Cars are fairly complex machines by any standards, with countless small parts all manufactured and assembled to exact specifications. When you are working on your car, it’s incredibly important that you assemble all of the components you’re working with to their proper spec, and to do so you’ll need an assortment of measuring tools.

Tape Measure

The simple tape measure can be invaluable in a variety of ways when working on your projects in the shed, even if they aren’t strictly for measuring fine details - they can also be used for all sorts of jobs around the home, so be sure to keep one in your toolbox.

Micrometer

There are two different types of micrometer available - one for measuring inside dimensions and one for outside measurements. Micrometers usually come in pairs or in sets with several measured rods included to increase their range. Accurate to within a tenth of a millimetre, micrometers are an essential tool for anyone that needs to carry out extremely precise measurements. They are handy for measuring anything from disc brake runout, cylinder bore size, piston or crank journal sizes and more.

Vernier Calipers

A vernier caliper is a sliding measuring tool, similar to a micrometer and used to measure both inside and outside diameters. There are a few different types; with the simplest being equipped with sliding jaws for use with a fine ruler and the newest vernier calipers using a digital readout that can measure to miniscule sizes.

Feeler Gauges

These thin strips of metal are each machined to a specific thickness for use in a variety of fine measurement tasks. From setting the proper air gap on distributors or spark plugs, to measuring valve clearances on cylinder heads, there are a huge number of tasks that may require a fine measurement of clearance between two points. Most feeler gauges are sold in a set with many others of varying thicknesses and usually in either metric or imperial sizes, although some come in combination sets too. Very short feelers are convenient for getting down inside a distributor, but long feeler gauges are available for measuring front end alignment or head-to-block clearance, and offset feeler gauges are great for measuring valve-to-rocker-arm clearances or other things where room to maneuvre is limited.

Torque Gauges

When tightening fasteners on your car, the correct torque setting should always be used in order to prevent damage. A torque gauge is designed to allow you to check the settings on any fastener. You should use a torque wrench to tighten fasteners ideally, but if you don’t have a lot of room to work with, then an adapter for other wrenches or ratchets can be an ideal substitute.

Thread gauges

The best way to eliminate guesswork and trial and error from selecting the right fasteners is to use a thread gauge to check the thread on either a fastener or if possible, its home. Thread gauges are available in metric or imperial and a variety of different types, and you should certainly have both since many metric and imperial fasteners look almost identical upon inspection. Thread gauges are also useful for determining which tap or die to use in the case of repairs or machining, or what pitch thread file to use when rethreading or reconditioning nuts and bolts.