For example, when Mark and I took out my snorkus off it took like 30 minutes, but if we had to do it again it would take all of 5 minutes :P.

I have heard great things about JB Weld, but never had much luck with it, and it’s never a permanent fix.

I am a fan of getting the best quality tools you can afford - preferably from a place that offers unconditional lifetime warranty. You can buy almost any single wrench or socket individually, but you always pay less for a set.

6-point sockets are better than 12 point sockets (wall thickness + gripping surface area). If you have the choice of buying a set of no-name cheap generic 12-point sockets or a single good quality, lifetime guarantee 6-point socket in a particular size you need, get the single socket.

Eventually work your way up to multiple drive sizes, and both standard sockets and deep well.

A breaker bar saves wear & tear on your ratchets.

Ratchet extensions are sometimes a lifesaver - you can only get a couple degrees of movement deep in the engine bay, but if you can extend the height by 12″-14″ you may be able to get 180 degrees of swing… or maybe even up to 360. I put wobble extensions in this category, too.

Ratchet wrenches are expensive but worth every penny when you need them!

Don’t make the mistake of using a regular open-ended wrench on a brake line - get a flare nut wrench to do it correctly.

I try to never use an adjustable wrench on my car - one of the easiest ways to strip a bolt (or knuckle).

One of the handiest low-buck tools I have is a telescopic magnet - you could fab something with a coat hanger and tape, but adhesive won’t grab a fluid-covered fastener when it falls into the depths of your engine bay.

Don’t be intimidated by the mechanicals - they’re not that complicated when distilled down to the appropriate level. While the end product you have sitting in the driveway is a sophisticated pile of inter-connected systems and layers, with a service manual, patience, and the right tools, the average shade-tree mechanic can do a very large portion of maintenance/repair themselves. Focus on the trees, not the forest… don’t get overwhelmed with the scale.

The best tool advice I can offer is to bring your patience. If you only have 1 hour to perform a 1 hour task, wait until you have more time - don’t rush - it’s not conducive to good results, you won’t enjoy the quality time you get with your car, and you’re likely to make mistakes/overlook something.