Kiwi Kev's backyard Hot Rod Shop.
- Thread starter Kiwi Kev
- Start date
Jason@NamelessPerformance
New member
I'm at full tilt sensory overload after the first page. So many great ideas included in this shop.
+1
+1
wagonmaster
Well-known member
Me too! My friends and I wrote the "name" mfgs in the fifties for decals, etc. and nearly all supplied us with at least one each!! Mine were on my mirror (not a good choice) and it was broken in the sixties when relocating....Still have a few, but not nearly your equal. Have some OCIR/Lions/Irwindale class winner stickers/decals from back in the day, and trophies to go with them! Glad I didn't throw out the trophies as I was "encouraged" to!!
selohssa
Well-known member
DANNNNNGGG! Very cool stuff. Thanks for sharing.
PhilR1957
Well-known member
What a great shop. Thank you for sharing. This brings back so many memories of hanging out in my Uncles Garage in the 60's. I hope you don't mind that I used one of your photos as a desk top, and several as my screen saver. Please keep the photos coming.
72camaro350
New member
Awesome Hot Rod garage kev 
TexasSpeed
Member
No offense taken.. But, I just wanted to make a point that we were all once 24 years old. You were too. I'm not 24 yet, I'm still only 22 years old, but I love this hobby. Much like Kiwi Kev, I spend more time on the HAMB than I do here.. I occasionally pop onto here to lust at some of the garages. I came across this thread and I was literally saving every picture on here so I could look at them later on.. And day dream..
I just don't understand how you would think it is refreshing to see that this garage is owned by a graybeard and not some "24 year old punk." I may be 22 years old, but I absolutely love Kiwi Kev's garage! If I could pick any garage to have, and all of its contents, this would be my first choice! Of course.. Vern Tardell's garage would be a close second.
I have a fair share of vintage steel myself, but nothing comparable to Kiwi Kev's inventory. I do hope one day to have this much stuff.. My imagination runs wild for such long periods of time that it would be nice to have an inventory to match it!
Again, no offense taken.. I just wanted to remind you that you were 24 years old at one point. Kiwi Kev too. And some day, I'll be a graybeard myself. But the only way this hobby can keep going is if guys like you do encourage younger guys like me to wrench on these cars.
Sorry for the mini-hijack. Keep posting pictures, please!!
I think Vern Tardel's shop is what I would consider heaven on earth. My place compared to that is like comparing .......hell, I don't know, there is just no comparison. I have seen many, many shops that I would rather have than mine. I am very happy with mine because when I was 24 I had nothing and built my previous Willys coupe on my mother in laws driveway. A one car garage would have been a dream come true.
Last edited:
Dan in Pasadena
Well-known member
I can't respond for Bob but I can for myself as a 55 year old. As a 20-something year old I WANTED a garage like Kev's but if I'd had it, it would have been because "Daddy handed it to me". IMHO, that's NOT the way to get things and I also think it does not allow the owner to ever have the satisfaction of knowing the hard work, the scrimping and saving it takes to "realize a dream" (corny as that sounds). I suspect that Kev worked HARD for every bit of what he's got.
I suspect you will too, TexasSpeed. I think that is all that was meant. I love it that youn men continue to love the hotrod hobby. I'd never fault a young guy having these kinds of things if he worked hard for them and appreciated them. Provided he didn't do it by neglecting responsibilities like a wife or child. But if he doesn't have a wife or child? Go for it! This isn't a dress rehearseal; it's all we get. You've got to make the most of it.
Dan in Pasadena
Well-known member
Dan in Pasadena
Well-known member
BTW, Went over to the HAMB searching for a "Vern Tardell" and can't find that user name. What's his screen name? I've GOT to see his garage!
TexasSpeed
Member
That makes sense. My dad had a tough work ethnic, raised me, and that rubbed off on me. I can understand how it would be unpleasing for a bunch of goodies to go to someone who has no appreciation for it. I know someone (not dropping any names) who gave his high school grandson a nice effie and he rolled it over. Guess what he got next. A nice '39 Chevy Sedan.
I do get that feeling when I see someone hand his kid a real nice car and he has no appreciation for it. I was that way once with my truck, a '68 Chevrolet. I know.. I sound like a hypocrite, but after replacing the rear end, entire front end, motor, transmission, etc.. I eventually learned to appreciate it and work for it. Everything else I have, I've earned. Of course I also learned from my dad how to look for all the good deals and figure out what's good and what's not.
I guess you could say he was giving me a rough canvas and teaching me how to paint right.
Kiwi Kev.. You built a Willy's gasser when you were 24? Man. I'm building a Model A. I definitely envy you! I would love to come look at your garage one day, if I ever make my way out to California.
Not to sound weird or anything, but you kinda look like Mark Wahlberg in that picture!
I do get that feeling when I see someone hand his kid a real nice car and he has no appreciation for it. I was that way once with my truck, a '68 Chevrolet. I know.. I sound like a hypocrite, but after replacing the rear end, entire front end, motor, transmission, etc.. I eventually learned to appreciate it and work for it. Everything else I have, I've earned. Of course I also learned from my dad how to look for all the good deals and figure out what's good and what's not.
I guess you could say he was giving me a rough canvas and teaching me how to paint right.
Kiwi Kev.. You built a Willy's gasser when you were 24? Man. I'm building a Model A. I definitely envy you! I would love to come look at your garage one day, if I ever make my way out to California.
Not to sound weird or anything, but you kinda look like Mark Wahlberg in that picture!
Last edited:
In the early 80's I rented a room in a house on Cota St in Santa Barbara and it only had a gravel driveway. I still remember wrestling the Dana 60 rearend into it on the gravel. The only tools I owned were in that toolbox and it was only half full. ( I know, sounds like a Monty Python sketch ).
N8
Well-known member
Kev,
Next time your in Vegas you can stop by my shop and help me "decorate"!
Note to self: I need more stickers.....
p.s. _ Not to add to any drama but not all us young punks have everything handed to them by Daddy or Mommy. Some of us bust *** 16 hrs a day for every red cent, nut and bolt we own.
Keep the pictures rolling Kiwi Kev.
Next time your in Vegas you can stop by my shop and help me "decorate"!
Note to self: I need more stickers.....
p.s. _ Not to add to any drama but not all us young punks have everything handed to them by Daddy or Mommy. Some of us bust *** 16 hrs a day for every red cent, nut and bolt we own.
Keep the pictures rolling Kiwi Kev.
Last edited:
fordcragar
Well-known member
Very cool garage tour, thanks for sharing!!
raider65
Member
Simply Freaking Awesome!!
I am a very thrifty (Cheapass) guy. Seeing my old half full tool box got me thinking about how I got to the point I'm at and I concluded that if you live in the USA you should easily be able to put a full workshop together. Between yard sales, swap meets, helpful friends, some home made stuff and some new purchases I figured that I have less than $3,500 in all of my machinery. That is spread out over twenty something years. I never seem to have money to buy the stuff I would really like but I pick up what I can when I can.
Yard Sales.....The following is stuff I have picked up at local yard sales over the years. I have had to clean up and paint some of this. A few repairs too.
Delta drill press....$100
Craftsman belt sander...$10
Large metal cutting band saw. This thing is completely home made, must have been built by a crazy person. Works bitchen!...$200
South Bend lathe and tooling....$100
Got the frame at a HF sale for $35 but the power hydraulic unit was a $10 yard sale purchase.
Allen distributor machine....$20
The pedastal grinder was $40. I paid $50 for the riveter thinking I could maybe adapt my shrinker/stretcher to it in the future.
The rolling cart was given to me and I added the steel top. The Simplex vice was a $5 yard sale purchase.
Most of this came from yard sales, $5-$20.
Same with these, many for $1 each.
Yard Sales.....The following is stuff I have picked up at local yard sales over the years. I have had to clean up and paint some of this. A few repairs too.
Delta drill press....$100
Craftsman belt sander...$10
Large metal cutting band saw. This thing is completely home made, must have been built by a crazy person. Works bitchen!...$200
South Bend lathe and tooling....$100
Got the frame at a HF sale for $35 but the power hydraulic unit was a $10 yard sale purchase.
Allen distributor machine....$20
The pedastal grinder was $40. I paid $50 for the riveter thinking I could maybe adapt my shrinker/stretcher to it in the future.
The rolling cart was given to me and I added the steel top. The Simplex vice was a $5 yard sale purchase.
Most of this came from yard sales, $5-$20.
Same with these, many for $1 each.
Last edited:
Thank's buddy!
Here are a few swap meet buys....
$40 drill press.
$50 regulators, hoses,torch etc.
I stepped up for the anvil, $200, I had wanted one for so long.
From friends.....
Belt sander, trade.
Break,$40. Slip roll, $100, Pexto roller, trade. All mounted to mobile cart.
Miller Dialarc HF-P tig machine, Trade.
Free from friends, floor jack and engine stand.
Got top brake in a trade, bottom half is a home made radius brake.
This bolts to the floor when needed. The tools were all bought new. Williams tube notcher, Williams shrinker and stretcher, JD Squared tube bender and HF bender.
Power bead roller was also bought new, my biggest purchase aside from my Pow Con mig, tig, stick welder. The HF manual bead roller bolted to the top was given to me by a friend. It gave me a few more die options.
Snap On stuff is out of my budget but I got this box used from a Snap On dealer years ago when I did a bunch of work on his project car. I bought 3 of those work benches for $40 when a Mercury dealership was torn down. The bench grinder is a super smooth old Baldor $20 yard sale purchase.
Here are a few swap meet buys....
$40 drill press.
$50 regulators, hoses,torch etc.
I stepped up for the anvil, $200, I had wanted one for so long.
From friends.....
Belt sander, trade.
Break,$40. Slip roll, $100, Pexto roller, trade. All mounted to mobile cart.
Miller Dialarc HF-P tig machine, Trade.
Free from friends, floor jack and engine stand.
Got top brake in a trade, bottom half is a home made radius brake.
This bolts to the floor when needed. The tools were all bought new. Williams tube notcher, Williams shrinker and stretcher, JD Squared tube bender and HF bender.
Power bead roller was also bought new, my biggest purchase aside from my Pow Con mig, tig, stick welder. The HF manual bead roller bolted to the top was given to me by a friend. It gave me a few more die options.
Snap On stuff is out of my budget but I got this box used from a Snap On dealer years ago when I did a bunch of work on his project car. I bought 3 of those work benches for $40 when a Mercury dealership was torn down. The bench grinder is a super smooth old Baldor $20 yard sale purchase.
Last edited:
shovel
Well-known member
Hey Kev, Thanks for sharing. I, too, am digging your shop, tools and projects. I appreciate you taking the time to post the pics and expanations. I really like that you have put together such a wonderful collection on a budget. It takes time to hunt down good bargains. Right now, I dont know which is tighter, time or money. Please keep posting! I NEED that inspiration.
N8
Well-known member
Kev,
Have you, or would you be interested in doing some tech write ups on some of the tools you have made.
What are your base sizes for the frame jig? What is the size of the I beams? What is the weight spec of the casters?
Pure genius.
Have you, or would you be interested in doing some tech write ups on some of the tools you have made.
What are your base sizes for the frame jig? What is the size of the I beams? What is the weight spec of the casters?
Pure genius.
N8.....I have done home made tool threads on the H.A.M.B. I don't really want to spend time doing that again The frame jig would be longer if I had the choice. I built that so long ago that I can't remember where I got the material but it was probably left over from a job of some kind. The OD of my jig is 48"x33". The I beam measures 8"X6 1/2". It doesn't matter what size the I beam is really. You could make a nice frame jig from 3" I beam if you brace it properly, 3" tubing for that matter. Weight spec of the casters? Beats me. You soon figure out if they are too small.
N8
Well-known member
Thanks Kev. I'll check them out over there.
airbassador
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 13, 2009
- Messages
- 58
Whatever. You'll have to get my *** off of it first!
Homebody
Well-known member
Damn!! And they say Disney World is the Happiest Place on Earth?? 
Dan in Pasadena
Well-known member
So Kev,
What's your history with projects for yourself? I mean, I know you probably sell one to finance another. I think most guys that aren't truly affluent do that. But sometimes one car/truck stays with us longer for various reasons: we fall in love with it, other things in our lives get in the way of selling/starting a new project. In your case its obvious you got interrupted a lot building OTHER guy's dream cars. But your pictures above of building the '56 Chevy when you were a kid reminded me of the '55 2 door hardtop Belair I had as a 16 year old. My Dad bought it new and gave it to me. I made it nice (on a 16-17 yr old's part time job pay) an gave it back to him so I could buy a '66 Chevy Van (WTF?! lol) Man, I kick myself thinking of that car. He sold it for (get this) $450! A 2 door hardtop Belair, original owner car!! GAWD, that KILLS me.
What's your history with projects for yourself? I mean, I know you probably sell one to finance another. I think most guys that aren't truly affluent do that. But sometimes one car/truck stays with us longer for various reasons: we fall in love with it, other things in our lives get in the way of selling/starting a new project. In your case its obvious you got interrupted a lot building OTHER guy's dream cars. But your pictures above of building the '56 Chevy when you were a kid reminded me of the '55 2 door hardtop Belair I had as a 16 year old. My Dad bought it new and gave it to me. I made it nice (on a 16-17 yr old's part time job pay) an gave it back to him so I could buy a '66 Chevy Van (WTF?! lol) Man, I kick myself thinking of that car. He sold it for (get this) $450! A 2 door hardtop Belair, original owner car!! GAWD, that KILLS me.
chicane
Well-known member
One word...awesome.
Dan in Pasadena.....When I take on a project for myself it is never done with selling in mind. I tend to take a long time building so the expense is spread out. I have mostly sold cars to finance things other than the next car project. I just sold my roadster pickup so I can get a new roof on my house before next winter. I will use some of the money to buy a few big items for my Willys build also. I would love to throw some money at a build but I have 2 daughters in college so that's no going to happen.
Here are a few pics of another roadster pickup that I built several years ago for myself just for fun. Only spent $600 building it.
Here are a few pics of another roadster pickup that I built several years ago for myself just for fun. Only spent $600 building it.
Last edited:
Justanoldguy
Well-known member
Kev.
I see you as a future film star .. lol
http://www.nz-hotrod.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=5459
I see you as a future film star .. lol
http://www.nz-hotrod.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=5459
Grizz1963
Well-known member
Continues to be one of my fave threads this.
I love the Dog shaped helper.
I used to have a large Standard Poodle who was always around me in the garage.
You do turn out beauties Kev.
I love the Dog shaped helper.
I used to have a large Standard Poodle who was always around me in the garage.
You do turn out beauties Kev.
Dan in Pasadena
Well-known member
Kev, I COMPLETELY relate. I finished two kids in college at the same time 2 years ago. My son went to Cal State and did great but my daughter went to UCLA and then USC Gould Law School....so you know why I'm poor. She's got a great job as an attorney for Disney and she's paying her own Law School loans but I'm STILL paying off their undergrad debt. I'm glad to do it, but still it crimps the hell out of building cars.
Love that roadster truck. Do you/did you ever go full boat and do detailed out shiny paint?
chris bsopke
Active member
Kev a huge thanks for starting this thread , what a cool shop you have and the best bit ,it's one that gets used 
Cheers Chris Bspoke
Cheers Chris Bspoke
birdman1
Well-known member
Awesome shop... I love all the signs and pumps--great collection and all in a working shop.
later, Mike
Dan in Pasadena
Well-known member
I thought of you today Kev - actually many times.
I went to the Rose Bowl Flea Market and a guy was selling a 3 ft diameter yellow and blue NAPA baseball cap "sign". Not a flat round sign but a giant replica ballcap that I seem to remember bolted onto the top of a delivery truck. I could see it hanging on a wall in your shop are with a light under it in the night. Only wanted $30 for it too!
I went to the Rose Bowl Flea Market and a guy was selling a 3 ft diameter yellow and blue NAPA baseball cap "sign". Not a flat round sign but a giant replica ballcap that I seem to remember bolted onto the top of a delivery truck. I could see it hanging on a wall in your shop are with a light under it in the night. Only wanted $30 for it too!