1. Pliers
   Heat gun
2. Laser thermometer
   Cordless drill

Although you think you might never need pliers when working on an engine, you will be surprised the number of times you wish you had one if you didn't have one in your toolbox.

1. Jack stand
   Flashlight
2. Scissors
   13-inch socket

A flashlight is crucial while working on the innards of a car, be it the engine, suspension or practically anywhere. And to keep your hands free, use a flashlight that straps to your head. Or employ an apprentice!

1. Safety glasses
   Drive socket
2. Wrench
   Plastic tip hammer

No self-respecting workshop is going to attempt any engine work without a number of wrenches. Available in a number of sizes, these are the easiest way to tighten or loosen nuts. An adjustable wrench where you can set the size is also known as a monkey spanner.

1. Hacksaw
   Wire brush
2. Braking adjustment tool
   Ohm meter

Ohm meters are a necessity, especially for any auto electrical work that you might need to carry out. Ohm meters essentially measure electrical resistance.

1. Tap and die set
   Plug spanner
2. O2 sensor
   Pipe wrench

These special tools are necessary if you would like to create screw threads. This might be necessary when overhauling an engine.

1. Fuel pressure tester
   Monkey wrench
2. Valve checking spring kit
   Spark plug

This tool is particularly useful when working on the valves of an engine. It helps to determine the right height for both the spring and the valve in their chambers. A micrometer is needed for exact measurements. As measurements will differ between cylinders, use the shortest measurement taken.

1. Oil filter wrench
   Breaker bar
2. Female torx set
   Stud removal tool

Sometimes studs can be damaged, making it impossible to remove the bolt off the thread or perhaps the bolt has broken off and the stud needs to be removed to insert a new one. Luckily, in times like this, a stud removal tool is just what you need to get the job done.

1. Car creeper
   Repair manual
2. Tape measure
   Oil can

When working on a make of vehicle, having the repair manual can help immensely. If your car dealer does not supply you with one for your vehicle, finding one online is easy.

1. Electrical tape
   Hammer
2. Ramps
   Car jack

A hammer? To work on an engine? Yes, you never know when it might come in necessary. For example, a jammed starter motor might just need a gentle tap from a hammer to become unstuck.

1. Funnel
   Socket set
2. Oil dripping pan
   Pliers

A socket set serves much the same purpose as a wrench but here, you place the socket over the nut and use a socket wrench to tighten or loosen. The advantage here is that it can be used to work on hard-to-reach nuts thanks to extender bars.

1. Brake bleed and vacuum pump
   Cylinder compression tester
2. Air ratchet
   Allen keys

Allen keys come in an array of sizes and are made to fit small hexagonal-shaped head. Allen keys are sometimes called hex keys.

1. Spark plug gap tool
   Needle nose pliers
2. Screwdrivers
   Mallet

A good screwdriver set is never out of place in a workshop and a necessity when working on an engine of any kind. Make sure you have a range of different kinds from regular, to Philips to Robertson just to name a few.

1. Brake cleaner spray
   LED headlamp
2. Circlip pliers
   Pushrod length checking tool

When rebuilding an engine, having the correct length push rods is critical. This tool helps ensure that this happens. Best of all, they are relatively inexpensive.

1. Wire terminal crimper
   Tire Inflator with gauge
2. Valve lash tool
   Jump starter

Sometimes called a valve lash wrench, this is used when adjusting the valves on an engine. Sometimes this tool also comes with a built-in torque wrench.

1. Cam bearing installation tool
   Metric flare nut wrench set
2. Torque Angle Gauge
   Ball-pein hammer

This is not a tool that everyone will have in their workshop, but if you plan on rebuilding engines on a regular basis, it is a necessity. This adjustable tool holds and installs the different-sized cam bearings.

1. Feeler guage
   Oil filter wrench
2. WD40
   Suction gun

Many oil filters are turned into place by hand and then tightened using an oil filter wrench. These also help remove older filters that might have become stuck in place due to the heat of the engine over time.

1. Torque wrench
   Brake strip
2. Hose clamp pliers
   Pry bars

This tool is similar to a regular wrench except in the fact that it applies a precise torque to the fastener or bolt you are tightening. This prevents over tightening. The torque wrench was invented in 1918 by Conrad Bahr.

1. Heavy-duty wheel chocks
   12-inch filter pliers
2. Multi-purpose funnel
   Valve height micrometer

Used in conjunction with a valve checking spring kit, this micrometer helps determine the height of the valves in the engine.

1. Rolling tool chest
   Pulley, hoist and lift
2. Ratchet
   Pipe wrench

No self-respecting workshop will be without a pulley, hoist and lift. Engines are heavy and three tools make it possible to not only remove them but replace them back into the chassis with minimal fuss.

1. Gasket scraper
   Calipers
2. Pry bar
   Piston ring compressor

A caliper is used to measure the distance between from opposing sides of a particular object. They have any number of uses when working on a car engine.

1. Flat head screw
   Torx bit
2. Phillips screw
   None of the above

Similar to an Allen key, a Torx bit will fit a specially shaped head on a range of bolts. They are easily identified by their six-point star shape.

1. Drive socket set
   Metric allen wrench
2. Computer code reader
   Vise grips

All modern cars have computers that run pretty much everything in the vehicle. When something goes wrong with this computer, having one of these gadgets can not only help identify the problem easier but can also fix it in many cases.

1. Hack saw
   OBD2 scanner
2. Spark plug tester
   Crankshaft turning socket

This is used for working on the crankshaft particularly and allows for the rotation of the crankshaft with the damper removed. It works with a normal ratchet.

1. Pressure washer
   Engine degreaser
2. Oil filter pliers
   Creeper

No, it's not something you need for Halloween, but a simple flat board with wheels. Lie on this and you can scoot anywhere you need to while checking under a vehicle. This is particularly useful if you do not have a vehicle lift.

1. Wire terminal crimper
   Auto stethoscope
2. Adjustable wrench
   Microfiber towel

Is there an auto doctor in the house? These stethoscopes included a long point probe, perfect for placing at points throughout the engine to listen for problematic sounds.

1. Floor jack
   Multimeter
2. Breaker Bar
   Hex wrench set

A hydraulic floor jack is the perfect way to quickly raise a car from one side. It is a far better option than a manual jack and gets the job done in seconds. It does cost a little more, however!

1. Fuel pressure tester
   Curved pliers
2. Nut splitter
   Saw

A nut splitter is a great way to loosen nuts, screws or bolts that have become tricky to turn or loosen. It the nut still won't loosen, the splitter can be tightened until the nut breaks in half. Then you simply need to replace it.

1. Flexible sockets
   Jump starter
2. Fuses
   Pry bar

Flexible sockets allow you to get into hard-to-reach places, attach a socket to a nut or bolt and remove it with ease. Couple it with an extender and you will have no problem loosening anything.

1. Allen fastener
   Phillips screw
2. Zip ties
   Torx bit

Zip ties are a great way to keep pipes, wires and leads together. For example, keep the high tension leads between the spark plugs and distributor cap neat and tidy by using zip ties to bind them together.

1. Multi-tool
   Socket extension
2. 5-inch pliers
   Pocket torch

A socket extension allows you to reach in difficult areas within the engine to loosen bolts or nuts. This makes it far easier to loosen these fasteners than having to struggle with a normal socket tool.

1. Gloves
   Gauge coil mechanics wire
2. Lubricant
   Circuit tester

Not sure if a particular circuit is working within the electrical system of your car? A circuit test will tell whether it is or not .

1. Wire stripper-crimper
   Brake caliper compressor
2. Car lift
   3/8" drive spark plug sockets-

Car lifts help raise the car off the ground and allow mechanics to check underneath the engine with ease. They make life so much easier than sliding around on your back or on a creeper under the car.

1. Metric flare nut wrench
   ¼ drive socket set metric
2. Electric impact wrench
   Allen Wrench set

Also known as an air gun, this uses compressed air to spin and is the quickest way to attach or remove nuts. If you have one, you too can change tires as fast as they do in IndyCar racing.

1. Vise
   Molding removal tool set
2. Jumper wires
   Slip joint pliers

Every good workshop needs a vise. You never know when you need to grip something tightly to be able to work on it without worrying that it might come loose and fall to the ground.

1. Drip pan
   Scratch awl
2. Rubber mallet
   Channel lock pliers

Drip pans help keep the floor of your workshop clean. Engines are filled with various fluids and when taking them apart, these will drip onto the floor. A drip pan helps you to keep control of the mess.

1. Vacuum pump
   Tire gauge
2. Part washing containers
   Battery terminal puller

Engine parts, particularly on old engine rebuilds need to be cleaned. The best way to do this is by simply soaking them and then cleaning them in a part washing container.

1. Jumper pack/Charger combo
   Circuit powered test light
2. Brake spring tool
   Hose

Struggling with a flat battery? A jumper pack will get it started first time and the charger will ensure that you get a charge back into it so you won't need to jump it again.

1. Steel tape
   Engine stand
2. Antifreeze tester
   Hose clamp pliers

Engines are heavy. When removed from a vehicle, they need somewhere to stand without the chance of falling and getting damaged. An engine stand will do the job perfectly.

1. Cleaning brush
   Tire air chuck with aero fittings
2. Valve core removing tool
   Snap ring pliers

A good set of cleaning brushes can be used throughout your workshop on a number of different things, including keeping an engine shiny clean.

1. Digital caliper
   Impact sockets
2. Air ratchet
   Crankshaft socket

While working on an engine, the crankshaft will need to be tuned and adjusted many times. This socket does the job for you without any fear of damaging the crankshaft itself. This is all done when the harmonic balancer, or dampener, is removed.