What did you do "IN" your garage today?

[tarmy]

@tarmy, our 1962 Rambler Classic 400 wagon came with an aluminum block and cast iron overhead valve cylinder head. It was one of the first cars to come with a dual-circuit master cylinder. My father appreciated that feature because we lost the brakes on our 1953 Oldsmobile 98 on the Alaska (ALCAN) highway coming down a mountain. Fortunately the 15-foot travel trailer had electric brakes so we made in the 105 miles to the next gas station. Mechanic fixed the severed brake line in under an hour -- not his first rodeo.

Your response brings back memories long buried in my brain.

We took a 57’ Fairlane with a 15‘ travel trailer up the Alcan as well (Three times!). We were in Dawson Creek for a few days rigging up a rock shield of chicken wire and pipe to try to save the windshield and trailer front back when that was all gravel. As you note…things like hot food and gas stations were far apart and few.

 

[16again]

Replaced the hood latch assembly and windshield wipers on my 2016 Camry. Tried to figure out how to get the maps/navigation to actually work. I'm just not smart enough.

 

[cannuck]

I remember some of the buicks had an aluminum v6, they were junk.

They were as Wrench pointed out a V8 that was as far from "junk" as an engine could be. GM did not have the experience in aluminum casting and suffered too high a reject rate, so sold the design and tooling to Rover - and that engine became the "SBC" of the UK and one of the greatest engines around. The GM (i.e. BOP) design had 2 cylinders cut off and became the 3.8 90 degree V6 that was arguably the best engine ever produced by GM (in terms of reliability, durability and flexibility of use). BTW; some of the later/better 3.8 front parts are used to update 215s by directly bolting in place.

I may be a die hard VW guy, but I have a 215 with 300 heads (oh - the 215 was sold but also became an iron block V8) patiently awaiting to get into my MGB.

 

[KwikFab]

Beautiful weather had me motivated, so knocked out 6 sets



Calling it a day, so I'll weld the nuts tomorrow and they'll be done.

Also got myself a tool yesterday, little small something after spending several hundred on upgrading the kids seat and stroller



The baby seat I sold within half hour, it was never used. And the Doona on the far right was stupidly convenient...had me spoiled as hell.



But, kids grow and my lil dude is getting older (close to 2)

 

[no704]

Worked on the ramps I built a few months ago for oil changes. While they have been very useful - the usual scenario is that I'm guiding them on while my wife or one of the kids are driving. It can be tricky to get up them without going over - to their credit they have not overshot them yet - but better safe than sorry. So I'm trying to make them easier to climb and harder to overshoot.
Took the belt sander to the bottom board - gave it more of a curve rather than a 45. Will hit the upper board also but the rain moved in so not today. To help with the second step I wanted to add another 3/4" step so it would be easier to roll up. Problem is I have 4 different cars with wildly different tire sizes so I wasn't sure where it needed to start. Also, I like the fact that currently the ramps nestle together so they are only 6 inches thick and no longer than one ramp. Adding an interim step was going to kill that. So I decided to make it removable and adjustable. I plan to add an adjustable and removable backstop as well. The adjustable part probably won't really matter in the end but it wasn't that much more work since they are removable - just a few extra holes to drill.

Add another chunk of wood at the top end for a wheel stop.

 

[niget2002]

Used a few clamps and made a box.

 

[Outlawmws]

My Dad had the 1960 Rambler "Rebel" Wagon - V8 and push button auto. My mom learned to drive in it, then had to learn a Simca stick shift...

I never did like that wagon as the seats ahd clear plastic covers to protect the upholstery, adn in the sun it would get so hot you could not sit on it.

 

[jumpstart]

Rebuilt the carbs on the car. Looks like the fuel absorbed some water. Been sitting for a bit but.....

 

[rcktpwrd]

Some work on Christmas display stuff, deer and a sleigh got some PVC pipe feet.

A few years ago we picked up some surplus drainage pipe and I cut it into approximately foot long sections.


Then I split them in half to attach to the deer



I have a bunch of toggle bolts and used them to secure the new feet to the deer, sometime I use zipties, just depends what is handy


This gives the deer a much more stable base and also a nice place to use ground anchors as well, it also gets the metal deer off the ground to help reduce GFCI trips.

 

[ogdawg]

Worked on adding more framing and slatwall. Trying to get everything in place as most storage and workbench plans will be against the wall.
Also hauled a bunch of I joists up the driveway for framing the floor of the upstairs office. Were on sale from Home Depot for 75% off so went ahead and bought them ahead of schedule.

 

[DGersic]

Spent the day on yard cleanup. Overall, my new handle works well and I’m happy with it. But, of course, there’s a problem. The left side brace is interfering with the fabric over the bag air exit, reducing airflow, so it doesn’t “****” as much as it should.



I’m debating how to fix this. Probably I’ll remove or at least cut down the fabric cover. That’ll make the thing blow more dust out, but it already blows out enough dust to require a respirator and goggles, so I don’t think more is going to be really any worse.

 

[ClutchXT]

I’m not sure about extended warranty on the frame in the US but here in Canada there is good warranty on the frames. Check with your dealership , it couldn’t hurt.

It's an 08 with +200k miles, so I need to check with the dealer but even with the warranty extension they did I'm betting I'm SoL.

 

[Old Man Roger]

Buick 215ci v8 introduced in 1961 ran til 63 in Buick, Pontiac and Olds(Skylark, Tempest, F85) GM later sold the tooling and design to Rover...................

They were as Wrench pointed out a V8 that was as far from "junk" as an engine could be. GM did not have the experience in aluminum casting and suffered too high a reject rate, so sold the design and tooling to Rover - and that engine became the "SBC" of the UK and one of the greatest engines around. The GM (i.e. BOP) design had 2 cylinders cut off and became the 3.8 90 degree V6 that was arguably the best engine ever produced by GM (in terms of reliability, durability and flexibility of use). BTW; some of the later/better 3.8 front parts are used to update 215s by directly bolting in place.

I may be a die hard VW guy, but I have a 215 with 300 heads (oh - the 215 was sold but also became an iron block V8) patiently awaiting to get into my MGB.

Could have sworn there was an aluminum v6 that had overheating issues?

 

[Wrench97]

I think it was the 215 that had the over heat issues, the early odd fire v6 was all cast iron.

Edit

The 215 had corrosion issues due the general trend back then of mixing A/Freeze with tap water or straight tap water which caused accelerated corrosion in the block.

 

[kaymccampbell]

Gathered tools. Ran the compressor. Dropped tools on the bench. Turned the compressor off.

 

[Old Man Roger]

I think it was the 215 that had the over heat issues, the early odd fire v6 was all cast iron.

The memory is the first to go.

 

[Outlawmws]

The memory is the first to go.

Actually the second...

 

[Old Man Roger]

Actually the second...

I must have forgot what the first is.lol

 

[rcktpwrd]

Had an idea on how to hold up our new mini tree wire frames, so I went out to the garage and whipped this up. Drilled a 5/16 hole through the pipes to let the legs slide through both pieces and a couple spring clamps to test it out.




If it doesn't work in the yard, it will at least make wrapping the lights a bit easier...

 

[niget2002]

Gathered tools. Ran the compressor. Dropped tools on the bench. Turned the compressor off.

I'm glad you said something. I forgot to turn mine off

 

[GarageHobbyist]

Finished my first “real” leather product, a gift for my Mother-in-law’s birthday. Before this I made a real crappy wallet for myself and a sand bag for the garage.

Turned out ok.

 

[kbeefy]

Used a few clamps and made a box.

I was wondering why I couldn't find any clamps....

 

[kbeefy]

More work on campervan...

Finished the lift on the front



On to the back. Good god these springs are heavy... I have lost alot of strength in the past 20 years



I may have hurt myself a little with the first one. I worked smarter on the second one and suffered no additional damage.



Just took this picture because I might not ever see these shocks again...

 

[niget2002]

I was wondering why I couldn't find any clamps....

There's 4 more in the bucket.

 

[phred]

Finished up the fuel can rack and swing out arm. Now just paint remains.

 

[GrayFlattop]

Took apart the heat exchanger from the old boiler to see if there was much metal to take to the scrap yard. I thought there was about 120# of 304 stainless, but it ended up around 70# of SS, a few pounds of insulation and about 45# of copper & bronze. I need to pull together the rest of the copper scrap I have so I can shop two of the local scrap yards for the best price.

Put a new battery in the Sienna - 38 out this morning and that was enough to kill it. 4 years old - it was time.

 

[Metallitubby]

Rolled the fenders on the hillclimb Civic, rebuilt a set of front knuckles/hubs with extended studs, bearings, and roll-center ball joints. Tomorrow, I'm gonna work on the brake ducting and start on the fire system.

 

[rharman]

Gathered tools. Ran the compressor. Dropped tools on the bench. Turned the compressor off.

I'm glad you said something. I forgot to turn mine off

I have a paddle switch with an integrated outlet for mine at about head height on the wall next to the man door. Still easy to forget. Sitting on my bench right now is a lighted plug to install on the existing cord to the compressor. That should help remind me.

 

[Old Man Roger]

Rolled the fenders on the hillclimb Civic, rebuilt a set of front knuckles/hubs with extended studs, bearings, and roll-center ball joints. Tomorrow, I'm gonna work on the brake ducting and start on the fire system.

Tuff job you got there, being forced to play with race cars.lol

 

[Metallitubby]

Tuff job you got there, being forced to play with race cars.lol

Could be worse. I could be forced to sit and watch grown men in tights piling onto each other for an oblong pigskin.

 

[niget2002]

I have a paddle switch with an integrated outlet for mine at about head height on the wall next to the man door. Still easy to forget. Sitting on my bench right now is a lighted plug to install on the existing cord to the compressor. That should help remind me.

My plan is to get a pool pump timer. Set it to always turn off at 10pm. So if I forget, it will turn itself off.

 

[GarageDan]

Went through a rather extensive hoard of paint looking for the colors to do some home repairs. Opened all the cans and painted samples of drywall. Turns out that none of them are what I needed! Isn't that always the way it is?

 

[Bob Heine]

Your response brings back memories long buried in my brain.

We took a 57’ Fairlane with a 15‘ travel trailer up the Alcan as well (Three times!). We were in Dawson Creek for a few days rigging up a rock shield of chicken wire and pipe to try to save the windshield and trailer front back when that was all gravel. As you note…things like hot food and gas stations were far apart and few.

@tarmy, we started out with a bug/pebble screen and after losing a headlight to a rock dad put plastic bubbles over the headlights. This photo of a stop early on the trip shows gumbo mud sticking to our feet. For the next hour or so we dug the mud out of the trailer's wheel wells. When the trailer started fishtailing we thought it was trailer brake failure. We made about four stops that day to clear the wheel wells. The buildup on the Olds was bad but didn't fill the wheel wells enough to stop the tires from turning.

On the way home we stopped in Dawson Creek for a week to replace the hydraulic lifters in the Rocket V8. The job took a half day but the parts delivery truck from Seattle took about four days. We set up camp in the repair shop parking lot (no water or electric but four scissor jacks kept the trailer nice and level).

 

[Bob Heine]

I may be a die hard VW guy, but I have a 215 with 300 heads (oh - the 215 was sold but also became an iron block V8) patiently awaiting to get into my MGB.

@cannuck, if I had come across one of those aluminum V8s in the early 80s my Fiat X1/9 would have had one in that engine compartment behind my ****.

 

[ATC]

Started on my gin pole project.
3/8” 2x6 tube, beveled the edge and cranked up the Miller 180. Laid a good root pass then two caps. I still have to make gussets for it and put the hook on the end. It’s 8’ long.

And yes, that’s my welding area

 

[PhantomEB]

I've never seen chainsaws hanging for storage. Are they drained of fluids? I'd be worried about leaks.

If any, they are small leaks.

been cleaning the rest up so my time off for recovery will actually be spent working on projects such as the bronco.

wanted my main bench to be clean for diagrams etc not to mention any honey dos or small projects from the house come about on there.


Put the tables out from my cargo trailer into the garage to place all my parts on to. I intend to pick a part up and not put it back. It must go on to the bronco that day.


The table saw got brought over from my moms garage as I trying to get it clean to shut my sister up about anything on the floor over there. All that’s left is bronco doors and a hood. Wood will be stockpiled as I got a few projects in the works for the front of the house which will really update the curb appeal.

 

[TurnipTruck]

Today, I am recovering from plowing/shoveling/blowing the 10”of mashed potato consistency inaugural snow dump we just got.

As a change of pace, I started assessing some of my new-to-me Unimog parts. This particular twisted front bumper is part of the Schmidt European implement connection system for snowplows primarily, but snowblowers/augers/pumps/manlifts/dozer blades/etc, too.
This one was pretty badly bent, squeezed and twisted, probably from a heavy chain yank getting the Mog unstuck years ago. I got it a little cheaper because of the damage to mostly use as a pattern to fabricate a good one, but if I can save it, great!

Part number Five is the part in question:



Flattening the webs to try to straighten:





This twist will need bigger tools than I have here.I plan to take it to work and chuck it into a bolted-down 500-lb vise and see if a 48” pipe wrench hung from the overhead 50-ton crane will do something. Hopefully I can do it cold, or a weedburner at most.

 

[Mike65]

I installed the gas tank in my 69 Mustang & installed the hose from the fuel line to the fuel sender in the tank. Temp. installed the fuel filler pipe, hose from the pipe to the tank & fuel cap to keep anything from getting into the tank.

 

[kaymccampbell]

I have a paddle switch with an integrated outlet for mine at about head height on the wall next to the man door. Still easy to forget. Sitting on my bench right now is a lighted plug to install on the existing cord to the compressor. That should help remind me.

Wish it were that easy for mine. The best I could do was stick a big single breaker at eye level in the hall between the two shops. And sometimes my eyes just dance by it.

However, thinking about your lighted plug have me an idea to have some coil driven devices that would only show their presence when the different machines were energized. Then I could present a status board right near the shop doors. Lots to think about.

 

[Dixie_Flatline]

I built myself a simple workbench, then was able to use my miter saw on an appropriate surface for the first time! Feel free to laugh, but that one thing almost made my entire day. Been squatting down cutting on the floor, or using a tailgate, or some wobbly surface laid atop sawhorses for so long that it was like using the machine again for the first time. The second project was to build a stand for my benchtop drill press, so it is not taking up space on the friggin bench like it has been. I have had this piece of Ikea table top tucked away in the corner for a long time, now its serving a higher purpose and is no longer cluttering up the place. I will probably add to my box of wood scraps today and have myself a fire this evening. This is just part of a long overdue cleanup and organization of my shed, the progress I make on it each day just doesn't feel like enough, but I am sure eventually I will reach the finish line and it will all have been worth it!