sreno
Well-known member
Shawn's 32x32 Double Decker
Thanks for looking at my garage thread. The project got started in June of 2008 and has been progressing ever since.
Note (Dec 2017) Before going any further it's important to underline the purpose of this garage is to do any needed work on my vehicles. Upstairs is dedicated to storage and a large music room.
It has been nearly 10 years since breaking ground and a little over 9 years since I began this thread. In that time I have painted cars, built custom exhausts and done all of my own maintenance. This does not make me or my garage better than any others on this site. It just "is what it is" and if you're into DIY, you should find some of this thread of interest.
As always, post a question if there's anything I can clarify or help with.
Here's a quick overview:
On the ground floor it's 32x32 with a 12 ft ceiling and chain-lifted staircase. I set the building up mostly to keep my old cars on the road for my daily 120 mile commute.
Two tire machines, tire repair equipment, a wheel balancer, MIG welder, sandblasters, a two post lift and a scissor lift, auto-body and alignment equipment help me get it done.
The top floor: features a 32x18 room area with over 8 feet of headroom at the center. There's also plenty of storage space beyond that; between the rafters where I've added flooring.
The upstairs makes a great studio/jam room and is now insulated and usable year round.
To see more of the build part, scroll down to post #5 and check out PART 1: Breaking Ground
Shawn
One of my first projects was the 1964 Fairlane Thunderbolt tribute/basket case. It arrived (below) more or less ready to assemble but with many challenges.
This is a more recent photo of the Fairlane to give you an idea of what it came to look like.
I've tried to document my progress as clearly as possible.
This photo of the garage itself was taken in the Fall of 2012. The roof vents were installed and the 2nd floor insulation project had just begun.
Once the driveway was expanded to provide access to the garage, an extra hundred feet of snow removal was added to the 'to-do' list! OUCH!
For that, the '73 John Deere 140 comes in real handy. My Dad bought it new with the tiller attachment and single tiller extension. I added the snowblower a few years ago.
The tractor is an H3 model, with three separate hydraulic circuits, and two power takeoff setups.
Once inside the garage, the two-post Rotary lift is the centerpiece of most of the serious work that gets done.
This Norco Mid-Rise lift (pictured below) is a good alternative to the two-post lift. For body-work, tires and brakes, it's ideal. It's portable too so it slides out of the way when necessary. It was originally red but got painted blue to match the 2-poster.
I was lucky to stumble onto some hard to find Dunlop equipment that allows me to do my own alignment work at home. The turntables alone would have been too expensive to buy new.
In an attempt to save space, I designed a set of stairs that lifts up and out of the way.
With 32X32 feet to work in, I was able to build a temporary tent in which to spray automotive paint. Doing my own body work has saved me a bundle over the years.
As mentioned, I decided in the Fall of 2012 to insulate the 2nd floor.
Many of my instruments, speakers and amplifiers have been idle for over a decade and a half. In the Summer of 2012 however, I began a real effort to get everything repaired, cleaned and generally sorted-out. One of my amps, a Gibson Lab series, was bought in 1976!! My favorite is a HiWatt 100 Watt Bulldog, produced around 1982.
With all the attention paid to keeping the cold out, the heat source is critical; especially at 30 to 40 degrees below zero. I need a way to get the place warm enough to work in, as quickly as possible. I had previously tried a smaller, more attractive wood-burning stove with a glass door. The second floor, however, took five or six hours to warm up. The present system fell into my lap, costing next to nothing. It has a huge combustion chamber, two door access, a high-volume light metal plenum and a turbine-style fan. With just basic ducts the hot air is sent upstairs like you wouldn't believe.
I welded in the window frame from my previous stove because I enjoy sitting in front of a warming fire during the Winter. This monster had only a metal plate up front.
I hope you take the time to browse through almost 10 years of building, modification and related projects. If you run across something that requires more detail, just click 'QUOTE' or 'MULTI-QUOTE' or 'QUICK REPLY' and ask me about it! I'll be happy to provide you with the clarification you need.
Thanks for looking at my garage thread. The project got started in June of 2008 and has been progressing ever since.
Note (Dec 2017) Before going any further it's important to underline the purpose of this garage is to do any needed work on my vehicles. Upstairs is dedicated to storage and a large music room.
It has been nearly 10 years since breaking ground and a little over 9 years since I began this thread. In that time I have painted cars, built custom exhausts and done all of my own maintenance. This does not make me or my garage better than any others on this site. It just "is what it is" and if you're into DIY, you should find some of this thread of interest.
As always, post a question if there's anything I can clarify or help with.
Here's a quick overview:
On the ground floor it's 32x32 with a 12 ft ceiling and chain-lifted staircase. I set the building up mostly to keep my old cars on the road for my daily 120 mile commute.
Two tire machines, tire repair equipment, a wheel balancer, MIG welder, sandblasters, a two post lift and a scissor lift, auto-body and alignment equipment help me get it done.
The top floor: features a 32x18 room area with over 8 feet of headroom at the center. There's also plenty of storage space beyond that; between the rafters where I've added flooring.
The upstairs makes a great studio/jam room and is now insulated and usable year round.
To see more of the build part, scroll down to post #5 and check out PART 1: Breaking Ground
Shawn
One of my first projects was the 1964 Fairlane Thunderbolt tribute/basket case. It arrived (below) more or less ready to assemble but with many challenges.
This is a more recent photo of the Fairlane to give you an idea of what it came to look like.
I've tried to document my progress as clearly as possible.
This photo of the garage itself was taken in the Fall of 2012. The roof vents were installed and the 2nd floor insulation project had just begun.
Once the driveway was expanded to provide access to the garage, an extra hundred feet of snow removal was added to the 'to-do' list! OUCH!
For that, the '73 John Deere 140 comes in real handy. My Dad bought it new with the tiller attachment and single tiller extension. I added the snowblower a few years ago.
The tractor is an H3 model, with three separate hydraulic circuits, and two power takeoff setups.
Once inside the garage, the two-post Rotary lift is the centerpiece of most of the serious work that gets done.
This Norco Mid-Rise lift (pictured below) is a good alternative to the two-post lift. For body-work, tires and brakes, it's ideal. It's portable too so it slides out of the way when necessary. It was originally red but got painted blue to match the 2-poster.
I was lucky to stumble onto some hard to find Dunlop equipment that allows me to do my own alignment work at home. The turntables alone would have been too expensive to buy new.
In an attempt to save space, I designed a set of stairs that lifts up and out of the way.
With 32X32 feet to work in, I was able to build a temporary tent in which to spray automotive paint. Doing my own body work has saved me a bundle over the years.
As mentioned, I decided in the Fall of 2012 to insulate the 2nd floor.
Many of my instruments, speakers and amplifiers have been idle for over a decade and a half. In the Summer of 2012 however, I began a real effort to get everything repaired, cleaned and generally sorted-out. One of my amps, a Gibson Lab series, was bought in 1976!! My favorite is a HiWatt 100 Watt Bulldog, produced around 1982.
With all the attention paid to keeping the cold out, the heat source is critical; especially at 30 to 40 degrees below zero. I need a way to get the place warm enough to work in, as quickly as possible. I had previously tried a smaller, more attractive wood-burning stove with a glass door. The second floor, however, took five or six hours to warm up. The present system fell into my lap, costing next to nothing. It has a huge combustion chamber, two door access, a high-volume light metal plenum and a turbine-style fan. With just basic ducts the hot air is sent upstairs like you wouldn't believe.
I welded in the window frame from my previous stove because I enjoy sitting in front of a warming fire during the Winter. This monster had only a metal plate up front.
I hope you take the time to browse through almost 10 years of building, modification and related projects. If you run across something that requires more detail, just click 'QUOTE' or 'MULTI-QUOTE' or 'QUICK REPLY' and ask me about it! I'll be happy to provide you with the clarification you need.
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