Engine mounted tool tray

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I got ticked off enough today to power up the gray matter and come up with some creative thinking. When tinkering with the Cummins, I stack tools on top of the radiator. They then plunge one by one into the gap between the radiator and the intercooler. This ANGERS me!

So I have an idea for a tray which will rest on top of the valve cover. I have already made a pan out of sheetmetal, 2" deep, just slightly wider than the valve cover, it is open in the back and about 22" long. It will be installed upside down over the valve cover. I lined the inside with a bubble wrap to prevent scratching the valve cover. I cut out the area where the oil fill cap is. This is the base (very stable) for another pan which will be convenient to leave wrenches in while tightening the pistons or whatever. So this is where I am now, ready to fabricate the tool holding tray and attach it to the base. Now I lean toward having a tab on one side with holes in it to vertically hold screwdrivers and nutdrivers. I think I will elevate the tool tray 3" or so to provide room for the screwdrivers to hang without hitting the ex. manifold. Now here is the challenge, you need to wade in with your ideas. No were not putting a cup holder on it! Maybe an ashtray for cigars though. Jump in here if you if you have an idea. Where are you people setting your wrenches while making those precise adjustments? You can't set tools on the batteries or zzzzt, zzzt. OK I'm going back into the sheetmetal shop and create.

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3/4 ton, 5 sp, lsd, 2wd, qcab, guages, Scotty sys. Rhino liner, Blue Box hp enhancement

 

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This is a great idea! It sounds like the type of tool trays the drag racers put on top of the dragster roll cages. Theirs rise up in the center, and that's where there are holes for screwdrivers, etc. The tray part runs around the perimeter of the taller center part, almost like a moat around a castle, for lack of a better way to describe it. Of course, their trays are much wider. Maybe you could have a thick sheet metal panel sticking up like a "fence" in the middle of the tray. Then you could attach a horizontal panel with holes in it to hang screwdrivers, etc. You could also cut a hand hole in this for carrying the tray.
I suggest you paint it bright red so that it's more noticeable. You wouldn't want a "helper" to close the hood while you're away from the truck!
Andy

 

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Hvac

I'm glad to know that I am not the only one that has this problem. I hate the tool that falls down there and you can't find it. It finds that one spot that keeps it from falling to the ground and a person looks and looks, getting madder by the minute, you know it is there somewhere.

 

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Exactly Rodney, this is what I went through today while installing my new aircleaner. Thing is, this happens every time I start doing the Vulcan mind meld with the Cummins, got tools here and there, and the ones I need have fallen between the radiator and the intercooler. I got started with this while posting to Hurst Hemi Dart's topic. We were both doing air cleaner retrofits today.

Andy, I could have guessed you would find the value in this concept, I think Scott would dig it too. What you describe is similiar to the idea I had. I now have it completed. I made a second pan 1/2" tall the same size as the base pan, although it is not as long (16"). So the area I now have for tools is 6 3/4 wide by 16" with a 1/2" depth. It has a 2" tab on the left which I drilled 5 - 3/4" holes from front to back for screwdrivers and 2 - 1 1/8" holes for needle nose, whatever. I elevated the tool tray 3" above the base with 4 1x1 L shaped pieces of metal installed in the corners. I can't believe how cool this is. I can set up my hand tools in an orderly fashion, right there where I can get them regardless which side of the engine I'm on, and no more trying to fish them out of the gap between the rad. and the cac. I wish I was clever enough to scan a pic into the puter for y'all to check out. This would preclude I could operate my scanner (help!). I may be electronically retarded?


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3/4 ton, 5 sp, lsd, 2wd, qcab, guages, Scotty sys. Rhino liner, Blue Box hp enhancement

 

[Archive]

Great idea with the tool tray!
I have a set of black handled Craftsman screwdrivers that have a way of being lost under the hood only to be found at a later date, Hmmmm I wonder who may have left 'em there? LOL
I painted a fluorescent orange stripe around the handle and now have a much easier time finding these little cave dwellers.

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'96 2500 CC 4x2 LWB Auto 3:54's Camper and Tow pkg, K&N airfilter, Prime-Loc w/PSID gauge, Rancho 5000 shocks, Isspro gauges, Leer roof flush topper, Speedliner spray on bedliner.