Hot Rod fab shop.

[MFC]

Hi. My name is Andrew. I recently purchased an old 40x60 2 story antique/craft shop with plans to convert it into a metal fab shop. Its located just outside Long Sault, Ontario, On 1acre of land.
The building was built in the early 70s, and has many renovations done inside and out over the years. The coolest being the 3/4s wrap around porch. Which is wide enough to drive cars under! Some of the bad renos include inside walls that are 18" thick and lack of proper beams/posts under floor joists.
Ill post pictures as I go through the building doing the renovations.
Ive been lurking on here for awhile to get some ideas and there have been some great builds!

 

[richtersrodz]

Can't wait to see some pictures.. sounds cool.

 

[Big-Foot]

Good luck with the new adventure Andrew!

 

[MFC]

Rough cut pine and welding don't mix too well so as cool as it looks alot of this will have to come down and be used upstairs and in the store. More pix to follow.
My plan is to remove some of the second level in order to be able to put the hoist in and eventually be able to drive through the building.

I want to completely close off the upstairs and have a two door system to access it in order to make it dust free.
One side will be an office, kitchen/tv room and eventually a second washroom with a shower.The other side will be storage and wood shop.

The main floor will have store(11x32) a general work area which includes the drive through and hoist(28x40), a clean room for assembly (13x21), a tool room/carb room and the welding/fab room (16x21). A washroom and furnace/compressor room.

The building originally had tons of small rooms. There is so much lumber in here I doubt I will need to purchase anything except screws!

But the first thing to do is get a band and have a party!

 

[Pate]

Awesome space! Can't wait to see the progress!

 

[MFC]

Some more pix of the store entrance and clean room. The big multi pane window under the peak in the front is coming out. There is a framed 6x6 -12x14' door opening in there.

 

[MFC]

Main floor. Peg board everywhere!

 

[MFC]

Some upstairs shots.

 

[MFC]

How do you post pictures not as an attachment?

and thanks for the positive comments and warm welcome!

 

[Pate]

Host them online on a site like photobucket and use the

 

[NASTYZEN]

Welcome!
Long Sault is a beautiful place.
Your right, more of a party, show off your collection kind of set up right now.
You have your work cut out for you t'ill it's fire safe!
Will be keeping an eye on this one.

 

[Toolfool]

Cool place with great potential ! Does look like it would go up in smoke with one spark.

 

[MFC]

Cool place with great potential ! Does look like it would go up in smoke with one spark.

No kidding!!

 

[MFC]

Party done and out of the way. Great time was had by all. My 10 year old daughter got up and played guitar with the band!
Looks like it will become an annual event maybe with a cruise night.

Can't wait to tear into the place!

 

[MacmanSW20]

Thats an awesome space! Look forward to seeing the progress!

 

[MaleMan]

....... WOW Amaizing

 

[Kevin54]

Just a tad jealous here. You got a cool place, you got room for a band. you got a whole bunch of hunnies in there, and gonna make it an annual thing with a Cruise-In.

I have dead grass, can't play a musical instrument, don't know a band, you don't wanna know the hunnies I know, and my garage only has an 8' ceiling.

(Now where's that damn smiley that walks along kicking up dirt?)

Great place you have for sure What do you plan on fabbing up? Any pics? And its it going to be a fab shop with items to sell or just for personal pleasure?

 

[KULIWOBBY]

This is going to be cool!

 

[MFC]

Thanks for all the positive comments!

Started ripping the place apart.

A big thanks to my buddy Bob who spent the day jack hammering the solid concrete wood stove mantle.

Took out the front window and made some barn doors under its header to start moving stuff in. I have alot of stuff. No... way too much stuff!

 

[MFC]

The majority of the work I do is on customer vehicles. I have some really interesting projects coming up. I have primarily been doing muscle cars with the odd pre 55 car but I am going to concentrate on doing early stuff now. I don't do body work just the frames/ suspension and sheetmetal etc..
Ill post some pix of the new projects.

 

[uniballer]

Thanks for all the positive comments!

Started ripping the place apart.

A big thanks to my buddy Rob who spent the day jack hammering the solid concrete wood stove mantle.

Took out the front window and made some barn doors under its header to start moving stuff in. I have alot of stuff. No... way too much stuff!

no such thing as too much tools, now junk is different.

 

[HOTFR8]

Looking froward to seeing more of this.

 

[MFC]

Big day! Removed some of the railings and rough cut pine boards on the main floor. Cut the 2nd floor out to allow for the hoist and drive through. The flooring and floor joists will be used to build the 2nd floor at the front door. I won't be losing any floor space. I hate nails!!!

The window is out and barn doors are in. Not big enough but wide enough to bring vehicles in.

Sorry about the couple of bad pics, too tired! LOL

 

[Scuderia-F1]

Subscribed, I´m sure this is going to be one cool shop!

 

[MFC]

Moved half of the stuff in. I'm really glad I have an upstairs!

Moved the set of stairs from the front room to the main shop so it would be easier to get stuff upstairs.

I think I will do away with the tool room and use the space to make the fab room and assembly rooms bigger.

Every time I take a wall down there is a new mystery.

 

[MFC]

More pix

 

[gotfromfrance]

this is a really cool garage
I like the "vintage wood spirit"
a good place to do some good work

 

[don long]

Are you sure the place will be big enough???
looks like you have plenty of stuff to fill it with lol.
Good luck I'll be watching so post lots of pic's
Don

 

[MFC]

this is a really cool garage
I like the "vintage wood spirit"
a good place to do some good work

Thanks!
It definitely has that vibe.

 

[MFC]

Are you sure the place will be big enough???
looks like you have plenty of stuff to fill it with lol.
Good luck I'll be watching so post lots of pic's
Don

And I just found out the building used to be twice the size but it was removed years ago. I'm disappointed and relieved!

 

[e-tek]

I have dead grass, can't play a musical instrument, don't know a band, you don't wanna know the hunnies I know, and my garage only has an 8' ceiling.

(Now where's that damn smiley that walks along kicking up dirt?)

Kevin - you're funny!!


As per everyone else's comments - WOW!

Great find for a shop - and lotsa land too. Can't wait to see some of your builds too!

 

[MFC]

Started construction on the second level. The plan is to frame in under the second floor to create a store area and to be able to remove the 20ft beam and 3 posts to allow for the width of the hoist. That side will be the same width as the new part. Then frame in the upstairs for my office,kitchen and lounge area.

It looks like the big window from the front will fit upstairs.

 

[MFC]

I just picked up a new shop truck.
1929 Rugby Durrant

The majority of the cabs wooden frame is rotten. It should make for a good challenge! It has full rear fenders and a 2 speed rearend.

It runs. Im too sure about the mechanical brakes?

Hot Rod it or original....

 

[cyamaha2007]

Sweet shop i vote keep the looks original with modern drivetrain.

 

[bobadame]

What an incredible space you have found! I'll be watching the transition.

 

[don long]

A 29 durrant truck
I didn't know that existed
I have a 28 durrant 4 door sedan
I think they look cool
Should make a distinctive shop truck
good luck

Don

 

[MFC]

From what I have figured out so far it is a Canadian built truck.

 

[MFC]

I just winging this project. I have a plan but no specific order. I think I have changed my mind regarding a number of things multiple times.

So I made a decision about the stairs. I took out the nice railings and removed all the pine. I took the temporary stairs that we put up and installed them where the other stairs were. Started to frame them it as well. I was shocked to see how much space was gained!

I wanted a central location between the two major work areas for all the hand tools. I was going to have a tool room in the center but it was a wasted space.

Im going to tackle the foot and half thick walls next to see what mysteries they hold!

 

[MFC]

A 29 durrant truck
I didn't know that existed
I have a 28 durrant 4 door sedan
I think they look cool
Should make a distinctive shop truck
good luck

Don

Hey Don! Have you ever seen one of these?
Another new project. 1939 Diamond T

 

[MFC]

The driveway/parking lot was 150' wide with full access to the road. It has served as a turn around for local traffic for years. To get some privacy and have a more finished look to front landscape, we are putting a curb along the property line and from it to the shoulder a small ditch and some topsoil/grass seed.

Today was the first day I walked across the road to check the place out. It looks pretty cool up on the hill.

More pix tomorrow of the concrete repairs done inside.