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Above 1200 Sq/FT Blackbyrds Basement

Wokspaces above 1200 squarefeet.
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Blackbyrd

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What you need is something strong and built to last like a Dana 30 under the back of that beast!
Ha!

I'm gonna go buy a gasket tomorrow. Figure that's the only way ill feel satisfied what it is.

Got my minitubs in, I love my ups man anytime it's clearly a car part being delivered he brings it to the garage instead of the front porch.

Also finally installed the a arms on the suspension, ready for brakes! I'm tempted to put them on, but I think they will just be in the way.

I took the bird out forever first drive of 24, and im concerned I'd hit the frame backing in if the brakes were on.
 

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Blackbyrd

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If it's an oddball make sure the the guts are readily available. I know there is a place in Iowa that has a lot of performance parts for all rear ends. Here it is. https://www.quickperformance.com/ I have used them in the past with very good luck.
Thanks for the link!

I think I'm gonna have to put working onnthe rear on the back burner. I feel like I don't trust the jig? So I'm gonna get the frame cage for it on and then set the rear under it. Got a while before I can even go there though.

Also thanks to those that chimed in to help!
 
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Blackbyrd

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Oh yeah hands and shoulders ache haha.

and it made a gargantuan mess! I didnt hang blinds or make an enclosure (or use the shop vac) like ive done in the past so it went everywhere!

Small panic attack ensued....
 
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Blackbyrd

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So.... I made an huge mess cause my dumb brain thought I'd be to close to the ground for dust to get anywhere but on the ground..........

Anywho tent 2.0 engage

Which also lead to a feverish cleaning of all my work surfaces.......

Whhhhiiiiiiccccchhhhhh then led to me rabbit holing on things the shop needs and I need some advice. There are 3 junction boxes in the cinder block, with conduit running up through and into the exposed cieling. As luck would have it there is a dead-end box in the cieling I could tie all 3 into. My question is it it worth the effort? One is on the same wall as the large table next to the hvac. That could allow me to use a power strip under the table. Then other 2 are the adjacent wall, but would only serve to plug in an extension cord? I think I'd rather put a box in the cieling so I could have another drop-down extention on this end of the shop?
 

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loganb

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Asking GJ if you should install more electric outlets is just looking for encouragement to do what you were already thinking about :)

I'd say go for it if you think they'll be helpful....but I agree with a drop down/cord reel over a bay or far end where you're always running drop cords anyway. I use my 2 ceiling mounted cord reels far more than I ever expected...they're awesome and I'm probably going to add more eventually.
 
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Blackbyrd

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Thanks for chiming in @loganb, the 2 on the wall by them selves dont really serve anything at this point other than future proofing. Getting power to the table would be a big deal though. would let me have a bnch grinder and power the drill press and i've considered a large chop saw. As car parts get installed that would free up space on the shelfs for those items to go also.

Im thinking that one and a cieling plug would be the most handy at the moment. Which should be that expensive of an upgrade, just a trip to Lowes and a little of my time.
 
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Blackbyrd

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Plugs added, not exactly where I planned for it? Atleast now I can plug in my Pontiac sign. Once the go on sale again I'll get another drop down reel. It's really nice to have power on the back wall though. I know it's gonna come in handy.

Also decided to treat myself to a new tool, I'm hoping this little guy makes my patch panel work easy peasy.

No progress on it at this point, hoping this weekend I can finish stripping the underside, just not had the time.
 

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Blackbyrd

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That new tool should make cutting panels a breeze. But, those little slivers get everywhere. Watch your feet and the bottom of your shoes before going into the house.
I used to have a pneumatic one those chips were the worst!!!!

Not sure it's worth anything, but it comes with a clip on sack to catch the mess so says the reviews......

Guess I'll find out when I start making patches?
 
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Blackbyrd

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Can confirm the "chip" bag is excellent!

Been on a anti camaro tirade lately..... so I've been making the closeout panels I templated years ago for the Byrd.

18 guage sourced locally and cut to workable sections (one for the camaro flat firewall at a different date)

The other to play with the nibbler and my templates. I'm very impressed with the nibbler and its clean cuts! Zero mess atleast till I had to grind the edges a but. I'll likely clean up the templates with paper versions in case anyone wants duplicates of what I made. Purchased a cheap brake for the one near the hood latch. The other panel was shaped on a 4" pvc roll. Happy with the progress but quite a ways to go. Just needed to dona small task that didn't lead to other things. Maybe a bit of burnout going on?
 

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Blackbyrd

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I got the stomach flu, beat me up pretty good. Over a week later and I still don't feel good when I eat. Starting to get my feet under me and having fun with sheet metal...... I'm afraid I'm about to go down a rabbit hole of niche tools hahaha

Some I don't have room for haha
 

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Blackbyrd

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I've been pondering it, found the marketplace listing Thursday. Kiddos birthday is this weekend so I put it on the back burner.... kind of pissed I missed it. He was asking 500 for it.
 
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Blackbyrd

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Garage wise... nothing crazy accomplished just little here and there items. Led conversion for the bird and some nice pedal covers. Oh I put a shorter shift lever in and man it's like relearning how to drive it? It's much tighter which is weird since injustice changed the lever.

Another round of shop cleaning and some cars and coffee outings.

Still grinding away under the camaro (pun intended) making progress but nowhere near ready for primer.
 

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OutlawDrifter

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Just feels tighter with the extra muscle required to swap gears(my opinion of course ;)).

Almost bought a new shifter for the wife's Mach 1 until I tried a longer Hurst stick...it actually made rowing gears much better.
 

Xti04

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Nov 11, 2016
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I am roughing up paint on the bed of my Acty in prep for bedliner and looking at all the grinding you have done on that underaide is making me hurt!I thought leaning over the flat bed was tedious! Seeing that overhead makes me wonder if I could ever bring myself to resto something without a rotisserie.
 
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Blackbyrd

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@bj383ss @Xti04

Yes I need a rotisserie...... if I ever do this again...... I'll buy one. If I had the space to store it I'd buy one now.......

So I'm either dumb or dedicated...... probably both.
 
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Blackbyrd

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I'm still grinding away at the underside, more progress but in small bursts. It's wearing my shoulders out for sure.

Did get my buddy that's a body guy to swing by and approve my door alignment. So once the underside is done I can finally do the quarter skin repair.

It was time to change the oil on the zl1 again and this time I decided I needed a better funnel. This gem came from harbor freight. Has a tone of different caps that mimic the OEM oil cap but all the funnel to attach. Cleanest oil fill over done..... perfectly matching the chaos I created underneath..... we won't talk about that mess. I think it's time for some engine bay detailing and dress-up though.

Car time gets in short supply this time of year. Yard work calls and summer is rapidly approaching which means lots of outside activities.

Did manage to sneak off to cars and coffee. Took the camaro this time and as luck would have it parked next to a 1st gen. If folks weren't in the way I would have snapped more pics.
 

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Blackbyrd

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Firebird went down for a while, pressure regulator was leaking pretty bad. Glad I caught it in the driveway. Swapped the diaphragm out and havnt started the car yet, but on prime cycling it's not leaking.

Still grinding my life away on the 2nd gen..... I feel like I've said I'm close to finished the last 4 times. I'm gonna Make a plate cover for the 9 inch and put it under the car. Center chunk is in the way of how i want to strip it. So removing parking brake cables and swapping rears is coming up this week. Underside is coming along one big patch and working on some tight spots is all that's left. Than clean up the floor patch welds and primer. I'm beyond ready to be out from underneath this car for a while.
 

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Blackbyrd

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That's a weird feeling? Rear end is gone and suddenly this car feels very clean?

At this point I think..... I have broke even on what I originally paid for the car selling the stock goodies. I've been joking that I'm gonna get a plate that says "net zero" when finished cause very few things have I bought or paid for without selling s.tuff to fund it. I paid outright for the frame and rear suspension, but everything else has been paid for by selling stuff outta the garage or old collectibles.

That maybe over though, the rear end was the last of the stuff from this car.

Don't really like it on jack stands though, so I left the leafs so I can put the 9 inch back in.

Question though, I know coils establish ride height and shock depending the bounce. So you can disconnect a shock and car maintain height. Leaf springs work the same way?

I'd like to get the old shocks off while it's all clear and the nee suspension won't use them.
 

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Blackbyrd

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So I did a thing......

Just made sense to get it done with the rear outta the way.

Unfortunately found a little more rust repair... I'm leaving the stuff outside the frame rails cause a lot will get removed for the minitub install. Got some tight spots to work around.

But I'm so close now! I plan to get some.weld through primer and install the 4 link cradle before I epoxy primer it. That will be a huge thing off the list!
 

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