Above 1200 Sq/FT Blackbyrds Basement

[eastmtn]

People travel from tens of miles to take a picture of scenery like that, and you've got it in your backyard. Nice! I always wanted to watch a football game or movie with family outdoors. Your pic is kinda what I had in mind.

 

[Blackbyrd]

the downside is grass is difficult to grow/keep up, yard is full with large mature trees so leaf management during the fall is a struggle.

I believe in two statements "do it right or do it twice....." and "build a life you don't need a vacation from"

 

[OutlawDrifter]

Nice rides! Another LS swapped F-body guy here (3rd gen Z28).

In the for the ride.

 

[Blackbyrd]

Thanks for following along!

 

[Blackbyrd]

So I got an issue I need some help on.

I've been battling periodic leaks with the plumbing throughout the basement. It's a mix of pex and copper from the remodel mid 2000's.

Now I've got 2 leaks that happen to be in the copper lines that were painted black. The also managed to be leaking on each car.

So I'm committed to re-doing the copper with pex, I want to move the linea over to get the lights situated better anyway. Plus I could add a hot loop for my washing section

So the opinion

To red and blue pex

Or white and repaint??

 

[nadogail]

Great Thread

 

[loganb]

This is Garage Journal where decisions are made based on the required number of tools needed to add to a collection to support a project...Pex A(the white one) probably requires more tools so I vote for A!

Ok more serious...would still go for Pex A.

Last time I costed it which was pre covid run up, the savings in fittings for the lower price of the Pex A fittings(and greater flexibility of it eliminating some 90's) quickly paid for the more expensive expansion tool. And I have Pex B tools...lol. bought them back before I was as educated and knew there was another option...and also when the expansion tools were a lot more money. Never looked into painting it...so to do that or not to do that comes down to the pex manufacturer instructions, if they say no to painting sure you could find a cost effective, thin foam pipe insulation to cover it with to get the desired black look or install it in such a way you could cover it up with a couple boards nailed into a 90 degree corner and slipped over the top of it.

Or since this is a car garage...some stainless steel with AN fittings would be pretty sweet.... @Bob Heine likes AN fittings and offering remote support and coaching is probably within his roles for recovery! Lol

 

[bj383ss]

My whole house is plumbed with the White. I think the tools cost me $90. And then you just need the fittings. Super easy to work with.

Bret

 

[Blackbyrd]

Thanks guys!

Ive worked with pex A previously. I just used sharkbite fittings, since it was patch work not full on line replacements.

I think my preference would be do the red and blue line and not paint it.... thing it would look kind of cool and industrial. plus give me the chance to fix some of it cause it spider webs rather bad in certain areas particularly over the bathroom area in the garage since it used to be a drop down ceiling there as well as plumbing for the bathroom on the floor above. It could be super simplified.

I dont know that I want to fight crimping these things manually hahah. The pex pro milwaukee tool is actually on sale now @219 for the bare tool ( cause you cant take on a new project without buying some new tools.....)

 

[Bruce 993 SEA]

I've used Sharkbites in small remodels but if I had a major re-pipe, I would go with the Milwaukee expander and the collars.

I worked on a project and that is what the plumbers used to re-pipe the entire house.

I try to avoid too many elbows and just use the Pex and radius it. Some just mimic copper and use a bunch of elbows.

One thing about the Milwaukee expander and the collars is the elbows go on the ID of the Pex so there is some reduction in flow. If you need a lot of flow to something you might use some 3/4 Pex.

Cheers!

 

[Blackbyrd]

Yup trying to unload some car parts to use towards the tool.

Also I found some pics of the garage before I started updating!!!!!

Last one was the first night I had the GTO, this was also when the full bathroom existed....... still think removing that wall was worth it.

I had changed some of the light fixtures at this point but they lighting still was dull in areas

 

[Blackbyrd]

Been a while huh, wish I could say it's because I've been really busy getting garage stuff done......... but no. I worked on learning to vinyl wrap so I could attempt to faux carbon fiber some interior panels. Then everything sort of stopped with the holidays, I end up with a large chunk of time off during Christmas since my work closes the week of and on past new years combined with what days I have left of vacation and I usually have 2.5 weeks off. Which is great for garage therapy, but work was crazy and had to work on some.of my vacation time due to critical projects. Then little things kept popping up and now hear we are with about 5 days of off time left and I havnt got a single thing I had planned finished or started really. It being 0 degrees outside has a way of making me do nothing hahaha. Not all bad though, new addition the family, we decided to pick up a second husky. Another part of my demotivation is house breaking a puppy. She is a sweet heart though, very laid back and almost lazy. Everything my 3 year old husky is not.

Charlie the oldest and Pika the new pup get along great though

 

[jblnut]

The Firebird got me in here lol. Sharp looking ride. It brought a ton of Pontiac memories of my own back as I had a couple Grand Prix with a ton of work done to them. The top two were a 99' GT that had a very well built turbo'd 513whp 3800 under the hood and an 01' GTP Daytona edition that put down 380whp as an angry supercharged beast. The 01' was more fun as it wasn't always running from one busted something to another lol. The whine of that S/C is giving me goosebumps just remembering it. Something about 70mph front wheel drive burnouts on the interstate gets me all giggly

I was sad to see the GTO go and was going to suggest a Holden front clip for it. Had a buddy with an 06' with the snazzy lion out front and it looked just different enough that it turned a lot of heads.

Sadly all the stuff I own now would make your nice floor all shiny and black in short order lol. The garage looks really nice !!

 

[OutlawDrifter]

I have an appreciation for the guys who do the vinyl wrapping for a living. I helped my nephew do some exterior stuff to his Subaru, it was definitely a learning experience. Cute pup!

 

[jarhead]

just started following along, allot of nice cars along with the garage.

Are basement garages common in your area? How do folks keep fumes from the upstairs? I assume there are building codes to deal wit?

Anyhow, watching the car "remodels" with anticipation. That is my thing too....

 

[Blackbyrd]

The Firebird got me in here lol. Sharp looking ride. It brought a ton of Pontiac memories of my own back as I had a couple Grand Prix with a ton of work done to them. The top two were a 99' GT that had a very well built turbo'd 513whp 3800 under the hood and an 01' GTP Daytona edition that put down 380whp as an angry supercharged beast. The 01' was more fun as it wasn't always running from one busted something to another lol. The whine of that S/C is giving me goosebumps just remembering it. Something about 70mph front wheel drive burnouts on the interstate gets me all giggly

I was sad to see the GTO go and was going to suggest a Holden front clip for it. Had a buddy with an 06' with the snazzy lion out front and it looked just different enough that it turned a lot of heads.

Sadly all the stuff I own now would make your nice floor all shiny and black in short order lol. The garage looks really nice !!

Firebird had a 3.8 in it originally, for its time that engine was no slouch even NA.... miss the goat on occasion, car sure it was a bit more subtle haha.

I have an appreciation for the guys who do the vinyl wrapping for a living. I helped my nephew do some exterior stuff to his Subaru, it was definitely a learning experience. Cute pup!

Yeah I did a few test pieces before going at the arm rest, it's got a learning curve as long as you take your time it's not awful haha.

just started following along, allot of nice cars along with the garage.

Are basement garages common in your area? How do folks keep fumes from the upstairs? I assume there are building codes to deal wit?

Anyhow, watching the car "remodels" with anticipation. That is my thing too....

Thanks for joining in! Hopefully my snail pace doesn't disappoint haha.

In this area basement garages are extremely common. Though newer construction does require it to be finished out with no exposed utilities. This was built in the 90's so it didn't apply. To your point on fumes, I can't exactly led the Byrd idle for long periods. I do have a vent inuse since it was part kf the basement bathroom when I get to fumey. It's not terrible, but you can smell when I weld or run a car for sure. Luckily you don't smell fluids left out. Only reason the Byrd is an issue is no cats and 60lbs injectors so it runs rich until it warms up

 

[phred]

Blackbyrd that’s a nice space you have there. The cars are pretty nice too!!

 

[Blackbyrd]

Thank you phred!

 

[Blackbyrd]

Did a thing.... don't think I like it......

Full story both my wife's grand parents passed last year and I had to help move some furniture. This old partition was In there garage. Since I had a box truck and was bringing things home I though this would help block off the toilet.

Don't like it for 2 reasons. One doesn't fit thay well and now I feel like I'm in an airplane bathroom when I use it.

Makes me think the stall idea wouldn't be any better which was my original plan.

I'll keep coming up with ways to hide my odd garage toilet I guess

 

[OutlawDrifter]

TP is most definitely on the wrong side of the partition....I already see issues

 

[jarhead]

Gives it that office environment vibe, I'd add a coffee maker or water cooler, lol

 

[Blackbyrd]

Apparently I have forgot how to gif onna message board.......

 

[zc15]

I think if you covered in in cars/women it would work better

 

[Blackbyrd]

Big day for the 2nd gen, a decade of parts gathering and planning kicks off with a roof swap. If all goes according to plan. This early second gen camaro will be a very rare t-top car.........

1st step in getting the body back in shape, and prepped then I can work on the suspension.

 

[Blackbyrd]

Didn't make as much progress as I wanted, but it's a start!

 

[bj383ss]

Holy Cow! That is commitment!

Bret

 

[Blackbyrd]

Yeah....... I don't think I know how to do a simple project?

I won't say I underestimated or wasn't prepared, but there is a lot more work to do to get the roof panel to line up. Not impossible, just a lot more going on then cut and weld back.

 

[jarhead]

I've been working on a 68 Torino shell since 2015, replacing allot of panels, I feel your pain

 

[Blackbyrd]

They are never perfect, even if they are clean. I think that was the biggest learning curve for me. The realization that precision and automation didnt exist at that time like it does today. So car to car gaps and panels arent always the same.

For this one, so far it seems like light stuff. the roof didnt have to be done per say, but the cheap aftermarket sunroof for me had to be fixed one way or the other.

it will need a new passenger quarter skin, passenger front foot board, and a few small patches in the window areas. Driver fender is in the air... its got some spots down on the bottom edge between the door and wheel well, that maybe patchable.... but may also be simpler to replace the panel. Im not going back all original by any means so keeping original metal isnt a big deal to me.

Parts I have
4link and 9 inch rear housing (still need pumpkin) and rear suspension that matches the 4 link
boxed subframe and SFC's (still need a arms and spindles
t56 ******
l92 6.2 liter aluminum block (caddy motor)

so thats a good chunk of the heavy hitters already waiting

unfortunately my indecisiveness left me with a ls1 5.7 that I cant seem to sell.....

 

[6SpeedBowtie]

Not sure why I just ran across your thread, Blackbyrd. Love what you're doing with the place and definitely approve of the vehicles housed within! Keep up the great work. I'll be lurking and watching the continued progress!

 

[eastmtn]

Parts I have
4link and 9 inch rear housing (still need pumpkin) and rear suspension that matches the 4 link
boxed subframe and SFC's (still need a arms and spindles
t56 ******
l92 6.2 liter aluminum block (caddy motor)

I approve this message. And the T top. Man your killing me. I can't contain my enthusiasm with that love child of history and street justice.

 

[Blackbyrd]

Thanks @6SpeedBowtie

@eastmtn when I picked this car up forever ago, that was the very first idea I had, Ttops sure would look good on this gen. Surprisingly all but the back glass is the same, and its only different at the quarter skins. Ive only seen this done in person one other time, and ive only recently found pics of 2 others.

Goal is a protouring car through and through, modern suspension underneath with classic looks outside...... sort of. Anvil auto makes a ton of nice pieces for these cars and Ill likely snag a few to stand out in the crowd. Power wise I want another 500hp small block. Im toying with the idea of doing a lightweight valvetrain on this one ( the byrd 414 is a stroker and I cheaped out on internals for raw power). so the goal with this build would be something that accelerates through its power band faster with a few lighter components....

Thats all down the road though I gotta get the body and suspension squared away..... Ill let you all guess what color it will end up though.

 

[bj383ss]

I think it's going to be Bright Rally Red like mine right?

Bret

 

[Blackbyrd]

@wreckdiver1321 ..... I'm following your lead here

I'm headed to get something 4 hr round trip

Only hint I'm giving is its been retired for 15 years

 

[wreckdiver1321]

Can't wait to see what the gamble is!

By the way, I first saw your thread over a year ago. You've got a really nice setup down there. Excited to see more.

 

[Blackbyrd]

Thank you! Item aquired....... I've pined over one of these for years! Luck was just on my side. There's a sort of heartwarming story I'll share once I'm home

It fits in my wife's car and was a symbol of excitement....

 

[bj383ss]

I'm going to say Pontiac! And more detail a G8? Oh wait nevermind it fits in your wife's car. Duh.

Bret

 

[OutlawDrifter]

Well, here we are waiting....

 

[Blackbyrd]

Blamo! More details to come small parenting crysis

 

[wreckdiver1321]

Beauty!

I'm not an American car guy but I love that. Old advertising is pretty sweet.