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Above 1200 Sq/FT Restored 1930's Auto Shop

Wokspaces above 1200 squarefeet.
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BB767

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Your Grand Tour brings back so many memories. I did it in 1963 in a 1961 station wagon with two toddlers on the way west. A too long, emotionally agonizing, story.

Great choice, Thomas. That C7 is built for high speed touring. The C8 will be too.

True enough Terry, but I don't think it's going to have much luggage room. Certainly not as much as the C7 I suspect. We'll know in a few weeks won't we? ;)

Thomas
 
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BB767

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Hi Thomas,
Impressive garage and GREAT resto on the old woodworking machines.

-What type of paint did you use on them: Rust Oleum spray, XO Rust, or industrial brush on paint? How well has it held out?

I've been using Rust Oleum rattle cans on my machines and they look great at first but it has not been durable and chips easily even with careful metal prep and primer before spraying.

Nicely Done,
Tact7

Welcome Tact7 and thank you for your kind words. While I'm gathering and preparing photos from Rt 66 I'll address your woodworking machine questions.





I did the restoration on the Yates American planer and jointer 39 years ago, in 1980. Above and below are pictures from a few weeks ago. Note the knife guard on the jointer above was not installed when that picture was taken. It has since been re-installed. I never operate it without that guard!

In 1980 when I did the restoration, I had paint custom mixed to exactly match the original Yates-American green paint color that was used in 1944 when those machines were both manufactured. I used Pratt and Lambert oil based enamel paint with a small amount of Pratt and Lambert Japan drier mixed in to aid in drying the paint. Every surface was brushed on. I've got the planer opened up to service it so this is a good time to answer your question about how well has the paint held up...











As you can see, the paint has held up remarkably well as has the overall restoration. I have no complaints what-so-ever with how durable that paint has been. Keep in mind it was an oil based enamel paint, brushed on. I don't think you'd ever get as durable a finish with a rattle can spray paint, no matter how meticulously you prepare the surface.

Brushing enamel paint to keep brush strokes from showing and get good, even coverage is slow, painstaking work but those projects were a labor of love. I didn't mind at all and being a fairly patient guy helps! Each machine took about a month to do completely. Well worth the effort especially since I only had to do it once. Powder coating wasn't an option back then!

Best of luck Tact7 and thanks for the questions and your interest.

Thomas
 

MG David

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Thomas, you seem to have a great selection of woodworking machines and we have seen the walnut furniture you have built for your new home. Sometime when you are less busy I would be interested in seeing pictures of other things you have made using this equipment if possible?
I have dabbled at woodwork in the past but not to your standard.
Many thanks,
David
 
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BB767

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Planer

There was some damage to that shaft Pete. Here's a better look...





That's the shaft a hand-wheel is attached to...



...that raises and lowers the platen. Note there is a flat spot in the shaft that the hand-wheel set screw fastens to. At some time in the machines history, that shaft got gouged somehow. When I was restoring it, I just filed down any metal that was displaced by the gouges and proud to the shaft. The hand-wheel slides on and off that shaft freely. It's all hidden under the hand-wheel and is purely cosmetic.

That hand-wheel must be removed before removing the side cover to service the various grease zirks and lubricate the chain drive. I have the side cover off right now to perform that service work and thought some here might want to see inside an extremely well engineered, rugged, vintage thickness planer.

Sharp eyes there Pete! :thumbup:

Thomas
 
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BB767

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Great Race came into town tonight, wondered if you taking part.

Hi there Rick, sorry for the delay getting back to you. I got a new computer and had to work out some teething problems but all seems good now.

No I'm not a Great Race participant. I think this is the first time they've run it out west. That should get a lot of new and different cars running it. I know they sold the event out in near record time. I hope you went to look them over while they were in town. Chatting with the owners is always fun.

Thomas
 

ZRX61

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Only found out about it owing to driving over to that part of town earlier in the day & finding the main drag closed to traffic. Pretty much zero publicity by the city overlords.
Went back later as a friends band was playing outside the largest bar on the street to a crowd that numbered in the tens & started just when the cars started to show up.

The entrants over-nighted on Lancaster Blvd so there's no telling how many cars were stripped for parts/scrap or were used by the towns homeless community to sleep in last night. That's a no go area after it gets dark.


They were supposed to be stopping for lunch in Bishop at noon today. That's about 200 miles North, maybe they didn't stop here long. :)
 

46Fordor

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Thomas, I think if anyone might have additional information on this tester, it would be Mac Vandenbrink, the gentleman who scored the meters for your Allen tester last year. If I find out any info, I'll shoot it to you.
Hi, just been reading your posts on the Allen E-137 Syncrograph pictured, I have one also, the meters are slightly different, perhaps a later model. I know these posts were a few years back, but wonder if any of you found any information on the E-137 model, I would welcome some discussion it, my one operates, strobe, vacuum gauge works, but the meters don't work. I use a hand held RPM/dwell meter, but would love to get it all working properly. A great site, some real interesting finds, great reading, thanks Keith
 
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BB767

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I Have A Confession To Make........

Everyone...........I have a confession to make. :eek:

This spring we purchased the property next door. There were 3 structures on the property...







...and I've been busy with it. Sooooo busy in fact, that I've been neglecting my responsibilities here. :scared:

I've done another property transformation from this...







...to this...







Details to follow. Oh yeah, and in between...





...Gus went parading on the 4th of July and...





...the '62 Impala SS received some maintenance. This and more including Rt 66 pictures is coming this way. :thumbup:

Neglectful Thomas
 

realvc

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Beeeeautiful park like land update. Love those 62 Super Sports. Back in the day it was said that the 62 took the place of the 57 as best looking Chevy hard top. I admit, I'm biased toward all things GM, Chevy, and Vette. Including Chevy trucks.

Good to hear from you Thomas.

Vince
 
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markviii

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Yes, Yes, Yes, still busy in retirement! Our western view is significantly improved with removal of all structures from that property. There was nothing of significance "rescued" from the rubble and definitely no gold bars.

The crew chief will get here tomorrow (Saturday) with the loaded trailer (Formula Fords only this year) for vintage road racing at the Indy 500 road racing track next week, then 2 days home before Tom and Lou take off for Bonneville Speed Week 2019. The salt looks to be in great shape.

I'm keeping busy with our apartments and helping our club prep for our annual benefit car show on August 17. I haven't had my Mark VIII out much; this will be it's first (and maybe only) show this year after our April show was rained out. While the guys are at Bonneville, I may drive the Lincoln up to Michigan for our Lincoln Homecoming at the Gilmore Automotive Museum at Hickory Corners/Lincoln Museum. I'll just have to watch the weather.

Thanks to everyone for checking in.

Chris
 
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BB767

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Hi, just been reading your posts on the Allen E-137 Syncrograph pictured, I have one also, the meters are slightly different, perhaps a later model. I know these posts were a few years back, but wonder if any of you found any information on the E-137 model, I would welcome some discussion it, my one operates, strobe, vacuum gauge works, but the meters don't work. I use a hand held RPM/dwell meter, but would love to get it all working properly. A great site, some real interesting finds, great reading, thanks Keith

Hi there Keith and thanks for your patience, waiting for me to answer. Unfortunately I have no additional information on the Allen E-137. It's sitting in the barn, until I do something with it. At this juncture I suspect I'll be selling it...





...because my SUN 600 (seen above) works perfectly. Wish I could be more helpful.

Thomas, Are you getting any flying time in now? Have A Blessed Day!!!

Since my neighbor sold his Piper Pacer last spring I don't have ready access to an aircraft. So for now, to answer your question it's no. Right now it's primarily car "stuff"...





...which isn't all bad you know.

Thomas
 

APEowner

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The crew chief will get here tomorrow (Saturday) with the loaded trailer (Formula Fords only this year) for vintage road racing at the Indy 500 road racing track next week, then 2 days home before Tom and Lou take off for Bonneville Speed Week 201

Chris

I'm driving the #163 Crossle at Indy. Stop by and say hi
 

BUGTHUG

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I see you have your lift at a angle , to the side of the garage door. Is it hard to get the big Chevy lined up for the lift?
The reason I ask, I'm considering putting mine angled like that and curious as how well it works with a big car. Thank you
 
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BB767

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How different could you get from all the "goodies" found in the old auto shop!
Pete

How right you are Pete. There was this...





...large cast iron pot hanging in the rafters of the barn. It's in excellent condition and had a hanging hook and its matching cast iron stand hanging on the wall next to it. I gave it to a friend for his wife to hold plants in. I'm suggesting he have it powder coated in matt black and it'll survive for another 100 years easily.

Congrats on the expanded view. Always great to see pictures of Gus. Thanks for posting.

Cheers!

My pleasure Dan. As you know, I have a very soft spot for Gus. Lou and I put a new glove box liner in him and I was going to post pictures but...



...I don't have any of it completed! I'll get some and post them along with some other work we've done. It turned out nicely so now now I have a proper place for the owners manual and my driving gloves. How elegant. :)


I'm driving the #163 Crossle at Indy. Stop by and say hi

Will do APEowner! We managed to get 2 garages in Gasoline Alley this year so we'll have covered pits! We have 4 Formula Fords we'll be running, one of them a Lotus 51. 2 in Group 2A and 2 in Group 2B for practice Wed. For Thursday and beyond, 3 will be running together and the other as a single. I understand there will be approximately 80 FF this year, the 50th anniversary of them running in the USA. What color is your Crossle?

I see you have your lift at a angle , to the side of the garage door. Is it hard to get the big Chevy lined up for the lift?
The reason I ask, I'm considering putting mine angled like that and curious as how well it works with a big car. Thank you

BUGTHUG I'm very happy with my lift installed at an angle, especially since a car can't turn 90º.



I knew to the left of where the lift was installed would not be usable for vehicle storage. Instead that area would become tool storage and work space as seen above.



The lift is positioned near the overhead door (to the right where the Impala is parked), so as I enter the barn, I'm turning toward the lift almost immediately. My overhead door is 12' (3.6 m) wide which helps.

Here's what I did to figure out where to position the lift before I installed it. I took the largest car I owned at that time (1966 Lincoln Continental Coupe) and drove it into the barn to the rough spot where I wanted the lift. I drove it in, in 1 sweeping, curving, continuous movement. I then placed the car near enough to the wall ahead of it so I could work and move around in front of it while it was on the lift. By doing it that way ahead of time, I didn't have to "jockey" a car back and forth to get it positioned correctly each time I brought a car in. I figured if the Lincoln could do it, smaller cars and trucks wouldn't have any issues and they haven't. It's all worked out splendidly. Easy in and easy out.

I'd recommend bringing in a large vehicle ahead of time and play around with positioning it in your shop until you're happy with how easy it is to bring in and work on when it's on the lift. The distance from the overhead door, the angle of the lift and it's placement from the wall the vehicle will face are all variables that you can work out ahead of time and will make using the lift so much easier and enjoyable. Good luck with it and report back. :thumbup:

Will be looking for you at Bonneville Thomas.

Cool beans Simon! Send me a text once you're out there and we'll get together for sure. Just a couple of weeks away now. :bounce:

Thomas
 
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rmalkow2

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Thomas,
Hope to catch up with you again on the salt this year. I’ll try to text you when I get there. And Simon I would love to meet you as well. I plan to be there from the 9th through 11th or 12th this year. The reports from the salt sound good. Got salt fever for sure and will be heading west starting Tuesday afternoon.

Bob
 

gordyy

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North Dakota
Just a quick hello.
I haven't had anytime for Garage Journal since about January, We had a lot of snow, a lot of family issues and a lot of personal health issues so am doing some reading catching back up.
Love the Electrical work on the shop Thomas and the Fireplace details. Both are top notch quality work. Now if the grass ever slows down I might catch up on a few other threads,
working with Old iron mowing and moving snow with the degree of both this year has been an adventure, If its not broken its not been working....
 

markviii

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Thomas and Lou left at 7am today (CDT)(Tuesday). They should be near Lincoln, Nebraska by the time they end their driving for today. They'll be at Bonneville Salt Flats by Wednesday evening because they usually drive straight through with very few breaks. (It only took Tom 32 hours to drive home from LA at the end of his Rte 66 tour.)

Chris
 

HOTFR8

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Thomas,
Hope to catch up with you again on the salt this year. I’ll try to text you when I get there. And Simon I would love to meet you as well. I plan to be there from the 9th through 11th or 12th this year. The reports from the salt sound good. Got salt fever for sure and will be heading west starting Tuesday afternoon.

Bob

Bob, Thomas has my contact details. Phone is not 100% perfect as I can receive text but (sadly) I can not always respond. If you see any one in a D.L.R.A. Shirt ask them to point me out. I will also be with three from Graffiti Publications and we are all staying at Motel 6. I fly out from LA to Salt Lake City tomorrow and we drive to Wendover on Friday.

Thomas and Lou left at 7am today (CDT)(Tuesday). They should be near Lincoln, Nebraska by the time they end their driving for today. They'll be at Bonneville Salt Flats by Wednesday evening because they usually drive straight through with very few breaks. (It only took Tom 32 hours to drive home from LA at the end of his Rte 66 tour.)

Chris

Chris, I spoke to another crew from Wallingford CT on route to Wendover when I flew back in to LA Monday. I may find some one that can call Thomas for me. If you can let him know that would be great.
 

markviii

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HOTFR8 --- I'll make sure to let Tom know you'll be around sometime Friday and try to call. They should arrive sometime tonight to set up the pits for the San Diego Roadster Club (SDRC) vehicles they are supporting (1 car and 2 motorcycles). Also look for him and Lou in their PRESS vests. They got accepted again this year.

45 HARLEY (Ross) -- I doubt Tom will have time to check in on this thread. They're fairly busy supporting 3 vehicles for the SDRC. On top of those duties, Tom and Lou are working as PRESS, so they get around to see lots of the other entries. Maybe someone else on this thread who is familiar with the BSF can assist you.

Chris
 

markviii

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HOTFR8 - I just talked to Tom. Tom says he won't have a PRES vest on while crewing. Also he and Lou were assigned to work perimeter security for SCTA. They need to keep people off the salt while it's drying and the courses are being prepped for racing. They don't want ruts to ruin the salt for racing. It was cloudy today, so not much evaporation.

Also, if you want to guarantee at least talking to Tom, text him the name your room is under (your last name would help, too) at the Motel 6. Then you guys can talk and plan a meeting time/place. Or have someone with a good phone in your group let you text Tom. I'd hate to have you miss each other.

---

Thanks, Finallygotit, for helping out with info for 45 HARLEY. Tom isn't checking in to the thread (which doesn't show up easily on his phone anyway) because he's busy with set up and security for the time being. They just rolled in at around 4pm SLC time after driving straight through except for a short stop in Wyoming last night. Now it's work, work work which = fun, fun, fun for them.

Chris
 
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HOTFR8

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Chris, I have no idea of the room number or even what name it is booked under as I am flying in as part of a small group with Graffiti Publications. I have a number for Thomas and I will either call him or use a local friends US phone to call him.

Big hassle at present is QF93 was two hours late leaving Melbourne and not due here for another 2 hours and that plane has the other members of our D.L.R.A. group. I expect the group will have delays getting through Customs and making connecting flights. Will see what happens.

Either way I will be at Bonneville some time tomorrow.:):thumbup:
 
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