Above 1200 Sq/FT Restored 1930's Auto Shop

[reone98]

Thomas,
i don't know if you are interested or not but here's a link to some rotary lift parts that will probably fit your lift.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...933744&viewitem=&sspagename=ADME:B:SS:US:1123

 

[hobbitss]

....and just for Dug.......

......more tools.........


Thomas

Tools!!!! Lots and Lots of Tools!!!!!

I see Hammers, Bolt cutters, Pipe Wrench, Torch igniters, Pliers or Channel locks, Wood auger, Putty knife, Some sort of ratchet, Fans, Cams, Exhaust manifold(s), a Shackle, a lug wrench, maybe a Scissor Jack or spring compressor, looks like rusty vise grips and maybe a rusty wrench underneath... Some home made tool handles, Tire Irons... Is that a commercial extension for filling truck tires just under the Bolt Cutters????

I love tools.... Thank you!!!!

More please...

 

[Jeremy W]

I just spent the last 3 hours reading your thread from the beginning. I couldn't stop reading, had to see what was next. all I can say is wow, very interesting stuff. I would love to dig through that building from the begining with you. keep the pictures coming of all the stuff in the buildings. Also what about getting pictures of the 57 chevy that the one johnson still has? would love to check it out too.

 

[ZRX61]

Not so sure those wheels are Mag.... when Mag corrodes it keeps going (dip a Bonanza in the ocean for 24 hours & see how much is left) unlike Al that only goes so deep then basically stops... & old Mag turns graphite gray...

 

[markviii]

Jeremy W - you are a speed reader! Now do you have the ability to retain all that info for the post-test that will be coming someday in the future? You're up against some stiff competition. Thanks for staying at it and posting in.

Chris

 

[Jeremy W]

73 pages..........I'm still blind.............and no my memory is horrible so I could only pull a D- on the test. Very interesting, takes me back to when I was a kid in a small town with similar garages in business. sadly they are all gone. I'm in southern Indiana, Evansville area, would love to bring the wife on a road trip and take a look at the place sometime. By the way Nice Impalas!!! my dad had a 63 when I was a kid, I loved that car, 283 with a 4 speed, originally 3 on the tree I think..always thought about finding a decent body and building one.

 

[markviii]

Jeremy W,
Plenty of time to review. The mind sharpens on the second reading! We'll try to make it a multiple choice to level the playing field. (We went to a car show in Evansville some years ago. Evansville is a lovely part of Indiana. PM Tom if you're going to be in the area. We enjoy visitors.)

Chris

 

[BB767]

Thomas,
i don't know if you are interested or not but here's a link to some rotary lift parts that will probably fit your lift.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...933744&viewitem=&sspagename=ADME:B:SS:US:1123

reone98, thank you bringing that to my attention. After reading that they also have the old drive on ramps I'm pretty sure that it would fit my lift if I were to do so. Since I also have a 2 post asymmetric lift with arms like that I don't feel I would need this one, but again my thanks. Note that the in ground cylinder has been cemented over and they suggest the old ramps would make a swell trailer. The fate of all to many of these lifts over the years I'm afraid.

Thomas

 

[BB767]

I just spent the last 3 hours reading your thread from the beginning. I couldn't stop reading, had to see what was next. all I can say is wow, very interesting stuff. I would love to dig through that building from the begining with you. keep the pictures coming of all the stuff in the buildings. Also what about getting pictures of the 57 chevy that the one johnson still has? would love to check it out too.

Jeremy welcome. It would be fun to go back from the beginning wouldn't it. With better lighting I could do a much better job of documenting everything since I would know that all you guys wanted to see that "stuff" from day one. Who knew at the time though. Getting pictures of that 57 Chevy is in the works. Check back.

Thomas

 

[BB767]

Not so sure those wheels are Mag.... when Mag corrodes it keeps going (dip a Bonanza in the ocean for 24 hours & see how much is left) unlike Al that only goes so deep then basically stops... & old Mag turns graphite gray...

ZRX61 you have had far more experience working with old magnesium than I so I will defer to your judgment here. I had an old hand from the 50's hot rod era with 40 + years Bonneville Speed Weeks participation look at them and he guessed magnesium but wasn't sure. What might be the best way to clean them up for display?

Thomas

 

[BB767]

73 pages..........I'm still blind.............and no my memory is horrible so I could only pull a D- on the test. Very interesting, takes me back to when I was a kid in a small town with similar garages in business. sadly they are all gone. I'm in southern Indiana, Evansville area, would love to bring the wife on a road trip and take a look at the place sometime. By the way Nice Impalas!!! my dad had a 63 when I was a kid, I loved that car, 283 with a 4 speed, originally 3 on the tree I think..always thought about finding a decent body and building one.

If you like early Impalas here are a few more of them...

I bet the old lift has had it's share of old Impala's on it. I somehow find myself with 3 '64's and 1 '62 but no '63's. I should get a group picture of them at the shop. Flashing back to the "good old days"

Thomas

 

[Motown 454]

I like the 62 best. That and 61's are my favorites

 

[small_e_900]

It appears that you have some VERY early Halibrand wheels.
http://www.streetrodderweb.com/tech/1008sr_halibrand_engineering_wheels/index.html

Be sure to read the caption attached to this picture.

Judging by the prices of early Halibrand wheels, they're not made of aluminum or magnesium, they're made from gold. (They're magnesium.)


More gold from a pile of junk. Good eye.

 

[JC23]

Thomas,

Any of your Chevys have W motors? And, if so, what kind?

Still digging your maxi-thread.

 

[Jeremy W]

Impalas are sweet! I have a 68 RS camaro with 48000 original miles I bought from the original owner. his son got hit in the front end and they were sick, said the car could never be fixed rite. I bought it and it is almost ready for paint. I worked in body shops for years so I can fix it rite. Keep the thread alive I love the old gear head stuff!

 

[drmoonshine]

Major Props to you for restoring this great building and giving it an updated look. Congrats on the new shop.

 

[ZRX61]

ZRX61 you have had far more experience working with old magnesium than I so I will defer to your judgment here. I had an old hand from the 50's hot rod era with 40 + years Bonneville Speed Weeks participation look at them and he guessed magnesium but wasn't sure. What might be the best way to clean them up for display?

Thomas

Looks like they may well be Mag. Just beadblast em & have them dow-7 or dow 9 coated (I forget which).

Edit, Dow 9 is the ******. Here ya go:
http://www.saporitofinishing.com/processes/magnesium-aluminum

 

[Kiwi Kev]

I believe those wheels are aluminum 16" rims that came stock on some kind of trailer back in the 40's(?). I have seen them on hot rods before. They are early Ford bolt pattern,5 1/2". You will never see a magnesium racing wheel that took a hub cap. They are not common and very cool!

 

[hoopty388]

this pic really messed with me.

Why does that maroon mitsibishi- type thing(sorry not good at guessing those types of cars) have a bubble- post winsheild?

 

[Motown 454]

It must be a reflection. I hope. lol

 

[hoopty388]

It must be a reflection. I hope. lol

it's a hybrid

best part of one car, best part of another. we build pickup trucks around here the same way. lol

 

[markviii]

Motown 454 is correct, hoopty388. That's a Mitsubishi Eclipse 1999 - unmodified GSX all-wheel drive - built in Normal, IL. It's Tom's commuter car. We just wish he could get another just like it with low miles. They don't make the all-wheel drive any more.

Chris

 

[hobbitss]

this pic really messed with me.

Why does that maroon mitsibishi- type thing(sorry not good at guessing those types of cars) have a bubble- post winsheild?

That is mirror glass in the window frame... You are seeing the windshield reflection from the Impala...

 

[hoopty388]

yeah it was meant as a joke

 

[BB767]

I like the 62 best. That and 61's are my favorites

Wayne, you have good taste!

Thomas

 

[BB767]

That is mirror glass in the window frame... You are seeing the windshield reflection from the Impala...

Here's the view of the other side of that photograph, er I mean wall......

That's my ride to ORD, all wheel drive GSX. It was winter when this was taken so, snow tires and steel rims. Normally it has........

.....much better tires and rims. Chris is mostly correct about the Eclipse being made 60 miles from us in Normal IL, but it's my understanding all the GSX's were "Made In Japan"

Thomas

 

[BB767]

Thomas,

Any of your Chevys have W motors? And, if so, what kind?

Still digging your maxi-thread.

All are 327 powered.

The 2 satin silver 64's were made within 2 weeks of each other and are 327/300 HP 4 speed cars.

This one has factory air, p/s/b while the drag car is manual everything and radio delete.


the black '64 is a 327/300 power glide car and the '62 has......

...... a 327/250 power glide,p/s/b and with 32,000 miles, mostly original. I still need to correct some older incorrect items such as heater hoses, all clamps, brake master cylinder etc and clean it up, but leave it unrestored. These pictures were taken just after I got it.


Thomas

 

[BB767]

From out the blue I received an email from a friend who attached 8 photographs he took of the shop in December 2000, which was 5 years before I purchased the property. Nice to have friends like that isn't it? Here are a couple of them.

He took the pictures in winter because at other times the weeds and bushes blocked a large part of the building from view. I was surprised at how much more overgrown it was 5 years later when I bought it and how much more the wooden parts of the building had deteriorated. It seems I bought it right on the "cusp" of no return.

This is essentially the same view from 2008, 8 years later. This picture was taken a little further away so the shop appears smaller than the first image, but it's the same dimensions.

From a slightly different angle. "Private Property, Keep Out" sign in the center of the lift room overhead door window.

On the far right is one of two jigs for making metal spiral stairways. One for clockwise stairs and the other for............wait for it............anti clockwise stairs.

Here's a better look at the jig. The second jig can just be seen on the left. In the background is the road so you can see how hidden the shop was. The bush engulfing the jig is honeysuckle which took over the whole property. A nasty and very invasive plant.

A close up of the jig, the shop is to the right almost out of frame. The birds love the honeysuckle berries, poop out the seeds and presto, there are voluntary bushes growing everywhere! I removed hundreds of these bushes over the 5 acres, and I'm not exaggerating, hundreds!.

I'll get the other pictures posted very soon, no time now. My race schedule calls.

Thomas

 

[JC23]

Thomas,

Man, that is one clean 327! Thanks!

 

[Nuts]

Ok here's where I might need some help identifying a pair of magnesium wheels from the lean to. I'm pretty sure they aren't aluminum, but magnesium. One of them still has a pie crust racing slick on it.

There is no manufacture's name anywhere after a quick look.

I forgot to write down the manufactures name from the tire and it's size, but it was a major brand as I recall, maybe Uni Royal.

Back side..........

......front side. 5 lugs and notice a hub cap attaches to the center. Never seen a mag like that, have any of you?

....and just for Dug.......

......more tools.........


Thomas

Not sure if I'm the right Doug, but I wanna dig in that tool box badly.
I need to take pics of my old tool bins someday.

Now if you have calves on the farm, that little dohicky to the left of the old stillson wrench, should keep junior from suckling on momma till he's weaned. LOL

Nuts aka Doug

 

[Elroy]

Those wheels look like they're off a trailer (some people call them "drags")

 

[JC23]

Thomas,

Great as usual. Did you ever post what your fave room was and why?

 

[rlkillion]

About the GSX I worked at Diamond Star Motors and then Mitsubishi from 1989 to 1999. I don't believe any Eclipses were made in Japan. Some of our Galants were imported but not the Eclipse. Double checked with 2 buddies that started there before me and stayed after and they thought the same thing. The Eclipse(and its Chrylser counterparts Laser and Talon) was the one exclusive made in Normal car. Only thing we came up with is that some parts were Japan manufactured and only went in certain models...GSX I believe had both the performance Mitusbishi Motor and Transmission where as some of the lower models had chrysler engines and or transmissons manufactured in Mexico. Been a long time so I can't rememeber all the variations and unique parts for what cars so but I do remember having a GSX hardmark off of a scrap bumper on my hardhat so I know we made the bumper cover, painted them, mounted them on the cars,and put the decals on!

 

[willy3486]

This post is one of the main reasons this is on my top 3 sites on the web I go to. I believe I am addicted to it now. Anyway I know how you feel in a way. My parents had about 15 acres. Before my dad died I told my wife when he did I would be the one to clean it up. My BIL is of no use to humanity to put it nicely. Anyway after he did it was exactly as I had thought. My mom sold all but 6 acres to a neighbor. I was laid off at the time so I started cleaning it up. He had a 100x100 foot barn. He did a lot of lumber cutting in it. One area I had to clean out by hand and it was 4-6 feet thick of scrap wood. It had ot be done by hand. My mom said she wanted it all cleaned up and thrown away. She said get whatever I wanted that was junk. I sold what I could.

I did get a saw,few drills, tools and lots of metal. I worked a good three months and had to look for work since I ran out of money. I was glad too because I found out the money I was making for her she handed over to my sister who wouldn't lift a finger for anyone. Then a few years ago my FIL got sick and couldn't keep the place up. We live next to them. He passed away and now the state is going to get moost of the buildings they had. So now I am cleaning up another place for free. But thats fine I have been finding some interesting stuff. And I like to clean. I have worked the last year around the place and I have cleaned probably about 2 acres of vines,brush and junk hidden in that. Most of that was by hand using brush trimmer and chainsaw. I have it to where I can drive around the place now. I have moved on to cleaning up the stuff stacked up outside.

I have moved a few loads of metal to behind my shop. Nothing like what you have but I have filled up a old truck bed I use for small scrap. But its all worth it. I have got a lot of old stuff and a lot of metal to make stuff. So my point of this for everyone is this. Look over the pictures and stuff and get an idea of all the hard work required to do such an undertaking. Now ask yourself if something happens to you do you want to leave this stuff everywhere for you family or someone else to worry about what to do with it? I got to thinking about that a lot after my dad died. I use to save everything but due to that wake up call so to speak I now actually throw stuff away. I am trying ot get my stuff in a better order too. So that way if something happens to me it would be easier for my wife and child to get rid of stuff. I really have enjoyed the posts here. I love looking at old stuff like this. I hope to be done with the inlaws place in the next year and when that happens I can finally clean my workshop good. Might as well I have been doing it for others. I hope I can get mine nice like yours, I doubt I will get close but its a goal . Thanks for the interesting story.

 

[rustyfords]

willy3486....that's an interesting take on things, and I can see your point.

My FIL is a great guy....the very best....however his place has an old barn and two other outbuildings that are just crammed literally thousands of old automotive and woodworking tools, car parts, misc. engines, electric motors, and countless other things too long to list here. Additionally, there are a few cars, including an old 442, that have been sitting out in the weather for decades, and this is just the start. My wife's grandfather passed away in the early 90's and my FIL transferred all of that stuff to these barns as well, and has since buried that material under several layers of his own stuff.

The guy never, ever, under any circumstance, throws anything away and his place is starting to look like the shop in this thread used to.

My wife only has sisters and the two other husbands could absolutely care less about not only all of this "stuff", but my my in-laws themselves.

So....when that eventful day finally comes, I will be the one who "gets to" clean this stuff up.

There are some really choice things back in there, like my wife's grandad's massive Craftsman tool collection from around WW2 and some antique woodworking tools that would make some people salivate, but to be perfectly honest, I am dreading the whole thing when it comes, because I know it will probably consume a year of my life and in the end there won't be a really cool, old historic shop to save....just a crummy old barn that is so badly termite ridden that it needs to be knocked down just for safety reasons.

 

[willy3486]

My wife only has sisters and the two other husbands could absolutely care less about not only all of this "stuff", but my my in-laws themselves.

So....when that eventful day finally comes, I will be the one who "gets to" clean this stuff up.

There are some really choice things back in there, like my wife's grandad's massive Craftsman tool collection from around WW2 and some antique woodworking tools that would make some people salivate, but to be perfectly honest, I am dreading the whole thing when it comes, because I know it will probably consume a year of my life and in the end there won't be a really cool, old historic shop to save....just a crummy old barn that is so badly termite ridden that it needs to be knocked down just for safety reasons.

That pretty well sums up what I have had to deal with as far as family goes. I only have a sister but thats too much. They are the laziest people I have ever been around. My parents have footed the bill for them and my mom still does. I was doing all the work to clean up the place and they did nothing. I found out instead of putting the money I made for her in the bank for a rainy day she was giving it to them. So I quit doing it. She got someone else to finish it for a old truck my dad had but then wanted the truck back when the brother in law wanted the truck. Today they won't have much to do with me, I don't keep them up so I am useless to them. Now I am cleaning up my inlaws place. The BIL is not bad but does not help. He is too busy with other stuff so its all on us.

But thats fine for me. I enjoy finding all the old stuff. I am into old tools and I enjoy unearthing something new. I probably would be one of those going crazy over the old woodworking tools. If you are into woodworking keep them and restore them. My tools are older stuff and I have even got rid of newer stuff for older stuff. I have spent probably 2-3 years in total of spare time cleaning up for our parents. I have also tore down old buildings for the lumber and also to help out the elderly people who had them. But it is really nice to find stuff you can use. So when that time comes look at it as an adventure not as a dread. You will really enjoy it if you do. I am currently weeding out my junk I have to make room for some of the new stuff I am finding. I wouldd love to find some old shed to tear down for someone that I could keep the junk in it for myself.

 

[hobbitss]

That pretty well sums up what I have had to deal with as far as family goes. I only have a sister but thats too much. They are the laziest people I have ever been around. My parents have footed the bill for them and my mom still does. I was doing all the work to clean up the place and they did nothing. I found out instead of putting the money I made for her in the bank for a rainy day she was giving it to them. So I quit doing it. She got someone else to finish it for a old truck my dad had but then wanted the truck back when the brother in law wanted the truck. Today they won't have much to do with me, I don't keep them up so I am useless to them. Now I am cleaning up my inlaws place. The BIL is not bad but does not help. He is too busy with other stuff so its all on us.

But thats fine for me. I enjoy finding all the old stuff. I am into old tools and I enjoy unearthing something new. I probably would be one of those going crazy over the old woodworking tools. If you are into woodworking keep them and restore them. My tools are older stuff and I have even got rid of newer stuff for older stuff. I have spent probably 2-3 years in total of spare time cleaning up for our parents. I have also tore down old buildings for the lumber and also to help out the elderly people who had them. But it is really nice to find stuff you can use. So when that time comes look at it as an adventure not as a dread. You will really enjoy it if you do. I am currently weeding out my junk I have to make room for some of the new stuff I am finding. I wouldd love to find some old shed to tear down for someone that I could keep the junk in it for myself.

2 Words...

Shipping Container...

I'm looking for one to store all of the yard tools in so that I can actually walk around the cars in the garage... I will also build racks to store lumber rather than leaving it out in the weather until I can use it...
Maybe it will have enough room for winter storage of the old summer fun car....

 

[hobbitss]

All are 327 powered.

The 2 satin silver 64's were made within 2 weeks of each other and are 327/300 HP 4 speed cars.

This one has factory air, p/s/b while the drag car is manual everything and radio delete.


the black '64 is a 327/300 power glide car and the '62 has......

...... a 327/250 power glide,p/s/b and with 32,000 miles, mostly original. I still need to correct some older incorrect items such as heater hoses, all clamps, brake master cylinder etc and clean it up, but leave it unrestored. These pictures were taken just after I got it.


Thomas

When I was a kid, we had a Dark Green 66 Impala Wagon w/327 & 4 Barrel Carb, Auto Trans purchased new in late 65... That car would get up and go, I called it the rocket ship...
Somewhere in the Carolinas On a trip to Florida from New England my father moved into the suicide lane on old RT 1 to pass a slow moving car... At the far end of the straight a car coming the other way did the same thing so dad floored it and with a muted roar the Rocket Ship took off... From the front seat we heard "It has a Passing Gear!" I managed to get a peek at the speedo and we were already doing 85...After that anytime Dad took Mom's car for a ride we went along, he used to clear out the carbon about once a month...
While living in Connecticut the Rocket Ship had registration plates that started with a "PL"... It was not uncommon to have a car pull over when we approach during Carbon Cleaning mode and occasionally even when Mom was driving... The car was magic...

I miss the Rocket Ship....

 

[leenco12]

Nice rebuild !! The before and after pic are great.

Absolutely, totally awesome...one of the coolest garages on GJ. Nice job on the restoration!

 

[Tazfink]

All are 327 powered.

The 2 satin silver 64's were made within 2 weeks of each other and are 327/300 HP 4 speed cars.

This one has factory air, p/s/b while the drag car is manual everything and radio delete.


the black '64 is a 327/300 power glide car and the '62 has......

...... a 327/250 power glide,p/s/b and with 32,000 miles, mostly original. I still need to correct some older incorrect items such as heater hoses, all clamps, brake master cylinder etc and clean it up, but leave it unrestored. These pictures were taken just after I got it.


Thomas

Beautiful.....

Just beautiful...