Hello, Robert!

Well, let me rephrase your message to see if I understand where you're going.

You want to equip yourself as flexibly as possible for the least amount of money. Avoid redundancy (and its associated cost) yet have all the air tools you need.

So, let's cut to your last paragraph. Impact guns.

When I was asking around on the BB, they told me to stick with a 1/2 gun, not to consider a 3/8" model. I found one at Sears for about $80 which had plenty of torque (440?) and is adjustable strength.

My take on the impact wrench-socket drive question is this. The 1/2 impact gun is good for breaking things loose, and for applying large torque values when specifies 140 ft pounds, for example. It also speeds things along in your work efforts.

The 3/8 socket drive is good at speeding things in your work effort, saving time and over using a hand ratchet. Like using an electric screwdriver. Secondarily, it tightens things a bit more than by hand.

And that's all I have to say on those points. I see them as different tools. Breaking strength versus speedy, convenient removal/insertion speed. I don't think of the 3/8 ratchet as a torque demon. And, I don't need the speed/convenience.

Another difference, the impact gun does things by brute strength, versus the slow moving ratchet which slowly draws things. I found that the impact gun is ood in suspension work because it can draw component together which need to be forced into sockets. Outter tie rod posts pop into the hole positively with the gun. An air ratchet would not do that, but gradually draw them in, I presume.

Furthermore, (and I have thought about buying a 3/8 ratchet drive, but decided not to), is the fact I enjoy hand work in and around the engine and elsewhere. I do not believe I'd be gaining much by speeding that up with an air ratchet. I watched my former mechanic over near Beaver, PA do a timing belt using a 3/8 air ratchet and didn't think it matttered enough to me to pay for one. And any bolts which you need to tighten to a torque spec you need to do by hand anyway. Also, its's one more reason you'd need to fire up the air compressor (noisy!) and unroll the air hose (a nuisance) and for marginal "convenience".

If I bought any tool for engine work right now, it would be those closed end ratchetting box wrenches. One of these would be great for removing the fan bolts, AC compressors, PS pumps, and alternators, because you could keep the tool on the bolts and just keep levering.

About adapting up or down. I was not aware you could adapt UP. Seems to me this would stress the ratchet lug. To adapt DOWN on an impact wrench, that would stress the adapter lug. I can't recall from the Harbor Freight catalog seeing an adapter for impact use like those you can use for hand ratchets. If this is made/done, I am not aware. Extensions and wobbling sockets, yes.

I don't find too many close quarters while doing engine work. I believe the wobbling sockets are used for that.

Speaking of HF, you can buy a workable set of impact sockets having both standard and deep wells in one kit (which is what I may do). Or, you can buy either deep or sandard in Metric and SAE in one kit.

Believe me, these area very cheap kits (about $30) in sizes 10-24mm. Made by Pittsburg tool. I think they'd work reliably.

Personally, I don't see much use for an impact gun for engine work. On B230 engines you can't use it on the crank bolt (most likely one on which to use a impact wrench). Maybe on the exhaust manifold bolts. Beyond those two areas, everything is hand ratchet, or air ratchet, if you like.

Lug nuts, suspension work (I wouldn't change trailing arm bushings , nor compress springs without an air gun), and exhaust duty (chipping hammer, sometimes, too) are the places I have used the 1/2" impact wrench.

If I needed to do a ton of the same bolts, like removing/fitting dozens of 12mm body & fender bolts -- and do so frequently -- I might spend for the 3/8' air ratchet.

In my post, I was meaning standard socket and not indicating some special type.

Best regards,

Zee

----- Original Message -----

From: Rstyler49@aol.com

To: zarodad@lafvm2.lafayette.edu

Sent: Thursday, July 26, 2001 4:15 PM

Subject: Zee can you help with these questions?

Zee, I read your reply on the BB about my socket questions. Here is my

reply: The longer version is on the BB.

Two more things:

First, when you said this,

..."Short sockets worked fine for tie rod ends and swaybar links. (17mm, I

believe. I recall using an extension with it for the tie rod ends ...."

did you mean short as in specifically designed shorts sockets (meaning

shorter than standard), or did you just mean standard length as compared to

deep sockets?

Second, what is your opinion on adapting the drive up or down when using

impacts? For example, using 1/2" drive impact socket, with 3/8" drive

extension, on a 3/8 drive "hand" ratchet - is it awkward to use that way? Any

clearance problems because of the thicker and longer 1/2" drive socket walls

in tight engine work areas - (I only have 19 mm and larger impacts, and want

to know if the smaller size impacts present any clearance problems with ANY

engine work)?

And what about the opposite, using a 3/8 drive impact socket, with a 1/2

drive extension, and a 1/2" drive impact gun - is it safe? I heard that

adapting up with impacts was a [do not do this] from an experienced mechanic.

He said it is dangerous. My reason for these last two questions is that I

hate the redundancy of purchasing the same socket size, and same socket

length, one in 3/8" drive, and another in 1/2" drive, if I can just get one

for all and all for one. I would rather put the extra tool money out for deep

welled sockets.

But right now I use an [electric] gun (but plan on getting an air gun). So I

thought maybe I could get my smaller size metrics (10 mm thru, say15 mm) in

3/8" drive impacts, and get a newer more efficient, higher torquing 3/8"

drive air gun instead of the traditional high torque 1/2" air guns. And then

and adapt up with a 1/2" extension if I needed to use my larger sockets, 17

mm and above.

Thought on these matters.

Robert