2 Sluggo's Garage

[1/2 Cup]

rmalkow, You won't know yourself getting your bits and pieces sorted like you have. Its probably one of the most time consuming yet rewarding jobs I have done, sorting 40 years of accumulated bits and pieces.

Great work on the brakes as well.

Regards

 

[taumac]

Wanna go half in on a plane ticket for 1/2 Cup? He can help both me and you sort through the junk we collected. LOL

 

[1/2 Cup]

Wanna go half in on a plane ticket for 1/2 Cup? He can help both me and you sort through the junk we collected. LOL

Now there is a top idea, got my vote.

 

[rmalkow2]

Ha, ha, An imported organization specialist eh? Maybe it would be easier to just crate up our extra junk and ship to 1/2 Cup. Now that his place is cleaned up he should have extra space right?

 

[1/2 Cup]

Luv it, donations gratefully accepted.

 

[taumac]

Ha, ha, An imported organization specialist eh? Maybe it would be easier to just crate up our extra junk and ship to 1/2 Cup. Now that his place is cleaned up he should have extra space right?

I like that idea. It could be a game for him to figure out WTH are this parts too.... LOL

 

[rmalkow2]

A new project vehicle has arrived at Sluggo's Garage. I've always wanted an older model Jeep and have been watching for along time for just the right deal to fit my budget. This one came up for sale locally a few weeks back and thankfully for me it had not sold until I could find time to look it over.
It's a 1968 CJ5 rebuilt in 2000 using the original frame and drive train but with a new fiberglass body.

Right now it's really a "20 footer" as in looks good from that distance but it does need a lot of work. Basically after it's rebuild it spent the next 15 years parked in summer and plowing snow off the owners driveway in winter. So only 1500 miles accumulated but lots of hours.
As of this moment it needs brake work, new exhaust system and a tune up to be drivable on the road. So those are my first tasks and I've been chasing around this week after parts needed.

The engine is the 90 degree 225 cubic inch V6 engine that Jeep/AMC bought the tooling from Buick. Coupled to a 3 speed manual transmission and 4wd transfer case.

Just a brief introduction on this thread but I think I'll start a separate thread for this project to chronicle my progress of reviving this oldie and making it street worthy again.

 

[coby65]

Nice early CJ5 with a dauntless V6!

May want to check in over here http://www.earlycj5.net/forums/forum.php

Great group like here and tons of tech help

 

[rmalkow2]

coby65,
Thanks for that good tip and reference to the CJ5 forum. Having not been a Jeep person before I've got a lot to learn and this will be very useful.

 

[coby65]

Your welcome!
You will find that group over there are very open to modifying the old jeeps to drive better then did stock so they are not purists.
And you WILL be surprised at how capable that jeep can be on and off road.........get ready for a fun journey!

 

[Vieux]

This should be an interesting project. I will follow them.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Top project, something to get your teeth into, looking forward to following its progress..

 

[taumac]

WOW, you been away and post a jeep. Now that's a cool project for sure. Your gonna need a BIGGER garage. LOL

 

[rmalkow2]

This should be an interesting project. I will follow them.

Thanks Vieux, I hope "Interesting" becomes my view of this in the end also. It's definitely gonna make me learn some new automotive info.

Top project, something to get your teeth into, looking forward to following its progress..

Thanks 1/2 Cup, I have high hopes.

WOW, you been away and post a jeep. Now that's a cool project for sure. Your gonna need a BIGGER garage. LOL

Haha, True I've not posted much on the thread in awhile. Just been busy on many other work and home fronts so there have not been any legitimate garage projects accomplished lately. Hmmmm, a bigger garage.
I've needed one for more than a year and it is actually on my list for this year to build a second garage. Hoping that big project gets done.
Getting this Jeep was a big step for me and it came with a little fear and trembling but, no project worth doing should be too easy or comfortable.

 

[rmalkow2]

Very little time to spend in the garage today but I had to at least make some progress cleaning up. I just kept telling myself "small jobs, small progress" is better than nothing. So I managed at least to sweep up a bit, replace some light bulbs, clean up a few tool boxes I bought a week ago, and put some tools away. It's not much but its something I guess. Hoping for dry weather and more time tomorrow.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Very little time to spend in the garage today but I had to at least make some progress cleaning up. I just kept telling myself "small jobs, small progress" is better than nothing. So I managed at least to sweep up a bit, replace some light bulbs, clean up a few tool boxes I bought a week ago, and put some tools away. It's not much but its something I guess. Hoping for dry weather and more time tomorrow.

Way to go rmalkow, I am doing the same right now.

 

[rmalkow2]

There's nothing like a deadline to get you motivated to complete a task. My covered trailer needed new wheels/tires and one fender re-attached ever since I bought it. PO had a blow out on the left side and the shredded tire tore loose some of the fender attachment screws.

I saw an ad a couple weeks back for a great deal on new wheels and tires from a local trailer supply and picked up two new ones. Now for you sharp memory folks out there you'll say hey, I thought you refurbished the old wheels? Well I did but these two came mounted complete on new wheels for the money I would have spent on the separate tires alone so I could not pass it up. I will sell or use the re-painted wheels elsewhere.
Anyway, I got the fender back in somewhat the original place for now and will need to tweak it a bit more later and the new tires on just in time for a road trip yesterday to pick up some auction goodies. More on that later after I unload and take some pics.

It's just great to have the trailer on the road and trip tested. It still needs little things done as I have time but at least I can hitch it up and use it anytime the need arises.

 

[rmalkow2]

Got some productive time in the garage today and outside as well since the rain held off except for one good gully washer in the afternoon.
Oil changes in 3 vehicles accomplished. A little bit of clean up and some quality time at the wire wheel station as well. I managed to get some tools polished up a bit that had come out of the Evaporust bin weeks ago. I'll have a bit of work yet to do on the old adjustable wrenches by hand to finish the hard to reach areas then they go into the old Ford tool collection.

 

[rmalkow2]

I was able to make a little improvement in garage storage this weekend. The rain has finally taken a break so I could move toys outside for a whole day and work in the garage and re-arrange some things.
Earlier in the week I picked up a couple of these nice Globe-Werneke cabinets at an auction with the intent to sell them on. Got to thinking about some of my current storage situation, using plastic tubs stacked on a dolly.

At the same time I have this nice Craftsman stack that was sitting against the back wall, a further walk from the main work bench and the overhead door. It tended to get blocked off with other items and then I can't really make use of it or even fill it completely with tools.

So I've decided to follow a thought that cabinets that have wheels should be more mobile and cabinets without wheels can be land locked against a wall.

I cleaned up the new cabinet and traded places with the Craftsman stack and was able to empty contents of 3 plastic tubs into the cabinet and still have some room in there yet.

Now all my extra car cleaning products, large jugs of antifreeze and washer build as well as room dedicated for yard products. And even gives counter top room for some small items.

 

[rmalkow2]

Now the Craftsman stack is free to roam and be more useful for the tools I want to keep in it.Maybe this will have to change again someday but for now I think it best. Since I'm not parking a car in there for the summer, only motorcycles and ATV I can push the box to any area that works over night and then roll it out for actual work.
DUH Maybe that's why the put wheels on them.

Then just a minor thing but it occurred to me that the hand rail support on the two steps leading into the house could also serve as a handy place to store C clamps. Bingo Problem of loose C-Clamps laying around is solved.

 

[taumac]

Does that mean you got rid of the Peninsula on that side of the garage. Some of the pictures didn't come through.

 

[rmalkow2]

Hmmmmm, not sure what happened to the pics but no, my main work bench and the peninsula bench near the main garage door are still there. Just freeing up the tool cab stack to be more usable and tidying up the back wall. It's already being utilized as I'm working on my enclosed trailer lights right outside the garage door and that tool chest is right there where I only have to turn and walk a few steps to get something. Much easier.

 

[taumac]

I see what you did. now. You had DP and toolbox there by the door. I had to go back to see the the pics. where's the DP now?

 

[rmalkow2]

Well, my mail floor standing DP is still on the back (west) wall but you may have spotted another one near the front. That older Delta is a project awaiting my time. It's an old industrial bench top style that I'm converting to a more normal bench top model.

 

[taumac]

Oh I got it. I've learned that not one DP can do it all. Having a full size is great but also a smaller bench one is great to have.

 

[rmalkow2]

Agreed. I have another small bench top in my basement workshop too. I'm not sure what I'll do with this Delta yet. It was just too cheap to pass up so like a lost puppy it followed me home one day. I sorta have a vision for a non-traditional paint scheme but we'll see. It may be a keeper or someday it may get a new home.

 

[rmalkow2]

I've had a mind to get after this small project for quite some time and finally took a little time for it tonight. I've been overstuffing a small metal box with various sanding and grinding supplies for years now. It sat on top of one of my tool cabinets and the lid has not closed for a very long time. A bigger box was long overdue. I picked up this 3 drawer Craftsman box a while back cheap at a garage sale and cleaned it up for some future purpose.

Tonight that purpose is revealed. I lined the top and drawers with some black rubber liner material and this is now my new and improved sanding supply box with room to grow.
The top is deeper so it gets sanding blocks, 3M pads and larger items. The first drawer will be for random pieces of sandpaper.

The second drawer is for emory cloth and some full sheets of sand paper.

The third drawer gets small sanding discs, cut off wheels, small grinding wheels, steel wool, etc.

Now this can sit on top of one of my roller cabinets and not always have loose items spilling out all over the place. And now I get to re-purpose the original small box.

 

[rmalkow2]

As I've been off work this past week I was able to get a few more tasks done around the house. One of which was finishing the build of my small flat bed trailer. It was about 80% done and I have been using it but, it needed the final floor boards added, some permanent wiring completed, side rails and other misc.
The first order of business was to purchase and install the last 3 of the deck boards. A quick trip to Homer's Depot for 3 more 5/4 pressure treated boards, some cutting and fitting and, then some bolts to the frame.

I decided the place to mount the spare tire was along one side near the front. This frame came from an old pop up trailer so there was a nice pocket in the frame rail right where the old step up used to be.

I cut some remaining pieces of decking to fit in front and back of that space to finish it off. For now the tire is held in place by bungee cords but the final touch will be to weld on an actual tire mount bracket someday when I can get the trailer into my garage and near to the welder. For now, this is totally serviceable.
I also bolted some chrome side rails I had collected from a past auction. In time we shall see if these prove useful or not. And I now also have a nice sturdy folding aluminum ramp purchased just last week at auction for less than half the cost of a new one. It already got tested this weekend loading and unloading my ATV and works great.

At this point I may play around with adding tie down points here and there but other than welding on a permanent spare tire bracket someday it's finally done and ready to be used for motorcycle, ATV, lawn tractor or just general hauling. This was a good trailer build project and it will prove very useful. It's very light weight when empty and very easy to pull when loaded and, carries a good amount of load.

 

[rmalkow2]

There's a new addition to the vehicle stable here at my garage. Being an opportunist at heart I've been patiently watching ads for a Mustang convertible. My requirements were a clean used GT convertible at a good price and as original as possible. Had to be a V8 but Auto Trans was ok. This is not meant to be a race car but rather a nice cruiser. I don't cars like that have been messed up over the years and really appreciate when someone keeps a car well maintained and all original.
I lucked out when this 35th Anniversary Mustang GT turned up on the local CL and only a few miles from my house. It was owned since new by one man who babied it and basically drove to work for the last 16 years before retiring. Garage kept, and cleaned regularly. It came with the original window sticker and a folder 3 inches thick of every repair receipt since new.
It's not often you get to find a car and buy from the original owner who also properly cared for it.
This will be my spring thru fall car for daily use until the snow starts then it goes in the garage for the winter.
All it needs right now is a license plate which I should have time to buy tomorrow and then the top goes down as I hit the road.

Now something else has to go to make room for this so my old get to work car, 2003 Focus Wagon is soon to be in the front yard with a For Sale sign.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Fantastic work on the trailer.

Nice score with the Mustang and if you are going to buy a used car that's the way to do it.

Mrs 1/2 Cup gives her approval as well.

Regards

 

[rmalkow2]

Fantastic work on the trailer.

Nice score with the Mustang and if you are going to buy a used car that's the way to do it.

Mrs 1/2 Cup gives her approval as well.

Regards

Thanks 1/2 Cup and especially glad to hear Mrs. 1/2 Cup approves as well.

 

[rmalkow2]

After taking a few weeks off from garage sales and estate sales I decided to hit a few that were located really close to me this week. At one I was able to add to my C-clamp collection. Two more Hargrave 6" clamps and one Proto 4" clamp just because I've never had one made by Proto before.

Then the got added to the C-clamp row that doubles as a hand rail into the house.

 

[rmalkow2]

I feel like I made a little garage progress today for the first time in awhile. Work has been so crazy that I never have energy in the evenings after supper.
So today I got out the 4-wheel ATV and got it started but it needs a new battery so off to O'Reilly and after adding acid the new one is charging on the bench now.

Also got the dirt bike running again. After checking the spark plug I guess it had just set parked too long and needed more gas in the tank. Added some fresh 2-cycle and was able to take it for a quick ride.

It feels good to have the toys all running again.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Great score on the clamps, they certainly don't make them like they used to.

I am hearing you on the work front as well, mine is the same. I am requesting a couple of weeks of myself towards the end of the month.

Great to see you are back into the garage, its good therapy.

 

[rmalkow2]

This was a long holiday weekend for the US so I made no other plans on purpose just to get free time over three days to do yard work and some jobs in the garage at what ever pace I choose.
Still hot here so it'd mostly do a little work and take a break inside to cool off.

You are right about it being good therapy. I put the job out of my head for a couple of days.

 

[rmalkow2]

I got the 4 whl ATV battery replacement job finally finished. The old battery still had power but I spotted the badly corroded terminals and decided to clean them. Well that story is not simple. The screw on the negative post came loose but the positive side was so corroded and the lead attachment was week so it tore right off the top of the battery as I put a wrench on the bolt.
That required a trip to the auto parts store yesterday for a new battery. Then you have to add the acid and slowly charge the battery.
Finally time to put it in place and those terminals are a ****** to get attached. The battery has a square lead box cage and they give you a nut to fit in the cage. But you have to insert the battery most of the way down into the battery box so the cables will reach. Then three hands are required to hold the nut up in its cage so the little bolt will engage threads. It took a few tries with various helper tools but I finally got it in place, tightened up and the ATV starts and runs like new.
It feels good to accomplish something that's been staring at me for weeks now as I walk through the garage each day.

 

[rmalkow2]

When ever you can add work space to your garage and put money in your pocket is a good day. Well yesterday was a good day as I not only sold an extra car I no longer needed but from the garage I reclaimed floor space about 4' x 6' by selling this.

It doesn't sound like much but it's a huge benefit to my usable space. I replaced the use for this 3 wheeler earlier in the year with a 4 wheel version so from then to now I've been juggling both around in the garage. Finally got it ready for sale this past week and advertised locally and now its gone.

 

[rmalkow2]

While on a roll to re-claim garage space I also finally got busy and started the tear down of this go kart frame that's been taking up space in the garage. I do have a future project in mind for this but for now it just needed to be stripped of components and then I can store the bare frame out back in the shed building. And it stops taking up valuable walk path space and also stops biting my ankles every time I try to walk past it.

I'll have the tear down finished later today and then its out of the way for awhile.

 

[rmalkow2]

To be honest I'm not sure where all my sudden motivation is coming from but I'm putting it to good use. Organizing space in the garage and, I finally decided to start a restoration project on one of the many vises I have collected. The candidate is this little Erie Tool Works, Empire #25 vise. Jaws are 2 5/8" wide and while not a big boy I liked the unusual style to the static and dynamic jaw housings. It was only $5 at a local barn sale and while pretty rusty did not seem damaged.

After a few doses of Kroil it freed up enough to turn the screw again and slide back and forth. So that was a good omen.

 

[rmalkow2]

Next was to clean all the individual pieces of major rust with a wire wheel. Since it's pretty small this did not take long.
It came apart pretty easy thanks to the Kroil and then removing one set screw on the collar that holds the main screw/handle assembly in place.

All parts cleaned up pretty well with a wire wheel, especially the main screw.

Next up the Evapo Rust bath.