Above 1200 Sq/FT Restored 1930's Auto Shop

[Andx0r]

I heard there was a restoration of an old Walker jack going on in here, so I had to stop and look. I wasn't disappointed.

Back when I was in college (and still living in my hometown) I worked at the Racine Water Utility, and they had an old Walker jack just like yours that was still in regular service. It had been there in the service building for decades. I haven't seen the place in about five years, but I'm sure that jack is still there, sitting in it's place near the oil and glycol drums by the east door.

It worked better than any newer jack they had, so I used it all the time on...ahem...personal projects...during downtime (woo municipal employees!).

It seemed appropriate that it was there. The Walker Mfg. factory was once right next door to the water plant, so the jack only had to travel a few hundred yards to it's destination after being built.
The Walker buildings are gone now, divided into marina/boat storage, a combination of green space, parking, and additional buildings for the water plant, and a huge vacant area that will likely be lakefront condominiums one day. Clearing the weeds from that open on a 90+ degree day was no friggin' fun at all believe me...

I was hoping to see what one of these jacks looked like when new, as RWU's was in good working shape, but pretty well-used. Can't wait to see the final, assembled product!

 

[willy3486]

butors and the like

So, your other options are to find a 1.35V battery, or purchase a power supply. I am working on a simple drop in. Hopefully, it will be available later this year.

Sorry to hijack this thread but here is a suggestion on the power supply if you haven't designed one yet. Can you use a voltage regulator like a lm 317? It drops to 1.2 volts and goe up to 35+ volts. I have designed power supplies and they tend to work great.

 

[BB767]

What about tire rails like they have at the automatic carwashes. That way when you back in the rails will keep the trailer tires centered in the opening. The only downside is that you would have to fasten them to the floor.

While that would work Kevin, I don't think it's an especially elegant way to handle it. As I have managed a full year just as is, better mirrors and perhaps a line or two on the floor for reference and I bet I'll be good to go. I do appreciate the thought though, you've always had good ones here.

Thomas

 

[Bob Telep]

Sorry to hijack this thread but here is a suggestion on the power supply if you haven't designed one yet. Can you use a voltage regulator like a lm 317? It drops to 1.2 volts and goe up to 35+ volts. I have designed power supplies and they tend to work great.

OK, a quick hijack, and then back to the thread!!

Seriously, yes, I've done some experimenting with the LM137/337 (negative output) regulator. However, Sun chose to link the dwell and tach circuits for some reason, and coming up with a circuit which incorporates two different voltage regulators using a single AC adapter has been a bit vexing. I believe I know the solution, but I'm just swamped at the moment to follow through.
Thank you for the suggestion. It is much appreciated.

 

[BB767]

Thomas,
I know you mentioned low tech is your preference, but what about a wireless video baby monitor? You could set the camera on the floor pointed at the trailer, and have the monitor in the cab and view exactly where the back of the trailer is.
They aren't terrible expensive and you can adjust it (move it around) to get the best view that you need instead of a hardmounted traditional back-up camera.
Just another thought.

Those I didn't know about but that sounds simple and effective. If the mirrors and such aren't getting it done to my satisfaction that might be a good bet. Thank you sir for the suggestion.

Thomas

 

[BB767]

I have heard from people that drive trucks for delivery, semi sized, Try never to back in on the blind side. Pull up and have a good look at where you are going to go. Line up best you can pick one side to look down in the mirror and let the other side take care of itself. You know it fits. I hear it makes you wander around looking from side to side. I do not know this first hand, just heard it a time or 20.

Well done again Sir.

Scott

Hi there Scott, you are correct about that. On occasion I've been known to help a friend at harvest time by driving his semi grain truck, GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight) at 80,000 lbs (36,287 kg) and that was how I was taught also. His truck is much easier to back up than my trailer is to put in the barn, but then as tdkkart said, I've never tried to back it down a gopher hole.....

Thomas

 

[BB767]

What about these extendable mirrors?

James

I've seen those on some rigs and they look pretty effective. I'll have to take a look see at what all is out there. Thanks James.

Thomas

 

[rburke65]

Not to hijack thethread, but I did belong to the NIA in the mid '90s when I was redoing my '65Impala, as per my avatar.

 

[BB767]

Thomas,

I certainly don't wish to hi-jack the "Restored 1930's Auto Shop" thread.

Essentially you own the credit for my addiction to the GJ. In Winter of 2009 I was searching for ideas for my home shop and having trouble finding the direction I wanted to go. I mentioned that fact on another forum I frequent, ImpalaSS427.com, to which Don Bock linked me to your thread here. I understand you and Donnie had met and he had many good things to say about you and your work here.

Alas, I was smitten. I have read your threads until my eyes bled..... well, maybe just turned red. Truly admire your family's work, ambition and stamina. When I feel like things are not going smoothly or quickly enough, I look at your thread............. and realize I have nothing to complain about.

As for the NIA convention in July, we're still up in the air, fuel prices will be weighting in also as we will be driving the '69 from N.C. 427's like fuel you know.

If the Stars will allow the trip, we may try to make the connection with you.

Lynn

No worries about the hi-jack, we're all friends here Lynn. I got a chance to see the NIA article briefly and Jody did a terrific job with the layout and all the photographs I think. The title for the article just came to me while I was flying somewhere. Side note to everyone who haven't read the article; since I own three 1964 SS Impalas cars that all just happen to be painted factory Satin Silver Metallic, I titled the article "SS Stands for Satin Silver". That was 10 years or so ago. Really wish I had my present shop when we did that car!

I agree that Garage Journal is quite the site. Tremendous material presented here by a wide, talented group and all willing to share with others for the benefit of all. It doesn't get any better than that does it?

As for the July meet, Chris and I committed to a Lincoln meet in Michigan the same week that overlaps the NIA meet in Michigan. I can't be in both places at the same time and we committed to Lincoln's first and well, geeze.........

If you think your 427 likes premium fuel...

...the 462 in my '66 Lincoln Continental...

drinks it like it only costs 29 cents a gallon.........NOT. I think I'll buy some Shell or Exon stock before I go.


Thomas

 

[BB767]

Hello all.

I've been lurking here since the CC article was published. I love this thread & I'm glad I bought that copy of CC on a whim! I've been amazed at some of the things I've read. My "mentor" in all things mechanical is now well into his 80s & owns a property similar to the one Thomas & Chris bought. Tons of scrap metal, aging equipment, etc, etc, etc.

willy3486's question resonated w/ me. I have an old Sun VAT-36 battery/alternator tester. It was purchased new by an airline & traded to my former MAC Tools distributor about 15 years ago. I bought it for $40 & invested another $180 for a new inductive ammeter pickup shortly thereafter. It has served me well for many years, but the rheostat that calibrates the ammeter is now failing intermittently. I've already invested far more in this machine than it is worth, but I LIKE it & a comparable replacement costs $1200 or so. I'd gladly pay Bob to repair my old machine.

Alan, Chris and I both are glad you bought that copy of CC also. The whole idea of the start of this thread was to show possibilities and what was possible with a little effort and somehow my passion for lack of a better word has shown through. Latest example, I started the barn bench build (bbb) today...

...12 hours worth, and am just now finishing up my day and back at it tomorrow.


For anyone wishing to contact Bob, I'm sure a Private Message (PM) to him would be the best way. If anyone has a problem, let me know and I'll put you in touch.

Welcome to the family Alan.

Thomas

 

[markviii]

Only 4 more states missing in action (HI, ID, MT, RI). Test time is nearing.

 

[hobbitss]

Only 4 more states missing in action (HI, ID, MT, RI). Test time is nearing.

NOooooooooooo.... I'm not ready!!!!

 

[ToolUsingAnimal]

RI checking in

Your shop is amazing! I wish I had the time, skill or space to do ANYTHING you've done, never mind all of it! You're a real inspiration

 

[dladcock]

No worries about the hi-jack, we're all friends here Lynn. I got a chance to see the NIA article briefly and Jody did a terrific job with the layout and all the photographs I think. The title for the article just came to me while I was flying somewhere. Side note to everyone who haven't read the article; since I own three 1964 SS Impalas cars that all just happen to be painted factory Silver Metallic Silver I titled the article "SS Stands for Satin Silver". Here's a couple of my favorite pictures with Cameron as he was helping me with our first Impala restoration.






That was 10 years or so ago. Really wish I had my present shop when we did that car! You can see I've roped him into various projects for a long time now.

I agree that Garage Journal is quite the site. Tremendous material presented here by a wide, talented group and all willing to share to others for the benefit of all. It doesn't get any better that that does it?

As for the July meet, Chris and I committed to a Lincoln meet in Michigan the same week that overlaps the NIA meet in Michigan. I can't be in both places at the same time and we committed to Lincoln's first and well, geeze.........

If you think your 427 likes premium fuel...



...the 462 in my '66 Lincoln Continental...



drinks it like it only coasts 29 cents a gallon.........NOT. I think I'll buy some Shell or Exon stock before I go.


Thomas

A '66 Lincoln...... wow. Love the color. Back in the day, .29 was about right. Kind of went hand in hand, luxury and gas consumption, but who cared?

The Impala gets 14.3 mpg on the road, not bad considering the relationship between my right foot and the engine compartment.

Mostly stock appearing, with a choppy cam, 2800 stall/TH400, 2:56 rear gear. Lot's of head work. Did everything but the paint myself, here at home.

Now I gotta do the shop so the next project (my first car) will have it's place.

 

[Omphaloskeptic]

Thomas,

Still thinking about your trailer/barn dilemma; how to keep the two of them from meeting. Since you prefer low-tech solutions, how about painting the stripes on the inside of the garage door? The stripes would be the width of the trailer apart and your mirror view would show the trailer is aligned properly when you could see the top edge of the trailer and the door stripe (when the door is raised fully). Of course it would help to have wider mirrors to sight straight down the side of the trailer. I think I will do this to get my 24' Interstate car trailer inside one of my bays, but the fact that my door rails are 11' off the floor may not provide an accurate 'sight picture'.

Once again, thanks again for the amazing documentation and providing us with tons of inspiration!

 

[creativedust]

Ok thomas here is a low tech solution paint the inside of the walls the same color as the truck and if you bump it the color wont change just get rippled

 

[3bay]

Put some curb feelers on the trailer...LOL

 

[rlwhitetr3b]

...the 462 in my '66 Lincoln Continental...

Thomas,
Does Chris agree with your claim of ownership?

 

[markviii]

The '66 is definitely Tom's car. To be honest, when he brought it home in 1976, I knew it was a crazy purchase. Over the years, I became resigned to it. Then we began taking it to Lincoln (LCOC) national shows and getting to know people from all over the country and world. It became a 3 times yearly meeting with like-minded friends. We were close to being the youngest members in the club and have made some of the best friends over the years. I am not really comfortable being a passenger much less driving the '66 and I've never driven it in all these years. Then I got tired of cleaning windows, etc. and fell in love with the Mark VIII. I started looking for one, knowing that I'd never find exactly "the one". Well, one with my exact specifications turned up in 2002. I bought it sight unseen after a phone call and I took a bus up to Waukesha, WI to drive it home. I was invited to Dearborn for the Ford 100th anniversary in 2003 to display it with the 90s decade cars. The Mark VIII won a major trophy on its first showing. So that's my impractical purchase. Now we each have our own Lincolns.

 

[BigAl62]

Variety is the spice of life and you and Tom have quite a life! Enjoy all it has to offer!

 

[rlwhitetr3b]

After I thought about it I wondered if your's wasn't newer. Lincolns are a little big for my tastes, but I like all old cars.

 

[BB767]

Thomas,
Does Chris agree with the way your claim of ownership?

This one is mine and....

...this one is hers. I always plead with the Lincoln Continental Owners Club, LCOC, folks to make sure and list her as the owner and not me. For the '66 it's listed as us both, but the Mark is all hers....and believe me, I don't ever forget it!!

Thanks.

Thomas

 

[BB767]

I heard there was a restoration of an old Walker jack going on in here, so I had to stop and look. I wasn't disappointed.

Back when I was in college (and still living in my hometown) I worked at the Racine Water Utility, and they had an old Walker jack just like yours that was still in regular service. It had been there in the service building for decades. I haven't seen the place in about five years, but I'm sure that jack is still there, sitting in it's place near the oil and glycol drums by the east door.

It worked better than any newer jack they had, so I used it all the time on...ahem...personal projects...during downtime (woo municipal employees!).

It seemed appropriate that it was there. The Walker Mfg. factory was once right next door to the water plant, so the jack only had to travel a few hundred yards to it's destination after being built.
The Walker buildings are gone now, divided into marina/boat storage, a combination of green space, parking, and additional buildings for the water plant, and a huge vacant area that will likely be lakefront condominiums one day. Clearing the weeds from that open on a 90+ degree day was no friggin' fun at all believe me...

I was hoping to see what one of these jacks looked like when new, as RWU's was in good working shape, but pretty well-used. Can't wait to see the final, assembled product!

Welcome Andx0r, yup this is the place for an old Walker restoration. I'm relieved to hear you weren't let down, that would be disappointing. You should get to see my Walker done soon and it should be fairly close to what it looked like when new. A window of opportunity opened when a friend called and said he had room in his shop for my barn bench to be built (it's really too big for my wood shop)...

...so I'm on that as of right now. That's moving along nicely, thank you very much. A few 10 hour days and it's amazing what you can get done.

I really appreciate you relaying your memory of the old Walker and the factory. Good stuff but sad it's gone. Keep us in mind and I'll get something about it on here. Stick around.

Thomas

 

[BB767]

Not to hijack thethread, but I did belong to the NIA in the mid '90s when I was redoing my '65Impala, as per my avatar.

Do you still have it?

Thomas

 

[BB767]

RI checking in

Your shop is amazing! I wish I had the time, skill or space to do ANYTHING you've done, never mind all of it! You're a real inspiration

Way to go ToolUsingAnimal, thanks for checking in and the kind words. This thread might be the first to get all 50 states checking in. Never thought that would happen when I first started it! More material is coming.

Thomas

 

[BB767]

A '66 Lincoln...... wow. Love the color. Back in the day, .29 was about right. Kind of went hand in hand, luxury and gas consumption, but who cared?

The Impala gets 14.3 mpg on the road, not bad considering the relationship between my right foot and the engine compartment.

Mostly stock appearing, with a choppy cam, 2800 stall/TH400, 2:56 rear gear. Lot's of head work. Did everything but the paint myself, here at home.

Now I gotta do the shop so the next project (my first car) will have it's place.

Very nice Impala Lynn and even rarer than I thought. Thanks for those pictures.

I've owned the '66 for 36 years now (I'm the second owner). It's an all original car that has some small warts but still presents well for a 46 year old car. It gets 8 mpg city, 11 mpg highway, yikes!

Thomas

 

[BB767]

Thomas,

Still thinking about your trailer/barn dilemma; how to keep the two of them from meeting. Since you prefer low-tech solutions, how about painting the stripes on the inside of the garage door? The stripes would be the width of the trailer apart and your mirror view would show the trailer is aligned properly when you could see the top edge of the trailer and the door stripe (when the door is raised fully). Of course it would help to have wider mirrors to sight straight down the side of the trailer. I think I will do this to get my 24' Interstate car trailer inside one of my bays, but the fact that my door rails are 11' off the floor may not provide an accurate 'sight picture'.

Once again, thanks again for the amazing documentation and providing us with tons of inspiration!

That is definitely creative thinking....but the door is 10' high and the trailer is 20' long. I'd lose sight of the end of it when it was only half way in I think.

I am grateful to everyone for all the different ideas and helpful hints.

Thomas

 

[BB767]

Ok thomas here is a low tech solution paint the inside of the walls the same color as the truck and if you bump it the color wont change just get rippled

Don, I'm surprised you didn't suggest to just powder coat the walls and then the coating would be so hard I couldn't scrap the paint off.......Hey, now wait a minute..............I might be on to something here..........

Thomas

 

[gbcamp72]

I can relate to your trailer backing challenge. I used to live in a planned community and the 24 foot car trailer was kept in a storage facility. it was a 12x30 space less some down one side for metal stud holding one wall smooth on the other and purlins in back. the door was a 10x10 roll less the width of the tracks. so just like yours but a couple of extra differances.

First big change was it was 60 feet between it an the next building. so with a quad cab pickup and the length of the tongue hitch I had to still be turning it as it entered the bay. Second was the area outside was very course gravel so the trailer did not turn star or stop consistently.

I used it for about 4 yaers and only kissed the side claerance lights once. Not enough to replace them. Each time I would have to get in and out a dozen times or so while backing it up.

Your idea on the bumper boards should keep any miscue expenses to a minium. Its also pretty cool each time you succesfully back it in place.

 

[Showboy]

Sir, you've just unknowingly made me drool.

Those are both some sweet cars.

I have a '65 Continental ---- and used to have a Mark VII that I foolishly let someone talk me into selling.

I'd like to have a Mark VIII ---- with the grille like the one you own.

Nice cars!

 

[markviii]

Showboy,

Welcome to the Center of the Universe.
Are you a member of LCOC? With 4 Lincolns in your garage(s), you should be a member. Also, you need to start a thread showing your garages (unless I missed it).

Chris

 

[Brian R]

I'd like to have a Mark VIII ---- with the grille like the one you own.


Thomas doesn't own it - it belongs to Chris.

 

[markviii]

Brian R - you got that right!

 

[ZRX61]

Might be a daft question, but why couldn't you build the barn bench.. in the barn?

 

[merr6267]

Oh No! I've reached the end of the internet! What do I do now?

I've been lurking on GJ for a few months now reading about various tools, etc. and I saw the spread in Car Craft and had to check it out. I've been reading this thread every day on my lunch break and didn't skip ahead at all. Every post, every picture. Incredible. I'm happy to make this my first post on GJ.

Thanks for allowing us us (the world) to be a part of your adventure. I've had fun reading, and I will check back continually.

Take care,
Phill

 

[markviii]

ZRX61,
Not a daft question at all! The woodworking equipment is not in the shop of the new barn. Also, the size of the bench top precluded building it where our equipment is located. Tom may answer more completely when he comes home tonight from working all day on the bench.

merr6267,
Your study habits are appropriate for the material presented - taking it in order and taking it all in. You'll be ready for the test - whenever that may be. Rest assured that there is no foreseen "end" to this thread. I'm sure Tom has more to add (the Walker jack and newest bench come to mind).

Chris

 

[BB767]

After I thought about it I wondered if your's wasn't newer. Lincolns are a little big for my tastes, but I like all old cars.

When I was growing up I wasn't a big fan of luxurious cars, I was alway interested in any high performance cars, Corvettes, supercharged '50's Thunderbirds, Jaguar E types, and road racing, drag racing etc. But back then as now I still appreciated all old cars. The '66 has a bit of an interesting story behind it and I wound up with it none the less at a very young age and have learned to see it's finer qualities.

When you say Lincoln's are a little big that's a bit of an understatement.

Here you can see the door is almost 9" (23 cm) thick and the car weighs well over 5,000 pounds (2273 kg). Anyway it's rather unique, I've only seen 3 other coupes in over 35 years of ownership and it has grown on me over time. It's part of the family.

Thomas

 

[merr6267]

My goodness I love old iron. All of it. I wish they didn't put so much car dissolver on the snowy roads up here. Its pretty hard to find a decent rust free vehicle around here . . . especially one that spent its early days here.

Chris, I can't say that I had the best study habits in college, but I will say that the material presented in this course would have kept my interest much better than differential equations.
I'm looking forward to your exam, and plan to answer every question with a smile om my face.

Thank you all for such a great thread. I will try to look you up at a drag race some time. (Maybe I will have a car to race by then)

Take care,
Phill

 

[rburke65]

Thomas...I do still have the '65 Impala. I bought it used in 1969 when I got out of the Navy from a private owner, drove it until 1974 and it sat parked till 1994, and it took me 11 years to do a body off resto. to it. Has original padded dash, interior, door pads. I added pwr.disc brakes, pwr. steering, lowered, shaved, 17' wheels, 406 ci small block chevy, 4 speed, 3:73 posi. Looks bad, sounds bad, runs great.

 

[BB767]

Might be a daft question, but why couldn't you build the barn bench.. in the barn?

That's a fair question Rick. When I built the 3 benches for the shop I found myself at times going back and forth between the shop and my wood shop, about a mile away, to do some machining operations. It was a pain the a$$ to say the least. This newest bench is being constructed more like fine cabinetry and requires more use of planers, jointers, table saws, cutoff saws, doweling equipment etc.

These are just a few of the construction details. It is so much simpler and handier to have wood working machines a few steps away during construction.

This bench is so physically large that I can't accommodate it in my wood shop. A project like this takes up a large amount of space with various parts and sub parts spread out. Trying to do the build in the barn where I have the room but no wood working equipment and running back and forth is something I don't want to do again.

Now once we build our new house and I relocate my wood shop out there, that will be a different story.

Thomas