Smitty's "Press On Regardless Kit"
Smitty and Helen Smith are well known for travelling all over the US in their '64 wagon, Smitty posted the following list of tools and supplies to Virtual Vairs based on his experience over the years. Particularly see the special tools section.
History.
Smitty Says: I will mention the Wagon has well over 400,000 miles on it. I put over 150,000 miles on my previous Camper hauling Corvair with one of my engine builds in it and about 40,000 on the one before that. (small engine). My camper weighs somewhere around 1,500 lbs wet. When I go to the highway with it, it runs wide open with my foot on the floor all day long at 65-70. It ran that way to Alaska and back. It has taken me years to decide what to carry and what I can do without.
The List.
The following is a list of the things I carry in my car for cross country trips. They have always got me home through engine pulls and disassembly and transmission rebuilds. Not ALL are necessary but have been found to be nice to have when the need arose.
Smitty
CONSUMABLES
- Work pants, T shirt, Sweat shirt.
- 28 X 36 inch roll of old clean carpet.
- Brake fluid.
- Hand wipes/rags.
- Small container of wheel bearing grease.
- Brake clean or parts cleaner
- Tranny fluid
- Oil
- Tire plug repair kit.
- #1156, 1157, 90 light bulbs.
- 25 ft spool of #14 auto electric wire.
- Roll of electric tape.
- Roll of 1" masking tape.
- 18 in each of 1/8, 3/16, and 1/4 gas/vac hose.
- Roll of .032 S S safety wire.
- C-1 - Straightened and rolled up coat hanger wire.
- C-2 - Old hand cleaner can of Misc nuts, bolts, screws, washers, fuses.
- Hi Temp Ultra Silicone sealant.
SPECIAL TOOLS
- S-1 - 13/16 box end with 2 1/2" handle.
- S-2 - Home made 3/16 thick 1" open end wrench.
- S-3 - Cut off 9/16 0pen end (2 1/2 " handle)
- S-4 - 5/16 ratcheting box end wrench.
- S-5 - 12 volt soldering iron with flux and solder.
- S-6 - Short harmonic damper puller.
- S-7 - Fan bearing puller.
- S-8 - Early rear axle yoke puller.
- S-9 - 15 ft drop light. With alligator clip ends. Uses 1156 or 1157 bulbs.
CONVENTIONAL TOOLS
- 1/4 drive socket set. Includes speeder, 3/8 to 1/4 and 1/4 to 3/8 adapters.
- 3/8 Dr socket set, 3/8 to 7/8
- Deep sockets, 3/8 to 11/16
- Universal socket set, 3/8 to 3/4 includes in-line universal joint.
- Short and long handle ratchet handles
- 1", 2", 3", 6", 8" extensions.
- Oil press sender socket.
- Spark plug socket.
- 6" and 10 " adjustable wrenches
- Combination wrench set. 3/8 to 3/4.
- Flare nut wrench set.
- Ignition tools kit.
- GM cantilever jack and Corvair jack with handles.
- Multi meter
- Small dwell/tach
- Timing light
- Tube flare kit and 1 ea, tubing 18" long, 3/16, 1/4, 5/16 diameters.
- Probe type test light.
- 24" jumper wire with alligator clip ends.
- K D 1/2" plug thread insert kit.
- 3/4 LB ball pien hammer.
- Series of screwdrivers including straight and Philips, Stubbys, and 90 degree offsets.
- 5" and 10" vise grips.
- 10" channel locks
- 8" gas pliers.
- Needle nose pliers.
- 5" side cutters.
- 1/16, 1/8, 3/16, 1/4 tapered drift punches.
- Small wire brush and old tooth brush.
- Inspection mirror.
- Stick magnet.
- Utility knife.
- Gasket scraper.
- 8" smooth and coarse files.
- 8' tape measure.
Spare Parts
- Fan belt.
- Road tested fuel pump.
- Fan hub with new bearing.
- Idler with new bearing.
- Rear axle with freshly lubed new bearing installed.
- Spare module for GM HEI distributor. Substitute points and condenser for standard distributor.
- Pair of new plugs.
Emergency Equipment
- Fire extinguisher.
- Small air compressor with red strobe light.
- 50 Ft Nylon tow strap.
Special tools S-1 through S5
- S-1 - You can get replacement alternators from any FLAPS but removing the nuts to convert to Corvair requires an impact wrench which is hard to find on the road. Short handle wrench can be struck with a hammer to break nuts loose.
- S-2 - Slim 1" wrench is for carb inlet fittings and for PG transmission modulator valve. I made mine from plate stock.
- S-3 - Cut off 9/16 for back idler bolt and distributor nut. Box end can be slipped over handle for extra leverage and work at 90 degrees.
- S-4 - 5/16 ratchet nice for Wagon side engine seal strips.
- S-5 - Some tools are so unusual I don't know where I would find a replacement. The little soldering iron has been wonderful to have a couple of times.
- S-9 - No Flashlight??? The batteries are always dead or dying when you need them. I much prefer the 15 ft drop light for night work.
- 3/4 LB hammer??? I use a half LB for most things at home but I have larger hammers for backup. 3/4 compromise seems about right on the road.
- C-1 - for muffler hanger repair and hose clamps and other uses.
- C-2 - You never know what you will need so just throw in some of these and some of those. You may be lucky.
