Essential Ford Tools Every Owner Should Have

[Humblej]

There was an earlier post where someone was asking if the Ford wrench for the exhaust nut was something that would be good to own. Not only do I consider the exhaust nut wrench essential but there are several applications were there is not a good equivalent modern tool do do the job as well as an original Ford Z wrench. Not to confuse the issue with the multitude of specialty tools by Ford, KR Wilson, Stevens, etc that are indispensable for overhauls and rebuilds, but just those tools that are useful for regular maintenance and which I include in my tool box for a tour. Although most of us have had to improvise from time to time, the Ford Z wrench designed for a specific application makes all the difference and are worth picking up when they appear for the right price at flea markets and antique shops. Ford Z and X tools were sold by ford and appear in the Ford Parts Manuals. Early ones had part numbers starting with 3-Z- later ones starting in 5-Z- and some marked TT- followed by the part number, or part number with -X at the end. The 3-Z and 5-Z will have different part numbers for what is basically the same wrench, so there is opportunity for confusion and redundancy for new tool collectors. And although there are the die hard mechanics that will swear a pipe wrench or channel lock will work on a exhaust nut, I do not know anyone who prefers to use a pipe wrench or channel lock pliers instead of the Ford exhaust nut wrench if they have one.
Ford Z tools I consider essential for any model T owner who is going to do basic maintenance and repair are:
Exhaust nut wrench, 5-Z-204
Generator third brush wrench, 5-Z-806
Wheel hub puller (wood wheels), 5-Z-287
Carburetor to manifold bolt wrench, 5-Z-817
Transmission band ratchet, 5-Z-829
Hub cap and front wheel bearing wrench, 1349

If anyone could please post the tool illustration from the parts manual I would be grateful as I was unable to put my hands on one at the time I wrote this post.

[Doug Keppler]

Jeff I used a very large adjustable wrench on an exhaust nut and it worked just fine so there is another tool that can be used

[Mark Gregush]

Black Hawk and Walden-Worcester made similar sparkplug/head nut wrenches and the carb/generator wrench is up there with sliced bread.