The AP1 S2000 is a precision instrument — the F20C screams to 9,000 RPM and demands equally precise maintenance. Your single biggest concern before touching a wrench is getting the car safely in the air: stock ride height is approximately 4.5 inches and a standard floor jack will not fit under it. The Arcan ALJ3T is mandatory, not optional. Beyond that, this is a pure metric, high-compression, high-revving engine that rewards careful torque-spec-driven work — you need both a 1/2" and 1/4" drive torque wrench because the small aluminum fasteners in the valve train are just as critical as the wheel hardware.
AP1 chassis runs the high-revving F20C with a timing chain (not belt), but that chain can stretch on high-mileage examples — listen for cold-start rattle. Valve clearances must be inspected every 30,000 miles; this is non-negotiable on a motor that sees 8,000+ RPM regularly. VTEC solenoid O-ring is a common oil leak source on aging examples — cheap fix if caught early, expensive if ignored.
Brand: Arcan | Category: Lifting | Store: Amazon | Priority: CRITICAL
This is not a preference — it is a physics requirement. The S2000 sits at 4.5" of clearance and a standard Pittsburgh or Torin jack will not fit. The ALJ3T has a 3.5" minimum pad height, dual-pump action for fast lift, and at under 56 lbs the aluminum construction means you can actually carry it. This jack handles any low sports car you ever own and still lifts trucks fine. Buy it once. Don't cheap out here — a slipping jack under a 2,800 lb S2000 is a nightmare scenario.
Alternative: Budget alt: Pittsburgh Low-Profile 3-ton at Harbor Freight, ~$110. Heavier, slower, steel construction. Functional but not the long-term tool. Do NOT buy HF's aluminum jack.
Brand: ICON | Category: Lifting | Store: Harbor Freight | Priority: CRITICAL
The floor jack lifts the car. The stands keep you alive. ICON is Harbor Freight's premium line and these are genuinely excellent — wide tripod base, solid ratcheting lock mechanism, and 6-ton rating that is massive overkill on an S2000. That overkill is the point. Never work under a car on a floor jack alone. Not once. Not for a quick look. Jack stands every time.
Brand: Rally Armor / Nils | Category: Lifting | Store: Amazon | Priority: CRITICAL
The AP1 S2000 uses thin aluminum pinch welds as factory jack points. One session with a bare jack saddle will deform or crack them — a body shop repair that costs $200+. These rubber-topped aluminum pucks drop into the factory slots and distribute load correctly across the flange. $28 now versus $200+ later is not a difficult math problem.
Alternative: DIY alt: Cut hockey pucks to fit the jack slots — seriously, this is what vintage track day guys do. Cost: $5. Functional for the floor jack, not for jack stands.
Brand: Maxxhaul | Category: Safety | Store: Amazon | Priority: CRITICAL
S2000 has no parking brake on the front axle. Chock the wheels opposite the end you're lifting, every single time. Non-negotiable.
Brand: DeWalt | Category: Safety | Store: Amazon | Priority: CRITICAL
One brake dust particle or metal flake ends your wrenching session. These are comfortable enough to actually wear throughout a job — which is why they beat the $1 gas station pair that sits unworn on the bench. Wear them. Every time.
Brand: Kidde | Category: Safety | Store: Amazon | Priority: CRITICAL
S2000 fuel system runs at high pressure and the car is 25 years old — fuel lines, injector O-rings, and valve cover gaskets all degrade over time. Any electrical fault or fuel leak near a heat source can escalate fast. Mount this near your garage exit where you can reach it moving backward, not buried behind the workbench.
Brand: Tekton | Category: Sockets | Store: Amazon | Priority: CRITICAL
Your engine bay workhorse. The F20C is 100% metric — 10mm and 14mm see constant use for accessories, valve cover bolts, and sensor brackets. 12mm for the VTEC solenoid bolt. 6-point sockets only — 12-point rounds fasteners on high-torque applications and you'll pay for that mistake in stripped heads on 25-year-old aluminum. Tekton's steel quality and tolerance are excellent for the price. Lifetime warranty with no nonsense.
Alternative: Budget alt: Husky 13-piece metric 3/8" set at Home Depot, ~$45. Fine, but the Tekton tolerance is noticeably tighter.
Brand: Tekton | Category: Sockets | Store: Amazon | Priority: CRITICAL
For the hardware that requires real torque: 19mm lug nuts (S2000 uses 19mm hex, torqued to 94 ft-lbs), 17mm drain plug, 22mm rear hub nut, and suspension fasteners. The 1/2" drive gives you the torque transfer needed without flex at higher loads. Don't run lug nuts with 3/8" equipment — you want positive engagement when torqueing safety-critical hardware.
Brand: Tekton | Category: Hand Tools | Store: Amazon | Priority: CRITICAL
Lug nuts, drain plug, axle nuts — anything that needs to be broken loose before the impact wrench gets involved, and your backup when the cordless battery is dead. The 18" handle gives you real mechanical advantage without being unwieldy in a low-clearance situation. Get this before you get the impact wrench.
Brand: GearWrench | Category: Hand Tools | Store: Amazon | Priority: CRITICAL
The 3-degree effective swing arc is the real reason to own this ratchet. In the S2000 engine bay where access angles are tight and clearances are minimal, you physically cannot swing a standard 72-tooth ratchet the 15-20 degrees it requires between clicks. The locking flex head lets you set your approach angle and it stays there. This is the ratchet you'll reach for on 80% of jobs.
Brand: Tekton | Category: Torque | Store: Amazon | Priority: CRITICAL
Lug nuts at 94 ft-lbs, drain plug at 33 ft-lbs, front caliper bolts at 80 ft-lbs — this wrench sees the most action. ±4% accuracy is competitive with tools twice the price. Critical reminder: turn counter-clockwise back to the lowest setting after every single use or you will ruin the calibration spring within a year.
Alternative: Budget alt: Pittsburgh 1/2" click torque wrench at Harbor Freight, ~$28. Accurate out of the box, loses calibration faster. Acceptable starter.
Brand: Tekton | Category: Torque | Store: Amazon | Priority: CRITICAL
The F20C has critical small fasteners where precision matters more than power: valve cover bolts spec at 84–108 in-lbs, VTEC solenoid at 16 ft-lbs (192 in-lbs — right at the top of this range), cam cap bolts at 108 in-lbs. Trying to feel these with a 1/2" torque wrench is how you strip 25-year-old aluminum threads and turn a $20 bolt into a $400 machine shop bill. This wrench is non-negotiable for any top-end work.
Brand: Wera | Category: Hand Tools | Store: Amazon | Priority: CRITICAL
The Kraftform handle is not marketing — the zone grip geometry transfers torque more efficiently and the laser-engraved tips bite Phillips and JIS heads instead of camming out. On a 25-year-old Japanese car, many screws are actually JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard), which looks like Phillips but has a slightly different cross geometry. Wera tips are forgiving of this. These are buy-once-for-life tools.
Alternative: Budget alt: Klein SD60 6-piece, ~$25. Decent but the tips are conventional — you'll cam out on anything that's been over-tightened.
Brand: Knipex | Category: Pliers | Store: Amazon | Priority: CRITICAL
I will say this once: these are the greatest pliers ever made. The push-button jaw adjustment resets to any size instantly, the angled V-groove jaw grips in both directions, and they will not slip under load. On a 25-year-old S2000, you will use these for hose clamps, radiator hoses, coolant fittings, heater core lines, and the inevitable corroded or stuck component. The 7" handles tight quarters, the 10" handles serious clamping force. Every Channellock you were considering is now irrelevant.
Brand: Knipex | Category: Pliers | Store: Amazon | Priority: CRITICAL
Hose spring clamps, wire routing, snap rings, fishing dropped fasteners out of the S2000 engine bay before they fall into the subframe — the 8" reach and side cutter handle everything your Cobra pliers won't. German steel, will outlive both of us.
Brand: Launch | Category: Diagnostic | Store: Amazon | Priority: CRITICAL
A basic code reader tells you the CEL code and nothing else. The CRP129E reads all four modules — ABS, airbag, transmission, and engine — which matters on a 25-year-old S2000 with aging sensors and an ABS system that deserves attention. It also displays live VTEC engagement data and fuel trim values that are genuinely useful for diagnosing the F20C. The extra $45 over the basic CRP123X is recovered the first time you pull an ABS code that saves you a $120 dealer diagnostic fee.
Alternative: Budget alt: Launch CRP123X, ~$80. Engine codes only. No ABS, no SRS.
Brand: Lisle | Category: Honda Specialty | Store: Amazon | Priority: CRITICAL
The F20C uses a conventional spin-on oil filter on the passenger side of the block with limited clearance around it. A strap wrench works in both directions and will not crush the filter housing — which matters if the previous owner over-tightened the last one. On a 25-year-old car, assume the worst. This gets it off without drama.
Brand: PB Blaster | Category: Shop Supplies | Store: Amazon | Priority: CRITICAL
A 2000 model year S2000 has 25 years of heat cycles and potential road exposure behind it. Exhaust manifold studs, brake bleeder screws, suspension fasteners — any of these can be rusted. Apply PB Blaster 15–20 minutes before any stubborn fastener and combine with a heat gun on truly seized hardware. Keep one can near the car at all times throughout the year.
Brand: Permatex | Category: Shop Supplies | Store: Amazon | Priority: CRITICAL
Apply to drain plug threads and spark plug threads every time they go back in. The F20C aluminum block threading a steel drain plug into a dry aluminum oil pan repeatedly is how you strip the pan after 50+ oil changes. Note: do NOT use anti-seize on wheel studs (creates overtorque risk) or head bolts unless the factory spec calls for it. Drain plug and spark plugs only.
Brand: Tekton | Category: Shop Supplies | Store: Amazon | Priority: CRITICAL
Dropped fasteners in an S2000 engine bay disappear into the subframe or exhaust heat shield. Magnetic trays on the fender and floor eliminate the search-and-swear portion of every job. $12 for something you use on every single task.
Brand: Milwaukee | Category: Power Tools | Store: Home Depot | Priority: HIGH
The 2962 mid-torque delivers 350 ft-lbs forward — more than enough for S2000 lug nuts at 94 ft-lbs, caliper bolts at 80 ft-lbs, and most suspension hardware. It is compact enough to fit in the S2000 engine bay where the larger high-torque 2767 cannot go. Since you have no existing M18 batteries, the kit is the only rational purchase — two compact batteries and the charger are included. You are now in the M18 ecosystem: every future Milwaukee tool is tool-only pricing.
Alternative: Budget alt: DeWalt DCF887 20V MAX kit (~$250 at Home Depot). Slightly less torque, similar compact footprint, good ecosystem.
Brand: Milwaukee | Category: Lighting | Store: Home Depot | Priority: HIGH
Tool-only because your new M18 batteries from the impact kit power it directly. 1,100 lumens floods the full underside of a lifted S2000, and the fold-flat design lets it double as a bench or engine bay light. Working under this car at night without real lighting is how you miss a cotter pin or misroute a brake line. The hook mount means both hands stay free.
Alternative: Budget alt: Any rechargeable 1,000+ lumen work light with a magnet base from Amazon, ~$35. No ecosystem integration but functional.
Brand: Wera | Category: Wrenches | Store: Amazon | Priority: HIGH
Ratcheting wrenches transform brake work, suspension work, and anything where you cannot swing a socket. The Wera Joker's holding function grips the fastener on the backstroke so you don't lose position in a tight space — that feature alone makes it superior to standard ratcheting wrenches. 8mm through 19mm covers every fastener you'll turn on the S2000 engine and suspension. The 12mm and 14mm will live in your hand on valve cover day.
Alternative: Budget alt: GearWrench 9-piece 120XP metric ratcheting wrench set, ~$65. Excellent 120-tooth mechanism, slightly less refined than Wera but genuinely good.
Brand: Tekton | Category: Sockets | Store: Amazon | Priority: HIGH
Extensions are what make sockets usable in real-world engine bays. The S2000 oil drain plug is recessed and the firewall-adjacent suspension hardware requires reach. The 6" is the daily driver, the 10" for the drain plug and anything buried near the firewall. Get these at the same time as the socket sets.
Brand: Tekton | Category: Sockets | Store: Amazon | Priority: HIGH
The 3/8" extensions pair with your primary flex-head ratchet for engine bay work. The 2" for clearance-limited applications, 6" as the default, 10" for reaching past the intake manifold and into recessed areas of the cam cover. Avoid wobble-style extensions for torqued fasteners — solid construction only.
Brand: Klein | Category: Diagnostic | Store: Amazon | Priority: HIGH
On a 25-year-old S2000, you will diagnose: alternator output voltage, VTEC solenoid resistance (should be 14–30 ohms), O2 sensor heater circuit continuity, corroded ground straps, and ECU power supply integrity. The MM400 auto-ranges and covers AC/DC voltage, resistance, continuity, and diode — everything needed for automotive electrical work. A $15 Harbor Freight meter has ±10% accuracy, which is useless for diagnosing a marginal sensor. Don't false-economy yourself here.
Brand: Tekton | Category: Sockets | Store: Amazon | Priority: HIGH
The F20C has fasteners at awkward angles in the cam cover area and behind the intake. A swivel lets you drive sockets at up to 45 degrees without snapping an extension at the connection. Cheap, infrequently needed, and completely irreplaceable when you need it.
Brand: Tekton | Category: Honda Specialty | Store: Amazon | Priority: MEDIUM
F20C valve clearance specs are intake 0.18–0.22mm, exhaust 0.28–0.32mm — tight tolerances on a 9,000 RPM engine that punishes neglected valve lash with burnt valves and rough idle. If mileage since last adjustment is unknown on your car, buy these now. Stainless blades hold their thickness, the bent tip style fits under the cam lobes without removing the camshafts. Check clearances any time you have the valve cover off for another reason — zero extra labor cost.
Brand: Tekton | Category: Honda Specialty | Store: Amazon | Priority: MEDIUM
The F20C uses M14x1.25 thread NGK Iridium plugs (BKR7EIX or IZFR6K-11S) with a 5/8" hex. The 3" depth and magnetic rubber insert hold the plug upright during installation and prevent dropping it into the head. Torque to 13 ft-lbs on aluminum threads — hand tight plus about a quarter turn. Replace these every 30,000 miles and gap them correctly (0.044" on stock application).
Brand: Motive Products | Category: Suspension/Brakes | Store: Amazon | Priority: MEDIUM
Honda specifies brake fluid replacement every 3 years — and if you ever plan to track this car, standard DOT3 boils under sustained braking on a track and causes brake fade. The Motive power bleeder is a one-person operation: pressurize the reservoir cap adapter, crack each bleeder, watch clean fluid emerge, done. Beats the two-person pump-and-hold method every time. If you track the S2000, flush to Motul RBF600 — it's a direct upgrade and this kit makes it easy.
Alternative: Budget alt: Mityvac MV6835 hand vacuum bleeder kit, ~$35. Works solo but slower and more tedious.
Brand: Fumoto | Category: Honda Specialty | Store: Amazon | Priority: MEDIUM
The S2000 oil pan is M14x1.5 thread — a perfect fit for the F-106N. Install once, flip the lever on every oil change, no drain plug to overtighten, no aluminum threads to eventually strip. The F20C calls for 4.0 liters of oil every 3,750–5,000 miles on a car driven correctly. Over 50+ oil changes, this pays for itself in convenience and pan thread preservation. This is a 10-minute install.
Brand: Scott | Category: Shop Supplies | Store: Amazon | Priority: MEDIUM
Not paper towels — shop towels. The difference is lint, durability under oil saturation, and not disintegrating mid-wipe. Buy a 10-pack, stop raiding the kitchen roll. These live in a dispenser on the workbench.