GT550 Tool Box: Making It Bigger for More and Longer Tools

[Ebayru]

When I found my 74 GT550 it had no tool kit. Whatever I tried to make up for it from all my extra tools wouldn't fit and I didn't particularly want to spend what was being asked for a factory kit because the tools are not very good quality.

I realized that the tool box had room to be bigger so I decided to enlarge the existing box. I didn't want to have to remake the attachment section so I essentially drilled out the welds for the back plate and split the box at the bottom. I reduced the angle of convergence at the bottom, re-bent the bottom turn angles and made a gusset out of some 18 gauge sheet metal that I had. I also made a replacement back panel out of the same metal. I duplicated the securing band hook in the bottom panel gusset.

I wanted to make it simple so I simply pop-riveted the parts together rather than being more elegant and welding the parts. If I had a spot welder of sufficient capacity, I would have used it.

It is now a bit over 2" deeper, 5/8' taller and more square in shape. It now easily holds my selection of regular tools. I just use hair bands for the retaining strap. I just haven't bothered to make a regular one up which I have often done using inner tube and stainless wire.

I hope someone may find this a useful modification.

Shel

[Coyote]

Cool man, and very in innovative. The NOS tool kits that are out there are not near as complete as the original tool kit, but are still a pain to cram it all in there. Room for a 3/8' breaker and a real plug socket would be a blessing. I may look at doing that to mine.