Between 705 & 1200 SQ/FT My Mini Garagemahal

[fouckhest]

Battens came out great!

Thanks! They are certainly growing on me, I was worried it would be too busy

 

[fouckhest]

Had a good little weekend of house projects, after Cars & Coffee Saturday I talked a buddy into helping me move the mk1 so we could plant the trees to hopefully one day have a little privacy...

Mk1 in its new home (for now)...hoping it will bother me enough to drag it inside lol

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Then the misses and I got to work on the trees....
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Last week I went and picked up the vanity, then yesterday got it mounted and decided to mount the mirror, after I'd already put my tools away, DOH!

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You can see the style of handles we are going to use here....need to decide on brushed silver or gold...my vote is silver to match everything else...but I will install what is decided upon lol

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...and the mirror!
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[wreckdiver1321]

Sweet progress! Coming together slowly but surely.

 

[fouckhest]

Sweet progress! Coming together slowly but surely.

Thanks...yeah, its bitter sweet, but I estimate we are probably saving ~$20k by all the DIY stuff

 

[fouckhest]

Was a motivating week, Tuesday the guys came and knocked out the flooring, then to our surprise, the sink/vanity top were installed yesterday!

Feels like we might be able to actually use this room soon, I'm excited to get started on the trim.

Floors
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Finished vanity
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[Metallitubby]

Mk1 in its new home (for now)...hoping it will bother me enough to drag it inside lol

You just rekindled my want of another A1 to do the ******* K-series swap into. I've had so many of them, and it would just irk the VW community enough to do it.

 

[fouckhest]

You just rekindled my want of another A1 to do the ******* K-series swap into. I've had so many of them, and it would just irk the VW community enough to do it.

Since moving it I've been searching and searching for my driveline donor....my plan is to build custom pan swap/tube chassis miata under the mk1 body. There is a guy local to me that parts out TONS of miatas, he told me I could have a stripped out pan/chassis, I think I'm going to take him up on that and start some fab work this winter after we get settled/recovered from the wedding and selling the misses house.

Oh, and my longterm plan is certainly to do a kswap....seems like only a natural progression...kswap RWD mk1 lol

 

[Metallitubby]

I take it you've been following Bad Habit Rabbit on the Vortex?

 

[fouckhest]

Yessir, I've chatted with him a couple times on IG...he told me not to go the body swap route like he did on the truck that ended up with a roof rack, he said focus more on how he did the VRT rabbit, which is a tube front end, the issue is my cars floors are swiss cheese, so some combinate of tube/pan swap seems logical. That's why I'd like to get a bare pan/chassis from the guy local to me, that way I can cut it up and see what works/doesn't.

My long term goal is for this car to become my track car, so doing a tube chassis sounds like a ton of fun and will give me an excuse to buy a Rouge Fab tubing bender lol

 

[Metal-Marc]

You just rekindled my want of another A1 to do the ******* K-series swap into.

Don't.

 

[Metallitubby]

Don't.

Sorry, but it needs to be done (again, mind you). I'll even take a lowly 2nd gen Scirocco or Corrapo.

 

[Metallitubby]

Yessir, I've chatted with him a couple times on IG...he told me not to go the body swap route like he did on the truck that ended up with a roof rack, he said focus more on how he did the VRT rabbit, which is a tube front end, the issue is my cars floors are swiss cheese, so some combinate of tube/pan swap seems logical. That's why I'd like to get a bare pan/chassis from the guy local to me, that way I can cut it up and see what works/doesn't.

My long term goal is for this car to become my track car, so doing a tube chassis sounds like a ton of fun and will give me an excuse to buy a Rouge Fab tubing bender lol

I have a feeling that it's a good thing we live far apart from each other.

 

[fouckhest]

I have a feeling that it's a good thing we live far apart from each other.

You are in ATL, right? That's not that far!!

 

[Metallitubby]

You are in ATL, right? That's not that far!!

About 1.5hr due-north.

 

[fouckhest]

About 1.5hr due-north.

Ah, yeah, that's a tricky spot, not necessarily far, but not any easy way to connect the two spots

 

[Metal-Marc]

Sorry, but it needs to be done (again, mind you). I'll even take a lowly 2nd gen Scirocco or Corrapo.

 

[Metallitubby]

Ah, yeah, that's a tricky spot, not necessarily far, but not any easy way to connect the two spots

Yeah, not close enough for us to concoct a bunch of VW/Honda craziness at will.

 

[fouckhest]

Yeah, not close enough for us to concoct a bunch of VW/Honda craziness at will.

No - but once projects were underway, it is close enough to find a Saturday to collaborate on some shenanigan's

 

[Metallitubby]

No - but once projects were underway, it is close enough to find a Saturday to collaborate on some shenanigan's

...and I go by your area quite a bit.

 

[fouckhest]

...and I go by your area quite a bit.

I do remember you saying that a while back, you should hit me up when you are up this way next time and we can grab a beer, or pull one from the keg at my house and you can see the shop/projects

 

[Metallitubby]

I do remember you saying that a while back, you should hit me up when you are up this way next time and we can grab a beer, or pull one from the keg at my house and you can see the shop/projects

PM me your contact information and I will.

 

[Metal-Marc]

...and I go by your area quite a bit.

Aren't you from upstate NY?

 

[Metallitubby]

Aren't you from upstate NY?

My family is from there.

 

[Metal-Marc]

My family is from there.

I think I do remember which town they are in. Next time you visit, ring a bell, I'm 10 minutes from there.

 

[Jagmandave]

Wow, why not a TFSI motor from an Audi or something, I hear they're easily getting over 300hp out of those? You know, keep it in the family so to speak?

So much shop envy right now!

 

[fouckhest]

Wow, why not a TFSI motor from an Audi or something, I hear they're easily getting over 300hp out of those? You know, keep it in the family so to speak?

So much shop envy right now!

Hey Dave, thanks for stopping back by! Any progress on getting your shop started?

RE: TFSI, they are okay engines, but are plagued with different issues, when I first got the mk1 my intent was to build a high reving NA 20v 1.8, but quickly realized that is a cost prohibative venture, when you can easily do the same with a k-swap. Then I found out the floor boards are swiss cheese, so pandoras box was open...my intent for this build is a purpose built mtn drive and hopefully track car. The K-series is well known for being super reliable and can make 300hp NA relatively easy,

I really dont want to deal with a turbo engine after driving my cayman in the mtns, I have a new appreciation for well sorted NA power, also there are adapters to get a k-series bolted to the miata gear box

 

[jbrentd]

It seems 07k's are going in a lot of things too, but I understand your logic for the k series.

 

[Fast_Ed]

As an old school Honda-head, you have my full support for a K-miata/MK1 frankenstein. Keep it N/A and rev it to the moon!!

 

[fouckhest]

It seems 07k's are going in a lot of things too, but I understand your logic for the k series.

love that engine, but they are bricks and the aluminum block units out of the TTRS are silly money!

As an old school Honda-head, you have my full support for a K-miata/MK1 frankenstein. Keep it N/A and rev it to the moon!!

Thanks, exactly!

 

[Jagmandave]

I'm afraid my shop is still born, first the pandemic, then prices went thru the roof, all the contractors were just too busy and so on. So, I'm just working in my small 2 car garage, tripping over stuff constantly and unhappy cause I can't have a real 2 post lift.

1st world troubles, right?

Guys in England would kill to have a warm/cool 2 car shed to work on their projects.

But it's been a real treat watching yours come together!

 

[fouckhest]

I'm afraid my shop is still born, first the pandemic, then prices went thru the roof, all the contractors were just too busy and so on. So, I'm just working in my small 2 car garage, tripping over stuff constantly and unhappy cause I can't have a real 2 post lift.

1st world troubles, right?

Guys in England would kill to have a warm/cool 2 car shed to work on their projects.

But it's been a real treat watching yours come together!

Bummer to hear that, but, like you said you have a space that many would kill for, plus, not use in over paying when you do have space.

Don't forget, the struggles make the real thing that much better when the time comes!

 

[fouckhest]

Not really an update, but moved cars around to get the project car on the lift, figured I'd try and make the garage look somewhat presentable for company coming into town this week for the wedding...gotta show off the fruits on my labor!

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[fouckhest]

Been a while since an update....not really much in the way of garage things, but life has been nothing short of crazy...

Wedding went off almost w/o a hitch, the biggest setbacks were, 1.) I under estimated the height of the ceiling in the venue, result, no hanging lights, not a big deal, 2.) The deck on the outside of the bar area was not complete for the wedding/cocktail hour/reception, the misses was not happy, but a trip to the city building got us a 25% discount on the price....I was okay with it! lol

The misses and I during photos, if you look closely you'll see a buddies 5 window Chevy truck that he drove to the wedding so we could use it for some photos

Shannon & Mike Sneaks! by fouckhest, on Flickr

Wedding was on Oct 15th, immediately after we started on all the repairs and touch-up at her house to get it ready for sale....two weekends of work, the house was listed on Nov 1st (always our goal), had a full price cash offer from the same person 3 times, we turned it down 3 times, 1st time, no one, agent or buyer say the house, sketchy, 2nd time, the agent drove over to the house, spent 5min there, took no photos, no facetime, etc, and we had an open house that weekend, so the buyer actually came to the open house (they were from FL), left at noon, gave us another offer that expired in 1hr.....we said no AGAIN, as we were not going to be pressured and had to leave for a wedding in an hour.....so...4th time was a charm, signed a contract Sunday afternoon....

(thanks for listening, LOL)

Now that the house was under contract, we had an inspection, few punch list things, easy.....then onto finishing the master bed/bath at my house....

finally got the plumbing finished up, toilet installed and all the fixtures


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We did get glass in the shower, but apparently I dont have a photo....

Then onto the closet so the wife can start moving cloths over...nothing fancy, but will do the job until we can get settled....I have some ideas for some nicer built-ins, but thats a bigger project than we have time for right now


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Next on the list was getting my office downstairs started(we both WFH), got this far and attention on redirected to prepare for a Thanksgiving food drive....we got a keg for our wedding present kegerator, told everyone to bring non-perishables for the local food pantry in our little town and had some folks over....lots of cleaning, but was a good time and donated a lot of food!

Stand-up desk in the making....keeping with my black iron pipe motif, going to do a center support and some tabs on the edge...debating a plywood top or maybe just some slats...TBD...also going to wall mount my monitors


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Gave me an excuse to see if I could rearrange the cars for better hosting when its chilly out....worked well, had the mini-split pumping, and a bon fire going outside


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Food haul, was good to see folks being so generous

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Now my latest project, finally did all the base boards and window trim in the bed/bath....finished up the windows last night...now just need to get some paint on them....came out "okay," not 100% happy, but it will work for now...

Bathroom

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Bedroom

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Last but not least, finally treated myself to the USG one draw cart more than a few weeks ago....sick of moving tools when doing brakes and general maintenance...it was on sale for $109.99 and had a 20% coupon...seemed like a good buy lol


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[jbrentd]

Huge congrats to you and your bride on the wedding and sale of her house!!

 

[wreckdiver1321]

CONGRATULATIONS!

Wedding is a huge deal, glad it went off mostly according to plan. Congrats on taking the plunge, marriage is absolutely fantastic. Huge deal selling the wife's house, that's great. Awesome updates on the house as well. Jealous you're getting to put your office down in the shop area, that's rad. I'd love to be able to do that. Highly approve of the desk as I'm sure you imagine.

 

[fouckhest]

Huge congrats to you and your bride on the wedding and sale of her house!!

Thanks Brent, appreciate it!

Just saw your car swap game, love that A3!

CONGRATULATIONS!

Wedding is a huge deal, glad it went off mostly according to plan. Congrats on taking the plunge, marriage is absolutely fantastic. Huge deal selling the wife's house, that's great. Awesome updates on the house as well. Jealous you're getting to put your office down in the shop area, that's rad. I'd love to be able to do that. Highly approve of the desk as I'm sure you imagine.

Thanks Tom! not my first rodeo on the marriage deal, but I know its right this time...not peeing on the electric fence twice!

Almost tagged you in the post, but figured you'd see and approve of the desk

 

[Trapps]

CONGRATS!

I'm certain moran a few of us are looking forward to the office build out.

 

[fouckhest]

CONGRATS!

I'm certain moran a few of us are looking forward to the office build out.

Thanks, I need to get on it quick, we will both be in here full time sooner than later!

 

[fouckhest]

Well after two exhausting weekends of moving, the wives house was empty as of 4pm Sunday; closed on Monday and now my(our) house looks like an episode of hoarders

I had hoped to spend Sunday finishing my desk/office, but my efforts were better spent helping her clean and get moved out. So Monday night and Tuesday night I finished up the desk and today is my first day in my new office!!

I wanted to do floating monitors, started with some sketchy cuts to a 2x6 on my compound miter saw, lagged that to the corner
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Apparently forgot to take any photos of the arms without monitors, so here we have monitors mounted along with my electrical outlet....I pulled the wire through some interlocking armor I had left over from some trials at my old company....figured it worked well with the general "industrial" look down here
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Coat of stain on my plywood desktop
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Almost done
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Setup and signed into my 8am meeting
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[jbrentd]

New desk looks great! When I work from home, I sometimes go out to the shop with my laptop. I like the lighting in there quite a bit. I might have to add some monitors/arms like that to the wall on my bench.