HOTFR8
Banned
Congratulations on the expansion of your business. I am sure we are going to see much more soon. What will you be doing with the Garage at your house ?
Mark's Monster Garage....3800 sq ft
- Thread starter IGO2XS
- Start date
Thank you very much. My wife made me take 2 days off after working about 30 days in a row. This morning I hurt my back while sitting down in the hotel lobby. This is the thanks I get for taking a day off..
The guy that owns that truck live about 5 miles from me.
Mark.....Congtrats on all that has happened recently. I've just now got caught up. Love the new logo, and the new shop is coming along great. If I ever win the Lottery, I'll be sending momma's Olds down to you, probably with me in it. Put up a cot in the backroom, and I'll stay until it's done, although I won't be in a hurry
Just remember that when Discovery Channel picks you up for the new reality show.....those that go up the ladder eventually come back down. So don't forget all of your friends here that talked you into multi thousand dollar copper lines.
I wondered where you have been. I dont think the Discovery Channel will be around but if they do we will have a big GJ reunion for the show!!
Not a bad thought Bob. I will keep that in mind. I was curious about what you thought of the 61 Corvette I bought. Hoping I might be able to talk to you about it some day.
Funny you asked this. Tonight for the first time I was able to pull my very own truck in the garage. My dually is too big for the other garage so it has been setting out every night for the last year. I will just use it for storing cars like most people do.
Hey guys I wanted to share the lastest project we took in to the shop. Its a 1970 Bronco. Its not just any Bronco though. This bad boy has been widened 7" overall. You wouldn't know this by looking at it but there have been 600 hours invested in all of the metal work. The windows, top, and door handles have been shaved for a one of a kind look. You might wonder why someone would spend so much money for this modification. The owner wanted oversized tires but did not want to add on large fender flares. Instead to keep the stock body lines the body was widened and the inner fenderwells were extended 3 inches on either side. We will be doing a custom interior, dash, console, roll bar, and a host of other modifications. This is going to truly be a one off build.
Wingnut65
Well-known member
As usual, the work looks like it came from the factory!
Nice looking work!
Nice looking work!
colt zantop
Well-known member
wow....that is too cool. I would love to see this done to an early blazer....
HOTFR8
Banned
Nice to have a place to park it I guess.
WarrenJ
Well-known member
Finished...took a few days, but really worth it. Even detoured to check out the post on the picnic/open house. As I said before, thanks for your sharing with us. I look forward to the new building project(s), and now to check out the new web page. There may be a new shirt in it for me!!
thanks Warren I appreciate you hanging around here.
Today was a pretty hard working day. We had some extra people willing to work so I took advantage of it and we moved two of the lifts today from the garage. We moved one of the two post and my 4 post lift. The two post lift will be going to the body shop and the four post will be put in the clean area to use as storage. I know at some point we will need the extra room.
While moving the lifts we also decided to uncrate the new BendPak lift. All I can say about the BendPak lift is WOW. I really never knew there could be that much difference in a lift. This is one heavy duty well built lift. If any of you guys ever want to buy a lift I would without a doubt pick this lift. I know these are terrible pictures but I was so excited about this lift I couldnt wait. I will get some better pictures tomorrow.
Bob Heine
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Hi Mark.
The '61 Corvette looks beautiful in the pictures. I assume it needs some work. If it's like most older Corvettes it is telegraphing the seams through the paint. You already know the cure for that is to strip the paint and 'glass the seams. The only issue I have with the C1 Corvettes is the lack of air conditioning. It's not a big problem on short drives early or late in the day but long drives in the Florida heat is a sweaty proposition. Vintage Air and Classic Auto Air make retro-fit kits but the purists go a little nuts when you upgrade one of these cars. I personally think it's the only way to go.
I made the mistake of stripping the paint off my '72 Corvette using chemical stripper. The experts tell me a razor blade is the best tool/method for getting the paint off these old Vettes. It's easier to clean up paint chips with a vacuum than neutralizing and collecting all the globs of paint stripper.
My main experience with a C1 was back in the early '80s when a good friend turned a '59 drag car with no engine into a street cruiser. Since it didn't come with a stock 283 he put a Duntov-cammed 327 with headers in and removed the spacers to put the front end back to stock height. The body got the rear fender openings returned to stock, a half-million cracks repaired and several coats of the new-fangled Feather Fill primer to block the car straight. He and I painted the car in his garage using a big pressure pot gun and a couple of gallons of RM black lacquer. We managed to get the first gallon on with no major runs and used 600-grit wet sandpaper to level it out. Three more coats and another round of blocking with 600 wet and it was ready for buffing. The buffing took longer than the painting and sanding. For bling he had the bumpers re-chromed for $50, installed a 3-point chrome rollbar and new radials mounted on some $10 used mag wheels. I spent hours polishing the rims with a 3" buffing wheel on a die grinder and painting the centers with rattle-can gold). He entered the car in the Miami World of Wheels and won 1st place in the Mild Custom Sports Car class.
It was a really cool car to look at but it was a hardtop-only model, rode like a buckboard and heater delete with the black top and interior made it an oven most of the year in Florida. I think he paid $1,200 for the car and sold it for $6,500 when it was finished. Selling price would be a bit higher today but they are still 'affordable' cars.
I can't wait to see the progress on the Bronco. The huge amount of sheet metal work you said went into it so far really shows, what a crazy project!
One thing I'd look at is the driveshaft angles...that rear looks pretty extreme. Probably will vibrate quite a bit on the road. Perhaps you could improve that by switching to a high pinion rear axle or clocking the transfer case a bit. And see if you could do a slip-yoke eliminator on it to shorten the TC a bit. Or while you're at it, may as well switch to an Atlas TC...since clearly this is no small-buck build. Even if the TC becomes a little more prone to damage if it's rotated down, a custom skid plate (which it needs anyway), will solve that. I guess you could do a high pinion front axle as well, if there's enough oil-pan clearance. High pinion axles not only help trail clearance, but the smaller driveshaft angles make for less vibrations on the street.
Also, with tires that wide, is that going to get some hydraulic assist on the steering? It's gonna need it.
Totally bad-*** project!
One thing I'd look at is the driveshaft angles...that rear looks pretty extreme. Probably will vibrate quite a bit on the road. Perhaps you could improve that by switching to a high pinion rear axle or clocking the transfer case a bit. And see if you could do a slip-yoke eliminator on it to shorten the TC a bit. Or while you're at it, may as well switch to an Atlas TC...since clearly this is no small-buck build. Even if the TC becomes a little more prone to damage if it's rotated down, a custom skid plate (which it needs anyway), will solve that. I guess you could do a high pinion front axle as well, if there's enough oil-pan clearance. High pinion axles not only help trail clearance, but the smaller driveshaft angles make for less vibrations on the street.
Also, with tires that wide, is that going to get some hydraulic assist on the steering? It's gonna need it.
Totally bad-*** project!
Kevin54
MEMBER EMERITUS
Thank you very much. My wife made me take 2 days off after working about 30 days in a row. This morning I hurt my back while sitting down in the hotel lobby. This is the thanks I get for taking a day off..
I wondered where you have been. I dont think the Discovery Channel will be around but if they do we will have a big GJ reunion for the show!!
Not a bad thought Bob. I will keep that in mind. I was curious about what you thought of the 61 Corvette I bought. Hoping I might be able to talk to you about it some day.
Funny you asked this. Tonight for the first time I was able to pull my very own truck in the garage. My dually is too big for the other garage so it has been setting out every night for the last year. I will just use it for storing cars like most people do.
I steered clear when I saw the first price you mentioned about the copper lines. Then when you mentioned the price the second time around, and how we, the members, had something to do with it, I started shaking and went and hid before the blame started being addressed as to whose fault it was. You know what they say....Out of sight, out of mind.
I figured if I didn't post in a while, then the other members would be in the cross hairs. Sometimes you just have to throw someone else under the bus.All kidding aside....I'm glad to see things coming along
If just per chance, we ever get down Florida's way, your place will be the first place to visit for sure. And if I could talk the wife into moving to a warmer climate, I may just pop in and ask for a job. All I will need is a broom, and I'll work for free!!!!56vette461
Well-known member
Hey Kevin54,
Just an FYI, your already under the bus with the rest of us. Someplace back in the early pages something was said about us all being like family. If that is so, then we're acting like his adopted ones and spending his money just like our kids spend ours. As my nephew told his grandpa,(my dad) "what's ours is ours, and whats yours is ours, so we just get to use it!" Go Figure!
Just an FYI, your already under the bus with the rest of us. Someplace back in the early pages something was said about us all being like family. If that is so, then we're acting like his adopted ones and spending his money just like our kids spend ours. As my nephew told his grandpa,(my dad) "what's ours is ours, and whats yours is ours, so we just get to use it!" Go Figure!
Wingnut65
Well-known member
mdbeck1
Well-known member
Yeah, But Dad would never give me the keys to '61 Vette or the 1960 GMC Truck!
Have you asked? You never know what might happen....
I copied your response and put in our file for the Bronco so when we are looking at the suspension we can talk about your comments. Not promising we will put your name on the project
but it is definitely food for thought. Thanks!!mdbeck1, Wingnut65,56vette461, and Kevin54, for a minute there I thought we were having a comedy show!!!
Funny comments.A funny thing happened this week.......I realized we were only working on my cars!! Not a good way to run a business but I am trying to get a few cars finished up. One car in particular we worked on was the 63 split window. I finally have word I will be getting the frame in about 30 days so we thought we could get started. Here are a few photos.
Smoothing the firewall.......
Repairing a front fender.......
front end repair.....
removing rear quarters to add wider quarters for the big tires going on the rear........
56vette461
Well-known member
Hi Mark,
We try to entertain, but know we can never quit the day jobs.
Quick question, where did you find the measurements for the wooden cart under the vett? The body shop has just about finished roughing in the glass work on my 56 and I would like to copy the cart to hold the body so I can start on the frame. I don't have room in my garage for a rotisserie frame.
We try to entertain, but know we can never quit the day jobs.
Quick question, where did you find the measurements for the wooden cart under the vett? The body shop has just about finished roughing in the glass work on my 56 and I would like to copy the cart to hold the body so I can start on the frame. I don't have room in my garage for a rotisserie frame.
rixtrix1
Well-known member
'63 SW is going to be a cool project. I saw this look-alike while driving to the mall a few weeks ago. Bet your looks just as good, and it's really a '63, not a2012! When I lived in Nebraska, I worked in a frame and alignment shop. One of our accounts was a large used car dealership. The two owners collected Corvettes( over 200) and one was an original ZO6, complete with knockoff wheels, big gas tank, metallic drum brakes with ventilated drums, the real deal. We drove the pants off that car and it only had 2000 miles on it in 1979. Another high school buddy of the owner, who was only 32 at the time had a '69 L88, 4speed with factory sidepipes that we hot-rodded , too. Sacrilege now, but those cars were only worth3-4k back then. Local Vette club, covering western NE, eastern WY and northeastern CO comprised over 300 cars/ A lot of ranchers with big barns and nothing to do all winter but buy and tidy up nice cars. We did tons of maintainance on most of them. I love seeing them brought back, and hopefully driven, even though the value of a lot of them has 5 zeros behind the number I mentioned above. Guess I'm giving away my age, lol. Keep the pics coming, please!
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Fastphil
Well-known member
My friend had a similar frame under the body of his '72, the plans must be somewhere online. It was quite handy to be able to roll the body around in the garage while we were working on the chassis or on other projects.
don long
Well-known member
Good morning Mark
The new shop is looking very crisp with the painted floor and the white insulation. Are you going to assign floor space for work bays or just pull a car in to the closest air drop?? Your new shop is filling up quickly congrats
Don
The new shop is looking very crisp with the painted floor and the white insulation. Are you going to assign floor space for work bays or just pull a car in to the closest air drop?? Your new shop is filling up quickly congrats
Don
The body dolly I have works on a C2 Corvette and not a C1. I do have a plan that shows the layout of a C1 frame but not a plan for a cart. If you want the frame layout just let me know.
I have seen one of these conversions before. They definitely are not cheap cars to build considering you start with a new Corvette.
Don, I have a layout laying on my desk of the shop and it keeps reminding me I need to send it to you. Right now we have 4 guys on bodywork and they are working off the airlines right now. I have been trying to think some of this through and now have some direction to share with you. I still have your email address and will get the floorplan to you this week.
We were doing some construction work today at the warehouse. I am adding some parking lot lights and outdoor cameras to keep the area secured. We are lucky to have a 6 foot fence around the shop but I want some other lines of defense......lighting, security camera's, and an alarm system. Unfortunately I felt the best location for the street lights were on the far side of our main driveway so we decided to cut the concrete. I dug the trench up to the building with the Bobcat.......wow that makes it easy. I took one of the forks off the fork attachment and used it to pop the concrete up in the 7 inch wide saw cut we made and then used it to dig the trench. Its nice to have the equipment to make projects like this easier.
I sat in the garage for about 15 minutes this afternoon on one of the golf carts you see on the left. Considering all of the work we did in here the garage remains intact..........its a tough garage! There is still dust on the walls we will clean this next week. I plan to repaint the floors just to freshen them up. I will looking forward to using my garage as a place to hang out, do homeowner projects, and listen to music. I love my garage
56vette461
Well-known member
Hi Mark,
I sent a PM regarding the body dolly. Thanks,
I sent a PM regarding the body dolly. Thanks,
HOTFR8
Banned
I sat in the garage for about 15 minutes this afternoon on one of the golf carts you see on the left. Considering all of the work we did in here the garage remains intact..........its a tough garage! There is still dust on the walls we will clean this next week. I plan to repaint the floors just to freshen them up. I will looking forward to using my garage as a place to hang out, do homeowner projects, and listen to music. I love my garage
Now that is more of an answer to what I asked earlier.
tskills10
Well-known member
Amazing how empty the place looks after seeing so many projects go through there in a fairly short time. Still hoping to get down there and come by the shop and meet you and check out the projects.
I will post it since some of the guys may want to see it. This shows the layout of the mounts in addition to the different heights.
Here are the plans for the C2 body dolly. I cant verify but I have seen some C1 guys put their body on a c2 body cart. They say the front end of a C1 does not need support like the C2. I would also post a topic on the corvette forum for more information. I am building a cart for our C1 but it probably wont be done in time for you to see it based on when you need to get your body off.
http://www.lbfun.com/warehouse/tech_info/body_&_frame/BodyDolly.pdf
56vette461
Well-known member
Thanks Mark, that works great. Already sent materials list to my son so I can start on it when I get back home.
rixtrix1
Well-known member
Mark, I had access to all kinds of charts like that for when I worked in the frame shop. Too bad that was so long ago there was no way to make copies easily. I would have liked to have had one for my Malibu when I back-halved the car. They sure make it easy to fix or build frames, or dedicated body dollies, huh?
Nice use of the Bobcat to help cut the trench. Good thinking. Never driven one with tracks; probably won't do wheelies like a four wheel one, tho, haha.
Nice use of the Bobcat to help cut the trench. Good thinking. Never driven one with tracks; probably won't do wheelies like a four wheel one, tho, haha.
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rixtrix1
Well-known member
Quote (Originally posted by IGO2XS )
I will looking forward to using my garage as a place to hang out, do homeowner projects, and listen to music. I love my garage
Are you going to have any time to spend in your OWN garage, now? New business seems to be all consuming, but your property management skills seem to have won out wonderfully.
I will looking forward to using my garage as a place to hang out, do homeowner projects, and listen to music. I love my garage
Are you going to have any time to spend in your OWN garage, now? New business seems to be all consuming, but your property management skills seem to have won out wonderfully.
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knotttty
Active member
found this pic.... thought of your 63
sounds great good luck with it!!
I really dont think there is much time for hanging around in the garage. Each time I get something done I think about the next step. Its OK I am having a pretty good time working!!
found this pic.... thought of your 63
Yes I have seen this car and it was done really well. The reason why it looks so nice is the flares flow into the doors. It really was a cool concept and we may do a little of this techique on my car.
Hey guys I have been holding out on you. A few weeks ago I got a phone call and i was asked if this was "GodSpeed Rides". It kind of surprised me because we are so new we have no sign no nothin. I said yes and he proceeded to tell me about this fire truck. He asked me if we did them and I said "we do everything custom and one off and although we have never done one before we would love to have the job". At the end of the conversation I asked him how he found out about us. He said he did a google search on Sarasota, fl restoration shops and found us on Facebook and the GJ. I went to see the project and it looked cool. He and his partner came to visit our shop and really liked it. They said they had a few other shops to check out. About 3 days later I got a call giving us the job.
They said the other shops said we were the guys to do it. Now, we have only been open a week so this made me very happy.
So, what is the project you might ask...........its a frame off restoration of a 1948 Fire Truck. We are going to be installing modern motor and drivetrain. This is one serious project and cant wait to get started. Check it out!!
I went to see the project and it looked cool. He and his partner came to visit our shop and really liked it. They said they had a few other shops to check out. About 3 days later I got a call giving us the job. They said the other shops said we were the guys to do it. Now, we have only been open a week so this made me very happy.So, what is the project you might ask...........its a frame off restoration of a 1948 Fire Truck. We are going to be installing modern motor and drivetrain. This is one serious project and cant wait to get started. Check it out!!
colt zantop
Well-known member
Very cool project!!!
HOTFR8
Banned
I have to ask is that an F4 ? I can see this project I am going to enjoy.
View media item 38592
In case you did not guess why.
View media item 38592
In case you did not guess why.
56vette461
Well-known member
Wow, now that is a cool way to kick off the new shop. Can't wait to see the progress photos.
Fastphil
Well-known member
I often wonder who can afford to restore an old firetruck, and why they would do it. Then I think, they're pretty cool to see, so I should thank that person!
Do restored fire truck owners get grief from authorities like restored police car owners do? I know those guys get hassled a lot when they take their cruiser out.
What's the drivetrain gonna be? Diesel or more hot-rod-ish?
I have to ask is that an F4 ? I can see this project I am going to enjoy.
In case you did not guess why.
It is an F6. Keep an eye on us and give us a few pointers along the way.
I am guessing as long as we dont turn on the lights and the siren and drive through town we will be OK.
They have plans on using the truck to premote their business although they do plan on driving it around every now and then. We are going to be adding some seating in the back. I really have no idea what we are doing with the drivetrain. I am going to say it will be gas instead of diesel though.HOTFR8
Banned
Should have picked it by the wider front guards / fenders.
I am guessing as long as we dont turn on the lights and the siren and drive through town we will be OK.
No Diesel ? Well this will be interesting.Bob Heine
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Mark,
That fire truck sure brings back memories. I apologize if this opens a can of worms for you. Let me know if you want this deleted... or at least edited so your fire truck clients don't see this information.
When I was growing up on Long Island (NY) my uncle was a volunteer fireman. In 1953, when he became chief of the Holbrook, NY fire department, he let me ride on the back of the department's drill team race truck (http://www.holbrookfd.org/content/drillteam/). It was 1953, I was going on 9 years old and it was the first "hot rod" I ever encountered. It had an engine transplant (Cadillac, I believe) with a cam and higher compression - and no mufflers. Watching this truck in action was the highlight of my summer.
Like everything else in the past 60 years, the Drill Team hot rods got more elaborate. The larger vehicle was used in hose drills and the little one was just for ladder drills.
If you've never seen Drill Team competition events, it's a lot like drag racing with guys standing on the vehicle. Race for Glory - The Story of Drill Team Racing is an hour-long documentary available on YouTube:
If you aren't hooked by the end of the first minute, I apologize for wasting your time.
That fire truck sure brings back memories. I apologize if this opens a can of worms for you. Let me know if you want this deleted... or at least edited so your fire truck clients don't see this information.
When I was growing up on Long Island (NY) my uncle was a volunteer fireman. In 1953, when he became chief of the Holbrook, NY fire department, he let me ride on the back of the department's drill team race truck (http://www.holbrookfd.org/content/drillteam/). It was 1953, I was going on 9 years old and it was the first "hot rod" I ever encountered. It had an engine transplant (Cadillac, I believe) with a cam and higher compression - and no mufflers. Watching this truck in action was the highlight of my summer.
Like everything else in the past 60 years, the Drill Team hot rods got more elaborate. The larger vehicle was used in hose drills and the little one was just for ladder drills.
If you've never seen Drill Team competition events, it's a lot like drag racing with guys standing on the vehicle. Race for Glory - The Story of Drill Team Racing is an hour-long documentary available on YouTube:
If you aren't hooked by the end of the first minute, I apologize for wasting your time.
Kevin54
MEMBER EMERITUS
Mark,
That fire truck sure brings back memories. I apologize if this opens a can of worms for you. Let me know if you want this deleted... or at least edited so your fire truck clients don't see this information.
When I was growing up on Long Island (NY) my uncle was a volunteer fireman. In 1953, when he became chief of the Holbrook, NY fire department, he let me ride on the back of the department's drill team race truck (http://www.holbrookfd.org/content/drillteam/). It was 1953, I was going on 9 years old and it was the first "hot rod" I ever encountered. It had an engine transplant (Cadillac, I believe) with a cam and higher compression - and no mufflers. Watching this truck in action was the highlight of my summer.
Like everything else in the past 60 years, the Drill Team hot rods got more elaborate. The larger vehicle was used in hose drills and the little one was just for ladder drills.
If you've never seen Drill Team competition events, it's a lot like drag racing with guys standing on the vehicle. Race for Glory - The Story of Drill Team Racing is an hour-long documentary available on YouTube:
If you aren't hooked by the end of the first minute, I apologize for wasting your time.
Not a waste of time for sure.
I watched the first five minutes and saving the rest for this afternoons break. Damn I wish I was younger to be able to do something like that.