What did you do "IN" your garage today?

[FLHCHAZ]

Yesterday..

Finally got all the parts in to continue the mini restoration of my Sliverado. Upper and lower control arms with ball joints, strut, wheel bearings and brake pads.

Turmed this:
Into this:


Now to find the time to do the other side.

 

[Outlawmws]

I try to start mine every couple months, that usually turns into six months. I do put stabil in my fuel, never run ethanol free as it is too much hassle to find it around here. So far it has started up easily every time. Which reminds me I need to run it. I added Stabil after I loaned it to my inlaws after our big windstorm and havent run the treated fuel into carb yet. It is also due for an oil change. Added to my to-do list.

Question for you that are testing once a month or six - are you "testing under load"? if not, I'd suggest doing that. Sometimes the engine runs fine, and the actual generator can have an issue, or the transfer switch if used.

 

[Old Man Roger]

Question for you that are testing once a month or six - are you "testing under load"? if not, I'd suggest doing that. Sometimes the engine runs fine, and the actual generator can have an issue, or the transfer switch if used.

Sure, give them something else to worry about.lol

 

[zmotorsports]

Knocked out a zip-tie holder over the weekend.





A lot more pictures of the process over on my Shop Projects 2.0 thread.

 

[Jay__Dub]

Any time I think I'm getting things organized, I'll come back and look at this. ^^^^ Well done.

 

[M.Brane]

Dig the magnets.

 

[PhantomEB]

Took an idea from @zmotorsports, between call outs yesterday……

went thru my old wiring harness rats nest…..cleaned out all the good long runs of various colors and guage wire.

 

[jblnut]

Too cold to be outside (-16f) so I decided to setup the all season patio equipment in the shop

 

[phred]

Out with the chinesium aluminum & plastic radiator and in with a USA made brass and copper. That piece of **** leaked from the day I installed it.

 

[GreenIron]

Actually, yesterday.
Replaced the low-beam headlight bulbs on my truck.

 

[Dixie_Flatline]

Stared at the new headliner I installed in the Beetle, and the great wet spot after the wife ran it through the car wash. I am going to have to take the whole stinking thing apart again, because its leaking still. Only problem is, I know where its not leaking, which just leaves me to deal with a lot of plastic roof as a potential source.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Not a damn thing and it's been kind of like this the whole month.

I worked Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs last week.

This week, yesterday (Sunday) today (Monday) and tomorrow. Probably still be here on Wednesday and then Thursday is my shift again. All 24 hour shifts. 4 Days straight last week and probably 5 days this week.

Money is nice but getting anything done is near impossible.

 

[jblnut]

The kiddos wandered up to the shop and convinced me that making smores was a great idea. I told them we’d first have to make poker sticks as the actual ones were nestled away in the camper. I gave them each a piece of 1/8” 316SS rod and told them to clean them up.


Out came the mallows, chocolate and graham crackers.


They weren’t wrong. This hit the spot !!

 

[kaymccampbell]

Dumped some broken **** on the bench.

 

[Ultradog MN]

Moved the outside potted plants from the patio area into the shop and set a small heater nearby in preparation of the freezing temps during the next few days.
It's very seldom we have temps down below 32°F down here.

Gulf of...
Love it.
High of -7 here today.

 

[Indexmill]

Out with the chinesium aluminum & plastic radiator and in with a USA made brass and copper. That piece of **** leaked from the day I installed it.

Hi,

Where do you buy a real brass radiator these days?

 

[ed_]

I got the rear end / roof of my XJ sprayed in base coat. It's not at the pretty stage yet since I'm spraying clear tomorrow but I'm happy with the progress so far. This is the biggest paint project I've ever done / first time spraying base coat. Color is patriot blue.

 

[SMOKEYBEAR]

@ed_ That looks pretty good to me.

 

[SMOKEYBEAR]

Wrapped the napkin holder I set out to make from the start late last night, back to work today. The other two were extras that just came to be as a result of the multiple attempts for this one. Needs some finish and its done. I do have a shorter knob on the way as well. Pic of the contraption ( not a precision drilling jig) I put together to drill the holes in the 45 degree aluminum. Took two tries but got it to work well enough.

 

[zmotorsports]

The kiddos wandered up to the shop and convinced me that making smores was a great idea. I told them we’d first have to make poker sticks as the actual ones were nestled away in the camper. I gave them each a piece of 1/8” 316SS rod and told them to clean them up.


Out came the mallows, chocolate and graham crackers.


They weren’t wrong. This hit the spot !!

That is AWESOME!

Memories those kids will cherish for a lifetime.

 

[zmotorsports]

I got the rear end / roof of my XJ sprayed in base coat. It's not at the pretty stage yet since I'm spraying clear tomorrow but I'm happy with the progress so far. This is the biggest paint project I've ever done / first time spraying base coat. Color is patriot blue.

Great job. Looks good to me.

The clear will really make it pop. Not sure what clearcoat you are using. I've been a PPG fanboy my whole life after working at an auto parts/paint store and painting quite a few myself, but lately I have really been pleased with SPI's products. Seems like the old PPG from the 80's and 90's before their solids content started slipping. I have been very happy with SPI on the last few jobs I've sprayed it, and their epoxy primer is awesome. Best I've used.

 

[coldh2o]

I got the rear end / roof of my XJ sprayed in base coat. It's not at the pretty stage yet since I'm spraying clear tomorrow but I'm happy with the progress so far. This is the biggest paint project I've ever done / first time spraying base coat. Color is patriot blue.

I like the spray booth. What are the tape "X"s on the plastic for, just to help it lay down?

 

[ed_]

Great job. Looks good to me.

The clear will really make it pop. Not sure what clearcoat you are using. I've been a PPG fanboy my whole life after working at an auto parts/paint store and painting quite a few myself, but lately I have really been pleased with SPI's products. Seems like the old PPG from the 80's and 90's before their solids content started slipping. I have been very happy with SPI on the last few jobs I've sprayed it, and their epoxy primer is awesome. Best I've used.

Thanks and I'm a fan of SPI as well. I've been following their perfect paint job guide for my XJ and used their epoxy / 2k on it. I really like their epoxy as I've used it a ton while doing rust repair.

In terms of color / clear I'm using Nason.

I like the spray booth. What are the tape "X"s on the plastic for, just to help it lay down?

Yeah, keeps it from moving. I had a bad experience with loose plastic sheeting that had dry overspray on it letting loose a flurry of paint flakes onto a panel I was spraying when it got hit by the air from my paint gun so I try to keep tension on the plastic to prevent that now.

 

[Fixr]

Question for you that are testing once a month or six - are you "testing under load"? if not, I'd suggest doing that. Sometimes the engine runs fine, and the actual generator can have an issue, or the transfer switch if used.

I test with a space heater. Keeps the magnetty things magnetized.

 

[Outlawmws]

Yesterday I played with repair on an old Hy-Score Mod 806 Diana made Pellet gun. got it working but still need to find proper screws for three places. 2 should be easy, 1 seems like a harder find.

 

[zmotorsports]

Thanks and I'm a fan of SPI as well. I've been following their perfect paint job guide for my XJ and used their epoxy / 2k on it. I really like their epoxy as I've used it a ton while doing rust repair.

In terms of color / clear I'm using Nason.


Yeah, keeps it from moving. I had a bad experience with loose plastic sheeting that had dry overspray on it letting loose a flurry of paint flakes onto a panel I was spraying when it got hit by the air from my paint gun so I try to keep tension on the plastic to prevent that now.

SPI's epoxy and high build primer are very good products, only been using them for about 5 years but I am impressed.

For color, I still use PPG, but the pricing has gone through the roof. When we did a spot repair in my son's WJ a couple of years ago I tried some Valspar from a local discount body shop supply house and liked the way it sprayed and the cost was quite a bit less than PPG's. I just added a small amount of catalyst in the color to make the reducer reactive and it held well until the clear coat went on. I didn't do that on another job a few years earlier and got a small amount of mottling and had to redo it. Lesson learned as I got so used to using PPG's Reactive Reducer.


Like you, I've been burned by loose masking paper or plastic many years ago so adding extra tape to prevent any movement is paramount to keeping dirt and dust out of the job.

 

[JEFFREYWisconsin]

Rigged up a complex* 20v vacuum on a ladder so I can block sand out all the holes and other imperfections in the ship lap. I like having the vac up high where I am working so the suction is better than using a longer hose.

* as complex as two bungie straps

 

[kaymccampbell]

Cleaned some overspray off the metal bench. Took out the stepladder. Put it back. Broke a dead Swiffer mop. Played with Otto.

 

[TheClaw]

Hooked up a spare monitor. Got the races going.

 

[DGersic]

Cut some EMT pieces about 1/2” shorter. In the couple of minutes that took, I could no longer feel my fingers. -10F is Too Damned Cold for a quick task in the garage.

 

[rsparks64]

Hooked up a spare monitor. Got the races going.

My old neighbor from France was a racer back there and even raced at LeMans. He has a couple of poster like that of himself. His wife even raced a bit and they have a picture like that of her. He has an incredible garage which is the cleanest and most organized I have ever seen. Lots of beautiful cabinets, work benches, custom motorcycles, tools, excellent lighting, and space for one or two of his trucks. It is also insulated with heating and air. I am so jealous.

 

[ed_]

Got the XJ sprayed with clear. I used my lph400 and did a mist coat followed by 2 good coats. No runs in the clear and no major orange peel but I did get a nice collection of dust in the paint. The fan in my "booth" was getting overwhelmed so after about halfway through spraying each coat I wasn't able to see what I was putting down lol. My smoke detector also went off due to the over spray which was cool.




For reference here's what the roof and passenger quarter panel used to look like

 

[rd65]

Question for you that are testing once a month or six - are you "testing under load"? if not, I'd suggest doing that. Sometimes the engine runs fine, and the actual generator can have an issue, or the transfer switch if used.

I run a heat gun on it.

 

[kbeefy]

Dug the sxs out, dusted off some of the cobwebs and started prepping for our trip to King of the Hammers in 1 week.

Broke down 4 spare stock beadlocks and mounted 35" roxxzillas on them.



I always have to take a pic of this thing when it's on the lift, the droop in the rear is ridiculous.



Comparision shot



I couldn't find my clutch removal tool, so it's stuck on the lift while I wait for a replacement. I'm redoing the clutches to compensate for the bigger tires. I have a couple other projects I can do while I'm waiting.

 

[zmotorsports]

Got the XJ sprayed with clear. I used my lph400 and did a mist coat followed by 2 good coats. No runs in the clear and no major orange peel but I did get a nice collection of dust in the paint. The fan in my "booth" was getting overwhelmed so after about halfway through spraying each coat I wasn't able to see what I was putting down lol. My smoke detector also went off due to the over spray which was cool.




For reference here's what the roof and passenger quarter panel used to look like

That is turning out great. Don't worry about the dust nibs, they happen even in a nice clean commercial spray booth. I don't have a shop to spray in these days and I refuse to spray in my current shop so the little bit I paint these days is done outside on calm days. Very little dust/dirt but nothing a little color sanding won't take care of. Most everything I paint seems to get the standard cut & buff anyways.

One thing I like to do to flatten that last coat of clear and almost eliminate orange peel is to over-reduce the last coat of clear by about 10% additional. That makes that last coat lay down like glass and really helps minimize the effort required for the cut & buff stage.

 

[Old Man Roger]

Dug the sxs out, dusted off some of the cobwebs and started prepping for our trip to King of the Hammers in 1 week.

Broke down 4 spare stock beadlocks and mounted 35" roxxzillas on them.



I always have to take a pic of this thing when it's on the lift, the droop in the rear is ridiculous.



Comparision shot



I couldn't find my clutch removal tool, so it's stuck on the lift while I wait for a replacement. I'm redoing the clutches to compensate for the bigger tires. I have a couple other projects I can do while I'm waiting.

Those things are so awesome looking. It’s like a Baja Bug mated with a decepticon. Lol

 

[welder4956]

Yesterday - it was in the mid 20's most of the day, so I fired up the propane heater and managed to raise the temp to 40 deg F. Then pulled the grimy neutral start switch off the Mustang and started removing the tape wrap and cleaning it up. Found some bare wires where it goes into the switch and old soldered/taped splices where it had been replaced previously. The insulation was also cracked all along the wires, so I decided to trash the whole thing and find a new one. By that time I had enough of the cold and went back in the house to look for a new switch. Hoping it will be warmer today.

 

[Prospecter]

Still sorting and tossing in the shop. The project has now extended into the house, too. Everything flung from the house passes through the shop, so it is seeing a lot of activity today. Amazingly, the heat pump is keeping up in the shop!

 

[nadogail]

Did a little cleaning and sorting, got chilled and decided to go back into the house and read the morning paper.
Said hello to two of my neighbors and decided in with the group.

 

[kbeefy]

Those things are so awesome looking. It’s like a Baja Bug mated with a decepticon. Lol

Haha.... here it is in 'baja' mode....