As any gearhead knows, tools are just too cool. And when you get to use cool tools on a Jeep, the joy can be nearly transcendant. That's the way it was when a catalog from The Eastwood Company hit our desks the other day, and, at the risk of this story sounding like an advertorial, we just had to show you the stuff that's available from Eastwood.
When you're in the middle of a Jeep restoration project, the sheetmetal rebuild can be the most difficult part, since many of us have limited experience with bodywork. Recently, when we tackled the side panels on a CJ (see "Sheetmetal Marvel," in this issue), we had no idea what to expect, but knew we could figure it out. We had a spot-weld cutout tool from Eastwood, and that made life great, but it sure would've helped if our toolboxes had had the rest of the goodies Eastwood offers.
Take a look at this brief list of just some of the stuff Eastwood has. Get the catalog before you tackle your Jeep's bodywork and maybe Eastwood tools will help you to finish the Jeep faster. Next time we do any metalwork, we know where we can get a selection of tools to help us out.
If you've ever blown holes in sheet steel while you were welding, then you'll appreciate this item. The stitch welder cuts the juice in half, creating less blow and heat and makes for an easier weld. It attaches to any arc welder and uses special, nonsticking rods for smooth welds. Even the beginning welder can make good welds with this thing. | 
So, now you're in the big leagues. Spot welding is a way of life. Using this spot welder makes you the supreme commander as far as sheetmetal is concerned, especially with the versatility of this unit. The long tongs reach to both sides of the steel for proper spot welds, and the tool runs off 120-volt house current. Other sizes and shapes of tongs for those hard-to-reach areas are also available. |
This is the slick little spot-weld cutter we used to replace the side panels in the "Sheetmetal Marvel" story. The gem cuts a 3/8-inch hole like it's butter, which is large enough to get around the factory-size spot welds. The center pilot has an adjustable-depth feature to keep you from drilling into the underlying metal, and the cutting head is replaceable. | 
If bolts break off when you're taking them out, you can be in a real pickle. The normal extraction method is to drill out the center of the bolt and use a screw extractor, which often breaks off inside the bolt. These special drill bits have a lefthand twist, so sometimes the bolt will come out with the bit instead of your having to resort to the next step. |
This cutter is for spot welds too, but costs a bit more and lasts a lot longer. The one-piece cutter has a self-centering pilot that prevents walking, and the tool can be resharpened. If you're going to drill bunches of holes, this is the tool to get. | 
OK, so you have to duplicate how the factory made the spot weld to make your resto Jeep perfect. This handy item attaches to any arc welder to produce a smooth, round weld similar to the factory style but at a much lower cost than a real spot welder. Special rods are included and extra rods are available. |
A good selection of bodywork tools such as these special hammers and back up dollies can be a great help, and they're not that expensive, considering how much better they work than a clawhammer and a chunk of steel. Eastwood has videos available, so you can learn the proper techniques to use, and it's easy to practice on an old piece of sheetmetal. | 
After you have the old panels off and have beaten them back into shape, you need to flange them to match the old ones and new ones. These pliers flange the edges of steel so that they overlap for welding. |