Between 485 & 705 SQ/FT Shakenfake's Small Shop

[shakenfake]

This is my 30'x17' shop that I use purely for automotive work. I have a carport on the side of it that is roughly the same size that I would eventually like to grow into and build to turn it into a 60x20 roughly. Long ways away though and who knows if the city would let me.



The shop has changed very slightly since I took this photo. Mainly just the reorganization of the left wall. Current plans include pulling out the blue counter you see on the right wall, moving the table saw, band saw and possibly the drill press into the garage. I am hoping to install a new window and insulate my AC unit a little bit better to prevent air leakage (going to happen regardless with the garage door but...)

This houses 1 of my 3 vehicles at a time. Carport holds my father's '70 Grand Prix.


'96 Impala SS. Original owner was my grandfather. Recovered it from my uncle about a year ago (picture from 2/2022), it stays much cleaner now.


My '99 Silverado. Another family vehicle, father bought this new back in '99 and sold it to my grandfather sometime in the early 2000s.


Lastly my diesel. 2006 GMC Sierra that I bought about 7 months ago. Pretty used but I love it.



As you can see I have a thing for GM and I am on red team (Milwaukee). I will take some photos of the carport after work if I can remember and the driveway leading up to the shop and carport. Unfortunately the driveway is sloped down so building onto the shop and into the carport may prove difficult but I doubt impossible.

 

[shakenfake]

Cleaner photo of Impala. Just to show I am not a slob.

 

[shakenfake]

So currently my big project is insulating the shop and cutting down on the heat coming in/air going out. Where I live it can easily get over 100 the entire summer. The AC unit absolutely helps but there are still a lot of things that are not great. I just added some Gila window tint over the garage door windows and that has easily cut down a couple degrees. The next thing I am looking at is doing my window.

So the shop has a decent size window that I am thinking needs replacement. It is probably from the 60s or 70s. Not only am I planning on replacing the window I also would like to seal in my AC unit a bit more since it is not sealed up very well. Any recommendations on window brands? I will be installing myself to cut costs although I have never installed a window. Afterwards I will install the same window tint film on it to help with the sun.

For the AC unit my plan is to purchase a sheet of plywood and cut a hole in it just large enough for the unit to sit in and perhaps mount the plywood to the window sill. I was also planning on using some rope caulk to seal off any escaping air. I figure this should do a good job at it.


Crude drawing of my plan. Inner box is AC unit, outer box is plywood sheet, squiggle lines are rope caulk. I may also put some between the unit and the plywood but I am not sure.

 

[strutaeng]

Welcome to Garage Journal Brother! That's a nice shop and nice collection of vehicles you got there! I think I know you BTW

I cut a hole on the siding of my 25x25' detached garage and stuck a 240V window shaker. It's only partly insulated, so I only run it when I really need to in the Summer. Actually haven't sealed it up too well around the opening.

 

[shakenfake]

That is hilarious, glad to see a familiar face!

Yeah sealing this window up and moving to a modern window would drastically improve conditions in here I think. I would really like to have this done before the summer really kicks off. I'm considering moving the table saw down to my parents' place since that is one of my larger space consumers I have. The unfortunate part is that their garage needs some pretty heavy work to even fit the table saw inside.

 

[Mark_17]

That Impala needs an LS swap...

Welcome

 

[shakenfake]

396 LT1 is in the works. With LS PCM because I hate opti

 

[strutaeng]

My window unit is the 22kbtu LG dual inverter or something like that. I bought it when we were adding to our house to keep cool temporarily while I worked on the interior. I installed a mini split on the addition and the window AC found it's hole in the garage wall.

I also ran gas to the garage and have a Mr Heat shop heater for winter. Again, only really run it if I need to.

I saw your post about the 396 on the LS1tech forum. Are you keeping the Optispark with the LS ECU?

 

[shakenfake]

I thought about a mini split but they were a bit out of budget at the time. Plus if I really do expand the shop I would rather it be in a different location.

I don't even have water I have a sink and I can see where it enters the shop but no idea where it starts or where the valve is. Don't even know if it is hooked up. Didn't need the heat personally so I skipped that.

No optispark will go away and it will be LS coils. I have linked the kit in case you are curious: https://www.torqhead.com/shop-24xli...-Works-Full-Kit/p/356710263/category=23575139

 

[shakenfake]

Picked up a new vacuum gauge to eventually tune the Pontiac when I get it idling. It will run if I give it some gas but dies returning to idle. It will not start without cracking the throttle or adding ether. Hmmm...
Also got some flexible extensions and a new set of impact extensions.

 

[Mark_17]

Idle mixture screw 1.5 turns out
Idle speed screw 1 turn out
Go from there.

Buy a Holley Terminator

 

[shakenfake]

I think I am 1.5 turns out on both. I plan on capping off the brake booster vacuum port just out of sheer curiosity and trying that. Also need to run a longer starter wire so will do that tonight.
My dad wants it to run with the carb before we switch to a Holley. Could have saved so much time but...

Also the wheels will go away. He has brand new Welds in the garage that have been sitting for a year lmao

 

[Mark_17]

I have 2 friends that went Holley (one from LT1 torqhead setup and one from a carb'd LS)

The increase in drivability is immediate. It is going to blow you away. I was incredibly impressed.

 

[shakenfake]

My uncle has a '71 GT-37 that is a supercharged 455 Pontiac Big Block with Holley. That thing is a riot.

I was planning on doing the Torqhead setup on my Impala since it is just a mild stroker Hopefully dropping the block off this month to get checked and machined possibly. I wasn't sure if the Holley setup was going to be worth it since I wasn't doing anything super off the wall crazy. (Although with the ability to add a 6 speed auto that may change...)

 

[Mark_17]

The LT1 that went TH to holley is a 383 turbo. The LT1 that is still TH is a 383 procharged. Both around 750 wheel.

The TH will work, obviously, but the holley is just so damn simple. You plug it in, answer the questions, and it works. Then just fine tune it yourself.

 

[shakenfake]

Apparently we are now looking at the Edelbrock system with Port Injection

 

[shakenfake]

Picked up the DCR028B, DeWalt's jobsite radio:https://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-20V-MAX-Compact-Bluetooth-Radio-Tool-Only-DCR028B/310785935
Also got the DCS331M1. DeWalt's jigsaw kit: https://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-...w-with-1-20V-4-0Ah-Battery-DCS331M1/204300950

The radio is my favorite. Can plug it in or battery power it. Will be great to take to the drive in this summer.

 

[Cdubu52]

Picked up the DCR028B, DeWalt's jobsite radio:https://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-20V-MAX-Compact-Bluetooth-Radio-Tool-Only-DCR028B/310785935


The radio is my favorite. Can plug it in or battery power it. Will be great to take to the drive in this summer.

I have the older version and love it. I take it everywhere. Great to charge batteries too. I use it as a second charger when its in the shop.

 

[shakenfake]

@Cdubu52 Unfortunately this one is the non-battery charge version. Fortunately these are the only DeWalt tools I own

As an aside I keep considering drilling a hole in the wall and running an air line to a 60-gallon air compressor outside. That way I can save space on the inside, keep heat down inside from the air compressor and would also allow me to have a 60 gallon compressor instead of my 15 gallon lol

 

[shakenfake]

Monthly update of acquirements:

• Milwaukee M18 Impact Driver - 2656-20 Free for me, someone quit and left it. Also came with a 1.0 battery.
• DeWalt 3/8s Impact Driver Socket Don't know the part number but I needed it for a job at work. Also was free
• 1970 Grand Prix Factory Service Manual Cost about $90 but got it to replace my dad's old Xerox'd copy
• 1996 Impala SS FSM That was $165, lost the old one like a doofus
• 1999 Silverado FSM $90, never had one and wanted it
• Ryobi Pressure Washer - RY1419MT, needed one to wash the mud off the cars and try to clean the deck. I don't know if this will work but it was also free. Girl's brother gave it to me in exchange to cut down limbs off his tree, which we didn't get around to doing Sunday...

Not too bad. Think I might be missing something. Currently my Impala is taking up shop space, sent it a little too hard and hurt her. Axle is out of the car and has been for over a month now. Grand Prix is up next in the lineup as we still can't get it to start. Finally my Silverado got backed into last week and that needs bumper mounts welded on.
I would like to move one of my shelves out of the shop and into my sun room. If you look in the first photo you can see it all the way in the back right corner as a table for my drill press. I have since moved both of those things, drill press sits on the metal table on the left in the first photo and that shelf has nothing on it. All it is is in the way now.

 

[shakenfake]

I never mentioned it but this was my grandfather's shop before it was mine. He passed away recently. I cannot go in it for more than 15 minutes before I just get overwhelmed. I truly have no time frame getting any of vehicles done because all of them were his at some point as well. Too hard to walk in there or do anything at all really.

Major irritant when you actually want to drive said vehicles or like idk not have them taking up your shop space 24/7.

 

[shakenfake]

Finally! I am able to get in there. Was going to work on the car but ended up with more tools. How does this happen? New acquisitions below

• Pittsburgh Rear Axle Bearing Puller Set 62960
• Maddox Bearing Race and Seal Driver Set 63261
• Craftsmen Slide Hammer Kit CCMT14140

I must say that Harbor Freight's plastic cases have improved slightly. I think some of my older cases are just black and don't say what tool is inside. Pretty sure I labeled all of them myself.

After all of that I then realized I forgot axle seals so I basically got nowhere and have to wait for them to arrive. Nice

 

[shakenfake]

Car is almost done, taking it to shop when done to make sure everything is straight. It doesn't look it but not worried about it too too much.

Picked up Lisle 24200 trans plug set because I have new u-joints to install and I hate leaking trans fluid, which I did after removing the driveshaft today so put it back in. Brain fart moment.

 

[shakenfake]

Looking for a new welder and grinder now. Tired of borrowing other people's stuff.
Today I was using an old Vulcan 170 and oh my god I could not get this thing to feed properly. It was going soooooo slow so I pulled the wire spool out and it looked like someone dropped it and it came completely undone and a 6 year old put it back together...

So now I am either looking to get the Vulcan MigMax 215 or the Titanium 170 both from HF. I highly doubt I will use the welder enough to warranty dropping the big bucks on a nice Miller or Lincoln. My buddy recommended me the Hobart 140 but at $200 more I am not so sure if it is really worth it over the Titanium 170. Any thoughts anybody?

All mig/flux core no tig or stick.

 

[shakenfake]

Bought a Milwaukee impact driver bit set 45 piece. 48-32-4023. Pretty nice, needed it mainly for the hex bits but buying those and the case cost as much as this even though I missed out on 2 bits from the hex set

 

[shakenfake]

Anybody ever use ToolGrid before? I really love the way that the holders are bolted down although can be removed for redesign of the drawers. I decided I would use this model and 3D print all the grids and holders myself. This method however will take months of printing. Fortunately I have time

This means I had to bust the 3D Printer out after leaving it in storage for over a year. I remembered why I put it away quickly though, for some reason I can never get the bed to properly level. Not sure why this occurs but I decided to purchase the CRTouch, which is built for my printer (Ender 3 Pro V2 I believe, can never remember V1 vs V2). Auto leveling is a game changer I absolutely love it. Slowly I will be filling up the toolbox with my own tool grid. Thingiverse is awesome and was able to provide me with all the STLs required to create this.

 

[shakenfake]

Absolutely destroyed a phillips headed bolt last night. Was in an excited rush and turned it into a circle. I tonight I will attempt to remove it by slotting it with a dremel cutoff wheel and using a flathead screw driver to remove it. I am really hoping that will work as I think I have screwed the pooch...

My dremel case actually broke a few years ago at the hinges meaning all the bits are strewn all over the place. I also lost my mandrel to hold the cutting wheel on. Went ahead and bought the dremel 160 piece accessory kit which comes with the mandrel as well as the EZ bit they offer now. At HD and Lowe's it was $41 but Tractor Supply had it for $25 which was the same price as the EZ bit kit alone! Good score at the perfect time.

 

[Mark_17]

You're a hot mess lmao

I like using my impact driver for loosing stubborn screws.

 

[strutaeng]

I "knew" @shakenfake from the performance truck.net forum. Last week on that forum I mentioned I needed a leak-down test and graciously offered to loan his. He was nice enough to drive to Summit Racing in Arlington to meet, which was closer for me.

We met and chatted for about an hour(?)... about cars, tools, family, life and barbacoa. It was a nice conversation.

Thanks again Brother!

 

[shakenfake]

@Mark_17 Yeah I tried the Impact first, no dice. Only 5 more hours until I can try the dremel lol
Don't judge me lol. These 14 hour work and school days are no bueno.

@strutaeng Of course man not a problem at all! I think we were bordering on 2 hours outside in the Summit parking lot lol
Glad to put a face to the name, always happy to help.

 

[shakenfake]

Was great success with the dremel removing the bolt. I started with a hand screw driver but it kept slipping. Switched to impact driver and instant out.

On another note Tractor Supply has Rotella T6 for a good price. $65 for 2.5 gallons.

Lastly I purchased Lisle 34350 Water Sensor Wrench to remove the water sensor off of my fuel filter on my LBZ Duramax. I do not have a big enough 12 point wrench and last time I almost mangled it off with pliers.

 

[shakenfake]

What is better than free? Need to fire up the pressure washer and clean it. The motor on it needs to be hooked up, all the wires are DC'd for some reason. I have no idea if it runs. I am sure it will need some sort of rebuild/refresh.

I have a 240V in my shop right now but it is in the wrong place. This will be sitting outside under a small roof, hard air line will be plumbed through the wall and run to the front and back. This means a nice trip to Home Depot soon to get the materials for this job. I will probably need to run conduit over to that side though. Over the next few days I may be able to build the structure for this to sit in.

 

[Mark_17]

If its for free, its for me. Nice score

 

[shakenfake]

I also need this to leave my space. I am really really hoping to have the car driving again by the end of the year or January at the latest. Just so I can move it to the main garage...

Also thinking about how I am going to install this air compressor. I have a bit of iron bars from some windows and was originally thinking about using them as "walls" and then putting a sloped roof of some kind to protect the motor from just getting covered in water. The compressor doesn't really need walls I don't guess, just some way to get a roof over it.

Edit: That axle is not my original Impala axle. I actually just needed one to pull the brake backing plates off of. Cost me some coin but hopefully I can sell it for what I paid for it or close to. My original axle just got finished this week at the builder. I just don't have any time to go pick it up right now.

 

[shakenfake]

Four socket holders. Free is good.
Helps organize my socket drawer just a little bit more and will be awesome for Junkyard runs.

Still 3D printing ToolGrid for my top drawer so I can have a static holder. Took a little break for the holidays, will have to get back to it soon.

 

[Xti04]

Is this what you are printing when you refer to tool grid?

 

[shakenfake]

Similar but not that one.


The one I was doing was just a nub to set the sockets on

 

[shakenfake]

New work bench. Free 99. Replaces this big wood one from PO that had two broken legs and makes it more compact. Against the wall in pic one is final resting place.

Also hung my can crusher back up. Was a gift to my granddad long ago before dementia.

 

[shakenfake]

I have acquired my hard air lines for my air system. They are aluminum lines that will use compression fittings to connect. I have a rudimentary drawing of how it will be setup. I have most of the fittings except some of the smaller ones.

• Green Triangles are hose reels. The one up front will be 25 feet and the rear will be 50 feet.
• Crimson circle is the hole in the wall that the line will be plumbed in from.
• Blue lines are air line.
• Orange box is my water filter.

I do plan on having a ball valve before the first reel and I may incorporate a second after it but that is probably overkill.


I still have yet to start on the shed that the air compressor will sit under though. I am dragging my feet because I am not real sure how to keep it from just rotting out after a year. My want is a 6'x4'x6'(or 7) to hold the air compressor and a few other tools. The front end will be open, no doors, the sides I am not sure what to use. Do I have to have siding or can I just leave treated plywood out? The ground contact 2x4s should be fine so I think all the framing will be easy to spec. The roof is just going to be corrugated metal. Does not need to be fancy just functional.
I am considering buying a prebuilt but I haven't really found anything that I like. Originally I was going to just build a 4x4 for the compressor itself but then decided add two more feet and I can store my jugs and some other things.

I will be running a 220 outlet outside as well that will be put in the shed to power the compressor. 30 amp breaker and 10-3 wire and I will run the wire overhead through the shop. The outlet will come through the brick wall and into the back of the shed so probably need some conduit run to protect the wire I would think.


Other than that the worst part is just going to be creating the holes and getting everything ran without ripping out all of my ugly *** wood paneling in my shop. Wood (see what I did there?) not upset me if I have to just swap that for better insulation and dry wall though...


Let me know what you think and if I am missing something here.

 

[Mark_17]

Did you use solidworks or autocad for that drawing? Thanks in advance