Between 705 & 1200 SQ/FT Big Country Texas Shop

[83VillageRepair]

I only got two days to work this weekend because it rained almost two inches on Friday. I just realized that there are only about six weekends left before the grass and weeds start growing again so I switched back to mowing and cleaning up junk. The goal is to have the whole 20 acres mowed and all of the iron picked up before spring so that I can either shred it or hay and bale it.

This should be the last time I have to mow most of it with a mower. I walk it first and pick up what I can and the mow once with the deck at maximum height and pick up the small stuff. Then I go over it once more with the deck at 2 inches. I still hit something at least once a day. I have a set of oil change ramps set up so I can run the mower up and cut out whatever I hit.

The stuff in my pickup is just what I picked up mowing on Friday. The dust really bothers me so I am trying out an RZ respirator so far I like it.

View media item 100326
View media item 100327
View media item 100329
View media item 100328

 

[83VillageRepair]

On Saturday I spent the day moving all of the piles of **** that I had piled up while mowing with my JCB 520 Loadall. I love this machine! So much better than a skidsteer for this purpose. I quit early and took my wife to town for some chinese.

I am travelling for work this week and attending a local volunteer fire department fundraiser on Saturday so not much will get done this weekend.

View media item 100318
View media item 100323
View media item 100319
View media item 100325
View media item 100316
View media item 100315
I listened to mostly podcasts this weekend but also a little sports radio.
I recommend these:
Monster - The DC Sniper
The Jungle Prince
Adventure Rider Radio - Lost Trails of the Pyrenees - Austin Vince

 

[83VillageRepair]

Last week I had to travel to Nuevo Leon Mexico for work and didn't get back until very late Friday night. Saturday we attended and fundraiser and auction for a local volunteer fire department so I didn't get much done in the shop or on the place. I did mow half a day on sunday so got another acre or two cleared.

While in Mexico I got to tour the GE Prolec transformer plant and Vialutek electrical cable plant which were both really interesting. I dropped a couple of pictures below and one of the bicycle that the plant mechanics ride around on to fix things.

This weekend I will be back at for a 3 day weekend and I hope to get more outside cleanup done and get my 40 Ford a place inside.

View media item 100557View media item 100556View media item 100552View media item 100553View media item 100555View media item 100554

 

[83VillageRepair]

On Friday I went and picked up my new motorcycle, a 2020 W800 Kawasaki. I have had it on order for around a month. I am very excited! I haven't ever owned a new motorcycle. In fact I have only owned two new vehicles in my life. I have always wanted a W650 but they were only in US for 2 years. I don't expect this model to be around long so I wanted to get one while I could

View media item 100674
View media item 100673
View media item 100675

 

[83VillageRepair]

On Saturday I mowed several more acres and scraped up cactus with the loader. I now have the front 10 acres mostly cleared. A couple more weekends of this and I can get back to working on the shop. Pictures of progress below. I need to take one that shows the whole area cleared, it is really starting to look good. I do realize that this is not Landscaping Journal so I will try to get some more garage content on here

View media item 100663
View media item 100664View media item 100665View media item 100676

 

[83VillageRepair]

Sunday I only got to work a half day because we went to a friends for the Super Bowl.

I did get a lock put on my storage trailer. I have been having some trouble with random strangers and pumpers accessing the place (need to get a fence built).

View media item 100677
I also took out the temporary fence at the place we were storing my wifes horses now that they are in their permanent home. I use a handyman jack and chain to pull fence posts. I find it works better than the pullers that they sell. I was happy to get this done, now all of the work that needs to be done is contained within my place.

View media item 100681View media item 100668View media item 100682

 

[83VillageRepair]

We finally had some winter here, 15 Deg F and 7in of snow, so I took the opportunity to take the bike out and get some pictures. Hopefully it all melts today so that I can get the rest of my mowing done this weekend.

View media item 100734
View media item 100736
View media item 100735

 

[jeffmoss26]

subscribed!

 

[BMWBOB]

I talked to my insurance company USAA on the next day and turns out I was covered for full replacement value on everything.

My wife and I have had USAA for ever. We have NEVER had an issue with replacing anything damaged or stolen, and I've been amazed at how fast they get going on a new claim: no estimates, just find a reputable contractor and go. They know what happens when you screw around replacing a roof with no shingles!

 

[BMWBOB]

Oh - I thought I had a lot of ****! Some of yours I'd like to have. I doubt you'd want much of mine....

I really like some of the retro bikes, including yours

 

[ZRX61]

W800 needs flat bars, rear-sets, swept back headers & reverse cone megas

 

[83VillageRepair]

subscribed!

Thanks Jeff. I have really enjoyed your posts over the years. I will get your locks in the mail this week. Just happy that someone can put them to use!

Oh - I thought I had a lot of ****! Some of yours I'd like to have. I doubt you'd want much of mine....

Bob I have been really impressed with USAA so far. I kind of held out on getting them because they used to only do officers and I was enlisted. I come from a long line of junkers so I am sure I would find something

I really like some of the retro bikes, including yours

W800 needs flat bars, rear-sets, swept back headers & reverse cone megas

I am going to ride it just the way it is for now but I am sure changes will be made! I am thinking BRG...


Thank you all for posting! It really made my day.

Wade

 

[Azmule71]

Im In! Subscribed

 

[rusty1]

...why would anyone take a new bike like that out in the snow? (****)

 

[83VillageRepair]

...why would anyone take a new bike like that out in the snow? (****)

Mostly just for the pictures. Although being from south dakota, all of my bikes have been ridden in the snow

 

[83VillageRepair]

I have been remiss at updating this thread. I went on two weekend trips one to Orlando Florida to visit and sick friend and once to Rapid City South Dakota to attend my mentors retirement. Flying got stranger on each leg and I was happy to get back to Texas without getting exposed to Corona.

We also had large number of tornado's touch down across the area so I have been pretty busy at work repairing damage to the electrical grid.

View media item 102493
Since I cant go anywhere on the weekends anyway I have been spending my time working on the place. I made a deal with a local junk man that was cleaning up a place and got a smoking deal on a 40ft refrigerated container which we moved to my place weekend before last. I also killed my first rattlesnake of the year during that adventure.

View media item 102486

View media item 102489
Last weekend it rained all weekend. I did get some mowing done and cleaned all of the nasty clothes and furniture that had been stored in the container. There were a bunch of road signs that were being used to keep furniture from falling through the ribs and I also found a hundred dollar bill which made the deal even sweeter. I will use the container to hold all of the stuff that is in the existing shop while I re-skin it. I am also thinking of roofing over the two containers to create a carport to protect my vehicles from hail and sun damage.

View media item 102492
View media item 102488

I have also been collecting parts to upgrade and make safe the electrical service in the existing shop. I currently only use one outlet and the lights and I am careful to use the one hand rule. For now I will install a new service entrance and 200A panel and 4 120V outlets and 1 240V welder outlet. All of the lights will run off extension cords for now so I can unplug when I remove the sheet metal soon.

View media item 102491

 

[sean Buick 76]

Good job, lots of work to do!

 

[83VillageRepair]

Good job, lots of work to do!

Thanks for stopping by Sean. I do have lots of work to do.

 

[83VillageRepair]

I planned on working on the shop electrical this weekend but I got involved in rebuilding the SWMBO's carport before it fell down. As you can see in the pictures it was real lightly built and the entire roof was mounted to the house with 3 1/4 lag bolts that were pulling out.


A friend came over and brought his Miller Bobcat and we rebuilt the thing. I am still not completely happy with it. I may add another set of supports when I am doing the work on the shop. In snow country this would have been on the ground the first season.

I have a load of base course gravel coming this weekend and we will slap some paint on it.

The first picture is how it looked originally:
View media item 102617
The support pulling out from the wall:
View media item 102620
Construction pictures:
View media item 102619
View media item 102621
View media item 102622
View media item 102623

 

[83VillageRepair]

I finished the Carport project this weekend with the exception of painting. I had 11-14 yards of base course (seriously that's how they described the amount) delivered on Friday morning and had the project wrapped up by noon. I put some stall mats where she walks so she wont track up the black carpet in the Ranger. I still have half a load left so I can level it back out when it packs down. The SWMBO is very happy.

View media item 102991
View media item 102984View media item 102985View media item 102986View media item 102987View media item 102988

 

[83VillageRepair]

The rest of the weekend I mowed and moved my new 40ft refrigerated container to match up with the existing one. I front justified it to the other one and set it exactly 25ft apart and parallel on some bridge timbers. Now I can power wash it and then move all of the stuff out of the existing shop so I can re-skin it.

I did acquire a new piece for the shop when it gets done. The best part is I traded some of my oil field "junk" that came with the place, no cash money! I have wanted one of these for a long time.

View media item 102990View media item 102989

 

[TMcCay]

Nice addition for your shop. Looking forward to the renovation on it.

 

[83VillageRepair]

Nice addition for your shop. Looking forward to the renovation on it.

I am going to clean it up good and re-assemble it for now. I am not a big restorer. I kind of like stuff that looks well used and wears the scars that it earned. If it starts to bug me I can always restore it later.

Wade

 

[west_perf]

Neat project. Did you get all the field metal removed? And what about that red OBS Ford truck?

 

[83VillageRepair]

Neat project. Did you get all the field metal removed? And what about that red OBS Ford truck?

west_perf thanks for chiming in, sometimes I think I am talking to myself

The 94 F250 is my trailer toter. I bought it from the original owner. It has 200k miles and runs like a top. It is an IDI Turbo (non powerstroke 7.3). I changed the wheels and tires and I still need to strip off all the diamond tread accessories.

Still have lots of junk but I traded some of it for this cabinet. I have been organizing and preparing to scrap a bunch as soon as prices come up a bit.

View media item 96994

 

[sean Buick 76]

That ford truck should run a long long time!

 

[83VillageRepair]

I haven't updated this thread in a while. I did get the shop cleaned completely out made some progress on cleaning up the land. I need to quit buying projects and get some of the ones I have done.

New additions:

(3) scissor lift projects
1950s Gulf Gas Station Porcelain siding and 3 Gilbarco Gas Pumps
1956 Pickup box trailer
1995 Mercedes SL320

I will put some pictures of this stuff up.

This is what the "Icebox" siding I got would look like installed
View media item 109567
Here is it is as found
View media item 109555
After I got it home and sorted
View media item 110620View media item 109553
Gilbarco Gas Pumps
View media item 109554
Pickup Box Trailer
View media item 109556
1995 Mercedes SL320
View media item 110618
And finally the scissor lifts (2) Upright brand and (1) Genie
View media item 110623

 

[83VillageRepair]

Since my last update I have made very little progress on the shop. Scrap prices have came up and I have been sorting and hauling scrap and trying to get the property cleaned up.

I had 4 scout IIs on the property and I joined some enthusiast groups on Facebook and started to part them out. Scout parts are worth a surprising amount of money. I am selling the parts at well under market value to get them into the right hands and building up a fund to work on the shop.
View media item 111792
I also got my trailer rewired and legal in the state of Texas. It has been amazing to use a trailer with all the lights and brakes. I picked up a 1957 International A200 Milk Truck and hauled it on my biannual trip to South Dakota. It and a Cummins 4BT are trading stock on a 1946 Ford COE, 1939 Ford Pickup and Honda CB400 Super Sport that I have been dealing on.
View media item 111796View media item 111793I brought back this 1972 F250 Special Explorer Edition that I have owned for a few years. I plan on getting it back on the road and possibly selling it. I am the third owner and it has 37k miles. My project this weekend is to get it back up on all four tires and running on can gas. Future work is major cleaning and replacing tune up and wear parts and driving it until all the bugs are worked out.
View media item 111794View media item 111795

 

[86turbodsl]

Nice. that OBS 7.3IDI will do a great job as long as you don't need to tow super heavy or fast. Hard to beat them. Make sure you use the coolant additive of course. Don't need pinholes in liners!

Love seeing what you're doing on the property.

 

[83VillageRepair]

Nice. that OBS 7.3IDI will do a great job as long as you don't need to tow super heavy or fast. Hard to beat them. Make sure you use the coolant additive of course. Don't need pinholes in liners!

Love seeing what you're doing on the property.

What coolant additive do you use? The biggest problem with it is every time I drive it someone tries to buy it. Everyone likes red. It pulls my heavy 2 axle trailer fine but it certainly is no speed demon. I like pulling a trailer around 65mph anyway so it works for me.

Wade

 

[86turbodsl]

Actually, i just know about 7.3 IDI needing a SCA. I don't own one. My last truck was 6.9 and new one is PSD. I've heard the fleetguard SCA additive is good. I think you can also get one integrated right into a filter. There's test strips also to maintain the levels. If you don't run it, you'll get pinholes in the cylinder bores over time, especially if you are towing.
I have a buddy who's really into IDI's, i can check with what he uses, probably had a dozen or more. His fav is the 7.3 IDI turbos.

 

[83VillageRepair]

Actually, i just know about 7.3 IDI needing a SCA. I don't own one. My last truck was 6.9 and new one is PSD. I've heard the fleetguard SCA additive is good. I think you can also get one integrated right into a filter. There's test strips also to maintain the levels. If you don't run it, you'll get pinholes in the cylinder bores over time, especially if you are towing.
I have a buddy who's really into IDI's, i can check with what he uses, probably had a dozen or more. His fav is the 7.3 IDI turbos.

That is what this one is 7.3 IDI factory turbo. From what I understand there were all three versions of the 7.3 available that year. It pulls decent and will be better when I get my zf5 conversion done. Can't stand pulling with an automatic.

 

[don long]

Hey 83
I just found your thread and read through it from the beginning.
I love that old lincoln merchandiser cabinet Great trade. Are all those porcelain panels making up that gas station? If you aren't planning to assemble it I would gladly plan a trip to Texas to purchase it. Also noticed that sweet frontier pole sign in your dads lot. Those are rare around here. You mentioned having a few V12 lincoln motors, I have a restored 37 Zephyr with the V12 still intact. I also have a 40 sedan delivery that I have on my lift in the shop that calls my name every day hoping to get some work done on it soon.

20 acres is a lot of land to take care of Thanks for sharing your adventures here. I'll be checking back often to stay up with your work

Don

 

[83VillageRepair]

Hey 83
I just found your thread and read through it from the beginning.
I love that old lincoln merchandiser cabinet Great trade. Are all those porcelain panels making up that gas station? If you aren't planning to assemble it I would gladly plan a trip to Texas to purchase it. Also noticed that sweet frontier pole sign in your dads lot. Those are rare around here. You mentioned having a few V12 lincoln motors, I have a restored 37 Zephyr with the V12 still intact. I also have a 40 sedan delivery that I have on my lift in the shop that calls my name every day hoping to get some work done on it soon.

20 acres is a lot of land to take care of Thanks for sharing your adventures here. I'll be checking back often to stay up with your work

Don

Hi Don
It's an honor to have you stop by. I have read your thread multiple times. You are very talented! Not sure on the gas station PM me and we can discuss it. I have always loved the front ends on zephyr's and 39/40 ford's. I finally have enough parts to build one of my coupes and am working on getting parts together for a 40 COE.

 

[83VillageRepair]

Last two weekends have been mowing the entire place. I now have everything mowed that I have mowed before. Each weekend I carve out a new area. Each time it generates a pickup load of trash and lots of heavy iron. Highlights from last weekend are below. I also sold a trailer load of Scout II body parts. I now have three shells ready to cut up and scrap and 1 good tub still for sale.

25ft clean area:
View media item 112185
plates off an inground automotive hoist and Oil Rig dog wrenches
View media item 112183
Close up of dog or tongs:
View media item 112182
Rustic Toyota tailgate that was buried:
View media item 112184

 

[83VillageRepair]

Testing out the new interface. I cleaned and mowed all weekend. We have had gallons of rain here in west Texas in the past few weeks. I moved all the cars and various other stuff that had pile up and it looks much better. Note the new foundation under the gas pump. I move the 40 up close to the shop. It is definitely time to get it running reliably and at least back road drivable.

 

[Bronson]

Progress!
Love that 40!
I've driven past Merkel many, many times on the way to Rising Star.

 

[83VillageRepair]

Progress!
Love that 40!
I've driven past Merkel many, many times on the way to Rising Star.

Im getting there. Right now all i am getting done is mow. I am actually north of there, in the toolies

 

[83VillageRepair]

Working on tires for the 72 F250 today. Temporarily set the tire machine up lagged to a pallet.

 

[83VillageRepair]

Also need to fix 2 tires on my new acquisition...