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Above 1200 Sq/FT Restored 1930's Auto Shop

Wokspaces above 1200 squarefeet.
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bhawley

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Jul 20, 2006
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5
Location
Central NC
From Sports Car Digest http://www.sportscardigest.com/svra-indy-brickyard-invitational-2014-photo-gallery/


2014-SVRA-Indy-Brickyard-v3-1140x464.jpg
 
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BB767

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Dec 24, 2009
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Location
Philo, IL

Great photo bhawley. :thumbup: That's Dan Cowdry driving the Lola at speed during the Indy Brickyard Invitational last week.



And that's me driving it "at speed" when we moved it from the barn to the front of the shop in preparation for loading it going to Indy.

At Indy, Dan took the pole for Group 5 and finished 2nd with the Lola. I'll do a recap of the whole event, including my second and third meetings with Sally Stokes once I get back from some drag racing with Cameron at Martin Michigan.

Did I ever mention I love being retired?! :beer:

Speed Racer Thomas
 

Amitygravel

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Joined
Mar 26, 2010
Messages
1,188
Location
Claremont Illinois
Hello Thomas !

Was down past your place this evening.
Stopped by Jans to work on a couple of projects of hers.

Your place looks great as usual.
Very green !
The mower must be getting a workout.

JOE ! , JOE !! Hobbitts !! I was within 150 yards of THE shed when I drove by !

Hope to see you soon Thomas.

Craig
 
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BB767

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Dec 24, 2009
Messages
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Location
Philo, IL
:sad: Without timely photographic evidence we can only assume that the Archeological dig formerly known as "The Tool Shed" has been abandoned and now is unprotected from common looters... :(

Not abandoned at all Joe. I'm scheduled to work out there next week in fact. This will be a full on effort to separate the "good stuff" from the trash going completely through the rest of the tool shed. I tentatively will also finish clearing out the lean-to and then plan on removing that building perhaps by the end of June. I sense the end is finally in sight....if racing doesn't get in the way of course!

Thomas
 

Nuts

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Joined
Jan 31, 2010
Messages
376
Location
Baker City, Or
:sad: Without timely photographic evidence we can only assume that the Archeological dig formerly known as "The Tool Shed" has been abandoned and now is unprotected from common looters... :(

Joe

You just heard it from the man himself. I'm there for you and will go along to counseling, to share your grief at the demise of the Tool Shed.

May there be just one more cast iron widget that causes much consternation in discerning its use. May there be just one more bit of racing memorabilia that will lead Thomas off into yet another form of racing. May there be just one more piece of The Restored 1930's Auto Shop history for Thomas to hang on the wall....

And if there is not, why don't you come over to my shop and help me sort my heap of rusty iron.

Doug
DSC_7354.jpg
[/URL][/IMG]
 

walrus

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Nov 12, 2008
Messages
11,679
Location
Maine
Hello bgarrett and thank you for following all our adventures from the beginning. If you need Roatry Lift information/advice I'd be only to happy to help out. I'm a bit time constrained at the moment. If you are not pressed for time getting the lift removed send me a PM with contact information and I'll share what knowledge (if any :dunno:) I have. Another thought is to contact Rotary Lift directly http://www.rotarylift.com/ and see what they might have to offer in the way of removing that lift.

Very briefly, you need to get the cylinder out of the ground so you have to dig to the bottom of it.



I was handy-capped by having the lift inside the building so I couldn't get a backhoe...



... in very far to dig the cylinder out.



My lift cylinder was about 8' long as I recall.

After this coming weekend, June 13-15 I will have much more time to help you.

In the meantime, Good Luck!

Thomas

If you don't mind leaving the outer case in the ground I believe you can take the cylinder out of casing by removing seals and then pick it up twist it 90 degrees and it should pop up and then twist 90 degrees again and it should pop all the way out. Pump out the oil and you'll just have a steel case left plus piping. If its full hydraulic I guess there may be oil left in piping but if its air over hydraulic it will be just an air line. I installed tons of below ground lifts back in the day but its been 25 years or so since then so......:D
 

oberst

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 8, 2008
Messages
205
Doug
DSC_7354.jpg
[/URL][/IMG]

Seems someone has Model 'A' Fords on the brain - I count 11, or 12! - (and Baker City is only a morning drive from Portland!!!!!

Edit, oops, there's 'T's' and Deuces in there, too!
 
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BB767

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Philo, IL
Seems someone has Model 'A' Fords on the brain - I count 11, or 12! - (and Baker City is only a morning drive from Portland!!!!!

Edit, oops, there's 'T's' and Deuces in there, too!

Not only that Mike, he's working with a concrete floor...



...I never had it so good!

Thomas
 

oberst

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Joined
Jan 8, 2008
Messages
205
Not only that Mike, he's working with a concrete floor...

...I never had it so good!

Thomas

Hmmm, realistically, judging by the quality of your work on this property, if it had been concrete, there would have been lots of pictures of you doing the jackhammer tango.....We all know how you like your stuff 'just so'! :)
 
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BB767

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Joe

You just heard it from the man himself. I'm there for you and will go along to counseling, to share your grief at the demise of the Tool Shed.

Doug

Doug, just to make sure we don't plunge Joe into needless, premature depression...



I'm only trying to remove the Lean-To by the end of June. It's about 1/2 cleaned out already and after my efforts this week what's left will be consolidated into the Tool Shed. It's attached to the end of the Tool Shed...



...and it's removal is something I can do with just a ladder and my John Deere. When the Tool Shed is removed later this year it'll take some bigger equipment. I'm planning on putting out a Craig's List ad advertising the Tool Shed for free to someone who might want a period, corrugated old metal building. It's in decent enough condition but I've found it's not easy to give "stuff" away. Folks are awful picky thses days it seems. :dunno:

Thomas
 

hobbitss

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Joined
May 31, 2010
Messages
341
Location
Southestern Massachusetts
Joe

You just heard it from the man himself. I'm there for you and will go along to counseling, to share your grief at the demise of the Tool Shed.

May there be just one more cast iron widget that causes much consternation in discerning its use. May there be just one more bit of racing memorabilia that will lead Thomas off into yet another form of racing. May there be just one more piece of The Restored 1930's Auto Shop history for Thomas to hang on the wall....

And if there is not, why don't you come over to my shop and help me sort my heap of rusty iron.

Doug
DSC_7354.jpg
[/URL][/IMG]
Appreciate the Candy Store Photos.... :(
 

hobbitss

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Joined
May 31, 2010
Messages
341
Location
Southestern Massachusetts
Doug, just to make sure we don't plunge Joe into needless, premature depression...



I'm only trying to remove the Lean-To by the end of June. It's about 1/2 cleaned out already and after my efforts this week what's left will be consolidated into the Tool Shed. It's attached to the end of the Tool Shed...



...and it's removal is something I can do with just a ladder and my John Deere. When the Tool Shed is removed later this year it'll take some bigger equipment. I'm planning on putting out a Craig's List ad advertising the Tool Shed for free to someone who might want a period, corrugated old metal building. It's in decent enough condition but I've found it's not easy to give "stuff" away. Folks are awful picky thses days it seems. :dunno:

Thomas

:scared: Noooooooooo..........
:Twitch:
 
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BB767

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Dec 24, 2009
Messages
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Philo, IL
Thomas, how big is the tool shed?

I would love to have the corrugated metal for my barn walls.

Kevin

Kevin, that's a very good question. Let me do a little measuring and I'll be back with you. It's very vintage 1940-50's with light surface rust in places as you can see.

Thomas
 
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BB767

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Dec 24, 2009
Messages
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Location
Philo, IL
Thomas, is that your Nova I seen on FB that's gonna be at MCACN this Fall?:drool:

I had to take a look after your post. Very sharp eye there Homebody. How do you find that?!

https://www.facebook.com/MCACN

http://www.mcacn.com/

Yes, that's my little grocery getter and the kind folks at MCACN have asked me to display it at the Pure Stock Muscle Cars Drag Race display this fall. They want it displayed just like it came off the track with rubber still splattered...



... on the bottom rear quarters panels. I'll be adding a bit more on it before the racing season ends. :3gears:

Last weekend Cameron and I were enjoying perfect drag racing weather in Martin, Mi. He ran a personal fastest time in the '64 Impala and I had a terrific matchup with Ted Harbit:

http://www.americantorque.com/page/0/152/

...and his rare factory super charged '63 Studebaker R2 Super Lark. What an honor to qualify and race against him. Over the years he's won 7 NHRA National Class Championships that I know of. Our closest race was decided by .0011 sec. and the biggest margin of victory was only .0419 sec. Neither of us knew who won any of our rounds until we got our timing slips. Very hard, close racing. (Ted won 2 and I got him in the third ;)) The Chevy II seems to have all it's clutch/gearbox problems solved. I've had 2 race weekends now with no car problems and lots of fun.

With good weather forecast for tomorrow, I'm scheduled to do some major Lean-To and Tool Shed cleanup/sorting. Stay tuned.

Thomas
 

Amitygravel

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Joined
Mar 26, 2010
Messages
1,188
Location
Claremont Illinois
Hello Thomas !

I'm actually in Philo at the moment.
Jan has me up on a ladder in what has to be the biggest cherry tree I've ever seen.

I got the pm from Chris , I sent a reply and I can't determine if it went through.
Regardless , I'll see you next Thursday.
I'll be solo as London will still be in Arizona with the Grandparents.
She will be bummed she didn't get to check out any gravel piles that might be around.

See you next Thursday !

Craig
 
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BB767

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Dec 24, 2009
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Location
Philo, IL
Hello Thomas !

I'm actually in Philo at the moment.
Jan has me up on a ladder in what has to be the biggest cherry tree I've ever seen.

I got the pm from Chris , I sent a reply and I can't determine if it went through.
Regardless , I'll see you next Thursday.
I'll be solo as London will still be in Arizona with the Grandparents.
She will be bummed she didn't get to check out any gravel piles that might be around.

See you next Thursday !

Craig

I'll let you fill me in on what you were doing in a cherry tree next Thursday Craig. :headscrat BTW, remember to take a tour of the barn when you'er out here. :)

Be there or be square.

Thomas
 

Homebody

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Joined
Dec 14, 2007
Messages
1,347
Location
Northern Illinois
I had to take a look after your post. Very sharp eye there Homebody. How do you find that?!

Thomas

Hard to forget that car and recognized the pic from being posted on here.:thumbup:
I had my 72 Camaro there last year and was asked again this year so I get all the notifications on their FB page throughout the year of who's coming.

Always a great show with some stunning musclecars. I'll see you there hopefully!! - Laine
 

charlief1

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Joined
Dec 1, 2010
Messages
248
charlief1, are you still waiting for some more McKee Wedge pictures? If so I have a bunch but I thought I had sent some. Shoot me a PM and I'll go from there.

Thanks.

Thomas
Sent you an email instead Thomas. You were getting ready to retire and I think you forgot.:wtf: Looking forward to having a new screensaver.:beer:
 
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BB767

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Dec 24, 2009
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Location
Philo, IL
Several hours were spent today cleaning out a few remaining items in the honey house and 2 car garage. The bulk of our time was spent clearing and sorting the tool shed and lean-to. I now think I may have underestimated how much material is still out there. :eek:







We easily filled John's trailer with another ton of scrap (60 tons total now and still counting)...



...and there is still an enormous amount left. We only worked on one end and middle of the tool shed and never even got close to the really full side. Here's the lean-to...



...as seen from a door on the opposite end that can now, finally be opened.



I did discover several more heads for flat head engines and a pair of...



...double hump Chevy high performance heads. I have no idea if they are still useable or not, they were just set aside for now.



We're going to get together next week and try again. Still haven't found any more additional gold bars unfortunately. This going to take longer than I had thought. :sad:

Thomas
 

Amitygravel

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Joined
Mar 26, 2010
Messages
1,188
Location
Claremont Illinois
Hello Thomas !

Those headlights might be a keeper too.
You had a hot day to be out there for sure.

Craig

Oh gee , there may be another item that may rival the Al Jerald. !!
 
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JEEPLESS

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May 12, 2010
Messages
47
Location
MO
Chris and Thomas,

I have enjoyed keeping up with your thread over the past several years. I was actually near the center of the universe today with a project on the Illini campus. It didn't occur to me until I plucked a Bloomington Gold flyer from my windshield. Will you be participating this year?

- Matt
 

oberst

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Jan 8, 2008
Messages
205
Looks like a grille from a Nash or something esoteric, the headlight buckets have some value... Seat pan from a hog or an Indian? (or a kiddie trike?)

King Tut's tomb? Or Al Capone's safe? Time will tell!
 
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BB767

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Philo, IL
You'd think there'd be a few gems in there but I don't see any from here....

although the trike and the clock might be. What's the skinny on them?

Zeke, one of those trikes belongs to a fellow who lives about a mile away. His Dad dropped it off to be repaired over 40 years ago and he never picked it up. We've been trying to get together so he can reclaim it but have't gotten our schedules to match up yet. The clock, I have no idea. I'm still working my way back to it.

There might be some hidden gems in there but I'm having to work to uncover them.

Hello Thomas !

Those headlights might be a keeper too.
You had a hot day to be out there for sure.

Craig

Oh gee , there may be another item that may rival the Al Jerald. !!

Craig, you'll be happy to know I did find several more Go Kart related items including at least one more jig for making parts for the master jig that you have. When you come next week remind me and I'll give it all to you.

Chris and Thomas,

I have enjoyed keeping up with your thread over the past several years. I was actually near the center of the universe today with a project on the Illini campus. It didn't occur to me until I plucked a Bloomington Gold flyer from my windshield. Will you be participating this year?

- Matt

Hi Matt, sorry you didn't have time to come out. I was nasty, filthy dirty and sweaty from working in the tool shed/lean-to most of the day. That would have made a nice first impression huh? :eek:

You bet I'll be participating in the Bloomington Gold event all 3 days. I'm starting out the Thursday before with an invitational "Pre- Bloomington Gold Corvette Cook Out" at the shop again this year. Are you going to the show?

Looks like a grille from a Nash or something esoteric, the headlight buckets have some value... Seat pan from a hog or an Indian? (or a kiddie trike?)

King Tut's tomb? Or Al Capone's safe? Time will tell!

Mike the grill is a two piece affair and is before my area of expertise. I'll have to defer to greater minds than mine on it. The seat pan is indeed from a trike. I didn't get any pictures in the tool shed. As the day worn on I was getting pretty beat with the heat and humidity. Some of that material was mighty heavy. The tractor wheel weight and the large electrical motor come to mind. I'll be back at it shortly. Oh and no dead possums either this time around! :thumbup:

Thomas
 

truckswede

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Joined
Apr 2, 2014
Messages
20
Location
North of Sweden
Hallo Thomas and Chris. I have to say this is one of the most interesting journeys i've ever been part of. I've been reading and following along since day and page 1, and this is a story of epic proportions. You are to be commended for your work as caretakers of the Virgil Johnsson legacy, no doubt is he aware and happy with how you are carrying the legacy on.

I have one question though, if there is not a special reason for it, by you or the Johnsson family, how come there is'nt a picture of Virgil Johnsson himself somewhere? I would love to see what the man looked like, kind of get a face to the name of the man that started all of this a long time ago. And if it was'nt for him, we would not have had this entertaining journey.

Just a thought, but if i'm out of line here, just disregard my question please.
And though i'm really late at it: Congratulations on your anniversary!
Thanks for letting us be a part of this!
 

wallster

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Joined
Jan 29, 2013
Messages
169
Thomas, great thread! What an amazing job you've done with the place. I'm tired just from looking at all the work you've done. Great job and thanks for sharing.

Wally
 

BuickFarmer

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Apr 5, 2006
Messages
1,415
Location
Athens, Georgia
Zeke,



Mike the grill is a two piece affair and is before my area of expertise. I'll have to defer to greater minds than mine on it.

Thomas

Thomas,
From where I'm sittin it looks like a 1954 Buick grille. Yea, two pieces, 49 teeth, here's hoping none are broken. Let me know if it needs a good lovin home with others of it's own breed. ;)


P1000485_zpse41a90a6.jpg
 

hobbitss

Well-known member
Joined
May 31, 2010
Messages
341
Location
Southestern Massachusetts
Several hours were spent today cleaning out a few remaining items in the honey house and 2 car garage. The bulk of our time was spent clearing and sorting the tool shed and lean-to. I now think I may have underestimated how much material is still out there. :eek:







We easily filled John's trailer with another ton of scrap (60 tons total now and still counting)...



...and there is still an enormous amount left. We only worked on one end and middle of the tool shed and never even got close to the really full side. Here's the lean-to...



...as seen from a door on the opposite end that can now, finally be opened.



I did discover several more heads for flat head engines and a pair of...



...double hump Chevy high performance heads. I have no idea if they are still useable or not, they were just set aside for now.



We're going to get together next week and try again. Still haven't found any more additional gold bars unfortunately. This going to take longer than I had thought. :sad:

Thomas
:eyecrazy: Treasures!! :drool:

Where is the site archeologist?? Each item should be measured, photographed and cataloged for identification with the location where it was found... :willy_nil
 

JEEPLESS

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Joined
May 12, 2010
Messages
47
Location
MO
"Hi Matt, sorry you didn't have time to come out. I was nasty, filthy dirty and sweaty from working in the tool shed/lean-to most of the day. That would have made a nice first impression huh? :eek:

You bet I'll be participating in the Bloomington Gold event all 3 days. I'm starting out the Thursday before with an invitational "Pre- Bloomington Gold Corvette Cook Out" at the shop again this year. Are you going to the show?"


Unfortunately, not this year. I am going to plan on next year though. :beer:

- Matt
 

MN4x4

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Joined
Sep 5, 2010
Messages
1,443
Location
Minnesnowta
WOW - incredible thread! You are a modern day archeologist.

Nice save on the building and stuff inside. I hope you make enough selling some of that stuff to fund your hobby/addiction.
 
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