My 30'x40' in Oklahoma

[TigerSaleen]

Hey, guys:

Well, I finally got a chance to get some pics of the shop in it's finished state (are they ever REALLY finished???), so I thought I'd post them up. My shop started out as a pole barn-type building to which I added interior walls. I had the inside of the roof sprayed with closed-cell foam and insulated the walls with R-13 batting. The flooring started out as being epoxy painted with the U-Coat-It system but, when it became evident that it wasn't going to stand up the work that I planned to do in there, I opted for RaceDeck on the "work-bay" side of the shop and left the epoxy on the car storage side. I've also recently installed a Benpak MD-6XP scissor lift in the work bay, along with the obligatory 2"x12" runners (2 of these stacked and covered with aluminum diamond plate for a little bling) to enable me to get the cars over the lift. As far as what resides in the shop, we have a '67 Sunbeam Tiger Mk1A, an '89 Saleen Mustang and an '04 Thunderbird...plus a couple of Cairn Terriers who have the run of the place when I'm out there.


You will also notice that I built a 20'x14' room off to the side of the work bay; this houses my monster HO-scale slot car track that I'm in the process of building (I guess I'll never get that out of my system!!!). I've also got a 46" flat-screen TV in there so we can play our car movies while we race, plus we have plenty of tunes at our disposal. All in all, I'm very pleased with the way it turned out. Hope you guys like it!!!

 

[55cadillacking]

Just an amazing amount of awesomeness! I found this quote particularly interesting considering there is a lot of debate surrounding epoxy vs. RaceDeck:

when it became evident that it wasn't going to stand up the work that I planned to do in there, I opted for RaceDeck on the "work-bay" side of the shop and left the epoxy on the car storage side.

I often hear people express their hesitancy to use RD in an area where considerable work will be done, but you are definitely bucking that trend. Good on ya!

 

[TigerSaleen]

Just an amazing amount of awesomeness! I found this quote particularly interesting considering there is a lot of debate surrounding epoxy vs. RaceDeck:



I often hear people express their hesitancy to use RD in an area where considerable work will be done, but you are definitely bucking that trend. Good on ya!

Thanks for the comments!!! I must admit that I considered virtually every type of flooring when I built this place. I had epoxy in my old shop and it did very well, but it wasn't U-Coat-It. After I scratched the floor in my new shop in a few places by merely rolling my engine hoist around, I knew I'd have to do somehting different. So, I first ordered enough RaceDeck to build a 10'x20' pad around my lift. In fact, it was in place when my lift was delivered and we used my engine hoist to get the lift off of my trailer in the shop. Even with that much weight on the engine hoist, it didn't leave a mark one on the RaceDeck. Right then and there, I decided to finish the work bay with RaceDeck. The nice thing about it is that if I do manage to screw up a few tiles, I can just pop them out and replace them. That's a lot less work than having to sand and repaint the floor!!!

 

[windycitycy]

very nice!

 

[skyking]

You **** !!! Thats amazing !!

 

[jaker10]

I was going to say the same as SKYKING. NICE!!!

 

[TerryH]

Awesome shop, Andy!!!

 

[Mike14k]

Fellow Okie.... very awsome garage, extra nice. Love the lift.

 

[dubber]

Wow, pure wow. That is definitely the million dollar layout. Always had that floor plan in my mind if any layout was a possibility. 3 car with 1 deeper for servicing is definitely optimal. Well played sir.

 

[TigerSaleen]

Thanks for the comments, everyone!!! Yeah, dubber, this was my favorite type of layout, too. Since the shop is technically four bays (inlucing the work bay) and I only have three cars out there, all I have to do is just shuffle the cars around and I'll never have anything blocked into the work bay. Now, if I were to try to keep four cars out there, then all bets are off, but it works great with three. Man, besides that, I definitely don't have ANY business with four toys. However, there's always the thought of that old Falcon Ranchero in the back of my mind...

 

[Darkboones]

Looks great! I haven't see walls done in all peg board yet. I think they look pretty good!

 

[SpeedinLemon]

Hi Andy -- Great looking shop! I go through Edmond several times a year on my way to Guthrie for work. I might have to stop in and see that Tiger and that shop in person if you're open to vistors. I'd like to hear / see more about the Tiger if you've got any more pics or stories about it. You've really done a great job all the way around...the shop looks like a great place to work and has a very high cool factor with all the petroliana. I especially like that Motorcraft cabinet. I'm also real glad to hear your report on the Race Deck. I love mine so far, but it's nice to hear how tough it is long term...how long have you had it down?

Welcome to GJ...and congrats on a job well done on the shop!

Chris

 

[TigerSaleen]

Drop me a PM, Chris, the next time you're going to be coming through and we'll see if we can hook up for a visit. We're not too far south of Guthrie so it should be no problem at all.

Take care,

 

[Omphaloskeptic]

The shop looks great; WELL DONE!

A question on living with the BP & ramps, do you sometimes wish you could have sunk the BP into the floor and do away with the ramps? I have everything from full size PU's, through a couple of 4 door sedans, a GT6 and a couple of MC's; I like the 'idea' of your unit for working on any one of them, but I wonder if the ramps are more of a 'necessary evil'. It would be nice for me to recess a lift, but I can't justify the cost to demo a nicely finished concrete floor to build the concrete recess in my shop area.

I too, would like to see more pics of your stable!

Your 2004 T-bird is one of those cars that, seems to me, to be one of those few cars that is a respectful modern rendering of a classic American marque.

 

[audifirst]

looks great

 

[kerryt1]

Killer garage, neighbor. I'm in E-town myself.

 

[Crazy68Dart]

Can you give dimensions of the interior layout? The small room, how large is it? It looks like it stops at the service bay and extends the whole way to the opposite wall?

What size are your doors?

Nice shop.

 

[SpeedinLemon]

Drop me a PM, Chris, the next time you're going to be coming through and we'll see if we can hook up for a visit. We're not too far south of Guthrie so it should be no problem at all.

Take care,

Thanks for the offer (is it still considered an offer if I invited myself? ). I don't have any immediate plans, but will drop you a line if something comes up. In the mean time, more pics of the cars (especially the Tiger) and the race track would be great!

Thanks for sharing your awesome garage with us....

Chris

 

[NHBandit]

What an amazing use of the space you have to work with. I am in the middle of a 30X40 build myself but mine is going to have 2 10X10 overhead doors on the 40' side. Just looking at the size of my slab and looking at your shop yours somehow seems bigger than mine. I know it's not but I am impressed with the layout you chose. I am planning a 10x20 "office" area on one end beside the 2 overhead doors and a work bench across the back and I'm thinking my setup will only leave room for 2 cars. I guess I'll know better once the building is done and I start filling it up.

 

[KM1013]

When I first looked at the pic on your signature I thought the doors where on the long side and I wondered how you got two cars back to back in 30'. The doors are on the short side correct? Is this a 10' high building? What are the door dimensions? Thanks.

 

[Cemoto]

Looks great!

Are the ramps on the side of the lift fixed? or can you remove them for better access?

 

[TigerSaleen]

Hey, guys:

I apologize for not getting back to some of you. I've been in "computer hell" for the last two weeks!! Our machine at the house decided to take a powder and it's taken us this long to get everything back in order. So, let me see if I can respond to everyone's questions at one time...

Killer garage, neighbor. I'm in E-town myself.

Thanks, Kerry!!

The shop looks great; WELL DONE!

A question on living with the BP & ramps, do you sometimes wish you could have sunk the BP into the floor and do away with the ramps? I have everything from full size PU's, through a couple of 4 door sedans, a GT6 and a couple of MC's; I like the 'idea' of your unit for working on any one of them, but I wonder if the ramps are more of a 'necessary evil'. It would be nice for me to recess a lift, but I can't justify the cost to demo a nicely finished concrete floor to build the concrete recess in my shop area.

I too, would like to see more pics of your stable!

Your 2004 T-bird is one of those cars that, seems to me, to be one of those few cars that is a respectful modern rendering of a classic American marque.

Yes, sinking the lift into the floor would have been the best thing to have done but, as you, I couldn't justify demoing the floor to do it. The ramps are necessary for any lower-riding car, so I just figured that I'd bling them up since I had to have them. Thanks for the comments about the T-Bird!!!

Can you give dimensions of the interior layout? The small room, how large is it? It looks like it stops at the service bay and extends the whole way to the opposite wall?

What size are your doors?

Nice shop.

The interior room is 14' wide by 20' long, leaving my work bay roughly 16' wide by 20' long. Of course, you'd have to take the thickness of the walls out of the equation, but you get the idea. The car storage bays take up the rest of the room and that area is 30' wide by 20' deep. The two doors are 8' by 8' and 8' by 16'.

When I first looked at the pic on your signature I thought the doors where on the long side and I wondered how you got two cars back to back in 30'. The doors are on the short side correct? Is this a 10' high building? What are the door dimensions? Thanks.

Yes, the doors are on the short side. The interior height from floor to rafters is 9'.

Looks great!

Are the ramps on the side of the lift fixed? or can you remove them for better access?

The ramps are mobile. In fact, I'm planning on installing handles on the sides of them to make them easier to move should the need arise.

 

[TigerSaleen]

Thanks for the offer (is it still considered an offer if I invited myself? ). I don't have any immediate plans, but will drop you a line if something comes up. In the mean time, more pics of the cars (especially the Tiger) and the race track would be great!

Thanks for sharing your awesome garage with us....

Chris

Chris:

Frankly, I don't have too many pics of the Saleen or the T-Bird since I haven't really owned them long, relatively speaking (I've owned the Tiger for 14 years now). So, I inlcuded a few shots of the Tiger per your request.

I've also included some pics of the slot car room and the track. I've progressed on the track since these pics were taken, although it doesn't look appreciatively different now than in these pics; I've mainly just been working on "driveablility" issues. It's pretty well dialed in now and I plan to get started on the aesthetics soon, i.e. landscaping, buildings, etc. One of these days...

Hope you enjoy,

 

[TigerSaleen]

Thanks for the offer (is it still considered an offer if I invited myself? ). I don't have any immediate plans, but will drop you a line if something comes up. In the mean time, more pics of the cars (especially the Tiger) and the race track would be great!

Thanks for sharing your awesome garage with us....

Chris

Chris:

I found some other shots of the Saleen and the T-Bird so I thought I'd go ahead and post them for you. The pics of the T-Bird were taken in our driveway the day after we bought it and the one of the Saleen was taken at an MCA show in Mustang, OK last year.

 

[richtersrodz]

Very, very cool place!!! I like the layout, and the slot car room rocks..

 

[TigerSaleen]

Very, very cool place!!! I like the layout, and the slot car room rocks..

Thanks, man!!! I've been an HO slot car junkie pretty much all of my life and have always said that I'd part with all of my real cars before I'd even entertain the thought of selling all of my slot car stuff. Sounds a little extreme, I know, but that's how hard the slot car bug bit me back in 1967. Frankly, I like working on landscaping my sets about as much as I do racing on them. I landscaped one back in 1973 and, from that point on, I've been a devotee of that sort of thing.

 

[curtis9]

What are the widths of the two garage doors? Im getting ready to build a 30x40 also and cant decide what size i want my doors or if i want two 12x12's or one 18x12. The way you have your looks like it works good.

 

[TigerSaleen]

What are the widths of the two garage doors? Im getting ready to build a 30x40 also and cant decide what size i want my doors or if i want two 12x12's or one 18x12. The way you have your looks like it works good.

Curtis:

The dimensions of my doors are, from left to right, 8' x 8' and 8' x 16'. Just to be clear, the doors are on the shorter (30') side of the building. I do like having one big double-wide door and one single door over three singles; it just allows you more leeway to pull something into the shop at an angle if necessary.

 

[dubber]

Love that Saleen, it must sound beautiful!

 

[Omphaloskeptic]

Thanks for the pics of your cars; you have an interesting selection. Now my question is - have you the matching slot-car versions? lol

 

[IntelCrete Concrete Works]

Wow Nice garage

 

[Daily Driver]

Cool shop

 

[bj383ss]

Love the shop, the cars, and the slot car room! Can't wait to have a room for my toys someday. Maybe when the boys move out.

Bret

 

[TigerSaleen]

Love that Saleen, it must sound beautiful!

Thanks, dubber!!! The car has it's stock exhaust system under it with the exception of a set of long-tube headers. However, I bought a pair of stock Ford exhaust headers for it a few days ago and my plan is to put the exhaust back to stock condition (it's the only thing not stock on the car). Other than wanting the car 100% stock, the presence of the long-tubes negates the use of the factory K-brace that came on all the Saleens of the era. I have the brace and want to re-install it, so the stock exhaust must be refitted. I'm sure it'll still retain it's throaty sound, though.

 

[TigerSaleen]

Thanks for the pics of your cars; you have an interesting selection. Now my question is - have you the matching slot-car versions? lol

You know, funny you should ask that...while I don't have one of the T-Bird or the Saleen, I did get a guy to custom build me a replica of my Tiger in HO-scale. It's authentic, too, right down to the tail stripes!!! Unfortunately, I don't have any pics of it here at the house. If I can find one, I'll post it.

 

[TigerSaleen]

Love the shop, the cars, and the slot car room! Can't wait to have a room for my toys someday. Maybe when the boys move out.

Bret

Thanks, Bret, and I totally understand not having the room to do what you would like to do. I had a two-car toy garage and had my track set up in my back bedroom in the house for years when I was single. All of a sudden, I met my future wife and, when we got married and she moved in, the track immediately came down and we ran out of room but quick!!! After a few years of saving my coins, I finally got to start on the shop you see at the beginning of this thread. Of course, fair is fair and we have since turned our back yard storage building into a "woman cave" for my wife to do her stuff in, and transformed my old shop into the lawn equipment shack. So, all's well that ends well!!!! Hang in there, brother...you'll get your room one of these days!!!!!

 

[Omphaloskeptic]

You know, funny you should ask that...while I don't have one of the T-Bird or the Saleen, I did get a guy to custom build me a replica of my Tiger in HO-scale. It's authentic, too, right down to the tail stripes!!! Unfortunately, I don't have any pics of it here at the house. If I can find one, I'll post it.

A HO-scale Tiger; you've just got to get a picture of that posted! Here's an idea, get a camera with great depth of field capability, set the HO-scale version in the foreground and have the real one as the background for the pic. Tricky set-up, but it would be a cool picture to have framed in the track room.

Oh, here's a J.A.W.I.F.O. (Just Another Wacky Idea From Omphaloskeptic) - Do some Internet Googling to find a Design/Fabrication shop with one of those slick 3-D printers as shown at Jay Leno's Garage Web Site. He has one set up to do the 'printing' of a 3-D part after it has been scanned by a linked-in Laser Scanning device. I believe there is the option to take multiple photos of an object at various angles and use compositing software to create a pseudo 3-D input file for the printer.

(http://superuser.com/questions/3005...ce-software-that-converts-photos-to-3d-models)

If I'm correct (?), you could email a photo collection of the T-Bird and the Saleen, or the 3-D file itself in the correct format, and they could produce the 3-D 'shell' in HO-scale. Talk about custom, nobody else would have those to run around the track! lol

 

[64 lane]

Very nice . Love them sooners. Love them Fords

 

[TigerSaleen]

Very nice . Love them sooners. Love them Fords

Yep, 64 lane...GO SOONERS!!!!!!!!!!!! Wow...I'd say to be careful saying that and living in Dallas, but I know a lot of Sooners fans down there. In fact, I lived in Carrollton for a year when I was married to my first wife. However, once I discovered that I had married that I had married outside of my species, I hot-footed it back to Okie-land and have been here ever since!!! Don't get me wrong, however...there's nothing wrong with Texas...