Above 1200 Sq/FT Restored 1930's Auto Shop

[Gingger22pm]

Thomas, have you asked Morton if they'd be willing to diversify into Corvette hoods? I hear there's an opening in California.....

Very impressive service, great advert for them-quality and happy customers is what it's all about.

 

[BB767]

...... How's your house project coming along?

Pete

ps And hows that TR4?

Pete there's nothing worse than having to sit through someone's vacation photo's when you go over for dinner and that's one of the reason's I haven't fostered too many of the new house details on you guys here. I didn't want to put anyone in the awkward position of being too polite to have to wade through all that to get to the various shop and car projects that go on around here. That's why we're all here, right?

But since you asked it's coming together quite nicely I must say. Anyone who has built a home knows the enormity of it all. Many, many details, large and small need to be attended to but I'm slowly getting the details to my liking. At night while I'm asleep, I can now mentally visualize walking around the house examining various details and working through solutions.

Last fall we set a tentative start date for this spring of May 2nd. That is late enough in the year so all the frost is out of the ground, the spring rains should largely be done and the temperature in a range with no need to worry about freezing concrete. So far it's been a very mild winter, so I've talked with all the sub-contractors, and if it continues to be a mild, fairly dry spring we might break ground sometime in April, just 60-75 days away. The design and blueprints are all shovel ready, all the subs are ready to go. We're just waiting on the weather.

As for the TR4, I'll update about it when I reply to Scott's request about the "fleet", see below.

Thanks Pete for your interest. Wish you could be here to see everything first hand.

Thomas

Thomas -

Any chance of getting a short rundown on your current stable of cars? I feel like I've lost track. I know you sold one of your Mitsubishi's, and I know that you recently purchased a Corvette (or was it two?), and you were perhaps going to sell an Impala SS. I know all about Gus, but wonder if you have another truck or SUV to tow the Chevy II with. I recall something about a British sports car that you posted many moons ago, but don't recall anything else. And I remember an older Lincoln that you inherited, I think, but lost the bubble on that one, too. And speaking of Lincoln's, I'm always interested to hear more about your lovely bride's obsession, too!

Anyway, I'm not trying to give you homework here, but I'm just worried that I might miss some of the car questions on the upcoming test...

Thanks!

Scott

Scott that's a fair request and certainly something you'll want to be well versed in when the test arrives. I'll put something together about the vehicles that are still here, but for now, the following are the ones that have left the property within the last two years.

I don't have any decent pictures of the the 1950 Studebaker 2 door businessman coupe or of both the 1964 Pontiac Catalina 2 door post coupe and the '64 Pontiac Bonneville, all have driven off into the sunset. Both of the 1999 Mitsubishi's no live here either...



...the 3000 GT- VR4 or the...



...Eclipse GSX.

After almost 40 years of ownership,



... the un-restored, all original, 1966 Lincoln Continental that I purchased from the estate of the original owner is now with a new, caring owner as well. The Continental especially was a real sweetheart but it was time to move on.

I still have several more that I need to find new homes for, especially once I get busy with the new home construction. I'll get something on here shortly about those that remain and I'll do it before the test, promise.

Enjoy Naples Scott, it is beautiful there.

Thomas

 

[BBChevro]

My previous (and only - until now) comment on this thread was back in April last year - simply to say that I'd read the first page and had subscribed.

Well, I'm finally happy to announce that I have finally (after many starts and stops and re-readings) read through the remaining 458 pages...

I avoided commenting as I went - but now that I am "in the present", I will probably comment more often.

Thanks for sharing - great thread

 

[stillp]

Pete there's nothing worse than having to sit through someone's vacation photo's when you go over for dinner and that's one of the reason's I haven't fostered too many of the new house details on you guys here. I didn't want to put anyone in the awkward position of being too polite to have to wade through all that to get to the various shop and car projects that go on around here. That's why we're all here, right?

Thomas, as usual you are too considerate! It's a lot easier to skip to the end of a thread than to leave a dinner party. I can't imagine you would bore your readership to that extent though.

Good news on your house. I'm sure we'll all be following with great interest. Yes, I wish I could see the COTU in person, but still unable to travel outside the UK.

You mentioned Naples - that's the only US city where I've had trouble with the law! I was cruising along looking around, in a little Jap rental car, when a police car came up behind. I gave hime room to ovetake but he just sat there. Looking back rather than forward, I nearly missed a stop sign - I stopped, but a yard or two too far over the line. Then he flashed his lights, so as soon as a space appeared I stopped. He gave me two tickets, one for missing the stop sign and one for failing to stop for him. I pleaded that I was a tourist, and didn't know what was expected, to which his reply was that the local millionaires didn't like cheap little foreign cars cruising their neighbourhood! Fair enough, I broke the law, I had to pay, but the trouble I had paying the fines would take a page to explain, and I've hijacked your thread too much already.

Pete

 

[C_F]

That was a beautiful Continental. I hope I will be lucky to find one similar to that one day. And yes, I'm sure many (most?) of us here would love to see your home build. I sure would.

 

[getyoungk]

Hey Thomas, what a great thread you have, unreal work you do. I have learned many tips from you and expect that I will in the future. Thanks for taking the time to regularly post!

 

[BB767]

Some More Interesting Cars

Continuing with Scott's request, here are some of the more interesting cars that remain with us.



Looking in our brick garage you can see 2 of our 3, 1964 Chevrolet Impala Super Sports.



This Satin Silver Impala is equipped with, among other options, a 327/300 hp engine, 4 speed transmission along with factory A/C...



...power steering & brakes.

Next to it is...



...another Satin Silver '64 Super Sport.



This is the car I use to Pure Stock drag race, but for the last several years our son, Cameron, has piloted it down the strip.



It has a 327/300 engine with a 4 speed and posi-traction and little else in the way of options. Interesting to note those two Impalas were build within 2 weeks of each other in December, 1963.

Our 3rd, 1964 Impala Super Sport was built in GM's South Gate California plant, which was located in a suburb of Los Angeles.



Interestingly enough, this car was painted from the factory in Satin Silver, paint code #940 just like the other two '64 Impalas. I never intended to own 3 Satin Silver '64 Impalas, it just happened, honest! I'll discuss all 3 cars and how this one came to be painted black in another post.



It has been a southern California car most of it's life and is remarkably rust free. More on all these 3 Impalas at a later date.

Our 4th Impala Super Sport is the Laural Green 1962 car...



...seen here before. With only 32,000 original miles, it is a solid, clean original car.





I'm still drag racing the '66 Chevy II and the...



..the two, 1966 Corvettes, a coupe and a convertible remain as well.



Pete's favorite, the '63 Triumph TR4, resides in the barn...



...essentially untouched from when I first received it.



Gus as always, lends his sunny personality to the shop.



Chris continues to lavish attention on her beloved 1993 Lincoln Mark VIII. Last summer in Gilmore Michigan, she won her second, national Lincoln Continental Owners Club (LCOC), President's Emeritus Crystal Bowl Award. She has been showing her Mark VIII since 2003, the first year it was eligible.



In the intervening 13 years, the judges have deducted a total of just 1/2 point in all that time. It's as perfect as a 23 year old car can be, arguably the finest Mark VIII in the country.

When towing the enclosed trailer I use...





...either the 1991, Chevrolet 2500 Silverado or our 2007 Ford E250 cargo van. Both of them are heavy, 3/4 ton capacity. When we're drag racing both the Impala and the Chevy II and need two trailers, I borrow a trailer from a friend and we use both the pickup and van for towing.

So there you go Scott. Those are the more interesting vehicles you'll see around here. You can use this post as a study guide.

I need to relocate at least two or three more cars to new homes this year. 6 have left in the last 2 years so that seems workable. I want to get down to a more manageable number. The problem of course, is they're like your children and how can you possibly sell a child? I'll find a way but it doesn't get any easier.

Thomas

 

[Boosted1]

Re: Some More Interesting Cars

Nice collection / run down of the stable.
So which is your daily driver now? The silver ado?

 

[Homebody]

Pete there's nothing worse than having to sit through someone's vacation photo's when you go over for dinner and that's one of the reason's I haven't fostered too many of the new house details on you guys here. I didn't want to put anyone in the awkward position of being too polite to have to wade through all that to get to the various shop and car projects that go on around here. That's why we're all here, right?


Thomas

PFFFFFFT, obviously you haven't read the D.TRECE garage thread!
I think it's pretty safe to say that the majority of us in class here fully expect to see at least some of the house pics once it's started!

And damn, I need one of your Impala's!

 

[stillp]

Thomas, you do like Impalas don't you!
Thanks for the TR4 photos. I'm sure there's an interesting story behind that, judging from the modifications and the non-matching trim (hint...).

I was sure I'd read that Chris had sold her Mark VIII. Whatever was I thinking of?

Pete

 

[1949 caddyman]

Thomas, is there a story about your love for the Chevys? I know I have one for my 67 Chevelle.

 

[bulletpruf]

Scott that's a fair request and certainly something you'll want to be well versed in when the test arrives. I'll put something together about the vehicles that are still here, but for now, the following are the ones that have left the property within the last two years.

I don't have any decent pictures of the the 1950 Studebaker 2 door businessman coupe or of both the 1964 Pontiac Catalina 2 door post coupe and the '64 Pontiac Bonneville, all have driven off into the sunset. Both of the 1999 Mitsubishi's no live here either...

...the 3000 GT- VR4 or the...

...Eclipse GSX.

After almost 40 years of ownership,

... the un-restored, all original, 1966 Lincoln Continental that I purchased from the estate of the original owner is now with a new, caring owner as well. The Continental especially was a real sweetheart but it was time to move on.

I still have several more that I need to find new homes for, especially once I get busy with the new home construction. I'll get something on here shortly about those that remain and I'll do it before the test, promise.

Enjoy Naples Scott, it is beautiful there.

Thomas

Thomas -

Many thanks for taking the time to post the details. No vintage American iron here, and I haven't been back to the states in several years (back to back overseas tours) so I have to live vicariously these days.

I may have mentioned that I have a soft spot for the AWD GSX. When I was in college I sold cars for a while at a Jeep/Eagle dealership. The Talon TSI's were quite quick!

Surprised you don't have a '62 or '63 with a W-motor. Since you have 3 with a 300 hp 327, maybe sell two and get one with a dual quad 409???

Never was a fan of the [EDIT - insert, "300 hp"] 327, anyway. My 66 Corvette convt had one, and it didn't hold a candle to the big block in my 66 coupe. Probably not a fair comparison.

Thanks again for indulging me. I feel like I'm more prepared for the test now!

EDIT 2 - Naples is nice, but just too much trash laying around. Really unfortunate, because it is a beautiful city with a lot of history.

Scott

 

[oberst]

When I think about our hero walking into the Philo DMV it's kinda like thinking about Norm walking into the "Cheers" bar!

 

[BB767]

When I think about our hero walking into the Philo DMV it's kinda like thinking about Norm walking into the "Cheers" bar!

Mike I had to laugh at that thought. Around here I do tend to have a few more cars than is normal. On more than one occasion at the DMV when they access my vehicle records and they see all them for the first time, I'll hear under their breath, "Oh my!"

Thomas

 

[BB767]

My previous (and only - until now) comment on this thread was back in April last year - simply to say that I'd read the first page and had subscribed.

Well, I'm finally happy to announce that I have finally (after many starts and stops and re-readings) read through the remaining 458 pages...

I avoided commenting as I went - but now that I am "in the present", I will probably comment more often.

Thanks for sharing - great thread

Congratulations BBChevro for persevering to the ATP part of our program and thank you for the compliment. It really says something about your character to wade through allllllll those pages and survive to tell the tale. There is a bunch more coming this way so please stick around!

Thomas

.....

You mentioned Naples - that's the only US city where I've had trouble with the law! I was cruising along looking around, in a little Jap rental car, when a police car came up behind. I gave hime room to ovetake but he just sat there. Looking back rather than forward, I nearly missed a stop sign - I stopped, but a yard or two too far over the line. Then he flashed his lights, so as soon as a space appeared I stopped. He gave me two tickets, one for missing the stop sign and one for failing to stop for him. I pleaded that I was a tourist, and didn't know what was expected, to which his reply was that the local millionaires didn't like cheap little foreign cars cruising their neighbourhood! Fair enough, I broke the law, I had to pay, but the trouble I had paying the fines would take a page to explain, and I've hijacked your thread too much already.

Pete

Pete that's most unfortunate. Sorry to hear you were treated so shabbily. Unfortunately there are nasty people all over the world doing their job poorly and abusing their position. As an American and one with many great friends who are in law enforcement, I feel I must apologize for that knuckle head! It's such a tough job, LEO's need all our support and that's hard when that kind of nonsense is going on.

BTW, I was referring to the Naples where Scott (bulletpruf) lives, Naples, Italy. It's all good though no worries. This way we got to hear that we're not the only ones experiencing this kind of abuse.

Thomas

Hey Thomas, what a great thread you have, unreal work you do. I have learned many tips from you and expect that I will in the future. Thanks for taking the time to regularly post!

Hello getyoungk, and thanks. Sharing is what this thread is all about and I'm happy to pass on what I've learned from others. Nice Camaro you've got there. In high school I was lucky enough to have a father who bought a one owner, 2 year old, '67 SS/RS Camaro 350/295 hp with a 4 speed. The best part was dear old Dad let me drive it quite a bit. Not great in the winter though. Easily the fastest car in school. Was I blessed or what?!

Lucky, lucky Thomas

 

[BB767]

Replacement Daily Driver

.....

So which is your daily driver now? The silver ado?

I originally bought a 1990 Eclipse GSX for my daily driver and because it was all wheel drive (AWD). I installed snow tires on it in winter and practically nothing would stop it. I replaced the '90 Eclipse GSX with the '99 GSX which again was AWD.

The main reason I then replaced the '99 Eclipse once I retired, was because I wanted something that would carry more "stuff" and load easier than the Eclipse did. It would have to be AWD because around here in winter that's the only way to go.



I looked off and on for a couple of years until this 2008 Subaru Outback showed up in Florida. I flew down, bought it directly from the owner and drove it back. That's when I finally sold the GSX.



It's a one owner car with less than 40,000 miles and clean as a whistle. I did have a couple of small dents removed, remember the paintless dent removal post, page 451, Post #9006?



I took one for the team and made a concession for Chris and finally got an automatic. Not that she can't drive a manual, it's just not her first choice anymore. This car is the first daily driver I've had without a manual transmission in 40 years! I've got enough other interesting cars with 4 speeds that I can live with this. Besides being AWD, Subaru's are somewhat legendary for being tough. Friends of mine who own them, regularly drive them over 300K miles without problems. This car also was made less than 100 miles from the shop in nearby Lafayette, Indiana. Note the "autobahn mirror" I installed on the left side of the windshield.



If you've ever driven a car with one of these mirrors in heavy traffic you'll never want to be without one again. It fills in the "blind spot" in the left rear area. (Sorry Pete, I don't know if they make them for right hand drive cars?) Notice in the factory outside mirror you can barely see the Sun Distributor machine, blue arrow, but the whole machine is easily seen in the autobahn mirror, yellow arrow. Same with cars in traffic. With just a flick of your eyes you can see if a car is hidden there without having to turn your head and look over your left shoulder. I've used one driving in Chicago traffic to get to O'hare Airport (ORD) for over 20 years and I'll always have one in my DD.



For winter use in central Illinois, I like AWD and snow tires, seen above. I have the snow tires mounted on a set of steel rims. That way I don't expose my nice, alloy rims to salt corrosion and it makes the change over every spring and fall easy. I don't have to mount or dismount any tires onto rims, just swap out the whole tire and rim assembly. Easy, peasy.

That might be more information than you wanted to know about my new daily driver Boosted1, but, well.... you know me.............

Thomas

 

[gasgas17]

Nice car. We just picked up a 2015 Legacy last summer. Nice comfortable cars and as you say, great in the snow.

 

[BBChevro]

Congratulations BBChevro for persevering to the ATP part of our program and thank you for the compliment. It really says something about your character to wade through allllllll those pages and survive to tell the tale. There is a bunch more coming this way so please stick around!

Thomas

Keeping my mouth shut (or should I say "my finger off the keyboard") wasn't easy at times Thomas - particularly when Gus appeared on the scene (that thing just "oozes coolness").

... In high school I was lucky enough to have a father who bought a one owner, 2 year old, '67 SS/RS Camaro 350/295 hp with a 4 speed. The best part was dear old Dad let me drive it quite a bit. Not great in the winter though. Easily the fastest car in school. Was I blessed or what?!

Lucky, lucky Thomas

Yep.

 

[R1chy]

Re: Some More Interesting Cars

Gus as always, lends his sunny personality to the shop....

I need to relocate at least two or three more cars to new homes this year.

Thomas

Dibs on Gus. I'm sure departing with it would be VERY hard, but if you do...

R1chy

 

[Boosted1]

Re: Replacement Daily Driver

Thanks Thomas.
Actually I like that amount of info.
I have been in the Lafayette plant you mentioned several times.
Good people and good cars there.
Another example how small the world can be.
Where did you source the autobahn mirror?
Your choice of daily and the winter tire setup makes good sense.
Proper tires make a huge difference.

 

[stillp]

Re: Replacement Daily Driver

Note the "autobahn mirror" I installed on the left side of the windshield.



If you've ever driven a car with one of these mirrors in heavy traffic you'll never want to be without one again. It fills in the "blind spot" in the left rear area. (Sorry Pete, I don't know if they make them for right hand drive cars?) Notice in the factory outside mirror you can barely see the Sun Distributor machine, blue arrow, but the whole machine is easily seen in the autobahn mirror, yellow arrow. Same with cars in traffic. With just a flick of your eyes you can see if a car is hidden there without having to turn your head and look over your left shoulder. I've used one driving in Chicago traffic to get to O'hare Airport (ORD) for over 20 years and I'll always have one in my DD.

They certainly do Thomas! I prefer the smaller ones that stick onto the external mirror though.

Pete

 

[gasgas17]

BTW, what was the red car off to the left in the brick garage?

 

[BBChevro]

I should have also mentioned that this was one of my favorites too..

...

..I'm a Chevy guy, but that Lincoln is just beautiful.

 

[Lyndon]

Mark

Thomas (or I) will convert you eventually.

Oh, and Thomas - great posts, just lovin' the info, and the cars - especially Gus. He is cool as a town run about and pick up .

Lyndon

 

[BBChevro]

Mark

Thomas (or I) will convert you eventually.

Oh, and Thomas - great posts, just lovin' the info, and the cars - especially Gus. He is cool as a town run about and pick up .

Lyndon

Hey Lyndon, although I've mainly owned Chevy (or Chevy powered) cars, I've always been fairly open minded - a good friend of mine back in the '80s had a '64 Galaxie and if we were both taking our cars somewhere, we would often swap (my driver at the time was my '65 Impala wagon).
...and, of course, my current daily driver is (my wife's) '77 F100.

Everybody loves Gus.


Sorry Thomas, since I lifted my (self-imposed) "comment embargo", I seem to be commenting all the time now.

 

[BB767]

1962 Rambler Classic

BTW, what was the red car off to the left in the brick garage?

That's Cameron's 1962 Rambler Classic.



Just over 42,000 rust free original miles, it's completely original and unrestored including the factory paint.



A 3 speed with overdrive, AM push button radio...



... it has a new exhaust, tires and battery. The 6 cylinder engine idles and runs as smooth as silk and gets 25 mpg!




Everything about the car is just as it came from the factory with an especially nice and clean trunk.



A striking red over red is very unusual for a Rambler. The front seat backs fold back, laying completely flat, level with the rear bottom seat cushion making for one, large flat surface. Rambler advertised it as a great place to sleep if you go camping in it.



I told Cameron he'll never see another one as nice as this and he better never think about selling it. That car it is a little jewel.



Who would have thought 54 years ago Ramblers could be cool?

Thomas

 

[BB767]

Thomas, is there a story about your love for the Chevys? I know I have one for my 67 Chevelle.

Good question 1949 caddyman. I guess I've never really thought about it. During my impressionable years in the 1960's I think GM was manufacturing the best styled and engineered cars. It didn't hurt that one of Mr Johnson's son's owned a gorgeous '64 Impala SS as well as probably the fastest '57 Chevy around. BTW, he still owns that '57 and every so often when I see him, I remind him I want some pictures of it.

I've always had a love affair with Corvettes ever since Todd and Buzz came into our house via Route 66. I thought the '64 Chevelle was a wonderful, clean design and had a soft spot for all the full size Impalas in the early to mid '60's.

It wasn't a family thing either, we never owned a Chevrolet until the '67 Camaro was purchased as a second car. Dad always bought VW Micro Buses if you remember those. Over the years we had a '59, a '65 and a '70. Terribly underpowered, especially in a headwind. In winter, forget trying to coax anything resembling heat out of the heater!!

In later years I knew Chevy's were a good bang for the buck in drag racing. To me the small block Chevy engine is a masterful piece of engineering. But as you've seen, I really do have an appreciation for all things automotive.

Thomas

 

[BB767]

Beltsville Shell Update

Beltsville Shell 1.0 is leaving one Florida location and going to a second Florida location. Roscoe tells me it's en-route to Craptain. He did want me to apologize to everyone for taking so long before finishing it. He went on to say that he and Cary are about the same age and that Cary just nailed what it was like back then. Roscoe had a new '64 Corvette when he was a senior in high school and it really brought back a flood of memories for him.

Update on Beltsville Shell - The Movie. Cary and I will be getting together in the not too distant future to discuss updates to that project. Stand by.

Thomas

 

[Grizz1963]

Rambler is rather lovely.

That is so cool because it's not a fashion icon.

I like it.

 

[BBChevro]

As much as I like a nice restoration, IMO nothing beats a nice original.

 

[BB767]

Beltsville Shell Is On The Move....Again

Craptain tells he is now in possession of BS 1.0!

The list of where it's headed next is:

- DRRummel - Maryland
- bluestripe67 - Washington, DC

Then to Australia

- Lyndon - Sydney, Australia
- 1/2 Cup - Shepparton. Victoria. Australia
- VMX42 - location in Australia unknown at this time
- Nursepeter1973 - Western Australia

Then to New Zealand

- williamhamilton - Wairarapa, New Zealand

Once it returns from its 2nd New Zealand tour and all our Southern Hemisphere friends, BS 1.0 will begin on its 3rd USA/Canadian tour starting with...

- tkbowman - Burien, Washington
- 56vette461 - Northern California
- jbmatth - Northern Oklahoma

If you have not done so, please send a private message, PM, to the person in front and behind you on that list with your contact information. That way you'll know who you'll be receiving it from and where it's headed next.

** If anyone in Australia or New Zealand is not on the list and would like to be included, please contact me so we can include you before BS leaves each country. We'll bump you into the list. I'm trying to avoid missing someone interested in reading it before it comes State-side again.

Lyndon, I'm projecting it's Australian arrival around April. Alert the press!

Thomas

 

[Lyndon]

Re: Beltsville Shell Is On The Move....Again

Craptain tells he is now in possession of BS 1.0!

The list of where it's headed next is:

- DRRummel - Maryland
- bluestripe67 - Washington, DC

Then to Australia

- Lyndon - Sydney, Australia
- 1/2 Cup - Shepparton. Victoria. Australia
- VMX42 - location in Australia unknown at this time
- Nursepeter1973 - Western Australia

Then to New Zealand

- williamhamilton - Wairarapa, New Zealand

Once it returns from its 2nd New Zealand tour and all our Southern Hemisphere friends, BS 1.0 will begin on its 3rd USA/Canadian tour starting with...

- tkbowman - Burien, Washington
- 56vette461 - Northern California
- jbmatth - Northern Oklahoma

If you have not done so, please send a private message, PM, to the person in front and behind you on that list with your contact information. That way you'll know who you'll be receiving it from and where it's headed next.

** If anyone in Australia or New Zealand is not on the list and would like to be included, please contact me so we can include you before BS leaves each country. We'll bump you into the list. I'm trying to avoid missing someone interested in reading it before it comes State-side again.

Lyndon, I'm projecting it's Australian arrival around April. Alert the press!

Thomas

Thomas

Yibbada Yibbada! Hot diggity and look out!!! It's heading this way.

I'll let a couple of others know here that may be interested, like Grumblebum (Rod), BBCHEVRO (Mark) and KENFAB (Ken) to see if they are interested.

Lyndon
Hurrying by.

 

[BBChevro]

Re: Beltsville Shell Is On The Move....Again

Craptain tells he is now in possession of BS 1.0!

The list of where it's headed next is:

- DRRummel - Maryland
- bluestripe67 - Washington, DC

Then to Australia

- Lyndon - Sydney, Australia
- 1/2 Cup - Shepparton. Victoria. Australia
- VMX42 - location in Australia unknown at this time
- Nursepeter1973 - Western Australia

Then to New Zealand

- williamhamilton - Wairarapa, New Zealand

Once it returns from its 2nd New Zealand tour and all our Southern Hemisphere friends, BS 1.0 will begin on its 3rd USA/Canadian tour starting with...

- tkbowman - Burien, Washington
- 56vette461 - Northern California
- jbmatth - Northern Oklahoma

If you have not done so, please send a private message, PM, to the person in front and behind you on that list with your contact information. That way you'll know who you'll be receiving it from and where it's headed next.

** If anyone in Australia or New Zealand is not on the list and would like to be included, please contact me so we can include you before BS leaves each country. We'll bump you into the list. I'm trying to avoid missing someone interested in reading it before it comes State-side again.

Lyndon, I'm projecting it's Australian arrival around April. Alert the press!

Thomas

Hey Thomas, add me to the Aussie list please - I was meaning to make that request earlier, but I was refraining from commenting until I'd caught up to the end of the thread.

 

[Gatsby]

Re: Beltsville Shell Is On The Move....Again

Craptain tells he is now in possession of BS 1.0!

The list of where it's headed next is:

- DRRummel - Maryland
- bluestripe67 - Washington, DC

Then to Australia

- Lyndon - Sydney, Australia
- 1/2 Cup - Shepparton. Victoria. Australia
- VMX42 - location in Australia unknown at this time
- Nursepeter1973 - Western Australia

Then to New Zealand

- williamhamilton - Wairarapa, New Zealand

Once it returns from its 2nd New Zealand tour and all our Southern Hemisphere friends, BS 1.0 will begin on its 3rd USA/Canadian tour starting with...

- tkbowman - Burien, Washington
- 56vette461 - Northern California
- jbmatth - Northern Oklahoma

If you have not done so, please send a private message, PM, to the person in front and behind you on that list with your contact information. That way you'll know who you'll be receiving it from and where it's headed next.

** If anyone in Australia or New Zealand is not on the list and would like to be included, please contact me so we can include you before BS leaves each country. We'll bump you into the list. I'm trying to avoid missing someone interested in reading it before it comes State-side again.

Lyndon, I'm projecting it's Australian arrival around April. Alert the press!

Thomas

Thomas

Like significant rock group tours that only come once or twice in a lifetime in this part of the world I would like to be added to the Australian tour - we may not see its like again for some time.

Regards

Gatsby

 

[BB767]

Revised Australian BS 1.0 List

Here is the latest Australian BS list with 2 new additions....there may be more. I knew there was a strong following down there!


- Lyndon - Sydney, Australia
- 1/2 Cup - Shepparton. Victoria. Australia
- VMX42 - location in Australia unknown at this time
- Nursepeter1973 - Western Australia
- BBChevro - Brisbane, Qld., Australia
- Gatsby - Canberra Australia

Then to New Zealand

- williamhamilton - Wairarapa, New Zealand

BS has been circulating for more than 3 years now, around 40 +/- readers so far and to the best of my knowledge, it has been well received by everyone, no matter their age or background. Mark and Gatsby, I'm confident you'll be happy you got on the list.

William, I'm sure you understand and aren't too terribly upset you'll have to wait just a wee bit longer.....but it'll be worth it!

Thomas

 

[BB767]

House Update

A little bit of the house update.



Some time ago I took a spiral bound note book, divided it into sections with index tabs at the top of the pages. In each section I've been compiling construction notes, specifications and various sub-contractors for different sections of the construction.



Here I am using the blueprints to calculate the square footage for the brick and stone material. The magnifying glass is to read the small print. I'm going to use granite for all the stone work, including the fireplace. It's going to real, full size building stone, close to 24 tons (21,772 kg) of it. Where it's not stone, it'll be brick, 18,000 - 20,000 of them as a rough guess right now.

I've picked out a rock quarry in upstate New York to supply the granite. They have some particularly beautiful, multicolored granite. The stone company has been quite helpful and very accommodating. Within the next month I'll be going out to the quarry to meet the foreman and they're going to let me pick out the mountain vein I want my stone quarried from. Truly nice folks.



This was the old shop a few days ago...



For now, it's being used as a central meeting place for the sub-contractors. I've been meeting with them individually or in small groups...



...as we work through construction details and timelines. By doing this pre-planning I hope to minimize surprises on the work site. There will be enough of those as it is. There is always the unforeseen. So far the group has gotten along exceptionally well. They're all professionals, the best in their various specialties and more importantly they're nice guys. Most of them have known each other for years.

So that's a little look at behind the scenes. More meetings tomorrow and next week. It's suppose to be 1º F tonight and tomorrow night but then the big warmup starts with 50º + by next weekend. Spring can't be too far away now! Stand by.

Thomas

 

[Mazderati]

Looking for information on single post car lifts steered me into this thread. Now I'm just trying to figure out where the last five hours went.

 

[bulletpruf]

Looking for information on single post car lifts steered me into this thread. Now I'm just trying to figure out where the last five hours went.

Looks like someone else got sucked into the vortex! Welcome to Garage Journal!

 

[DoorBreaker]

Re: House Update

A little bit of the house update.

Here I am using the blueprints to calculate the square footage for the brick and stone material. The magnifying glass is to read the small print. I'm going to use granite for all the stone work, including the fireplace. It's going to real, full size building stone, close to 24 tons (21,772 kg) of it. Where it's not stone, it'll be brick, 18,000 - 20,000 of them as a rough guess right now.

I've picked out a rock quarry in upstate New York to supply the granite. They have some particularly beautiful, multicolored granite. The stone company has been quite helpful and very accommodating. Within the next month I'll be going out to the quarry to meet the foreman and they're going to let me pick out the mountain vein I want my stone quarried from. Truly nice folks.

So that's a little look at behind the scenes. More meetings tomorrow and next week. It's suppose to be 1º F tonight and tomorrow night but then the big warmup starts with 50º + by next weekend. Spring can't be too far away now! Stand by.

Thomas

Which quarry in NY? Chippewa ? Adirondack Stone? Mohican? Champlain Stone? We have a bunch of them over here.
Steve

 

[Spareparts]

Thomas, love keeping up with the COTU thru you and Chris, you seem to never get tired of coming up with projects to keep your shop neat and tidy. What I'am leading up to is the latest picture of the table with the prints on it, in the background is the lathe on the bench. The pan you fabbed up under it is one of those things you thump your forehead and think, why didn't I think of that. Sure makes cleanup a snap. I have been keeping up with this thread since page 3 and have enjoyed every minute of it. THANK YOU.