Garage workshop restoration - NZ

[Nads]

Hi from the edge of the world. Over the past couple of months I have been turning my grotty old 2 car garage into a workshop for motorcycle and car restoration.

It is basically an el-cheapo wooden framed tin shed built in the 1970's. I did consider knocking it down, but figured I could upgrade at a fraction of the cost and still get what I want.

I have done multiple restorations and projects in this garage - which has ****** all lighting and one power outlet! We have lived in this house for over 10 years and its amazing what you put up with.

Now that I have realized that this is unacceptable, and with a little bit of inspiration from this forum, it is time to get this sorted!!

Here is a few snaps of the starting point (sorry iPhone pics)

The plan is to line the walls, add more lighting and power and put down a decent floor.

Here are a few of the things that need to reside inside

Will update the progress story once I sort the photos out

 

[HOTFR8]

Not seeing any pictures just a red X.

 

[Aussie Mike]

Loving the Yamahas Nads. I moved over from NZ in 1990 and have been a long time Yamaha fan. Still got an XS650 and 2x RZ500s.

Also a big fan of the mk2 Jag. Is it a 3.4 or 3.8?

One of those pics looks like it could be the Cold Kiwi rally. I did that back in about 1989. ****** cold but good fun.

Cheers

Michael

 

[Nads]

Sorry, yep fixed up the photos.

Aussie Mike - I am also a long time Yamaha fan - especially the two strokes. I have an old R5 couple of RD400's and the RZ350. The photo you saw was the Brass Monkey in central Otago - we ended up camping on a foot of snow!

The car is a 1965 Daimler V8. Its the Mk2 Jag body but with the Daimler 2.5 litre hemi. It was a more sedate and up-market version developed following Jag buying Daimler in the early 60's. The V8 is a bit lighter than the straight 6's of the Jag Mk2 and still manages to get along ok!

Cheers

Graham

 

[HSpencer]

It all looks very doable, and the building shows good bones. That center post between the doors appears to need a little beefing up. I say your going to have great success with the job and please keep the thread going and post your progress!!
Cheers

 

[Nads]

Right, have the photo stuff sorted. Here are some progress shots.

I rewired for power points and lights and purchased some 'seconds' ply which I used to line the ceiling and walls (not already covered). The existing linings had a dark stain which made the inside very dark. I removed the grills from the windows as well which has also helped lighten things up.

Then a coat of paint. I had trouble with old stain bleeding through, but eventually found a product to seal this.

 

[Nads]

Now for the latest situation. I have finished the painting and yesterday laid Racedeck on the floor. This has made a big difference to the look and feel. Yet to set tools etc up properly with grinder, drill press and welding gear yet to find a home.

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I have a bunch of wall bling to come but have started with a few things.

.. and eventually decided on where to locate compressor and hose. Not enough ceiling height or wall space.

 

[Bears Fan]

Most Excellent!!!

 

[Aussie Mike]

What a fantastic transformation. Great work!

I like the Daimler V8. They are around here in Aus but not so common. That little V8 motor has a great engine note from memory.

My first bike was a Yamaha YB1, a really early one from about 1974 from memory.
Since then I've had a few others including a YZ490 MXer and an XV1600 Cruiser. I'm a fan of the XS650 and their 2 strokes.

Cheers

Michael

 

[marty_p]

OK... your before, during, and after shots tell an incredible story about one sharp visionary! Great work indeed, sir!

And we all know you've worked on this long hours -- I see a coffee mug in some pics, and longnecks in others!

Keep us posted...

 

[Nads]

And we all know you've worked on this long hours -- I see a coffee mug in some pics, and longnecks in others!

Keep us posted...

Thanks for the comments. Yes it has taken a fair bit of time for sure! I think it would have been easier to bowl it and start again - but it has been fun all the same.

 

[HSpencer]

Among the best restorations I have seen on here! Congratulations!

 

[HOTFR8]

Sorry, yep fixed up the photos.

Thank you.

 

[kfainf]

Fantastic restoration/transformation! The lighting and paint make a huge difference!
Keep up the great work.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

OUT-friggin-STANDING!

Wow, what a difference. GREAT job. The only thing I see that doesn't look quite right is how thin the bench top is. Is it strong enough to pound on a bit?

Everything looks SO different than before! Do you mind if I ask how much that Racedeck set you back for a typical two car?

 

[1/2 Cup]

Well done, keep up the good work

 

[kiwipip]

Congrats its good to see another Kiwi on this forum. The garage is looking great. Where did you get your Race deck from or did you import it directly or is there a local supplier and if so who ?.

 

[BSAschields]

Now thats a refurb I can relate too. Nice vision. Are you on the south island? I spend a month there in 2010 riding BSAs around the island. Wanna come back and do the north island next time.

 

[Nads]

OUT-friggin-STANDING!
The only thing I see that doesn't look quite right is how thin the bench top is. Is it strong enough to pound on a bit?

Everything looks SO different than before! Do you mind if I ask how much that Racedeck set you back for a typical two car?

The bench top is 25mm chipboard used for flooring and seems pretty solid. I don't intend to be bashing stuff on it and is more for working at and set it at 1m high to save my back. I will be bolting a couple of stands to the floor to take big vice and drill press / grinder etc - and might set something up on one of those for hammering jobs.

The race deck I got is the thicker version and was about $7NZ per tile (I think I used about 350) although was a line the distributor is getting out of stocking so was discounted. I would have to wait 4-5 weeks for the standard product otherwise.

 

[Nads]

Congrats its good to see another Kiwi on this forum. The garage is looking great. Where did you get your Race deck from or did you import it directly or is there a local supplier and if so who ?.

Cheers. Got the Racedeck at 'Road and Track' in Lower Hutt.

 

[Nads]

Now thats a refurb I can relate too. Nice vision. Are you on the south island? I spend a month there in 2010 riding BSAs around the island. Wanna come back and do the north island next time.

Good on ya. I am in the North Island. The South Island is definitely riding heaven - especially if you had a month and got some reasonable weather. There is good riding on offer in the North as well so don't be shy in finishing off the job!

p.s. I think the wife is planning on us being in New York for !

 

[55cadillacking]

Sweet as, mate!

Like others have said, just an incredible transformation. Very well thought out and executed.

 

[shopnut]

Aussie Mike - I am also a long time Yamaha fan - especially the two strokes. I have an old R5 couple of RD400's and the RZ350.

Graham

Show us that RZ350 when you get a chance. Kind of a fan of the RZ's myself and just picked up a 500 as a my latest project.

BTW, great work on the garage.

 

[notchy]

Wow, great job on your garage!!! lt looks like a real cool place to hang out and drink beer!!!

 

[orange02ss]

Love the MV!

 

[Nads]

Show us that RZ350 when you get a chance. Kind of a fan of the RZ's myself and just picked up a 500 as a my latest project.

The 500 is the one missing from the collection. Fairly rare and pricey here unfortunately and quite a few Jap imports.

Here is the RZ350 - I am giving it a bit of a birthday at the moment but is fairly mint having only done 17,000 km and last registered in 1986! I picked it up a couple of years ago. Thinking about getting some Jim Lomas pipes for it.

 

[shopnut]

The 500 is the one missing from the collection. Fairly rare and pricey here unfortunately and quite a few Jap imports.

Here is the RZ350 - I am giving it a bit of a birthday at the moment

Since they were never imported into the USA due to exhaust emission issues, the 500's are not that plentiful here either. Most were smuggled in from our northern neighbor (Canada). Now since they are older than 25 years, our government doesn't care about the little bit of pollution they create so registration here is fairly easy.

The 350's on the other hand, were legal to be imported here for 2 years (1984 and 85) and there are quite a few still around. So I'll assume your "birthday" comment on the 350 means a restoration back to factory condition, yes? I've never heard it said like that before, but I like the saying. It looks like it's well on it's way. Good luck with it.

 

[ConCretin]

Wow, what a transformation. Doesn't look like the same place. Excellent work and Congrats. Now get to work

 

[Nads]

I'll assume your "birthday" comment on the 350 means a restoration back to factory condition, yes? I've never heard it said like that before, but I like the saying. It looks like it's well on it's way. Good luck with it.

Thats interesting about the 500's. I caught up with some 2 stroke guys in LA a few years ago and did the Malibu canyon roads on a loaned Kenny Roberts RZ350 (fantastic and very generous) and there were a few of the 500's around too.
Birthday = giving it some attention. Yes its stock and want to keep it that way except for maybe some decent stainless chambers.

Wow, what a transformation. Doesn't look like the same place. Excellent work and Congrats. Now get to work

Thanks - yep - just sorting out tools etc and the trick is to try and keep everything orderly. Already starting to get messy and being such a small footprint I have to think carefully were to locate stuff. The grinder and drill press is my current challenge.

p.s. Your build is FANTASTIC! I spent a few hours on your thread a while back and its what captured me into this forum. Hope the next phase goes well once the weather breaks (and old mate at the bank comes on board!)

 

[Modern Jess]

Well done on the transformation! I do believe you've convinced me to paint the beams in my workshop.

 

[naki kid]

Wellcome to this site Man you have made a difference to the garage good one.what part of NZ do you live in. And that Damler is one nice car. Ray.

 

[Justanoldguy]

Nice work there alright.
Must be the nicest skyline shed in the country.
I have a 20' x 30' one on my property that really needs to look like that..

 

[Nads]

Wellcome to this site Man you have made a difference to the garage good one.what part of NZ do you live in. And that Damler is one nice car. Ray.

Hi Ray - I am based in Wellington. Daimler is very nice and part of the family, bought new by grandfather in 1965 and passed down the line. I restored the body and interior about 5 years ago. Need to attend to engine now, which was part of the motivation to get the garage sorted!

 

[Hotz]

Good work in the garage,
In the past I had ... Good RD 350 motorcycle was stop the problem (bad brakes).
Name of the bike here in Brazil ** Black Widow** : Chocante:

Good Luck



Like this, color black

 

[Nads]

Hey Hotz - yep, the brakes from bikes in the 80's were made from wood.

A bit of an update. The wife got me a couch for my birthday. I figure this is good endorsement to spend more time in the garage!

Also located the drill press and built a utility shelf. Seems to be ok so far.