Above 1200 Sq/FT My Retirement Shop, Pole Barns, Old Truck and Questionable Decisions Thread

[larry_g]

If you want to go a different direction on your Corvair then slip a Tornado transaxle and a 455 in like the above. Gives a bit more pep to the beast. Search Corvair and my name on here to find more on this rig.

lg

 

[SouthernIllinois]

After numerous delays due to weather, equipment availability, and my friend coming down with Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, we are moving forward again.

Began by taking out two trees and leveling an area for the new shed. By the the end of the week we should have the building lot prepped, the French drain and rip-rap in between the current shed and where the new one is going and the driveway reshaped and moved east 10-20 yards.

The downed trees are being added to my Wildlife Sanctuary Area authorized under the Grass Cutting Reduction Act Of 2025.

 

[SouthernIllinois]

French drain is in.

The yellow perforated pipe is burrito wrapped in permeable Geotex fabric, covered 1" washed rock and then the edge closest to the swale is covered in non-permeable Geotex fabric and then entire slope is covered in rip-rap.

The rip-rap will go all the way up the slope to the edge of the new building once it is up. There will be no open ground between the two.

The two vertical pieces of PVC, one at the closed end and one in the middle are clean outs should I ever need them.
During the process, about 30 baby snapping turtles became homeless.

 

[SouthernIllinois]

Cross posted - I also shared this in what you did in your lawn / yard today.

120+ tons of rip-rap down on the gully between the building and where the new shed is going.

There is a french drain in there as well.

Rip-rap on the hillside behind the current building and where the new one is going.

And for the city folks and code police, the last couple pics are where the french drain, my downspouts, floor drains, sink drains and urinal come out. It's up to country code...lol

The other piles of rock are for re-doing the driveway.

 

[SouthernIllinois]

Sitting on the porch with the outdoor cats, Jack and Diane, admiring the “new” driveway we finished up yesterday.

Completely reshaped it, got it to where the water will run off in the right direction, took out the gigantic hump that trailers dragged on and re-rocked the whole thing.

Never knew I could get so excited about a driveway and drainage!!!

 

[M.Brane]

Drainage is important. The PO of my place didn't get it so lots to correct here. Your's looks good.

 

[SouthernIllinois]

Drainage is important. The PO of my place didn't get it so lots to correct here. Your's looks good.

Thanks - it has been a train wreck since last fall. Hope we got it - a good rain will be the test

 

[Vette60]

Just read through the entire thread and really enjoyed it. Your shop has turned out great. Attention to detail is noted as well. Look forward to following along.

 

[zmotorsports]

Looks great. I too spent a lot of time worrying about roof drainage and how the property would handle it. It's not a fun task but once done it is nice to have one less thing to worry about. Plus, it's one of those tasks that when done properly no one will notice but done incorrectly and it will stand out like a sore thumb.

 

[SouthernIllinois]

Going to put up a 24' X 24' X 10' simple pole barn for storage just to the North of the existing building.

Using the same builder with the same color scheme, doors, windows, etc.

Nothing **** but I can get the ladders, mower, weed whacker, chain saws, etc out of the big building and out of my way.

This building will not have a finished interior. Simply for storage.

 

[SouthernIllinois]

It has taken nearly a year but today I can consider the shed 100% done once we got the string lights up on the porch.

 

[larry4406]

Nice SHED!

 

[MikeGA]

That looks Fantastic

 

[captain14]

Looks good.

We can start helping you plan the first addition when you run out of room.

 

[Jayman17]

Bravo, that looks very nice. Enjoy your new shop!

 

[zmotorsports]

Looks amazing. Well done.

 

[SouthernIllinois]

Been working on reorganizing the cart I am using for work on the rusty Corvair.

I have begun using magnetic holders from Etsy, magnetic hooks and I just bought a Snap On magnetic pad to utilize the wall adjacent to the cart.

My goal is to not have to open the drawers for most things.

 

[SilverJimmy]

I loved guys like you who had a color fetish! New tool came out in green I knew I had to order X many for all you guys!!!

 

[SouthernIllinois]

Just got back from Maryland.

Went back for a memorial service for one of my very best friends that suddenly passed away.

While we were back there his widow and two sons who I am also very close to gave me the submarine diving alarm I had given him as a retirement gift 9 years ago.

This morning I got it up in my shed in the most prominent spot I could find. It will get sounded on a regular basis in his memory.

 

[Boostingaz]

That's awesome.

 

[zmotorsports]

That's an awesome addition to your shop and sorry that your friend passed. Ring it often.

 

[Michael B.]

Fair winds and following seas for your shipmate, Senior Chief. 🫡

 

[SouthernIllinois]

When I bought the Gator it came with a snowplow, however I never cared for the way they had the winch and hydraulic tilt switches rigged up. They are actually 4-wheeler handlebar switches that just hung out the left side of the dash.

About a week ago I dove into how they had it wired - WOW! I believe Stevie Wonder wired it with his toes. Some janky ****! Piggyback spade connectors bent over male pin connectors and taped up.

Emailed MotoAlliance in Minnesota about buying plow switches and wiring harness. Gave them the plow serial number and all. Instead of answering my questions they emailed me back a link to a wiring harness so I ordered it.

What showed up two weeks later was a winch switch, harness and solenoid.

Tried calling them but all I got was voice mail so I emailed them and explained that I needed parts for the plow, not the winch, that came with my used side-by-side.

Almost immediately I got a reply that since I was not the original purchaser and I did not buy it directly from them, they would be unable to help me but they did go on to wish me a good afternoon.

Ended up just buying two, 2-position, momentary switches and jumped into it. Even worked up the courage to cut a hole in the dash for the hydraulic tilt switch (even though the switch is labeled “winch”).

Couple pics - pretty pleased with the outcome. All connections are now soldered and sealed with adhesive heat shrink. Even soldered the spade connectors after crimping them on - no more sketchy crimps or balls of electric tape.

FWIW, I would avoid MotoAlliance if you are in the market for UTV / ATV accessories - Customer service isn't their strong suite!

https://www.motoalliance.com/

 

[SouthernIllinois]

Finished product.

Switch on dash below the screen is for the winch which raises and lowers the plow.

The switch to the left of the dash controls the hydraulics that tilt the blade left & right despite it also being labeled "winch".

It was snowing the entire time I was doing this but not enough accumulation to try it out actually plowing.

 

[SouthernIllinois]

Back to working on my Harbor Freight sandblaster modifications. Gave it a 4” lift to make room for the 1/2” fittings on the bottom and blew some paint on it this morning.

 

[M.Brane]

I have a Workmate like that I use for similar jobs, but it's in a little rougher shape.

 

[zmotorsports]

I have a Workmate like that I use for similar jobs, but it's in a little rougher shape.

Same here. My little Workmate table is beat to **** and abused, but it just keeps on taking the **** I throw at it and painting on it.

 

[SouthernIllinois]

Menard’s had a used over-the-range microwave display rack for $5.

Heck, the square steel tubing was worth that.

I wasn't sure what I was going to do with it but I have decided it is getting a second life as a mobile bodywork cart - wax & grease remover, filler, sandpaper, air sanders, etc….

The mock up is just me thinking out loud - The side braces will go all the way up and it will have locking, swivel casters.



I considered making it a parts cart considering new ones are nearly $400 but I think a tool and material cart would be more useful.

 

[captain14]

You’ll gonna have to make a fabricator’s nameplate for your tool cart.

 

[SouthernIllinois]

New handle bar grips and the rest of the fittings on the top are on.

Found an unofficial Matco sticker in the bottom of a tool box drawer so I rebranded it as a Matco sandblaster.

So far I have raised it 4" to clear the new, bigger fittings on the bottom, rebuilt the front leg so it is sturdy, replaced all the fittings with new 1/2" ones and painted it.

Just need to get off my **** and order new hoses and a nozzle.

 

[SouthernIllinois]

2:30am Christmas Morning sewing with fire, Donut Shop Coffee and Alanis Morissette.

The $5 Menard’s microwave display is now up on wheels and mobile and is on its way to becoming a bodywork supply cart.

Shelves are up next.

Insomnia *****!!



These bits from CoreMark Metals are nice! Blew through 1/8 steel like it was paper.

 

[SilverJimmy]

I’ll take box #19! What did I win?!

 

[SilverJimmy]

Just joking, great idea for labeling contents of storage boxes!

 

[Boosted1]

The lawn equipment annex will be a nice addition.

 

[SouthernIllinois]

Expecting some bad weather this afternoon and evening.

Temps dropping from 68 to 16 within 14 hours.

Got all the vehicles inside in case it hails and went to Menards and loaded up free Christmas trees for the pond before it gets nasty.

 

[SouthernIllinois]

Menrad’s $5 Microwave display to bodywork material & tool cart conversion update.

Shelves cut and urethaned.

Still need to weld brace for the bottom shelf but waiting on local metal dealer to get me the expanded metal for the back.

Get that done; sand paint and add the vise grip and air tool hangers and I think we’ll be done.

 

[NUTTSGT]

The place has come along very nicely.

 

[SouthernIllinois]

Menard’s mircowave display update.

Once it’s done, it will be a bodywork tool and supply cart for the Crusty Corvair.

Shelf’s are fitted and the first coat of Kenosha Red paint is on.

I need more paint and I’m still waiting on the expanded metal panel for the back, a vise grip hanger and an air tool hanger.

Hopefully I’ll get it wrapped up next week.

Monday the pole barn builder is supposed to start on the Annex.

 

[larry4406]

Very nice!

What/how do you use the cut pine trees at the pond?

 

[SouthernIllinois]

Very nice!

What/how do you use the cut pine trees at the pond?

Not sure what you mean?

The Christmas trees in the Gator?

Those are just Christmas trees I got from neighbors and free ones from Menards they gave away the day after Christmas.

Once (an if) we get enough ice on the pond, I will tie them to cinderblocks, slide them out on the pond where I want them and wait for it to thaw and sink.

Provides cover for juvenile fish from predators (bass).