Above 1200 Sq/FT Restored 1930's Auto Shop
- Thread starter BB767
- Start date
Wokspaces above 1200 squarefeet.
HOTFR8
Banned
Holdens ? Your location is Shanghai ! I have to ask what is the connection ?
Ex Pat Aussie ?
HOTFR8
Banned
Ex pat Kiwi!! Holden Fan!!!!!
Just so envious not having the space here in Shanghai, so enjoying the builds here on GJ.
I was close then.
I second this motion
But it would have to be in addition to this thread of coarse. Too much friend building and interactional learning going on in this one to ignore it.
It's so great to have such wonderful friends as yourselves and others here, really! I have thought about something along similar lines (great minds think alike?) of posting only the shop and equipment restoration except I hadn't though of keeping my original commentaries with the pictures. That might be a better way to do it. Because I have all those pictures, (several thousand, I'm not kidding!
) in my files at home, I am able to go from day one, picture one and breeze through them, in order showing certain aspects of the shop work as it was done. I still find it interesting to view how the property or projects evolved in rapid fire succession from start to finish. I thought about looking into doing such a post with pictures only and see how that would turn out but I think e-tek's suggestion of using the original commentaries is much better. I can only imagine Ryan hearing about this. He's already been more than generous to me, allowing me to take up server space with this thread, let alone duplicate parts of it again. HOTFR8, you're a moderator here from time to time aren't you? Does this have any merit or is it wishful thinking?No matter what it was a nice suggestion e-tek and I am thankful to all of you who have posted in with your enthusiastic support and kind words of encouragement. That is what has kept me posting more material. If I thought nobody really cared I'd have packed it in long ago. Food for thought.
Thomas
HOTFR8
Banned
Thomas,
Yes it has merit and also alot of wishfull thinking. It would be a great idea and I read it I said to myself also lot of work I was going to comment but decided not to until you asked me in your post. Moderators here are volunteers you know and we have our own projects etc. as well as work and families. The time we give here is so others enjoy posts like this.
I have followed this topic from day one borrowing and stealing great ideas as I do from many topics, but to have a topic with no comments would be taking away half the interesting stories that go with them and in that many of the replies are just as informing. The same can be said about E-Teks posts and the information we get (learn) from what he does.
Just keep going and share more :thumbup.
HOTFR8.
Yes it has merit and also alot of wishfull thinking. It would be a great idea and I read it I said to myself also lot of work I was going to comment but decided not to until you asked me in your post. Moderators here are volunteers you know and we have our own projects etc. as well as work and families. The time we give here is so others enjoy posts like this.
I have followed this topic from day one borrowing and stealing great ideas as I do from many topics, but to have a topic with no comments would be taking away half the interesting stories that go with them and in that many of the replies are just as informing. The same can be said about E-Teks posts and the information we get (learn) from what he does.
Just keep going and share more :thumbup.
HOTFR8.
HOTFR8
Banned
I'll just add much of my time considering I am in a different time zone to many of you is spent dealing with spam on the forum. 
Some times my own topics do not get any updates until the next day.
Some times my own topics do not get any updates until the next day. I didn't mean for a moderator to do the project as e-tek had originally proposed. I am well aware of all the volunteer time you, Jack, Bull and other moderators contribute to make Garage Journal such a special forum. I myself normally have barely enough time to post in after working out in the shop, flying trips etc. and dear Chris is having a hard time trying to just write the thread test with all the new information being posted on here so we understand completely.
Fun to think about but not terribly practical I'm afraid. All the best my friend.
Thomas
Fyrme
Well-known member
Thomas, here is an idea, granted you are a VERY busy man. There is always the option of starting an off site blog of your build. Once complete, or up to date, you can post a link here that is easy to find. And as you get time, up date it as well. I know the only time you may have to do something this extensive would be while traveling abroad and hung up in some boring hotel room. I think it would be a ton of work at first, but you can always copy and paste from the edit page to the blog each time you make an entry. Because we all know if you didn't post here first, well, there might be a problem.....
HOTFR8
Banned
I just see to set it up would be that of a Mods job. I doubt any one could access what is required to do this otherwise. Any way this topic is good so just keep posting and adding to it as you progress.
I enjoyed what you posted about the Amish workshop. How do they generate the air to run all that machinery ? Steam ? Would love to to know the answer.
155'Ringman
Well-known member
Two big diesels out the back, one for hydraulics, one for pneumatics if I remember correctly. Was great to see such a different approach to things.
Correct 155'Ringman, you were paying attention and clearly will do well on the test!
Without getting into specifics, electricity is generally forbidden but mechanical generated power is OK. Before the advent of pneumatics or hydraulics, Amish shops used overhead line-shafts to power their equipment much as had been done since the Industrial Revolution until the advent of electricity. There are still some small shops around here that have overhead line-shafts powering the equipment. They can use diesel engines for stationary power no problem but not for portable power such as a tractor. All work in farm fields is still done using horses, real horse power as it were. They are slowly changing, a few years ago they were allowed to ride bikes. The rules still vary slightly in different districts according to the dictates of the church. In Arthur, many businessmen can use a cell phone, but strictly for business purposes only. I never did ask how they charge the phones?
It is a fascinating culture and religion which is greatly respected and admired in this area. When we build our retirement house I plan on having several of their craftsman involved. Old school indeed!
Thomas
gordyy
Well-known member
The ten pages a day reading were just an impossible undertaking I have reached the pause in posting!!!!!!! I think I am about 25 days ahead of the regular scheduled programing I set for myself
Thomas you have a lot of gifts, a lot of talents, and a wife with a lot of patience and understanding!!!!!
A fantastic read from front to back loved all phases of this, Gus because I started a 53 cj3 rebuild with my then teenage sons a few years back, on the 3rd week of this restoration I was injured in an industrial accident and still am trying to get on with things but happy to say after several mud runner builds and snow drag builds we now have the 3b at the top of the list to return to the shop..
Looking forward to another 2 or 3 hundred pages of reading
Class the way you have given back to the family members and the jerauld speedshop family
Thats the way we do things in rural America still!!!!!!!!!!
Thomas you have a lot of gifts, a lot of talents, and a wife with a lot of patience and understanding!!!!!
A fantastic read from front to back loved all phases of this, Gus because I started a 53 cj3 rebuild with my then teenage sons a few years back, on the 3rd week of this restoration I was injured in an industrial accident and still am trying to get on with things but happy to say after several mud runner builds and snow drag builds we now have the 3b at the top of the list to return to the shop..
Looking forward to another 2 or 3 hundred pages of reading
Class the way you have given back to the family members and the jerauld speedshop family
Thats the way we do things in rural America still!!!!!!!!!!
Chris, Saw the post on testing with your students. Had an instuctor years ago that the final test in a class was not to know all the answers, but to know how to find them. I have always encorage the guys that have worked for me to take any training the company would offer. I always tell them "They can take your cars ,homes, toys and jobs but they can't take what you know. And Thank You for being a Teacher it is a very demanding position in life.
I learn something new everyday!
I learn something new everyday!
R1chy
Well-known member
Here is a bonus question:
What kind of coat does Thomas like to put on some of his favorite things?
markviii
Well-known member
Those questions are too "softball". We have sooo much content on this thread (contributed by us and others) that is worthwhile, so the test will highlight things (in a unique way). It's all important, right? I don't think we can be accused of putting out boring or non-intellectually stimulating info, rich in photos for those who don't learn as easily from the printed word. But the pictures do tend to draw people in to the printed content, too (kind of like a photo essay -- only longer). I'm attempting to make the test "do-able" for even novices to the thread, interesting on its own, as well as helpful for Tom and me to organize everything. And once the test is "handed out", there will be a time limit/deadline of some sort. All will be revealed once I figure it all out. Stay tuned!
Chris
Chris
Sweet Old Bill
Well-known member
Miss Chris,
I just read your post.
Now I lay my head to sleep, with echoes of the Jaws theme running through my
mind! Aaargh!!
I just read your post.
Now I lay my head to sleep, with echoes of the Jaws theme running through my
mind! Aaargh!!
HOTFR8
Banned
Test sounds like fun.
I get enough of that from spammers (testing me here) on the forum.
I think I'll just sit back and watch the fun with every one else on this test.
I get enough of that from spammers (testing me here) on the forum.
I think I'll just sit back and watch the fun with every one else on this test.
Last edited:
Hi Thomas
Amazing story and fantastic work, congratulations. For some time now you have been my new source of motivation, if I can't be bothered to work on one of my projects or complete jobs around the house I think of what you've achieved and that seems to do the trick and give me the kick up the *** I need. So thanks, well done again and thank you for sharing your fantastic shop with us.
Cheers Simon.
Amazing story and fantastic work, congratulations. For some time now you have been my new source of motivation, if I can't be bothered to work on one of my projects or complete jobs around the house I think of what you've achieved and that seems to do the trick and give me the kick up the *** I need. So thanks, well done again and thank you for sharing your fantastic shop with us.
Cheers Simon.
Hello there Simon and a warm welcome to you sir. Thank you for posting in and the kind words also. I do appreciate that I've had a positive affect on your habits and will happily supply a swift kick to your bottom side whenever you feel it's appropriate!
All of us, myself included, need a jump start sometimes to get going on projects. I find it helps at times to just do something small and then once I get going I'm out there for hours.I might now gently suggest you start your review for the test. Chris says she has been putting it off long enough and I do believe the young lady is gathering steam and you might actually see it here one of these times.
Thomas
Sweet Old Bill
Well-known member
Thomas,
Ever in the interest of Delaying the Dreaded Test (DDT); I submit the following:
http://www.lov2xlr8.no/misc.html
The link is to a collection of car sales brochures. Look up your first car!
Ever in the interest of Delaying the Dreaded Test (DDT); I submit the following:
http://www.lov2xlr8.no/misc.html
The link is to a collection of car sales brochures. Look up your first car!
bluestripe67
Well-known member
Thomas, About 50 miles south of me, in St. Mary's County Maryland is a community of Amish. I sometimes go and work with a long time friend in that area. Some of our travels take us to Amish farms. Next time I'll make some notes for comparison sake. How are the '66 Vette seat track repairs going? Dennis
DennisHomebody
Well-known member
More pics, Less test talk....
I do have a few projects ongoing at present. The only one that I have pictures of showing real progress are, I'm afraid, of the Corvette and I didn't know how interesting that might be.
As I've mentioned before, the primary reason I bought the shop years ago was to restore it so I would have a nice working environment for my cars. And I believe I have succeeded in that.
I find it tremendously rewarding to roll a vehicle in and be able to work in a comfortable, pleasant, well equipped work space.
Winter is the best time to do tweaking on the cars. The Corvette is not a show car and I have no intention of doing a "proper" NCRS restoration on it. It's a nice driver that I like to keep well maintained and operating correctly. It needed the original Delco AM/FM radio freshen up so I though this would be a good time. I've been down this road before and know how these projects can cascade but I was prepared for that.
To remove the radio the glove box needs be be removed.
Knowing some of those components were showing nearly 50 years of age so I had planned on repair/maintaining as necessary.
That involved not only repainting some of the glove box components, but replacing door bumpers and grommets.
With that complete next in line was...
...giving the speaker dash grill and clock some attention.
The center of the speaker grill didn't receive much paint from the factory and showed some very light surface rust in spots so I corrected that.
As long as I had the radio in tip top shape and everything under the dash was apart and accessible...
...a new speaker seemed in order.
The original was 47 years old and after sitting in the sun all those years the paper on the cone was pretty brittle.
I managed to locate a NOS clock and while that was being installed in the original clock housing, the radio was reinstalled in the car. Installing a radio in a Corvette is no easy task, it has some pretty tight quarters.
With the center "stack" now back together the glove box...
...was reinstalled also. The exterior finish on the glove box door and dash both are original and while not perfect, they are nice enough so they will be left as is.
The dash area is now ready to go for many, many more years. I've now turned my attention to the seat frames and tracks, but I'll save that for another time. Stand by Dennis.
I didn't know how interesting doing maintenance work like this would be, but it does show the shop being put to use. There's another barn bench project almost done as well as some equipment projects that are well under way. Those will be coming up.
Thomas
As I've mentioned before, the primary reason I bought the shop years ago was to restore it so I would have a nice working environment for my cars. And I believe I have succeeded in that.
I find it tremendously rewarding to roll a vehicle in and be able to work in a comfortable, pleasant, well equipped work space.
Winter is the best time to do tweaking on the cars. The Corvette is not a show car and I have no intention of doing a "proper" NCRS restoration on it. It's a nice driver that I like to keep well maintained and operating correctly. It needed the original Delco AM/FM radio freshen up so I though this would be a good time. I've been down this road before and know how these projects can cascade but I was prepared for that.
To remove the radio the glove box needs be be removed.
Knowing some of those components were showing nearly 50 years of age so I had planned on repair/maintaining as necessary.
That involved not only repainting some of the glove box components, but replacing door bumpers and grommets.
With that complete next in line was...
...giving the speaker dash grill and clock some attention.
The center of the speaker grill didn't receive much paint from the factory and showed some very light surface rust in spots so I corrected that.
As long as I had the radio in tip top shape and everything under the dash was apart and accessible...
...a new speaker seemed in order.
The original was 47 years old and after sitting in the sun all those years the paper on the cone was pretty brittle.
I managed to locate a NOS clock and while that was being installed in the original clock housing, the radio was reinstalled in the car. Installing a radio in a Corvette is no easy task, it has some pretty tight quarters.
With the center "stack" now back together the glove box...
...was reinstalled also. The exterior finish on the glove box door and dash both are original and while not perfect, they are nice enough so they will be left as is.
The dash area is now ready to go for many, many more years. I've now turned my attention to the seat frames and tracks, but I'll save that for another time. Stand by Dennis.
I didn't know how interesting doing maintenance work like this would be, but it does show the shop being put to use. There's another barn bench project almost done as well as some equipment projects that are well under way. Those will be coming up.
Thomas
Stuart in MN
Well-known member
How does the new speaker from *** Electrotech sound? They're a local company to me; I've always heard good things about their work and products, but haven't had personal experience.
Excellent! Thanks for posting and sharing.
Thanks for posting and sharing.I do have a few projects ongoing at present. The only one that I have pictures of showing real progress are, I'm afraid, of the Corvette and I didn't know how interesting that might be.
As I've mentioned before, the primary reason I bought the shop years ago was to restore it so I would have a nice working environment for my cars. And I believe I have succeeded in that.
I find it tremendously rewarding to roll a vehicle in and be able to work in a comfortable, pleasant, well equipped work space.
Winter is the best time to do tweaking on the cars. The Corvette is not a show car and I have no intention of doing a "proper" NCRS restoration on it. It's a nice driver that I like to keep well maintained and operating correctly. It needed the original Delco AM/FM radio freshen up so I though this would be a good time. I've been down this road before and know how these projects can cascade but I was prepared for that.
To remove the radio the glove box needs be be removed.
Knowing some of those components were showing nearly 50 years of age so I had planned on repair/maintaining as necessary.
That involved not only repainting some of the glove box components, but replacing door bumpers and grommets.
With that complete next in line was...
...giving the speaker dash grill and clock some attention.
The center of the speaker grill didn't receive much paint from the factory and showed some very light surface rust in spots so I corrected that.
As long as I had the radio in tip top shape and everything under the dash was apart and accessible...
...a new speaker seemed in order.
The original was 47 years old and after sitting in the sun all those years the paper on the cone was pretty brittle.
I managed to locate a NOS clock and while that was being installed in the original clock housing, the radio was reinstalled in the car. Installing a radio in a Corvette is no easy task, it has some pretty tight quarters.
With the center "stack" now back together the glove box...
...was reinstalled also. The exterior finish on the glove box door and dash both are original and while not perfect, they are nice enough so they will be left as is.
The dash area is now ready to go for many, many more years. I've now turned my attention to the seat frames and tracks, but I'll save that for another time. Stand by Dennis.
I didn't know how interesting doing maintenance work like this would be, but it does show the shop being put to use. There's another barn bench project almost done as well as some equipment projects that are well under way. Those will be coming up.
Thomas
robin1731
Well-known member
snip.........
Thomas
So, what is the toggle switch for in left hand plate?
On these drive on lifts there were fold down legs to set the hoist at about 2' off floor for doing front end alignments. They had adjustable feet to level it also, since a bubble level guage was used for checking caster and camber.Thank you Elroy, always insightful! This was the era before safety dogs were installed on the safety leg...
The lift was originally equipped with a small leg seen here (black and on the right of the lift cylinder). It's original purpose back then was to prevent the lift from turning or Rotating (hence the name "Rotary Lift").
At some point Rotary incorporated a safety dog or dogs depending on the option, into this leg.
I'm meeting Monday with my buddy who's dad owned the shop. Among other things were getting into some more early shop pictures he has (I'll get them on here of course) and I'll see if he can confirm the purpose of the brackets. Better yet we'll look and see if we can find a picture of them in use. I never remember anything ever being attached to the lift there. It always had a pair of 5' long safety stands that were placed under it. I'll see what I can come up with.
And so the saga continues.....
Thomas
Do you have the turntables for the front wheels? By the way the shop looks great!
csp
Well-known member
People are aware that you can reply with a quote without including every picture again, right?
APEowner
Well-known member
I certainly can't claim to speak for everyone but I like seeing the car maintenance stuff. I don't think there's a need to document an oil change on the Chevy truck but I enjoy looking at pictures of old, interesting cars being worked on. In fact, just like looking at car magazines, it inspires me to go do something in my shop.
bluestripe67
Well-known member
Being a long time Vette owner I do know it is not something from the factory. The exact use my be known to Thomas. It's all part of the discovered use of these cars.
Denniskbuhagiar
Well-known member
landroversforever
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 27, 2011
- Messages
- 86
I'm sure many others on here agree with me, but ANYthing you write on here is interesting Thomas .
It is a true pleasure to see your work. Be that the beautiful barn bench or the Jack restoration or anything in between! Anything you do in the garage or related to the garage is interesting.
.It is a true pleasure to see your work. Be that the beautiful barn bench or the Jack restoration or anything in between! Anything you do in the garage or related to the garage is interesting.
rburke65
Well-known member
Do you mean we don't have to repost the same 42 photos all over again just to say, "nice job". Amazing!
First off, a heads up to our UK friends, particularly if anyone is in the Birmingham area. The nasty weather here on the east coast has caused my Brazil flight to be canceled and the company decided I should tour Birmingham, Uk instead. So in the name of cross Atlantic good will I will find myself in Birmingham proper this Sunday, Feb 10th for the day and evening. We depart back to the States, Monday the 11th. If anyone is nearby and would like to try to meet up I'm all for it. If not I expect I'll spend some time at the steam engine museum. I haven't been there in about 10 years or so and I found it fascinating. I hope it's still open.
If there is any interest, drop me a PM and I'll see what we can do. It's a last minute, short notice situation so I'd be surprised if it works out, but you just never know.
Thomas
If there is any interest, drop me a PM and I'll see what we can do. It's a last minute, short notice situation so I'd be surprised if it works out, but you just never know.
Thomas
Stuart, I've only tried it in the shop without the car running and it sounds very good. Keep in mind its mono, single speaker and the car has side pipes but I thought I'd at least do what I could. All the correct dimensions, it's a direct bolt in replacement which is very helpful considering the tight space under the dash.
S & M Electro-Tech:
http://www.turnswitch.com/speakers.htm
...enjoys a very good reputation for old, classic car radio speaker replacement. The Delco in the Corvette needs a special 8 - 10 Ohm with a correct 1.5 ohm 26 millihenry load coil to keep from damaging the radio and this one is designed just for 1958-67 Corvettes. Some radio repair shops use Electro-Tech's for playback to check their radio repair work. Kind of a "gold standard" it's my understanding. They are also very nice, helpful folks to talk with, not a bad thing.
Thomas