rebuilt it into a lean too off the back of the garage. Funny thing about the lean too is that it was self cleaning: wind would come up, shake the tarp roof, and the snow would slide off!

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n260/Cardinal_03/Thenewoldleantoo.jpg

I wish that I'd taken more pictures of narrowing the 12 bolt that is now in the '876 S10. I made the incerts that go in the housing ends and in the carrier so that a 1" X 60" piece of cold rolled bar stock goes from end to end of the housing so that it is all aligned for welding the housing ends on.

Here is what the rear end looks like in the dime:


http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n260/Cardinal_03/87%20S10%20Drag%20Truck/Narrowed12BoltUnderside2.jpg

[QUOTE=Cardinal]S10 TH350/Powerglide cross member (I sell them for $65 plus shipping):

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n260/Cardinal_03/S10%20Mounts/S10TH350TransMount-1.jpg

Motor mounts for SBC into '82 to '92 S10 (which I sell for $35 plus shippin):

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n260/Cardinal_03/S10%20Mounts/S10V8MtrMtFaceUP.jpg

Sitting here looking at the S10 mounts and crossmember, I can't help but ask a couple of questions. What type of exhaust do your motor mounts work with. I did a V8 S-10 back in '92 and had gotten a pair of mounts. I was told they work great, only to get them in the truck and find that my headers didn't fit and the stock manifolds wouldn't fit either. I still have this truck as a project and I am always looking for different ideas that work.

As for the cross member, hows does if fit with headers? I have the stock crossmember that I've been using. But my left pipe has to dip down below the member. I am planning on sectioning out that part of the member and installing a piece of tubing for the exhaust run through. Like I said always looking at different, maybe better ways to do something.
I am installing a 385 ci with manual trans, back into my S10. As for now it sits gutted waiting for me to get time and money and space to work on her again.

when i had my s10 i had custom headers built they ran all the way back the firewall and dumped down from there. i wish i had pics of them yet cause they worked great. the best way to describe them i guess is they came out of each cylinder into a larger single pipe like a manifold and ran down the firewall to the dual exhaust pipes. if that helps any

heres a quick and easy way to hoist and move a shell without the sub frame

http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/5953/kgrhqvjce3mbyidjbn1w6sg.jpg

I did the same basic thing, but I use my floor jack. My jack has a pad that is removable and leaves a hole in the floor jack. Get tubing the same size as the hole and drill hole in 4x4 post. You can use the floor jack to pull the car around especially if you have a "T" handle jack.

OK not really car related(someone already outed me I'm a bike guy) so when Imworked for John Deere we got an air ride seat base from a Back Hoe on a warranty claim. A little modification and it's a portable 12v bike lift!
Push the lever with your toe and it contacts the starter switch which is wired to the inboard compressor which infirm fills the airbag. It has a shock absorber so it's not all bouncy and press the horn button and it opens the release valve and lowers the bike no problem to lift 500lb bikes!

http://s4.photobucket.com/albums/y109/ns50r/bikelift/?action=view&current=Wheelbalancer1.mp4

<a href="http://s4.photobucket.com/albums/y109/ns50r/bikelift/?action=view&amp;current=P1010011.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y109/ns50r/bikelift/P1010011.jpg" border="0"
alt="Photobucket"></a>
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y109/ns50r/bikelift/P1010009.jpg

Video
<embed width="600" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullscreen="true" allowNetworking="all" wmode="transparent" src="http://static.photobucket.com/player.swf" flashvars="file=http%3A%2F%2Fvid4.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy109%2Fns50r%2Fbikelift%2FWheelbalancer1.mp4">

SRAD

Oops! You already figured out that's the wrong video that's the wheel balancer. We have used this balancer very successfully not only to balance tire and wheel assemblies but also wheels on several 190 and 200mph bikes. No that's not me riding that's my Wife!
Ok here's the lift
http://s4.photobucket.com/albums/y109/ns50r/200MPH/?action=view&current=P1010009-3.mp4
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y109/ns50r/200MPH/th_P1010009-3.jpg (http://s4.photobucket.com/albums/y109/ns50r/200MPH/?action=view&current=P1010009-3.mp4)
SRAD

I like building stuff.

My first rotisserie. I've probably built 5 or 6 now. I usually sell them once they are done.
http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc30/1xsystem/100_3603.jpg

Yard guard for plows, keeps from tearing up gravel or lawns until the ground is frozen.
http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc30/1xsystem/100_4507.jpg
http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc30/1xsystem/100_4510.jpg

Pull plow for pickups.
http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc30/1xsystem/100_4814.jpg
http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc30/1xsystem/100_4820.jpg
http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc30/1xsystem/032-4.jpg

Wings for my plow that fold back behind the plow when not needed.
http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc30/1xsystem/100_4837.jpg
http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc30/1xsystem/100_4834.jpg

built a new tool today for my new hvlp spray gun

http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac107/81forme/eea7cec5.jpg
http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac107/81forme/b46513dc.jpg
http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac107/81forme/02c95d8c.jpg

I built this tool to remove a stuck oil filter. I was working on this for two days before I decided to make this tool, screwdrivers, belts, all types of oil filter wrenches, nothing worked.

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g147/stick_boy111/100_0318-1.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g147/stick_boy111/100_0319-1.jpg

Put my Wheel dollies back to work.

http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/x383/davidcordle2/Front%20Clip/Firewall/DSC01614.jpg

Ok here's the lift
http://s4.photobucket.com/albums/y109/ns50r/200MPH/?action=view&current=P1010009-3.mp4

I am going to be wanting one of these for my Busa as well.
I got creative with a floor jack to pop my rear tires off.

Worked okay, but I think this would be cool if it's reasonable $$ to do it.
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f122/Aceshigh22/Motorcycles/BusaTireChange1Medium.jpg