Mark's Monster Garage....3800 sq ft

[Craptain]

One day Mark, you will have an open house or other event when I am actually in town.

Maybe I will just come down to visit and drool when you are not too busy and forget meeting all the other cool people, just look at the projects in progress.

 

[IGO2XS]

Check this out....

 

[55cadillacking]

CRAZY! They actually look like two dogs squaring off. One, obviously biting off more than he can chew.

 

[IGO2XS]

CRAZY! They actually look like two dogs squaring off. One, obviously biting off more than he can chew.

I know, I never realized how small the c10 looked compared to the dually.

 

[Wingnut65]

The new rims on the dually look great! And that C10 is really coming along. Glad the new place doesn't have speed bumps!

 

[Art Unique]

you've got some awesome projects going on there. Very Nice

 

[04fivefour]

I noticed you guys have a facebook page.. but do you guys have an instagram page? The projects you guys do are gold on instagram. Sorry for getting off base, I run the marketing department at the company I work for so I always have that on my mind lol

 

[IGO2XS]

The new rims on the dually look great! And that C10 is really coming along. Glad the new place doesn't have speed bumps!

I love the wheels on the dually. They dont ride as good as the stock ones but who cares!! I know the truck is pretty low!!

you've got some awesome projects going on there. Very Nice

thank you

I noticed you guys have a facebook page.. but do you guys have an instagram page? The projects you guys do are gold on instagram. Sorry for getting off base, I run the marketing department at the company I work for so I always have that on my mind lol

Funny you ask. I was just getting ready to set up an instagram page. Thank you for the suggestion. I will let you guys know when I set one up.

 

[bashr52]

Bump for posterity!

Whats going on in the garage?

 

[CJUDGE]

Hope this finds you well. Any plans for second garage Journal get together...

 

[IGO2XS]

Bump for posterity!

Whats going on in the garage?

Thank you so much for the bump! I will post updates this week. It seems like everynight I am looking for car parts once I sit down for the night. Its a never ending job!

Hope this finds you well. Any plans for second garage Journal get together...

I have thought about it so if you think there is some interest maybe we should just plan one!!!

It has been pretty busy around here. We had the Corvette show last week. Car shows are a lot of work and between jobs and getting ready for the show we were up to our ears in cars. We had 60 Corvettes at the shop so we felt it was a very successful show.



Last weekend I realized the Annual Devereaux-Kaiser Antique Car Show was happening this weekend and made the last minute decision to attend it as a vender. I have not done any advertising other than Facebook so I thought I might start getting involved with some of the local shows. I have the perfect trailer to use as booth and I just needed to dress it up. It just so happens I am doing a car for a guy show did my business sign and he can do decals so check this out.




All of this plus I was at the NCRS Corvette show in Lakeland yesterday and the Mecum Car auction in Kissimmee last night and today so it has been a very busy few weeks for me. I will post some of the projects this week.

 

[Bob Heine]

Mark,
I can't imagine starting a new business when you already have an established one. You're like the army: "You get more done before 9am then most people do all day." As always, I look forward to your updates and really enjoy visiting your place.

Sorry I couldn't make the Corvette show. My buddy had a family matter and my wife only lets me out with a chaperon -- something about trouble attracting me or the other way around. I really do try to listen but after 53 years it all sounds a lot like Charlie Brown's teacher. Hopefully next time....

 

[36truck]

Sharp tow rig. Looks like you had a great turn out for the Vette show.

 

[YJ4000]

Hi Mark, I was reading this when you started than for some reason or another lost track around page 49-50. I found it again a couple weeks ago and didn't stop reading a little every night till I caught up. So I just want to say AWESOME!!! You have so much motivation and a good eye for detail. I wish you the best of luck with everything. My father is in Bonita Springs so if I get down to see him before he comes home in the spring I would love to come see your place. Thanks for letting us follow your journey.

Ryan.

 

[Danish-welder]

I just spend a whole day reading through your thread Mark, i must say absolute amazing builds and workshops!!
Keep up the good work and keep posting updates from your shop

Best of luck in the future!

With the kindest regards, Emil - Denmark, Europe

 

[IGO2XS]

Mark,
I can't imagine starting a new business when you already have an established one. You're like the army: "You get more done before 9am then most people do all day." As always, I look forward to your updates and really enjoy visiting your place.

I know Bob I am a little crazy for this. I tell people you really have to LOVE cars to be in the business. I appreciate you friendship and I am sure we will see each other soon.

Sharp tow rig. Looks like you had a great turn out for the Vette show.

Thank you. I love trucks and trailers so it is a lot of fun just pulling the trailer around.

Hi Mark, I was reading this when you started than for some reason or another lost track around page 49-50. I found it again a couple weeks ago and didn't stop reading a little every night till I caught up. So I just want to say AWESOME!!! You have so much motivation and a good eye for detail. I wish you the best of luck with everything. My father is in Bonita Springs so if I get down to see him before he comes home in the spring I would love to come see your place. Thanks for letting us follow your journey.

Ryan.

Thank you Ryan for taking the time to post. I really appreciate the nice words and I want to do my best to keep interesting things posted here on this thread.

We had the car show today so we got there a little before 7am this morning. We spent the next 2 hours unloading the trailer and getting it all set up. We took the C10, we had carpet, a few tables, banners, a t-shirt display, and a PA system for sound. We spent the next 4 hours talking to people then an hour to tear down, take it all back to the shop and unload..... This is what we do for fun!! It was a beautiful day for a car show.

We are getting started on the 67 International Pickup project. I have been looking for a 2005 to 2007 Chevrolet 2500HD pickup we could use for a doner for this project. We want to put modern suspension and drivetrain in this project. It will be powered by a duramax diesel.

 

[wagzilla]

How is the Fire truck coming along?

James

 

[Durasmack]

I know Bob I am a little crazy for this. I tell people you really have to LOVE cars to be in the business. I appreciate you friendship and I am sure we will see each other soon.



Thank you. I love trucks and trailers so it is a lot of fun just pulling the trailer around.



Thank you Ryan for taking the time to post. I really appreciate the nice words and I want to do my best to keep interesting things posted here on this thread.

We had the car show today so we got there a little before 7am this morning. We spent the next 2 hours unloading the trailer and getting it all set up. We took the C10, we had carpet, a few tables, banners, a t-shirt display, and a PA system for sound. We spent the next 4 hours talking to people then an hour to tear down, take it all back to the shop and unload..... This is what we do for fun!! It was a beautiful day for a car show.

We are getting started on the 67 International Pickup project. I have been looking for a 2005 to 2007 Chevrolet 2500HD pickup we could use for a doner for this project. We want to put modern suspension and drivetrain in this project. It will be powered by a duramax diesel.

Now that's going to be a sick build! I can't wait to see it!

 

[YJ4000]

Hey Mark, I wish the projects up here in NY had as little rust as the ones you get. That would make my projects go a lot faster. Well who am I kidding. I would need to work on the procrastination factor. I have been searching ads in the lower states so if/when I visit my dad I could bring home a project that needs less panel replacement. Keep up the great updates.

Ryan.

 

[IGO2XS]

How is the Fire truck coming along?

James

We have been plugging away on the Fire truck. Well, acutally its been more like working our tails off on it. The metal fab has been very time consuming but we are near the end.

This picture was taken a few weeks ago when we were mocking up all of the brass work on the bed. As you can see some of the pieces we polished months ago are starting to tarnish. Polishing this truck is going to be a full time job!!




This is a picture of the bed a early this week with the final coat of primer on it. We sprayed all of the frame work with Raptor to protect it. We also wanted a protective layer between the diamond plate floor and the frame so the aluminum floor wont rattle.



This picture is of the final fit of the floor. We drilled and taped all of the flooring to the frame. We used stainless steel button head fasteners to attach all of the diamond plate. You can see the inner fenders have been Raptored.



This is a picture while fitting the top. It was not fastened down at this stage. The two large hose reels will be mounted on top of this.



We have a real nice storage area in front. The walls were Raptored for protection since this area will be used for storage. The inverter and some of the stereo equipment will be mounted in here.



We are officially at the finishing stages so it is starting to get exciting.

 

[TwoBytes]

Excuse the silly question... What's Raptor?

Love the fire truck, and all of your work to date Mark. I've read all the way from the beginning, very inspiring!

 

[mikeburris]

we need pictures of the roadrunner/satellite in the back ground too.

 

[Bob Heine]

we need pictures of the roadrunner/satellite in the back ground too.

A few posts on the Viper-powered Roadrunner:

• 1363 (Page 69) http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=3252279&postcount=1363
• 1771 (Page 89)http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=3648493&postcount=1771
• 1800 (Page 90)http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=3664342&postcount=1800
• 2305 (Page 116)http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=4186640&postcount=2305

A couple of pictures taken at the December 6, 2014 Car Show at GodSpeed Rides http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=4467015&postcount=8

 

[IGO2XS]

Excuse the silly question... What's Raptor?

Love the fire truck, and all of your work to date Mark. I've read all the way from the beginning, very inspiring!

Raptor is a bed liner material but not as thick. It is a two part material we spray out of a special gun. Its great for fender wells and other areas needing durability.

we need pictures of the roadrunner/satellite in the back ground too.

Thanks Bob Heine!!!

Here is a nice overhead shot of the fire truck. Once the benches are sitting in the back the space is really filled up nice.




The white material you see is Starboard and is used in the marine industry. It is a plastic and is used in marine construction because it does not rot and is resistant to water Not that the fire truck will be left out in the rain but it is a great material to use. Once we finish this it will all be covered in vinyl for seating.



this is not a great photo but what it does show is inside the passenger side fenderwell. I guess we are building this like a hot rod as we are hiding all of the electric, A/C, and heater lines so we will have a clean engine compartment.

 

[IGO2XS]

I was just telling my wife I really look forward to Sunday afternoons because it is my day to do my "honey do's" and hang out in the garage. The fact our weather is hovering around 70 degrees each day doesnt hurt either.

I just posted this over in the general discussion area when someone asked about cordless drill storage. I thought it was a pretty cool idea.

 

[YJ4000]

Yea, I like that idea. As mine are stacked on my blast cabinet.

Ryan

 

[bashr52]

No updates for 11 days?

Whats going on down there Mark?

 

[christopher7390]

that thing is bad ***!!! ^^

 

[Wingnut65]

Probably all ******* with some red paint. I mean, red tape!

 

[IGO2XS]

You guys shouldn't let me slack so much!!! Dang shop has got me busy. We did get the fire truck bed painted this past friday. Wow is it one big piece of candy apple red!! It turned out awesome and their is a minimal amount of buffing to do. I finally got the wheels ordered for the fire truck. We are going with 10 lug 19.5 inch polished alcoa wheels. I really wanted the 22.5" semi wheels but they were just too wide in the back. We are using a chevrolet dually rear end and the factor spindles in the front. I am building 10 lug wheel adapters so all the wheels will look like they are 10 lug for a real heavy duty look.







We are also working on the 70 bronco. Here is the dash after we mocked it up. The single gauge is custom made by Dakota digital. Even though this project has no windows we are putting A/C in it by request from the owner.

 

[F-117HWK]

Yesssssss, been waiting on Bronco updates. Looking good Mark

 

[capterik]

I've had good luck with Dakota Digital, I put this in the miniature kenworth I built

 

[IGO2XS]

Yesssssss, been waiting on Bronco updates. Looking good Mark

Its back in production now so you will be seeing more photos.


Your Kenworth looks cool capterik!


We have been putting in alot of hours on the International project. You would think there would be so much metal work on a clean truck but we have about 80 hours of metal work in this so far.

 

[Streetbu]

Come on Mark, its been a whole week without updates. LOL

 

[Bob in St. Louis]

Mark needs his own show on cable.

 

[IGO2XS]

Come on Mark, its been a whole week without updates. LOL

Sorry I have been on GJ the last few nights and it got too late for me to think of something clever.

Mark needs his own show on cable.

Only if they allow swear words on TV

I have a new fabricator in the shop and he came from Ring Brothers. They are very well known and we are lucky to have him. I have posted quite a few pictures lately on the international pickup so I hope you guys arent tired of seeing it!! With a duramax going in this project I have been on the fence between buying a Chevy 2500HD, pulling the body off and using the frame and drivetrain or/ using the stock frame and modify it. After much thought and conversations with the owner we have made the decision to use the existing frame and modify the suspension, steering, and brakes. There were so many factors to consider and we are definitely heading in the right direction. Below is a picture of a duramax block sitting between the frame rails and there is definitely enough room.



Along with some of the big projects we have quite a few side projects. The 30 Ford is getting a new exhaust system, new fuel tanks, and new Vintage A/C system. The Trans Am is getting all new suspension and exhaust from headers to tailpipes. It is a never ending battle trying to keep parts in stock and ready to get these cars finished efficiently. No one has an open check book so we really work hard at managing these projects.

 

[Streetbu]

Wow, nice rides! The associated paperwork alone with each car makes my head spin. That's a lot to handle let alone the actual build. Great job as always!

 

[Boosted1]

Hey! A '69 Trans Am! I'm going to guess that is a clone. Not sure of exact numbers, but seems like there were only 7 or 8 factory Trans Am Convertibles in '69.
Either way that car looks great.
One tip, the chrome grille is missing the the Arrowhead logo that was present on 400ci cars and Trans Ams.

 

[tskills10]

WOW Mark, I haven't been on the page for quite a while. I stop and see some amazing work. Not that I would've expected anything less. The wife and I are planning a trip to Florida this summer and are planning on being Sarasota for a few days. Hoping to be able to come by and meet you and see the shop. Would love to see the original garage that started it all also.

 

[bashr52]

Sorry I have been on GJ the last few nights and it got too late for me to think of something clever.



Only if they allow swear words on TV

I have a new fabricator in the shop and he came from Ring Brothers. They are very well known and we are lucky to have him.

I just watched an episode of Jay Leno's garage where he featured the SEMA car they just did and won best of show. Very nice ride! You scored a good fab guy!