New guy, old garage

[Sonik]

Hello Gents,

Long time lurker, 1st time poster. I've spent a bit of time (read: days) trying to absorb some of the great info/advice here as I will be tackling a ~26' x ~32' x 9' detatched garage project when I return from an extended vacation in the middle-east.

While I am a wrench-turner by trade, a builder I am not. The location I've chosen will need some clearing and a regrade and accomplishing this, in my mind, may be the largest obstacle. I look forward to this project as a coming-home present to myself, and "the boss" has given me her blessing....we'll see if that holds true once the details start piling up.

In keeping with the spirit of the thread, I've attached in a pic of my current 22 x 28 attached as of winter 2011. It doesn't have the flash or allure of most here, but it is functional, well insulated, finished, and heated....its just not big enough to hold all of my junk and satisfy my OCD in any kind of organized fashion. The only additions I plan at this point are some custom scratch-built cabinetry (helps significantly to have a friend in the industrial cabinet-making business) to get everything I can off the floor and have been entertaining a floor coating at some point. The conrete is circa 1964 so I'm concerned about prep and longevity but we shall see.

I, along with many others here from what I've seen, also suffer from a chronic disorder compelling me to stuff every last square inch of toolbox with the never-ending "I've gotta have this, its a good deal" influx of tools that miraculously keep streaming in from (insert random internet classified or estate sale here). My mac roller (read: Beach...yup, I educated myself on that guy here too...only into it for $400) is about ready to start popping its welds so there is an upgrade/addition in the future on that front as well.

I look forward to soaking up some ideas from all of you when I kick this project off next spring.

Jeff

 

[upndown]

Welcome Sonik,Let the fun begin!! what lakes do you terrorize with that old beauty?

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Welcome and I agree, nice boat...what we can see of it. We LIKE pictures here so how about a few more?

Hey, be CAREFUL on your, uh er "vacation"!

 

[Sonik]

Welcome Sonik,Let the fun begin!! what lakes do you terrorize with that old beauty?

Ty for the welcome. I boat mostly in IL and WI. The boat was the "winter project" that is now going on 3+ yrs. The project was a new balsa core but that aside, was an unmolested original gel/interior 1976. Now that I'm drawing to a few cosmetics, I really need to focus on that new space so at least 2 of my vehicles can live inside again during the winter.

I'm sure I'll be asking the typical rookie questions so I'll apologize ahead of time.

Jeff

EDIT: Added pics

 

[pattenp]

Welcome aboard. Gota love those Merc outboards. I took outboard engine repair classes that were taught by a Mercury certified mechanic. The only thing I didn't care for in the design was not having a cylinder head to remove and had to use those special ring compressors the get the pistons back in the block. It's been a while but I assume the Mercury blocks are still designed that way.

 

[Sonik]

.....The only thing I didn't care for in the design was not having a cylinder head to remove

The old inline 6's, or "tower of power" as they were called, were assembled from the bottom/crank end as you described, although Mercs have had removable heads since the release of the 2.0 liter 175hp V-6 in the late 70's.

 

[pattenp]

I said it had been awhile. That's definitely showing my age and how long it's been since I've touched a Merc.

The old inline 6's, or "tower of power" as they were called, were assembled from the bottom/crank end as you described, although Mercs have had removable heads since the release of the 2.0 liter 175hp V-6 in the late 70's.