It takes less in the way of tools and equipment to maintain a Formula Ford that you might think. Pictured below are all the hand tools and fixtures that I use to shop prep (checklist, gear change, engine oil change, and alignment) my Lola T-540 for a race weekend. As you can see, they all fit on a folding table!
Here is a quick list of the tools and equipment required to perform routine pre-race maintenance on my Formula Ford. Everything I routinely use (except for the alignment fixtures) can be carried in one small toolbox.
Open and box end wrenches (1/4 inch through 1 inch with some duplicates)
3/8 inch drive ratchet and assorted extensions and adaptors
3/8 inch drive socket set (3/8 inch through 3/4 inch)
3/8 inch drive hex drive socket set (5/32 inch through 3/8 inch)
Breaker bar
Torque wrench (up to 120 ft-lbs)
Assorted hex keys
Assorted pliers (needle nose, side cuts, etc)
Safety wire pliers
Pop rivet gun
Air pressure gauge (bleed down, 0 to 30 psi)
Dial calipers
Spark plug gapping tool
Feeler gauge
Oil tank dipstick
Transaxle dipstick
17 mm hex wrench (for transaxle plugs)
1-1/4 inch socket (for transaxle shaft nuts)
13 mm socket (for transaxle bearing carrier nuts)
18 mm socket (for engine oil pan drain plug)
13/16 inch spark plug socket
Alignment bars and plates (for toe and camber measurements)
Ride height blocks
Tape measure
Digital level (with laser)
A short list of shop equipment (not in the photo) is also required:
Floor jack and/or quick jack
Chassis stands
Air compressor
Portable air tank
Timing light & dwell meter
Battery charger
Drain pans & funnels
Workbench with a vise
Some nice-to-haves-but-not-essentials:
Drill press
Bench grinder
Tap & die set
Assorted EZ outs (1/4 inch through 3/8 inch)
Engine hoist
My Formula Ford was purpose built in 1979 by Lola Cars in the United Kingdom so most of its bolts are English. The exceptions are a few metric nuts on the Hewland Mk9 transaxle (which utilizes a highly modified VW Beetle case). The automotive industry was an early convert to metric. Therefore, production based race cars are likely to have most if not all metric fasteners. If it is a recently designed race car, there are also likely to be a large number of socket head cap screws because of tight clearances.
Tools and equipment is the second in a series of blogs on how to get started in racing. Next up: spare parts.