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

[BORING HOP YARD]

That's a cool room Mark!
It has a great man cave feel to it and I bet opening the garage door so it's open air gives a cool feeling.

 

[plain2car]

Mark, the drum room is sooo cool!! your ideas & thoughts are sooo cool! whether it has to do with vehicles or house things you just do things to a inspirational level!! where/how do you find the things that you come up with!?? amazing! I look foward to you adding the van build on the "truck forum"...

 

[shortykorte]

Room looks like a great place to hang. Is this the room that you parked the Willy in


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[IGO2XS]

Room looks like a great place to hang. Is this the room that you parked the Willy in

Yes that was the original intentions. The light switch still has the Willys engraving on it.

 

[IGO2XS]

That room is awesome, and I love the aircraft style aluminium desk and chair!

We used some of the same style in our house. I just love the meal.

What are the black and white line drawings on the wall behind the glass?

They are drum sketches.......

Wicked cool room, love the blend of making it functional as you want it while still looking good...props!

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Thank you once I finish the room i will update you.

That's a cool room Mark!
It has a great man cave feel to it and I bet opening the garage door so it's open air gives a cool feeling.

i took the tracks off because I didnt was to she them in the room. I have the A/C on there all the time and dont open the windows or doors. I just dont want to get the dust in the room if that makes sense.

 

[TwoBytes]

They are drum sketches.......

Very cool! I like that a lot.

 

[casmurbax]

Hey Mark, did that truck ever make it to your place? How is the van coming along?

 

[IGO2XS]

Hey Mark, did that truck ever make it to your place? How is the van coming along?

Those are two great questions!! The Ford truck is still sitting in California Two drivers showed up and both passed taking because my shipping broker didnt really describe the truck. Being 22' long, 8000 lbs, and 93" tall with the exhaust stacks is not a common size. I told her yesterday to get my damn truck shiipped and I would pay whatever it cost. She initially gave me too good of a rate and was trying to get someone to haul it. I feel it will get picked up in the next few days.

There is a lot going on with the van.....finally. I had my interior guys over last week who used to work for me at GodSpeed Rides and we decided we would do the dash board in leather. Once I took the dash out I decided to remove all of the factory air conditioning. I am telling you I should have just taken this truck completely apart in the beginning because other that the basic wiring everything has been removed. LOL. I found a nice evaporator from Old Air Products that fits nice right up in the passenger footwell. This has allowed me to remove the evaporator under the hood of the van giving me a ton of space I needed for the ecu and wiring for the LS3. I never thought I would be smoothing the firewall of the van but that is what this has allowed me to do.

I also got into insulating this week. I sprayed the back of the van and the floor with the Lizard skin ceramic coat for heat and the Lizard Skin insulation. I am going over everything with Kilmat heat wrap and then 1/2" Dynaliner on top of that so this van should be quite. A few weeks ago I picked up two more Camaro bucket seats as we decided to have front and rear bucket seats so there is seating for 4.

 

[IGO2XS]

Oh and the other job I have been working on is making templates for the interior. I have my wood shop here so it made sense for me to start making the patterns so I dont have to pay my interior guys to do it. On some of the complicated pieces I have made twice as they didnt fit the first time as well as I wanted. I am using 1/4 plywood so I dont mind wasting a sheet here and there so the panels fit good.

For fun I laid the Zoomie pipes under the van to see how I liked it.

 

[jbmatth]

You are a mad man and we all love that, keep up the craziness.

JB

 

[Toolfool]

That is going to be a killer van.
Jealous. I'm just trying to get this to be a reliable driver.

 

[casmurbax]

Well that's quite the update!

Those are two great questions!! The Ford truck is still sitting in California Two drivers showed up and both passed taking because my shipping broker didnt really describe the truck. Being 22' long, 8000 lbs, and 93" tall with the exhaust stacks is not a common size. I told her yesterday to get my damn truck shiipped and I would pay whatever it cost. She initially gave me too good of a rate and was trying to get someone to haul it. I feel it will get picked up in the next few days.


I also got into insulating this week. I sprayed the back of the van and the floor with the Lizard skin ceramic coat for heat and the Lizard Skin insulation. I am going over everything with Kilmat heat wrap and then 1/2" Dynaliner on top of that so this van should be quite. A few weeks ago I picked up two more Camaro bucket seats as we decided to have front and rear bucket seats so there is seating for 4.

That stinks about the shipping.

Could you please explain to me(maybe others as well) why the different coatings for inside the van?

That will be nice seating for sure.

As far as stripping it completely at the beginning, that would be my dad telling me, well you come this far, why not go all the way. I feel your pain.

Nice move with the dash as well.

 

[IGO2XS]

You are a mad man and we all love that, keep up the craziness.
B

LOL I think you have correctly identified me.

That is going to be a killer van.
Jealous. I'm just trying to get this to be a reliable driver.

Thank you. I am looking forward to putting it back together.

Well that's quite the update!
That stinks about the shipping.
Could you please explain to me(maybe others as well) why the different coatings for inside the van?
That will be nice seating for sure.
As far as stripping it completely at the beginning, that would be my dad telling me, well you come this far, why not go all the way. I feel your pain.
Nice move with the dash as well.

I have delt with this female shipping broker for many years now and this is the first time I have had trouble. She hasnt lied to me she doesnt communicate and is slowwwwww to answer emails and text messages. i have never given anyone a bad review on Google but this might be a game changer.......although I just dont like badmouthing people.

To address the insulation I originally thought spraying the Lizard Skin would be the best method of insulation for the sides and the floor because of the irregularity of the surface. By the time I taped everything off and went through the process of 4 different coats of the Lizard Skin I realized it was not a time saver. I spent the better part of a day with a helper getting it ready and spraying it. After a day of curing I could knock on the side of the van and hear the nice thud of the metal that had been covered. I felt I needed more accuracy doing the ceiling and all of the doors so I used the Kilmat covered with the Dynaliner. Next time I would stick to the stick on products. I am not giving Lizard Skin a bad review because I think its a good product.

I am on a couple van forums on Facebook and ran across a guy from Portugal who was doing "cartoon" renderings of vehicles. I really like his work so I hired him and sent a picture of the van. First he does a pencil sketch of your vehicle then he colors it in with Photoshop. I really love what he did and plan on doing some tshirts after the first of the year. Check it out.........





I also hired someone to work on a logo for me. The first draft had the mechanic in it but my wife thought he looked like Mr. Clean so we removed him. I am going to have them add a few wrenches in the area that is blank to finish it up. Which one do you guys like?

 

[Purist]

LOL I think you have correctly identified me.



Thank you. I am looking forward to putting it back together.



I have delt with this female shipping broker for many years now and this is the first time I have had trouble. She hasnt lied to me she doesnt communicate and is slowwwwww to answer emails and text messages. i have never given anyone a bad review on Google but this might be a game changer.......although I just dont like badmouthing people.

To address the insulation I originally thought spraying the Lizard Skin would be the best method of insulation for the sides and the floor because of the irregularity of the surface. By the time I taped everything off and went through the process of 4 different coats of the Lizard Skin I realized it was not a time saver. I spent the better part of a day with a helper getting it ready and spraying it. After a day of curing I could knock on the side of the van and hear the nice thud of the metal that had been covered. I felt I needed more accuracy doing the ceiling and all of the doors so I used the Kilmat covered with the Dynaliner. Next time I would stick to the stick on products. I am not giving Lizard Skin a bad review because I think its a good product.

I am on a couple van forums on Facebook and ran across a guy from Portugal who was doing "cartoon" renderings of vehicles. I really like his work so I hired him and sent a picture of the van. First he does a pencil sketch of your vehicle then he colors it in with Photoshop. I really love what he did and plan on doing some tshirts after the first of the year. Check it out.........





I also hired someone to work on a logo for me. The first draft had the mechanic in it but my wife thought he looked like Mr. Clean so we removed him. I am going to have them add a few wrenches in the area that is blank to finish it up. Which one do you guys like?

Mind sharing this Portuguese artist? Does he have a Facebook or Instagram? That van came out fantastic!!


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[vwracer]

Van is going to be awesome! I like the logo without the man. I had a guy in Mexico do my dragster like that. Made some killer stickers with it!

 

[IGO2XS]

The artiest name is Jose Soares Design. He is on Instagram as @soarsdesign and he is on Facebook as well.

 

[Purist]

The artiest name is Jose Soares Design. He is on Instagram as @soarsdesign and he is on Facebook as well.

Awesome, thank you!


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[shortykorte]

Killer rendering of your van.

Some comments on the logo. I prefer the one with the guy. I’d suggest a different hat or no hat if keeping a button up shirt. A guy with a ball cap and tshirt with the logo on it would be nice touch.
I love the font and chrome look used on “garage” however it’s hard to read. The brown and gold lower blends with the wood and brass. Ideally logos should be easy reads, easy to read standing further back, the better. Maybe highlight the blue sky part of the chrome versus the ground would provide better contrast with background.

Another option is to have a logo for the front and a big graphic on the back.
Here’s a good example of what I’m trying to convey.

Here’s a quick design I did for the Florida Chapter. Wish I had a “logo” for the front but it was a quick design.


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[IGO2XS]

Killer rendering of your van.

Some comments on the logo. I prefer the one with the guy. I’d suggest a different hat or no hat if keeping a button up shirt. A guy with a ball cap and tshirt with the logo on it would be nice touch.
I love the font and chrome look used on “garage” however it’s hard to read. The brown and gold lower blends with the wood and brass. Ideally logos should be easy reads, easy to read standing further back, the better. Maybe highlight the blue sky part of the chrome versus the ground would provide better contrast with background.

Another option is to have a logo for the front and a big graphic on the back.

Great ideas and I will use your wisdom to make a few changes. I wanted to do the small logo in the front and the bigger one in the back like you showed.

 

[Toolfool]

Great ideas and I will use your wisdom to make a few changes. I wanted to do the small logo in the front and the bigger one in the back like you showed.

Put me on the T-shirt list. That van rendering is very cool.

 

[casmurbax]

Mark, thanks for the explanation on the liners applied.

The cartoon drawing of the van looks great.

John

 

[Toolfool]

Merry Christmas, Mark.

 

[casmurbax]

Mark, any news on the shipping? Can you tell I want to see that truck in your driveway(ok mine, but yours will have to do)

Any news on the vette in Vermont?

Hope you and your family have a great Holiday!

 

[IGO2XS]

Merry Christmas, Mark.

Merry Christmas to you too!!!

Mark, any news on the shipping? Can you tell I want to see that truck in your driveway(ok mine, but yours will have to do)

Any news on the vette in Vermont?

Hope you and your family have a great Holiday!

I do know they finally picked up the truck this past Sunday the 20th and really expected the truck here before Christmas. Today is Christmas day and no word from the shipper. I would think they would give me a heads up when they will arrive.

 

[casmurbax]

Hey that's great at least it moved, hopefully it is heading your way!

Any progress on the vette?

 

[shortykorte]

Hey Mark. Since MuscleCar City museum is closing, we’re doing a Florida Chapter meet up Jan. 9th at the museum. Details posted on Florida Chapter thread.


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[IGO2XS]

Hey that's great at least it moved, hopefully it is heading your way! Any progress on the vette?

Its been 9 days since they picked up the 54 Ford and its still isnt here

Hey Mark. Since MuscleCar City museum is closing, we’re doing a Florida Chapter meet up Jan. 9th at the museum. Details posted on Florida Chapter thread.

Cool man thanks for letting me know. I will talk to my wife and see if we can go. We have not been out much and avoid crowds because I am a kidney transplant patient.


We are making some good headway on the van. I know I mentioned earlier I removed the factory evaporator and got a ton of room. I cut out a plate to weld on the firewall to give us a nice surface void of holes. I really didnt intend on smoothing the firewall but here we go. My research led me to Old Air Products and their system is more or less a 12 x 12 cube so it fit nicely behind the dash. Its almost like it was built for a chevy van. Of course the trick is to mount these universal systems under the dash. I just bought a 3D printer so we whipped up a bracket design and let the printer do the work. The bracket was made out of carbon-x and is as stiff as if was made out of aluminum. Roughed up the surfaces and used 3M panel bond to attach the bracket to the evaporator. We put 4 screws on the outside of the kickpanel and its stiff as a board. We will be adding another bracket. With the evaporator gone we are using the extra firewall to mount the electronics for the LS3.

 

[IGO2XS]

There has been progress on the Corvette. The body is now officially sitting on the frame. All of the body mounts have been welded in and right now we are just waiting for the LT4 and 8L90 to arrive from Lingenfelter so the build can continue.
The frame has an X frame so it is very rigid. They build all of the frame rails right there at Rothspeed.

 

[Bighead38]

The artiest name is Jose Soares Design. He is on Instagram as @soarsdesign and he is on Facebook as well.

He does awesome work.

Awesome, thank you!


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My thoughts as well. I was going to ask if someone else didn’t.


I love the van so much. I want it.

 

[jbmatth]

That X tube is awesome and I've never heard of it before, is it a proprietary product of theirs or is that something available else ware? The van is coming along great, love the look of it and with that engine it will be a ripper.

JB

 

[1949 caddyman]

Have you thought about a rear A/C unit to help with cooling?

 

[casmurbax]

Thank you for the great updates. Nice going with the printer, how do you like it?

 

[xViViDx]

Happy New Year to you and the misses. I hope you two are doing well.

The pantry remodel is really coming along and the van looks amazing. Do you think you could make it look more like the drawing? Especially the wheels. They don’t really need to spin do they?

The vette is going to be something else as well. How do you sleep at night with all these projects on your mind? I am guessing you sleep out of pure exhaustion.


-David

 

[IGO2XS]

That X tube is awesome and I've never heard of it before, is it a proprietary product of theirs or is that something available else ware? The van is coming along great, love the look of it and with that engine it will be a ripper.
JB

Rothspeed has a patent pendng on the frame design. The idea does make alot of sense. It might add a little weight but a little extra weight wont hurt the Corvette.

I am pretty happy about the van as well. I've gone as far as I can go with the van and really looking forward to it coming back together. I want to be ready for an interior by March 1.

Have you thought about a rear A/C unit to help with cooling?

I have spend a considerable about of money and time insulating this van and I am hoping the new air conditioning evaporator will provide enough cool air to keep it cool. I have my fingers crossed. One thing for sure, I can get a loud stereo in that bad boy because it is definitely sound proof.

Thank you for the great updates. Nice going with the printer, how do you like it?

The best part is a know a guy who is an expert on printing and I get him to come over and help me with it. Sure I could print objects but he is using his scanner and then printing the parts using the dimensions provided by the 3d scan.

He does awesome work.
My thoughts as well. I was going to ask if someone else didn’t.
I love the van so much. I want it.

I really love the van too. It really is turning out better than I expected. One of these days I need to see what I have spent on the project but I am kind of afraid to. My wife does journal entries in our check book so I know how much I spend on what vehicle. I learned all this from having GodSpeed Rides.

 

[IGO2XS]

Happy New Year to you and the misses. I hope you two are doing well.

The pantry remodel is really coming along and the van looks amazing. Do you think you could make it look more like the drawing? Especially the wheels. They don’t really need to spin do they?

The vette is going to be something else as well. How do you sleep at night with all these projects on your mind? I am guessing you sleep out of pure exhaustion.


-David

All is good here. I spent all last week with a helper installing the split brick in the pantry. I bet we have 110 hours just in the brick work. I would paper all of the floor and counter tops every morning and then clean up and throw all the paper way each day to keep control. It was the last big mess I had to make in there.

The drawing is an exaggerated version of the van and I think you will find once the van is completed it will have a pretty nice look.

Here are two shots I took today. One of the pantry sink completed and ready to use and the other is the Ford C750. The sink completed signified the completion of the pantry................other than some small punch out stuff. The truck............. well I just cant say how happy I am with it. I have never had a vehicle that makes so many smile. Hearing that Powerstroke through those big 6" pipes is music to my ears. It sounds like a semi. The last 3 afternoons my wife and I cruised Lido and Siesta Key. We enjoyed it.

 

[loganb]

Pantry is looking great and should keep Mary happy while cruising in the new rig.... that looks even better than in the sellers pictures! With air ride and those low pro tires, how is the ride?

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[casmurbax]

Pantry looks great.

That truck looks awesome.

When you say "The last 3 afternoons my wife and I cruised Lido and Siesta Key. We enjoyed it. " are you saying you went in the new truck?

 

[shortykorte]

I like the brick, makes pantry look vintage. When you say split brick, do you mean the faux bricks that are about 3/8” thick.
Glad the COE finally arrived safe and sound. I bet that was a fun ride and something for the island residents to behold.


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[IGO2XS]

I like the brick, makes pantry look vintage. When you say split brick, do you mean the faux bricks that are about 3/8” thick.
Glad the COE finally arrived safe and sound. I bet that was a fun ride and something for the island residents to behold.

I am talking about the "faux" bricks that you mentioned. I used mastic to spply them to the wall and we came back and did all the mortar joints. We have used these brick in quite a few areas of the house. I was very happy to see the COE arrive. I will get more pictures of the truck so you guys can see how heavy duty this truck is. I love it man........I mean I really love driving it. Nice and tall so you get a birds eye view of the road. I wish I could post a recording of the truck running because its sounds just like a big ole Peterbilt semi.


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Pantry looks great.

That truck looks awesome.

When you say "The last 3 afternoons my wife and I cruised Lido and Siesta Key. We enjoyed it. " are you saying you went in the new truck?

We have been driving the Ford COE. I have been having a great time driving it around. I am expecting the new dually this next week. I was just in to see my salesperson last week and he told me I am getting the GM employee pricing on this truck. What a deal it is. Its a good time to buy a Chevy if your looking for a new GM product.

Pantry is looking great and should keep Mary happy while cruising in the new rig.... that looks even better than in the sellers pictures! With air ride and those low pro tires, how is the ride?

Mary is extremely happy with her pantry. Its her "garage" to hang out in. It doesnt ride bad but considering its the F450 chassis it is more on the stiff side. It can be bouncy when there is uneven pavement but it really doesnt bother me. I just cant get over how heavy duty the suspension is. The only issue is I have a slight vibration around 40 MPH.

Next few days I do have to figure out how to service the engine. The cab is built over the engine so I need to pull up the carpet and see if there is an access via the transmission tunnel to view the top of the motor. I see some bolts but I have not taken the time for a complete inspection. My thought is to take the truck to a guy here in Sarasota who specializes in 7.3 powerstroke diesels and let him do a full service. The new Dakota Digital gauges only show 750 miles so this is a relatively new build.

 

[csp]

Was the COE by chance built by a guy named Mark F?