.

Another tool that I have added to my tool inventory is a “Plasma Cutter”. These little beauties use electricity and compressed air to cut metal without the damaging effects usually associated with an Oxy-acetylene torch. While primarily used in sheet metal and tubing applications, they can cut most ferrous metals.

Plasma cutters can range in price, but be prepared to spend at least $1200.00. Lincoln Electric has a great unit, and there are other brands available. Always buy something that you know you can get parts and service for. I went into a partnership to split the cost between myself and my buddy Terry. This has worked out well. Some clubs and organizations have pooled their money, and bought a Plasma cutter as club / community property.

I use mine whenever I need to trim sheet metal for body work, to cut exhaust and other tubing, and I find it handy to cut things for other folks.

One recent job involved a friend who owns his own over the road car carrier. This fine Peterbuilt has a 60 series Detroit Diesel in it. The bull gears in the front of the engine drive everything from cams to compressor. When his Detroit ate a set of gears, and he had it in for repair at a local big truck shop, the dreaded call came. It seems that the gear on the front of the crankshaft had been installed backwards during an earlier engine in-frame overhaul.

The gear will work backwards, but it is case hardened, and the threaded holes for the gear puller used to remove it were on the backside, and rendered inaccessible. This posed a large problem. Being case hardened, there was no chance of drilling and taping another set of holes. The crankshaft on this Detroit can’t be removed with the engine in the truck, so the mechanic offered two options: Either heat the gear with a torch, or R&R the engine for crankshaft replacement.

I’m no metallurgist, but using the torch to heat the gear (and the crankshaft) would surely affect the strength of the nose of the crank.

R&R and replacement of the crankshaft would be super time consuming and very expensive. We took a chance, and using the plasma cutter, cut the gear off, and did no damage to the crankshaft. The shop owner was amazed. If you have never used a plasma cutter, you can cut metal, and pick it up without burning your hands. I highly recommend having access to one of these units.

My two newest additions are a 3/8 drive cordless impact gun. This little beauty is so easy to use, works great, and there is no messy air hose to drag around and over clean upholstery or over a clean assembly.

I use this cordless impact when building engines and transmissions. It reduces fatigue, and really speeds up the job. There are several brands available, and the one I purchased at a car show in Indianapolis is a Zenex Tools unit. It came complete with two batteries, a charger, all nestled in a blow molded case. These run about $ 150. - $ 200.

We all have batteries, and there is nothing better to properly maintain them than a Battery Tender by Deltran, or a new unit on the market called CTEK, Multi US 3300, from Sweden. These are not conventional battery chargers, but rather devices to leave connected for months to keep batteries at their peak. Great for anything that is season, stored like my Hot Rods, or even for marine use. These units also condition batteries, and work well on Lead Acid as well as AGM types.

The subject of electricity brings me to one more tool that is a “Must Have” if you use a digital volt / ohmmeter. These are enhanced voltmeter leads that fit any common voltmeter, and are the only ones in the Industry that allow you to place a calibrated load on a circuit to help you dynamically find a weak or corroded circuit, and identify which side, power or ground that is guilty of the high resistance. Your voltmeter will lie to you without these leads from “Brighter Ideas” called “TESlite”.

With these tools in your arsenal, and a good service manual, you will be prepared to do a lot more than install floor mats and lighted fuzzy dice.

Happy Motoring,
Sam

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