My new place! The Mopar Mill!
- Thread starter RacerRick
- Start date
LOL, see what I mean by these guys loving pictures. It's garage **** to them.
sublime68charger
Well-known member
LOL, see what I mean by these guys loving pictures. It's garage **** to them.
It's your fault with your great thread with the detailed pics has spoiled us all
And we try to get others up to your level
lol - I will try for some more pics when I am up there next. I am trying to get another van load of parts out tomorrow after work.
I went there yesterday but it was a fiasco the entire way. I was driving up my 67' Belvedere that has been having a chronic overheating problem. Everything in the cooling system has been replaced, but it was still running hot.
I was hoping that with the cold weather, it would make it. Wrong.
It made it half way and we stopped for lunch to let it cool in Ajax - it made it to about 230-240 degrees on the guage. So after lunch, its cold enough to open up the rad and its down about a gallon of coolant. I have an overflow bottle, and its full to the top with some nasty oily looking brown water looking stuff. Not good.
Everything in the cooling system is new, including the coolant, so it looks like a head gasket is on its way out or I have a crack in the head or block. It still runs strong, so I figure I can limp it the rest of the way - another half hour of driving or so. I topped up the coolant with some fresh 50/50 mix and away we go again.
A few minutes on the highway and head gasket on the big block lets go in a spectacular fashion. There are full James Bondesque clouds of fluffy white smoke behind the car as I try to get it off at the upcoming exit. Coolant is spraying out of the rear of the drivers side head like a sprinkler all over the exhaust. Of course this being Toronto traffic, nobody will let me over, even with the car obviously in distress. Jerks.
A quick downshift from overdrive to third, and stomp on the gas to get over just makes the car go sideways as the wheels spin on the coolant pouring out of the void where the head gasket is supposed to be. But the morons behind me get the picture and let me get over to the side of the road. I think I floated the valves some on that one also. Either way, the motor is sitting at 250+ degrees as I coast up the off ramp around the corner and into the parking lot of a strip mall. I just open the hood and let everything cool off while I call CAA.
Did I mention I had my female friend with me? She was more than a little cold and less than impressed with the car. She did warm up in the tow truck nicely, and likes the new place, but I don't think she will be taking a drive with me in a car with known problems again.
I didn't take any pics because I don't think she would have appreciated me documenting her pain.
I went there yesterday but it was a fiasco the entire way. I was driving up my 67' Belvedere that has been having a chronic overheating problem. Everything in the cooling system has been replaced, but it was still running hot.
I was hoping that with the cold weather, it would make it. Wrong.
It made it half way and we stopped for lunch to let it cool in Ajax - it made it to about 230-240 degrees on the guage. So after lunch, its cold enough to open up the rad and its down about a gallon of coolant. I have an overflow bottle, and its full to the top with some nasty oily looking brown water looking stuff. Not good.
Everything in the cooling system is new, including the coolant, so it looks like a head gasket is on its way out or I have a crack in the head or block. It still runs strong, so I figure I can limp it the rest of the way - another half hour of driving or so. I topped up the coolant with some fresh 50/50 mix and away we go again.
A few minutes on the highway and head gasket on the big block lets go in a spectacular fashion. There are full James Bondesque clouds of fluffy white smoke behind the car as I try to get it off at the upcoming exit. Coolant is spraying out of the rear of the drivers side head like a sprinkler all over the exhaust. Of course this being Toronto traffic, nobody will let me over, even with the car obviously in distress. Jerks.
A quick downshift from overdrive to third, and stomp on the gas to get over just makes the car go sideways as the wheels spin on the coolant pouring out of the void where the head gasket is supposed to be. But the morons behind me get the picture and let me get over to the side of the road. I think I floated the valves some on that one also. Either way, the motor is sitting at 250+ degrees as I coast up the off ramp around the corner and into the parking lot of a strip mall. I just open the hood and let everything cool off while I call CAA.
Did I mention I had my female friend with me? She was more than a little cold and less than impressed with the car. She did warm up in the tow truck nicely, and likes the new place, but I don't think she will be taking a drive with me in a car with known problems again.
I didn't take any pics because I don't think she would have appreciated me documenting her pain.
SILVERPLATE
Well-known member
Very cool, will be following along. Please post often. Where are you located? Mike
Motoman1100
Well-known member
Subscribed! What a cool looking place, I'm in!
sean Buick 76
Well-known member
I have subscribed to the thread so I do not miss any updates!
I hear you on the "lady friend in distressed old car deal"..... It really does **** when you are trying to manage the old car and she is rolling her eyes.... Just remember the cars do not judge us.... the ladies WILL LOL!!!
How is the old beast? Did you confirm a head gasket failure? If not do a coolant pressure test...
I hear you on the "lady friend in distressed old car deal"..... It really does **** when you are trying to manage the old car and she is rolling her eyes.... Just remember the cars do not judge us.... the ladies WILL LOL!!!
How is the old beast? Did you confirm a head gasket failure? If not do a coolant pressure test...
48windsor
Well-known member
nice name to the shop . Im a Mopar guy too.
lots of potentia lthere
lots of potentia lthere
Code Red
New member
I am nine different kinds of jealous! Congrats on the shop. Post pics.
I remember when we moved into an old gas station with a four bay shop, I thought I was in heaven, but it was nothing compared to what you have going on there.
I remember when we moved into an old gas station with a four bay shop, I thought I was in heaven, but it was nothing compared to what you have going on there.
She was cold ? Body heat man, body heat.
I haven't done anything to the car since I dropped it off in the third bay. It can sit for a while. Still runs but now has a miss, and there is no longer any coolant in it. The gasket let go at the rear of the block at the #7 cylinder. I have a frech 383 for it at the other shop.
We just got 6" of snow and its still coming down. I was going to go to the shop today with a load of parts from house's garage, but I doubt that will happen. I have at least two more loads of just car parts from the house still. I haven't even touched the old shop yet.
We just got 6" of snow and its still coming down. I was going to go to the shop today with a load of parts from house's garage, but I doubt that will happen. I have at least two more loads of just car parts from the house still. I haven't even touched the old shop yet.
CudaChick1968
Member Emeritus
You obviously caught MY attention with your thread title.
Congrats on the new shop!!! I'll be following this with interest.And even if the pics are blurry please share them anyway. Just make sure the ones of your cars are good. LOL!!!!
blazentrout
Well-known member
Wow, what a score.
n2ocamaro
Well-known member
Great space you have there. Looks like it has tons of potential. Looking forward to see what you do with the place.
ilive4jeeps
New member
that place is cool. definitely in on this one. always wanted to shop with living space above, but a wife and 4 kids that dreams gone **** bye bye.
mountainman72
Well-known member
OMG. My head is spinning with the potential of this space. Triple zoning?! Living space over showroom space over build space. Incredible. I can't wait to see this one progress.
Subscribed!
Brett
Subscribed!
Brett
AZ Pete
Well-known member
Subscribed
luke7734
Well-known member
I know you've been back out to the property to do something.. let's get a walk through with some pics guy..
WEmeigh
Member
Subscribe
Bib Overalls
Well-known member
Your lady friend will like it right up to the moment you say "I do."
What you have is a gear head bachelor's dream. I envy you.
What you have is a gear head bachelor's dream. I envy you.
CudaChick1968
Member Emeritus
I have been up a few times working on the new place, but as usual, life gets in the way. I am getting my old houses wiring updated (removing the knob and tube and upgrading the fuse box to breakers and a 100amp service) and been playing tag with the electricians. I need to get this house done, listed, and sold to have funds to reno the new place.
Anyways, after taking some time to inspect the place I found a couple of issues that needed immediate repair and that has been what I have been working on. I am adding a gas forced air furnace for the apartment and commercial space, and found that where I am building the furnace room, the floor was very springy. Like trampoline springy. This area was where they used to keep bagged feed - 10+ tons of it. I think it should be a little more solid. Measuring showed the floor was not anywhere close the level and had a 2" slope towards the end of the room.
Popping down into the crawl space revealed that three of the block pillars supporting the end of the main floor had sunk or fallen over. The entire floor was just hanging out in space. Not good. A little digging revealed an entire concrete floor under an inch or two of dirt (that had fallen through he T&G pin floor over the years) with concrete footers under the support pillars. I guess the original contractor was running low on material because the footers went from a solid 4" down to about 3/4" at the end where the pillars had fallen over, and I didn't find any rebar. The pillars had punched right through the thin footer and sunk several inches with the weight of the feed on the floor.
I ended up pulling up all the 1" T&G pine flooring, digging out the broken footer, pouring a 6" thick footer back up to floor height, rebuilding the block pillars with double the block to spread out the weight over a larger area, sistering up the floor joice since I didn't trust them after being bent like they were for years, and leveling and resheathing the floor. I used 5/8" T&G OSB, with a 3/8" underlayment board to equal the original 1" pine boards. I am going to put linoleum down before the furnace goes in since this room is also the interior entryway to the shop.
Here is my nephew giving me a hand laying the underlayment board. Lots of screws in that floor. The area replaced is about 10'x10'. There will be a 2x4 non structural wall going up where the new floor meets the old.
View of the pile of old flooring. I think it is destined to become firewood. The entire floor is pretty loose from all the weight that was put on it.
Now I know you guys wanted to see the shop. I could easily fit 6 cars in here.
I moved the 67' Belv here a few weeks ago.
Here is the main floor from the side entrance. The stairs go up to the unheated storage area above the shop and the apartment. I have a lot of sheetrock to put up.
Did I mention I have a lot of storage space right now? This area is 40' x 40'.
Next up - the apartment.
Anyways, after taking some time to inspect the place I found a couple of issues that needed immediate repair and that has been what I have been working on. I am adding a gas forced air furnace for the apartment and commercial space, and found that where I am building the furnace room, the floor was very springy. Like trampoline springy. This area was where they used to keep bagged feed - 10+ tons of it. I think it should be a little more solid. Measuring showed the floor was not anywhere close the level and had a 2" slope towards the end of the room.
Popping down into the crawl space revealed that three of the block pillars supporting the end of the main floor had sunk or fallen over. The entire floor was just hanging out in space. Not good. A little digging revealed an entire concrete floor under an inch or two of dirt (that had fallen through he T&G pin floor over the years) with concrete footers under the support pillars. I guess the original contractor was running low on material because the footers went from a solid 4" down to about 3/4" at the end where the pillars had fallen over, and I didn't find any rebar. The pillars had punched right through the thin footer and sunk several inches with the weight of the feed on the floor.
I ended up pulling up all the 1" T&G pine flooring, digging out the broken footer, pouring a 6" thick footer back up to floor height, rebuilding the block pillars with double the block to spread out the weight over a larger area, sistering up the floor joice since I didn't trust them after being bent like they were for years, and leveling and resheathing the floor. I used 5/8" T&G OSB, with a 3/8" underlayment board to equal the original 1" pine boards. I am going to put linoleum down before the furnace goes in since this room is also the interior entryway to the shop.
Here is my nephew giving me a hand laying the underlayment board. Lots of screws in that floor. The area replaced is about 10'x10'. There will be a 2x4 non structural wall going up where the new floor meets the old.
View of the pile of old flooring. I think it is destined to become firewood. The entire floor is pretty loose from all the weight that was put on it.
Now I know you guys wanted to see the shop. I could easily fit 6 cars in here.
I moved the 67' Belv here a few weeks ago.
Here is the main floor from the side entrance. The stairs go up to the unheated storage area above the shop and the apartment. I have a lot of sheetrock to put up.
Did I mention I have a lot of storage space right now? This area is 40' x 40'.
Next up - the apartment.
Now for the apartment, AKA - my new home. Well, as soon as I sell the old place it will be my new home. I have moved a lot of non essential stuff up there from the house. Basically every time I go to work on the place I bring up a carload, or minivan load if I have my parents minivan.
I still have a lot of big stuff to move, but about 75% of the smaller stuff is gone from the house and garage. I still haven't touched my shop, but the rent is paid there until May.
I still have to trim the place out, as the previous owner didn't finish the trimming. I also am going to redo the kitchen area, as I have nice butcher block for the countertops, and the cabinets don't have any faces on them. I also need to add the dishwasher after I get on municipal water.
Anyways, pics of the mess....
Walkout to the deck and the bedroom. I need to add a door one day.
Built in entertainment unit
Kitchen
Fireplace - gas fired
This area used to be the workers lounge for the mill, with the kitchen, and bathroom/showers. Now it is a decent one bedroom apartment.
I still have a lot of big stuff to move, but about 75% of the smaller stuff is gone from the house and garage. I still haven't touched my shop, but the rent is paid there until May.
I still have to trim the place out, as the previous owner didn't finish the trimming. I also am going to redo the kitchen area, as I have nice butcher block for the countertops, and the cabinets don't have any faces on them. I also need to add the dishwasher after I get on municipal water.
Anyways, pics of the mess....
Walkout to the deck and the bedroom. I need to add a door one day.
Built in entertainment unit
Kitchen
Fireplace - gas fired
This area used to be the workers lounge for the mill, with the kitchen, and bathroom/showers. Now it is a decent one bedroom apartment.
sublime68charger
Well-known member
Nice! Love the progress your making.
mountainman72
Well-known member
Love the shop space, of course. High ceilings, great industrial look, lots of space. I can't wait to see how it looks once things get settled.
I know there's some work to be done but the apartment looks cool. It's nice that the previous owner didn't pad out all the structural details, but chose to sheetrock around them. It makes for interesting lines in the living space.
Stay on it! You've got an amazing space.
Brett
I know there's some work to be done but the apartment looks cool. It's nice that the previous owner didn't pad out all the structural details, but chose to sheetrock around them. It makes for interesting lines in the living space.
Stay on it! You've got an amazing space.
Brett
my58
Well-known member
Love the update! Keep them coming.
How do you keep it secure or is it not a problem where you are located?
Thanks for allowing us all to tag along on your project.
How do you keep it secure or is it not a problem where you are located?
Thanks for allowing us all to tag along on your project.
clutch93
Well-known member
This is such a cool place, can't wait to see more updates! Good luck on selling your old house!
bonecrrusher
Well-known member
Looking at the first pic from the first post - your apartment is above the small blue door - to the right of the shop?
The apartment is the entire 2nd floor of the front part of the building.
I have been working hard on my old house, to get it ready to be sold. I am just waiting on an electrician now to get my service upgraded and the new breaker box installed. With permits, that will take a few weeks to be completed. There will be no big expenses for the new place until I get the house sold.
After that, all new heat, A/C, and a connection to municipal water will be happening pretty fast. There will be a lot more progress at the new place since I will be living there, and won't have another house to work on.
I am going up this weekend to finish up the floor and get the new wall framed for the furnace room. I need to pick up some 2x8's to frame out the new door to the stairwell. The wall is framed with 2x8 lumber! I am leaning towards going with a 36" wide door instead of the standard 32". Big doors make moving stuff easier and its only marginally more expensive.
I have been working hard on my old house, to get it ready to be sold. I am just waiting on an electrician now to get my service upgraded and the new breaker box installed. With permits, that will take a few weeks to be completed. There will be no big expenses for the new place until I get the house sold.
After that, all new heat, A/C, and a connection to municipal water will be happening pretty fast. There will be a lot more progress at the new place since I will be living there, and won't have another house to work on.
I am going up this weekend to finish up the floor and get the new wall framed for the furnace room. I need to pick up some 2x8's to frame out the new door to the stairwell. The wall is framed with 2x8 lumber! I am leaning towards going with a 36" wide door instead of the standard 32". Big doors make moving stuff easier and its only marginally more expensive.
I actually found time this weekend to work on the new place. No pics since it is pretty much something you have already seen. I was laying the underlayment board int he furnace room until I ran out of screws - a box of 500 doesn't last very long when you are putting them in every 6".
I even got several of the IKEA shelves moved from the old place to the new place and started setting up the library area. I will empty all the home depot plastic totes of books by actually putting them away on the shelves. Then I can reuse the totes for more books and magazines. I have way too many car magazines....
Ever move and keep finding car parts scattered around the house? Stuff that you forgot you have? I have been finding all kinds of cool stuff I squirreled away around the house over the years, and then promptly forgot I had bought. I have found car parts in every room but the bathroom so far...
I even got several of the IKEA shelves moved from the old place to the new place and started setting up the library area. I will empty all the home depot plastic totes of books by actually putting them away on the shelves. Then I can reuse the totes for more books and magazines. I have way too many car magazines....
Ever move and keep finding car parts scattered around the house? Stuff that you forgot you have? I have been finding all kinds of cool stuff I squirreled away around the house over the years, and then promptly forgot I had bought. I have found car parts in every room but the bathroom so far...
CudaChick1968
Member Emeritus
Surreal001
Well-known member
- Joined
- Feb 25, 2014
- Messages
- 105
Subscribed. What a great space to build out.
80WTI_55_CHEV
Well-known member
That building is awesome, can't wait to see the end result. That is a big task you are taking on but the end result will be well worth the effort you put in. Subscribed. Lee
C_F
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Man, I would love a place like this! This will be fun to watch as you go along. Good luck with your old house, I hope it sells for you on the next bite.