HOTFR8
Banned
No sorry. All I did was mount a double switched power point and then a standard 3 pin receptacle for the light. The light comes on when the lead is plugged in showing the power is also on to the power point.
Above 1200 Sq/FT Restored 1930's Auto Shop
- Thread starter BB767
- Start date
Wokspaces above 1200 squarefeet.
HOTFR8
Banned
Oops, Yes I have a photo.
The top fitting has the light plugged into it.
The top fitting has the light plugged into it.
Hello again Russ, you have been missed! Yeah, about that 280 pages. Ya know it wasn't planned that way, really. It just kinda happened. I don't know if Ryan could stand me posting another 280 pages on this thread.Maybe if I lay low, below his radar I'll be able to keep at it? Welcome back BTW.
Thomas
Sorry, Thomas. Your'e screwed!
My thoughts would be more along the lines of pure mayhem all across the globe if you DON'T post at least another 280 pages of posts. You know, you can't just get us started, and the simply cool of! We need our daily fixes here!
You got us hooked, now you keep us well fed! Just think of poor Joe!
stidham
Member
Hi there stidham, you don't happen to be near Clark and his helicopter by chance, there in Southern Illinois? I've just about got his heliport ready next door so he can "drop in" for a visit.
Thomas
I don't know. Where's he from? I'm just east of St. Louis, in Belleville.
hobbitss
Well-known member
Sorry, Thomas. Your'e screwed!
My thoughts would be more along the lines of pure mayhem all across the globe if you DON'T post at least another 280 pages of posts. You know, you can't just get us started, and the simply cool of! We need our daily fixes here!
You got us hooked, now you keep us well fed! Just think of poor Joe!
You got that right!!!!
Tool Shed Photos!!!
Tool Shed Photos!!!
Tool Shed Photos!!!!
You got that right!!!!
Tool Shed Photos!!!
Tool Shed Photos!!!
Tool Shed Photos!!!!
Ok Joe so here we have...
...the largest connecting rod that I'm familiar with. It was about 18" - 20" or so long.
In the center of the picture is a piston and connecting rod for a lawn mower just for comparison.
It has a 4 bolt main cap. That's the first one of those I've ever seen. Anyone have a clue as to what this was used in?
It's hard to read the picture but the scrip cast into this jack spells International . Would this have been from a truck or a piece of Ag equipment?
What we have here is a an oil can drain rack Mr Johnson made. Quart oil cans used to be all metal...
...so he cut up a few up and soldered them to this piece of metal...
...the third and fourth one down are missing. He'd place used oil cans in this to let them drain the last few drops of oil...
...down into a can he had set at the bottom. He wasted nothing. A friend of mine was out touring the shop a few weeks ago. He hadn't been out there in over 40 years and was asking about this drain rack. He remembered it from "back in the day" and wondered if I'd saved it. Roger, if you're reading this, here it is.
Found this out out there...
...complete but all rusted.
These appear to be chisels for blacksmithing. I'll post some better pictures of these later.
And then there were these vintage McCulloch chain saws.
Is there anyone out there that can post more information about these?
They appear to be rather old.
This one has the recoil placed on the end of the handle. Never seen that done before.
Back in the late 50's they took engines like this one and placed them on the first go karts.
Both of them are complete with nothing apparently missing. Since Mr Johnson did small engine repair it's not too surprising to find these. I have more material coming, trust me.
Thomas
hobbitss
Well-known member
Ok Joe so here we have...
...the largest connecting rod that I'm familiar with. It was about 18" - 20" or so long.
It has a 4 bolt main cap. That's the first one of those I've ever seen. Anyone have a clue as to what this was used in?
It's hard to read the picture but the scrip cast into this jack spells International . Would this have been from a truck or a piece of Ag equipment?
What we have here is a an oil can drain rack Mr Johnson made. Quart oil cans used to be all metal...
...so he cut up a few up and soldered them to this piece of metal...
...the third and fourth one down are missing. He'd place used oil cans in this to let them drain the last few drops of oil...
...down into a can he had set at the bottom. He wasted nothing. A friend of mine was out touring the shop a few weeks ago. He hadn't been out there in over 40 years and was asking about this drain rack. He remembered it from "back in the day" and wondered if I'd saved it. Roger, if you're reading this, here it is.
Found this out out there...
...complete but all rusted.
These appear to be chisels for blacksmithing. I'll post some better pictures of these later.
And then there were these vintage McCulloch chain saws.
Is there anyone out there that can post more information about these?
They appear to be rather old.
This one has the recoil placed on the end of the handle. Never seen that done before.
Back in the late 50's they took engines like this one and placed them on the first go karts.
Both of them are complete with nothing apparently missing. Since Mr Johnson did small engine repair it's not too surprising to find these. I have more material coming, trust me.
Thomas
Treasures and Tools........... 
More please.....Spareparts
Well-known member
The chainsaws look like the old Mac-10's that was the motor to have for the early Carts. With Mr Johnson buildint the go kart chassis he probally grabbed every Mac-10 he could get.
The old connecting rod probally came from an old Hit an Miss engine that powered a line shaft from a Grain Mill or Maching Shop. Possibly a Steam Engine doing the same job. Mr. Johnson's shop was back in the day when this type of engines were still in use, the engine that rod came out of probally weighed in excess of3,ooo lbs and only ran around 200 rpm.
The old connecting rod probally came from an old Hit an Miss engine that powered a line shaft from a Grain Mill or Maching Shop. Possibly a Steam Engine doing the same job. Mr. Johnson's shop was back in the day when this type of engines were still in use, the engine that rod came out of probally weighed in excess of3,ooo lbs and only ran around 200 rpm.
I can tell you from my fathers stories that the oil can drain was fairly common in the depression. People woulld go around and look for oil cans that had been thrown out and get as much out of them so they wouldn't have to buy a can if they couldn't afford it.
kbuhagiar
Well-known member
magnusk750
Well-known member
Keep the oil can drain, an item with so much significance. And don't powder coat it!
I must confess that when I pour a can of oil into the engine at home I tend to let it drain standing upside down over the oil fill hole, doing something else for a few minutes.
I must confess that when I pour a can of oil into the engine at home I tend to let it drain standing upside down over the oil fill hole, doing something else for a few minutes.
Mr Johnson's oil can drain is also an item I remember as a little kid out in the shop. It seemed there were always multiple cans draining on it all the time. I looked to see of I had any pictures of it from when I first bought the shop but I don't see it. My Dad use to drain his old oil cans and use that in his pump oil can to oil machinery but he only did it one can at a time. With all the oil changes done at the old shop they had to do several at a time to keep up!
BTW, I'm like you with adding oil. I let each quart drain into the engine a good long time to get it all before I remove the bottle or can. Waste nothing.
Thomas
Around here in the early '60's West Bend engines were widely used on Go Carts until the first Mac engines started to show up. I think using Macs started in California and moved east. From then on, if you were a serious competitor you used a Mac. I used both Macs and West Bends on my carts and found that the Macs were fast but seemed to be very temperamental. I eventually settled on a West Bend 820 and for what I was doing it was a great all around engine.
As for the large connecting rod, I hadn't thought of a hit or miss engine, I thought of a diesel. I ought to look around our area as there are many restored hit and miss engines here. See if anyone recognizes it. Thanks.
Thomas
Boosted1
Well-known member
Hey Thomas,
I've continued to enjoy your updates.
For your portable grinding stand, have you considered a couple of dowels in the permanent base and corresponding holes in each of your "accessory" plates to help keep them in place?
Love the detail in your projects.
I've continued to enjoy your updates.
For your portable grinding stand, have you considered a couple of dowels in the permanent base and corresponding holes in each of your "accessory" plates to help keep them in place?
Love the detail in your projects.
Hi again Boosted1 and thanks for the kind words. No I really hadn't considered dowel pins as such. Exact placement of the grinders on the pedestal isn't terribly critical but they do need to be secure. I don't know if just locating dowel pins would do that but those nasty looking c-clamps do an admirable job. For now I bet I could find other means of securing the grinders but I'd be hard pressed to find a more practical way. Form follows function?
I have more detail on the PDR coming shortly so please check back.
Thomas
USAF.Kyle0617
Member
Absolutely in awe of what you have done Thomas and Chris! This is my first post here but I wanted to make sure I read through the thread before posting! And Thomas I too have experience with aviation! I am a PROUD member of the USAF as a sheet metal mechanic, so I can understand your attention to detail.
P.S Chris add Okinawa, Japan to your list if it hasn't been already!
Once again thanks for sharing, definitely helps with being away from home, not too many people have garages over here!!!
--Kyle
P.S Chris add Okinawa, Japan to your list if it hasn't been already!
Once again thanks for sharing, definitely helps with being away from home, not too many people have garages over here!!!
--Kyle
Hello Kyle and a warm welcome to you sir. Congratulations for sticking with the thread and reading it, not an easy task anymore I'm afraid. You are justifiably proud to be a member of the Air Force and the skills you are learning will last a lifetime. As a pilot I'm well aware my life depends on our maintenance crews attention to detail and they've never let me down I'm happy to say!
I use to fly for Air Micronesia, based on Guam. As such, I've flown into Okinawa and had layovers there. I was intrigued to see the multi-story car parks there with cars stacked up on top of each other. Space is indeed at a premium! I'm sure Chris will make note of your contribution to our expanding list of countries following this thread. Please feel free to pass this thread along to others you think might find it of interest, especially those who are away from home here in the US. We're happy to share our little slice of heaven.
There's more in store so happy reading.Thomas
USAF.Kyle0617
Member
I'm always looking forward to the next thread even though it took me a week to read through all 281 pgs I will be keeping up with you all now. Also, the front of 'Gus' looks a lot like my 1990 Mitsubishi Jeep here in Japan! Apparently Mitsubishi was granted access to the blue prints of the old CJ3 B platform and produced it up until 1998 here in Japan! It is exactly like in the states except it has a online turbo diesel engine!!!!
It's been tough not being able to post when I'm gone on a trip but everyone here seems to understand. Once I'm home I try to catch up posting on projects, but lately I've been so busy working out there I'm waaay behind.
Every so often someone stops by the shop for a visit and will see something that hasn't shown up on the thread yet so they get a sneak peek. I have to swear them to secrecy until I can get a post on it, even when they tour the fabled "Tool Shed". I'll typically get a response, "wait till Joe sees that!"If you get a chance to post a picture of your Mitsubishi Jeep, I'd like to see it. Besides my Mitsu GSX...
... a Mitsubishi 3000 GT-VR4 resides in one of my garages. Most people have never heard of a VR4 and are always asking me about it. Mitsubishi sure makes a wide range of vehicles don't they?
Thomas
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hobbitss
Well-known member
USAF.Kyle0617
Member
Not sure how to post pics????
Instead of doing the quick reply box click on "post reply". Once it loads scroll down and you'll see "manage attachments" and click on that. You can load directly from your puter that way.
Dan in Pasadena
Well-known member
...OR
if you have an account in Photobucket with photos there when you pass your pointer over the thumbnail image one option copies the image. Click that and come back here and paste that code into the text box and your photo will be inserted here in full size.
Hope that made some sense, Dan
if you have an account in Photobucket with photos there when you pass your pointer over the thumbnail image one option copies the image. Click that and come back here and paste that code into the text box and your photo will be inserted here in full size.
Hope that made some sense, Dan
Wow - my step-dad had a VR-4. I'm not sure I've seen another. That thing was scary fast. I went 175mph in it ONCE. A deserted stretch of desolate highway. After that I realized that not being on a racetrack to do that was stupid. Of course I was 17 at the time.
Jeff
Slow Gray Mule
Well-known member
... a Mitsubishi 3000 GT-VR4 resides in one of my garages. Most people have never heard of a VR4 and are always asking me about it. Mitsubishi sure makes a wide range of vehicles don't they?
Thomas
I had the pleasure of racing a Mitsu Galant V-4 several time at the dragstrip. It was a fairly even race for my, at the time, Acura TL type-S. Event though the Galant was probably 10 years older.
Ivan DeSlayer
Active member
OK wow 280+ pages and just awesome. I love old shops. Someday hopefully I can find my own
Here's some of what's been going at the new property next to the shop. Fair warning; much of the following is agriculture related and might not be suitable for young children or those desiring strictly car related material.
With the bucket truck we were able to trim all the upper dead limbs out of the hedge row and sort out firewood material. Leave a pile like this by the side of the road near a hedge row and you'll get all kinds of inquires about whether the firewood is for sale. Folks know that hedge is some of the finest, hottest burning wood there is. With that all cleared out the next step in the process is...
...prepping the ground for grass seed. Here is a tiller attached to the back of my tractor. (That's the old shop in the background seen through the trees so there is a garage connection here.)
For those who don't know, the tiller is powder by the rear PTO- Power Take Off of the tractor.
The PTO is a drive shaft (the black tube, center - left) that...
...turns these knives.
After I've made one pass you can see how the tiller turns and cuts the soil. It reduces the soil to an almost powder form that makes a great seed bed.
With the area that I'm going to seed all tilled...
...it left several cut...
...roots that then had to be cut by hand...
...with an ax and removed. That takes a bit of time walking the entire area, cutting and removing but it's the only way.
With that all done, I graded the area one more time with the grade box to smooth it all out. Then...
...grass seed is spread and raked in by hand. Look closely in the background- center- and you can see my charming wife, Chris, wielding a red rake and lending a hand. It took the two of us a 12 hour day to spread, rake and then...
...spread straw over the entire area. Remember we also had to do the north property line. This is the east line. Not sure where the drag strip will go just yet.
Reverse view. The straw helps hold moisture in thus helping seed germination.
Now my job is to keep it moist, watering it when it doesn't rain. The round, green objects seen are...
...hedge apples from the hedge tress. It's the fall season and that's when they mature.
They're about the size of a large grapefruit. A bit of a nuisance but pretty harmless really. The squirrels love them!
Remember the area to the right of the hedge row never had any grass growing until I did all the above steps 6 years ago. Now we wait for "the other side".
Thomas
With the bucket truck we were able to trim all the upper dead limbs out of the hedge row and sort out firewood material. Leave a pile like this by the side of the road near a hedge row and you'll get all kinds of inquires about whether the firewood is for sale. Folks know that hedge is some of the finest, hottest burning wood there is. With that all cleared out the next step in the process is...
...prepping the ground for grass seed. Here is a tiller attached to the back of my tractor. (That's the old shop in the background seen through the trees so there is a garage connection here.)
For those who don't know, the tiller is powder by the rear PTO- Power Take Off of the tractor.
The PTO is a drive shaft (the black tube, center - left) that...
...turns these knives.
After I've made one pass you can see how the tiller turns and cuts the soil. It reduces the soil to an almost powder form that makes a great seed bed.
With the area that I'm going to seed all tilled...
...it left several cut...
...roots that then had to be cut by hand...
...with an ax and removed. That takes a bit of time walking the entire area, cutting and removing but it's the only way.
With that all done, I graded the area one more time with the grade box to smooth it all out. Then...
...grass seed is spread and raked in by hand. Look closely in the background- center- and you can see my charming wife, Chris, wielding a red rake and lending a hand. It took the two of us a 12 hour day to spread, rake and then...
...spread straw over the entire area. Remember we also had to do the north property line. This is the east line. Not sure where the drag strip will go just yet.
Reverse view. The straw helps hold moisture in thus helping seed germination.
Now my job is to keep it moist, watering it when it doesn't rain. The round, green objects seen are...
...hedge apples from the hedge tress. It's the fall season and that's when they mature.
They're about the size of a large grapefruit. A bit of a nuisance but pretty harmless really. The squirrels love them!
Remember the area to the right of the hedge row never had any grass growing until I did all the above steps 6 years ago. Now we wait for "the other side".
Thomas
Jeff, you are very privileged (and lucky to be alive!) I hope you know. They didn't make all that many 3000 GT VR-4's. There is a picture floating around the internet that shows a VR-4 speedometer pointing at about 175 mph with a few hundred rpm still left before the red line on the tach. The comment was much like yours, they became "uncomfortable" when they realized it probably wasn't the brightest thing they had ever done on a public road.
Mine is a 1999, the last year of production...
... the only year the factory made them with the oversized rear spoiler. They only made a handful that year, 287 total, before they stopped production. It is indeed............wicked fast...........
Thomas
Mitsubishi didn't do a very good job differentiating between production Gallant VR-4's and 3000 GT VR-4's. The Gallants were true sleepers, you'd never guess by looking at them how quick they were. Gallants turned into the Evolution which is, ah, Quite Quick- QQ.
Thomas
For shame, for shame Thomas. The tiller isn't powder coated?
It might not be charlief1, but just look at those pretty, yellow powder coated rims...
... and wheel weights!!
The tiller was borrowed from a friend, not sure if he shares my powder coating enthusiasm?
Thomas
tinbender 66
Well-known member
Heck, you've got room to get a 185 in there right now! Or dig a lake and get a DH Beaver.
You must have more fun than anybody!!
You must have more fun than anybody!!
Omphaloskeptic
Well-known member
Just curious Thomas, at what speed in the 3000 GT VR-4 do you 'rotate'? lol
JC23
Well-known member
WOW! Your great luck continues!
Imagine getting frre Zombie brains just in time fer Hlloween! They are even the right color!
Lucky dogs!
Imagine getting frre Zombie brains just in time fer Hlloween! They are even the right color!
Lucky dogs!
BigAl62
Well-known member
Tom, you are truly a renaissance man! Your clean up of your hedge row looks great! Lot's of hard work, but it's worth it. I, for one, don't mind your non-automotive/shop related posts, it's all interesting and I learn things I never knew that I didn't know (and yet find interesting). Please keep posting anything you want, there are people here who will read it.
Stuart in MN
Well-known member
It's easy to be an armchair quarterback, but I'm wondering about those three little saplings standing out in the yard - it seems as though they are going to grow up into the branches hanging overhead, and generally just be in the way as time goes on.
EricJ@AMS
Active member
99 VR-4s are very rare! If BB767 wasn't already enough of a bad *** in my book, he just topped himself for knowing what VR-4s are, including Galants.
I have 1991 Galant VR-41901/2000 in my garage, parted out 1992 430/1000, and built then sold a 10 sec 1/4 mile 1991 1608/2000 about 7 years ago.
i'd be even more impressed if you know what this car is.....
I have 1991 Galant VR-41901/2000 in my garage, parted out 1992 430/1000, and built then sold a 10 sec 1/4 mile 1991 1608/2000 about 7 years ago.
i'd be even more impressed if you know what this car is.....
Attachments
markviii
Well-known member
When it comes to cars, Tom knows...
Not as much as our 92 year old friend Earl. Earl's forgotten more than we'll ever know (collectively!) about past and current vehicles/mechanicals.
Stuart in MN -- I think those trees are slated for moving/replanting somewhere. They're too nice and straight to cut down and not fun to mow around.
Chris
Not as much as our 92 year old friend Earl. Earl's forgotten more than we'll ever know (collectively!) about past and current vehicles/mechanicals.
Stuart in MN -- I think those trees are slated for moving/replanting somewhere. They're too nice and straight to cut down and not fun to mow around.
Chris
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Kinally Mcgurkin
New member
This build is so awesome...couldn't tell you how many times I've come back for inspiration.