Above 1200 Sq/FT Finally build my, long needed, shop

[Michael B.]

This afternoon I mounted the LT1 on the run stand.

 

[Michael B.]

Something a little different has caught my eye. I have been interested in flatheads for a while. This one came up on Marketplace at the right price point. It’s locked up and may never run again. But it will make a nice piece of shop art.

I pressure washed it as soon as I got it home today.

 

[SilverJimmy]

If only one side is beyond repair you could make it into a interesting display. Make one bank run and leave the head off the other side. Block off the intake ports under the manifold. Take it to car shows and kids (big and small) will stand and watch all the pieces move for hours!

 

[Michael B.]

If only one side is beyond repair you could make it into a interesting display. Make one bank run and leave the head off the other side. Block off the intake ports under the manifold. Take it to car shows and kids (big and small) will stand and watch all the pieces move for hours!

Not a bad idea. I will keep that in mind.

 

[Michael B.]

In March I bought a cell signal booster at a neighborhood yard sale. It was $10.00 and “ran when parked “ It did not come with the small transformer power supply. With a search of the interwebs and $13.00 shipped, I had one in hand.



March and April were very busy months and not in good way. Yesterday I assembled and tested everything with the shop doors shut. I had very good signal. Even better than all doors open and no booster.

With testing completed it was time for installation. It took 5 hours to find a passage through the exterior wall and an additional hour to complete the installation.

This will pay great dividends in the winters to come.

 

[Michael B.]

Last weekend my HJ45 got a Woody, drive shaft. The original drive shaft was made incorrectly and was causing a vibration. Tom Woods and his crew do excellent work.

 

[Michael B.]

After I finished the Land Cruiser, I started installing the new tilt column and steering wheel in the 68’. I finished the installation today.

 

[Michael B.]

On to the next small project. I bought an OEM spoiler for the S a little while ago. I have been waiting on the weather to R&R it to the correct color. Yesterday I started with this.

 

[Michael B.]

With a small amount of angst, it is finished.

 

[Michael B.]

Installation complete.

 

[Mr.zippy]

Just finished catching up on your build/projects! You did a great job and I would be proud to call that my shop! Love the projects and was glad to see you changed your mind on the 68. I would have had a hard time letting it go. And now it's getting some love, should be a great ride when completed. I Always wanted a S2000 too! Thanks for all the work and information on your thread.

 

[Michael B.]

@Mr.zippy thank you for your kind words. You would probably enjoy driving an S2000. They handle very nicely. I have developed a love hate relationship with the 68’, in a manner of speaking. I love driving it and using it as truck. With the lowered suspension, it has nice low deck, which makes it easy to load and unload. Unlike so many content trucks. But I hate having to work on it. Not that I don’t enjoy the work, I just have so many other things I would rather be working on

 

[Michael B.]

I finished procrastinating this weekend and started the wiring harness work on the LT1. It’s not difficult but it is time consuming. After about 4 hours, I think I’m about 80%.

 

[Michael B.]

The long weekend was a productive one in the shop. I finished removing the metal floor from the bed. Then I started preparing the cab for metal work by stripping it down. The cab is 99% stripped.

 

[Michael B.]

I have run into a minor problem with the LT1. It turns out that I need the corvette accessory mount from the same generation of motor, to allow me to have AC without notching the frame.

 

[Michael B.]

I also had a few packages arrive last week.

 

[captain14]

Progress. Feels good to be working inside your shop. Drop a fastener and don’t have to search through the dirt and gravel.

How many of the fasteners proved to be an issue and had to use brute force to remove?

 

[Michael B.]

Progress. Feels good to be working inside your shop. Drop a fastener and don’t have to search through the dirt and gravel.

How many of the fasteners proved to be an issue and had to use brute force to remove?

Hey Cap’, progress does indeed feel good! A dropped fastener seems to roll further on concrete ;-). I only had 2 to break off. The rest came out without much fuss.

 

[Michael B.]

Another productive weekend on the 56’. Next weekend I hope to get the axels and suspension out from under the frame.

 

[Michael B.]

More pictures from the weekend (they wouldn’t load yesterday)



An unobstructed view of the booster mount.

 

[Michael B.]

Another busy weekend. The frame is just about ready for blasting and paint.

 

[Michael B.]

I practiced my hot glueing skills yesterday.

 

[Michael B.]

Not the most productive weekend, but progress just the same.

Tomorrow evening I will deliver the frame for blasting and paint.

 

[Michael B.]

A friend caught me heading out to deliver the frame for blasting.

 

[plain2car]

nice shop!! love the "decor" ... the trucks are really cool as well. Are you familiar with "the truck board" (67-72 chevytrucks)? if not try to find time to visit, there is a wealth of information for all your trucks there. The LS conversions are daunting to say the least... I just finished a LS swap on my '86 C10 ('13 5.3 suburb) flavor. thank you for the updates and please keep posting!!

 

[Michael B.]

nice shop!! love the "decor" ... the trucks are really cool as well. Are you familiar with "the truck board" (67-72 chevytrucks)? if not try to find time to visit, there is a wealth of information for all your trucks there. The LS conversions are daunting to say the least... I just finished a LS swap on my '86 C10 ('13 5.3 suburb) flavor. thank you for the updates and please keep posting!!

Thanks Plain2car! I am a member of “the truck board”. I struggle with that forum. I won’t go into that, but I acknowledge there is useful information there. How is your 86’ running, are you pleased with the results of your swap? Sometimes I’m tempted to sell my LS and drop a BBC in the GMC and be done with it. Then I drive by the gas station and see the current prices and put my for sale sign away ;-).

 

[plain2car]

Michael, I understand about the board, it can be a little "ruly" sometimes . The '86 is running very good!! I would like to work on the tune a bit... but not easy without having a tuner you know.... overall very pleased, all my experience is carb related so for me & my buddies we all learned ALOT of new things! I do not really keep track of mileage, but I do know that it is overall better then carb, it is a daily driver, but I do a little spirit driving too heading home. next time you visit the site look in the "squarebody builds" and look for "rodstored-72" thread and say "hi". I previously built a '72 C10 that was more show oriented. thanks for the reply and will follow along

 

[Michael B.]

Michael, I understand about the board, it can be a little "ruly" sometimes . The '86 is running very good!! I would like to work on the tune a bit... but not easy without having a tuner you know.... overall very pleased, all my experience is carb related so for me & my buddies we all learned ALOT of new things! I do not really keep track of mileage, but I do know that it is overall better then carb, it is a daily driver, but I do a little spirit driving too heading home. next time you visit the site look in the "squarebody builds" and look for "rodstored-72" thread and say "hi". I previously built a '72 C10 that was more show oriented. thanks for the reply and will follow along

You’re welcome. I will try to look you up on the board.

 

[Michael B.]

I spent the afternoon building a rack to hang parts on while painting. It’s pretty crude, but functional. I used scrap metal I had accumulated, so other than welding supplies, I don’t have any money invested in it. This week I plan to buy wheels for it though.

 

[captain14]

I have used my clothes pole to paint my front porch railings and some other parts. I painted my basement storm windows hanging from the ceiling framing in the garage.

The carpenter who rebuilt my front porch roof liked how I hung the railing up to paint and dry. It was ready for him to install.

I like it. You can take it outside and bring back inside to dry.

 

[Michael B.]

Slow progress, almost ready for reassembly.

 

[Michael B.]

My painter called this week and I bought a new tool for the shop.

 

[Michael B.]

I finished cleaning and painting the rear axle. New brakes and axle bearings are installed. Now it’s loaded and ready for a trip to a local shop for a diff rebuild. I also bolted a few parts on the frame.

The 68’ has a slight port list with the 14 bolt strapped to one side.

 

[Michael B.]

My bride and I celebrated our 33rd anniversary this weekend. We visited a few antique shops in the next town over today. I snagged this cabinet for a reasonable price.




We also found a couple of reminders from our youth.

 

[jollygreengiant]

Congrats on 33 years!

What's your plans for the cabinet, hardware storage?

 

[Michael B.]

Congrats on 33 years!

What's your plans for the cabinet, hardware storage?

Thank you sir. Hardware storage is the plan for the cabinet.

 

[Toolfool]

Congratulations on your anniversary ! I was also a big Tull fan back in the day.

 

[Michael B.]

Congratulations on your anniversary ! I was also a big Tull fan back in the day.

Thanks John!

 

[Michael B.]

I am considering a major tool purchase for the shop. I have been watching with great enthusiasm, the cleaning capabilities of these new laser units. I watched Brent from Halfass Kustoms using the X1Pro unit he has. I was genuinely impressed! I contacted him privately about that unit and he fully endorses it. This unit will also cut and weld. I have a small MIG welder already, but I don’t have anything to cut metal with, that doesn’t involve a blade. And more welding capabilities might come in handy down the road.

Here is the link to the unit I am considering Xlaserlab X1 Pro Laser Welder, Cleaner & Cutter - https://www.xlaserlab.com/products/xlaserlab-x1-pro-laser-welder-cleaner-cutter any constructive input would be appreciated.

 

[Mezz2006]

Laser welding is cool, but it is limited to fairly thin materials. It looks like this unit is good for up to 3mm (1/8") in both welding and cutting. If your plan was to use on thicker material than that, you won't be happy.