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Above 1200 Sq/FT Restored 1930's Auto Shop

Wokspaces above 1200 squarefeet.
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kbuhagiar

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Next page is the big "200" party time LOL

I am at Page 100...perhaps page number is a function of individual browser or forum settings?

I think the only absolute is Post #, which by my count should be 3965.

However you look at it, that's quite an accomplishment.
 
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BB767

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Next page is the big "200" party time LOL

I'll do my part to help push it over...

R1chy

Luv this thread.....bump!!

I am at Page 100...perhaps page number is a function of individual browser or forum settings?

I think the only absolute is Post #, which by my count should be 3965.

However you look at it, that's quite an accomplishment.


Bump to 200 for one of the best threads on the entire Interwebz! :rocker:

After flying all night I thought I'd check here before getting some sleep and found all this great support. Thanks everyone for all your continued interest and encouragement. As I mentioned some time back, if you keep encouraging me I'll keep at it if you can stand it. I do have more material and projects I'd like to cover so hang on, we're not done yet. :D

Thomas
 

Hemihead2

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Auburn, CA
By all means, Thomas, please keep updates coming. You've got us all hooked on your slice of Heaven there in the Center of the Universe.
 

hobbitss

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Southestern Massachusetts
After flying all night I thought I'd check here before getting some sleep and found all this great support. Thanks everyone for all your continued interest and encouragement. As I mentioned some time back, if you keep encouraging me I'll keep at it if you can stand it. I do have more material and projects I'd like to cover so hang on, we're not done yet. :D

Thomas

Tool Shed!!!

Tool Shed!!!

Tool Shed!!!

Tool Shed!!!

:bounce:
 

OldMechanik

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Feb 13, 2011
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72
Location
Humid,South Carolina
After flying all night I thought I'd check here before getting some sleep and found all this great support. Thanks everyone for all your continued interest and encouragement. As I mentioned some time back, if you keep encouraging me I'll keep at it if you can stand it. I do have more material and projects I'd like to cover so hang on, we're not done yet. :D

Thomas
Love your projects, they remind me of the days when I was a kid coming up in the shop back home!
Of course I love the tool pics too!!
 

Sweet Old Bill

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Mar 20, 2009
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Thomas,

Congratulations on GUS!! He should look right at home in the Center of the Universe.

Enquiring Minds want to know: What will Santa bring Miss Chris?
 

Bob275

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Nov 20, 2011
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RI
Had to stop and take a break to let you know this is the best read I have found on the internet ever. I'm two days in and 6 hours deep, made it to page 48. This is like every "guys" dream to purchase a piece of history like this and go through it like you have (I'm sure it's quite a ways a long since I'm only on p48 with no plans of skipping ahead) Time for me to get back to where I was, see you here soon... maybe in week.
 

R1chy

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Sep 3, 2007
Messages
232
Location
Fairfax, VA
After flying all night I thought I'd check here before getting some sleep and found all this great support. Thanks everyone for all your continued interest and encouragement. As I mentioned some time back, if you keep encouraging me I'll keep at it if you can stand it. I do have more material and projects I'd like to cover so hang on, we're not done yet. :D

Thomas

Next milestone is post number 4000 and it will be interesting to see how many hang out to be the one to post it.

When it happens I bet Thomas will memorialize it by having it powder coated!!!

R1chy
 

charlief1

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Dec 1, 2010
Messages
248
Make that 19 now.:bounce:

I thought I'd add this since it seems to be left out of the Jeep history it seems. That, and the fact that I love Jeeps and Buicks.

225 Dauntless Buick V6

Dauntless Buick 350 V8

http://www.baeta.org/opie/engine.htm#L

These engines helped out with the Jeep for several years and some are still going strong. Wish I still had my old J-30 now though.:(
 
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BB767

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Here's a snapshot lifted from one of the 8mm films of the shop.

Truck_Jack01195140.png


It shows the glass panel lift room door in the background and to the right is the rear of shop Willys Jeep truck. That's Mr Johnson and one of his sons lifting the Walker Floor Jack I restored out of the bed of the truck.To the left in the background overhead you can see part of the Johnson's Welding and Repair shop sign I restored and moved into the lift room. The lift room was enclosed in spring of 1962 and the block around it in this picture appears pretty new so I'd say this was from winter of 1962-63 perhaps.


LiftRoomWall3sm.jpg


Here is the newly completed lift enclosure for comparison, dated April 1962.

ShopFront19681sm.jpg


And this is roughly the same view 15 years later.

DiamondInTheRoughEmailSm.jpg


In 2005...

IMG_2984-1.jpg


..and in 2010.

I was wondering how well making a snapshot from the film would work. What do you think?

Thomas
 
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hobbitss

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Messages
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Southestern Massachusetts
Here's a snapshot lifted from one of the 8mm films of the shop.

Truck_Jack01195140.png


It shows the glass panel lift room door in the background and to the right is the rear of shop Willys Jeep truck. That's Mr Johnson and one of his sons lifting the Walker Floor Jack I restored out of the bed of the truck.To the left in the background overhead you can see part of the Johnson's Welding and Repair shop sign I restored and moved into the lift room. The lift room was enclosed in spring of 1962 and the block around it in this picture appears pretty new so I'd say this was from winter of 1962-63 perhaps.


LiftRoomWall3sm.jpg


Here is the newly completed lift enclosure for comparison, dated April 1962.

ShopFront19681sm.jpg


And this is roughly the same view 15 years later.

DiamondInTheRoughEmailSm.jpg


In 2005...

IMG_2984-1.jpg


..and in 2010.

I was wondering how well making a snapshot from the film would work. What do you think?

Thomas

The Snapshot from Film worked great... Are those chains I see on the Jeep's rear Tire??
 

markviii

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tdkkart - our first collector car purchase was made in 1976 - the '66 coupe. - when we were really quite unable to afford it (he told me about it and I think my reaction was something akin to ARE YOU CRAZY?!!. We (actually He) became members of the LCOC in 1979, though he showed it at Dearborn in 1976 since it was 10 years old (I didn't go, but he stayed at my grandparents' house to save money for that first show). I have never driven the car - really - not even up and down the driveway or to reposition it at meets. I guess I got tired of being the window cleaner and car watcher while Tom judged at all the shows. The Mark VIII just caught my eye and I started searching for the "dream car" that I knew I would never get. I set very high standards and knew it was a crazy idea. The car landed in my lap Easter weekend of 2002 and I showed it at the meet in 2003 at Dearborn, the first time it was eligible for judging. I (actually my car) was invited to participate in the "Decades" display of all Ford/Lincoln/Mercury models in front of the headquarters building for the week of the celebration. Our LCOC regional meet was held at the same time. Tom and I were present in Dearborn with the '66 coupe for the 75th anniversary of the Lincoln Motor Company for which they produced the Diamond Anniversary model of the Mark VIII. Maybe that's where the idea was planted. Dearborn has a special place in my life because my family has deep roots in Ford (and, it so happens, Chevrolet and Willys). I had noooo idea when I met and later married Tom that we'd be so involved with cars. It's been a great hobby.

Chris
 
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BB767

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tdkkart - our first collector car purchase was made in 1976 - the '66 coupe. - when we were really quite unable to afford it (he told me about it and I think my reaction was something akin to ARE YOU CRAZY?!!. We (actually He) became members of the LCOC in 1979, though he showed it at Dearborn in 1976 since it was 10 years old (I didn't go, but he stayed at my grandparents' house to save money for that first show). I have never driven the car - really - not even up and down the driveway or to reposition it at meets. I guess I got tired of being the window cleaner and car watcher while Tom judged at all the shows. The Mark VIII just caught my eye and I started searching for the "dream car" that I knew I would never get. I set very high standards and knew it was a crazy idea. The car landed in my lap Easter weekend of 2002 and I showed it at the meet in 2003 at Dearborn, the first time it was eligible for judging. I (actually my car) was invited to participate in the "Decades" display of all Ford/Lincoln/Mercury models in front of the headquarters building for the week of the celebration. Our LCOC regional meet was held at the same time. Tom and I were present in Dearborn with the '66 coupe for the 75th anniversary of the Lincoln Motor Company for which they produced the Diamond Anniversary model of the Mark VIII. Maybe that's where the idea was planted. Dearborn has a special place in my life because my family has deep roots in Ford (and, it so happens, Chevrolet and Willys). I had noooo idea when I met and later married Tom that we'd be so involved with cars. It's been a great hobby.

Chris

What dear, sweet Chris means is the first collector we purchase while married was the '66 coupe, seen here...

66LincolnCira1976.jpg


... shortly after we bought it in 1976. It still had two of it's original Firestone bias ply tires on it.

Here's the '66 - 35 years later...

IMG_2994.jpg


...still all original...but with new tires. :D

What Chris might have overlooked was I brought into the marriage the collectable...

Jeepster86-1.jpg


...1949 Jeepster, while she in turn owned a 1964 Impala. No doubt it was the Jeepster that convinced her I worthy of being married to. :dunno: It sealed the deal as it were. Showing her great sporting character even before we were married, when I first thought about buying the Jeepster, I offered to wash it for it's owner at the time as a means to "look it over" up close. She came along and cheerfully helped wash this old car that didn't even belong to me at the time. I thought that was pretty cool, that my then fiance' would be willing to do that. She didn't even bat an eye at the thought.

BTW, Mr Johnson's shop is just out of frame in this view, to the left about a 1/4 mile away.

Thomas
 
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BB767

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The Snapshot from Film worked great... Are those chains I see on the Jeep's rear Tire??



Nothing gets by you Joe, very sharp eyes there.

Truck_Jack01195140.png


Yup that's snow (For those unfamiliar with concept of snow, it's frozen water that falls from the sky, that in sufficient quantities, will accumulate on the ground or other objects) piled up on either side of the lift door. With 4 WD, low range-5.38 gears- and tire chains the truck could claw through most any amount of snow.

Thomas
 
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BB767

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DiamondInTheRoughEmailSm.jpg


It's amazing how 15 years took it's toll on the old gal

Kevin have you ever heard of a TV program called "After People"? In it is detailed how quickly a structure will deteriorate when it's no longer occupied. It really is amazing how a building will just start to come apart. The block part of the shop wasn't too bad yet (except for the roof) when I bought it, but the original wood walled section, seen on the left here, was really and truly well on it's way to being lost due to neglect and deterioration. Good timing on my part catching it before it was lost forever, especially now looking back after all the years I've had to use and enjoy the shop since it's restoration/refurbishment. With any luck this building will now have a long, useful life, hope so anyway. :)

Thomas
 

Omphaloskeptic

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Oct 11, 2008
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Location
Ultima Ratio, Wa.
Thomas, don't you think Gus needs a contemporary stablemate? Perchance, a sibling of your old Jeepster? Just think, the truck could be done up in the old Johnson's livery and the Jeepster could wear the signage for Chris's framing shop. It's a Win-Win situation - Gus gets a proper companion, you get to rekindle your love affair with the old marque, Chris gets her own toy to drive to and from the shop, AND the Jeepster becomes a 'business expense' item - BONUS! :D
 

markviii

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I never did drive nor even ride in the Jeepster (some sort of pattern there?). Yes, I did wash it. I recall a very sore right arm for a week afterward! I absolutely detest car washing. When I learned to drive, our family only had one car (Ford Country Squire wagon) to accommodate our large family of 6 children and 2 parents. In order to drive it, we girls had to keep it clean (and do the weekly grocery shopping and shuttling the younger ones around), so that was part of our weekly Saturday chores. BTW, I also detest doing Saturday chores, so I do them on another day.

We had a potential sighting of our Jeepster a few years back at the Newport Hill Climb in IN. It's not out of the realm of possibility to own one again, but I won't need it for driving to my shop since it's right outside my back door. It would definitely have to be in the original yellow color because that's what we envision when we think of getting one. Any other collector car that I would personally get is another Mark VIII, possibly a 1998 (last year of production) or a very nice 1996 LSC from the 75th Lincoln anniversary year (preferable because I like the styling better than the '98's "snubby" hood redesign). We always seem to fill the garage space we have!

Chris
 

Terry454

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Illinois
Chis,
With your early visits with the LCOC did you ever encounter a Hans Norberg from Tulsa? He was a good friend who passed too soon. His passion, besides automatic transmission Corvettes was the Lincoln 4-door convertibles. He once dragged me to a LCOC Regional in the northern suburbs of Chicago -- I am guessing here in the 1990 time range. I remember visiting a Ford/Lincoln collection in the Western suburbs that was awesome. Good times with him back then.
TErry
 

markviii

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Hans Norberg was the guru of Lincolns, esp. the convertible as you indicated. The LCOC national mid-America meets in Itasca were in '94 and '98. We were at both. I can't recall when Hans passed, but he was a fixture at national meets. I think he was helpful in compiling the tech manual for the '60s continental including our coupe. Tom would know that info in much better detail. Those were the days! Thanks for the info.

Chris
 

hobbitss

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Southestern Massachusetts
Thomas, don't you think Gus needs a contemporary stablemate? Perchance, a sibling of your old Jeepster? Just think, the truck could be done up in the old Johnson's livery and the Jeepster could wear the signage for Chris's framing shop. It's a Win-Win situation - Gus gets a proper companion, you get to rekindle your love affair with the old marque, Chris gets her own toy to drive to and from the shop, AND the Jeepster becomes a 'business expense' item - BONUS! :D

Need to find something to drop that disassembled Flathead V-8 into....
A Hot Rod, Home built Plane or maybe a tanker salt racer....

Oh I know!!! A Vintage Tow Truck!!!

Gonna need it to move Cars and Aircraft at the future Drag Strip / Airport across the road...

:bounce:
 

hobbitss

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Nuts, I know what the paper shredder was used for, I just placed the grey painted manifold on the shredder to take a picture of it. Sorry for the confusion. I was only seeking information about the manifold or whatever it is before I scrap it out? It'll turn out to be a one of a kind thing-a-ma-bob that someone here who needed it to complete that life long project they've been working on night and day for the last 6 years of their lives.

BTW you'll be interested to know that another ton of scrap went out today.........

ScrapSteelSm2.jpg


note that round bar in front, it's 2 1/2 " in dia, over 2 ' long and all the bars behind it were solid as well.......

ScrapSteelSm1.jpg


The plate was solid 1/2" material

ScrapSteelSm4.jpg


Those bars are all 1" solid, 5' long.


ScrapSteelSm3.jpg



Just a fraction of what got loaded up and out. Just massive, thick material. He just saved everything. Just don't know what I would ever use it for. On the other hand.........

ToolShedViceSm1.jpg


I came across this nice............


ToolShedViceSm2.jpg


.........little 3" vice that works fine and shows little signs of usage. And there were theses........

ToolShedJackSm1.jpg


....... beefy jacks( saw at lease three more).......

ToolShedJackSm2.jpg


...........that are track jacks. I can see a need for these. But then on the other hand there was........

ToolShedCoilSm1.jpg


......this electrical coil.....and theses......

ToolShedGearSm1.jpg


.......flywheel starter gears which I doubt I can use. But then I found a box of.........

ToolShedClampSm1.jpg


.........clamps that with a little clean up and some needing repair will be good to go. It all pales to what you've been cleaning up though.I'm just at a paltry 51 tons so far. Not even in the same league as you.:bowdown:

Thomas

Flash back to April 2010... Were the C-Clamps saved???

Tools!!!! :rocker:
 

hobbitss

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Messages
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Interesting you bring up the old way to title vehicles. My 1949 Willys Jeppster was titled a 1950, but clearly it was a 1949 with the '49 grill and all. Same thing as you mentioned, it was purchased in 1950 so that's how it was titled. Since I knew it was a '49, I really didn't want it titled as a '50 so I applied to the Secretary of State to have it corrected which they did. So it became titled a 1949. Thomas was very happy about that. :thumbup:

The truck you brought to my attention has merit, especially if they are correct about no Bondo. But it is a project, no doubt about it. Notice how little they had changed in 10 years. The Johnson shop truck was a 1949 and except for the grill it looks identical to the 1959 truck in the auction.

Thanks for thinking of me and passing the information along, you never know. ( and with that last statement, I fully expect to hear something from my darling wife!) :eek::rant::tantrum2:

Thomas
Page 150, Post 3000, May 2011.. Dreams of a Shop Jeep...
Patience in all things....

Your Up Thomas!!! The next Post needs to be Epic... :beer:

Then we can get to the Tool Shed Archaeological Dig... xmas
 

charlief1

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Messages
248
Boy I wish you were closer when you started getting rid of that steel. That 1/2" plate would make some really good header flanges for my turbo car. LOL
 

R1chy

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Fairfax, VA
...Your Up Thomas!!! The next Post needs to be Epic...

and for post #4000 Thomas says..

Boy I wish you were closer when you started getting rid of that steel. That 1/2" plate would make some really good header flanges for my turbo car. LOL

Looks like we're going to have to wait till #5000. Guess Thomas has a lot more powder coating to do in the mean time.
 
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BB767

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and for post #4000 Thomas says..



Looks like we're going to have to wait till #5000. Guess Thomas has a lot more powder coating to do in the mean time.

Do you guys have ANY idea how much I enjoy our group here? ANY idea at all?? :dunno: It is always the high point of my day whenever possible to check here and see what everybody has been up to, especially if I'm out of the country. It's a real give and take and I get as much if not more than I give so thanks everyone, really!! :thumbup: :thumbup:

Sorry Joe I couldn't have an epic next post for # 4000. Cameron and I were out in the barn working on the '62 Impala. Besides finally correcting all the wrong parts and hoses etc.in the engine compartment I'm doing a little spring cleaning around the engine as well. It was easier to clean the underside of the hood with it off the car so here...

IMG_6726.jpg

...it is on some furniture blankets. When we turned it over I heard a small metal rattle sound. It turned out to be...

KeyCrop-1.jpg


...this key that the original owner had taped to the top, inside of the hood striker assembly as a spare in case he locked his keys in the car. I tried it in the door lock and it worked perfectly. Since the hood release isn't inside the car, it's only on the outside, it would have work well as a spare taped there. These days maybe not, but back then, ya I think so.

IMG_6739.jpg


As the cleaning progressed the hood is much cleaner now (in fact it glares from the overhead lights :)) and one piece of the original hood insulation has been re-attached. That insulation is original so it stays, tears, holes and all.


IMG_6580.jpg


IMG_6736.jpg


And these are the hood hinges with original factory gold cad plating after cleaning.

I didn't really want to go off on a tangent about the '62 right now, but that's why I didn't get an epic #4000 post on here......I was busy, honest. :)


Thomas
 
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