Logan's Garage

[Unruh]

When I was a kid growing up in Montana, we lived on a small farm. Behind the barn was 4-5 old cars. They were old and rusty and the most amazing things ever. I used to go and mess around on those old cars all the time. Long ago we moved, but I will always remember how much fun my friends and I had there. Two years ago, my wife and I had a baby boy and named him Logan. About 3 months ago I saw a listing on Craigslist for a 1940's ford truck cab and I thought how awesome would that be!! The guy was selling it for $40 because he sold his house and the owners wanted it gone before they moved into the house in under a week.

 

[Unruh]

The floor was pretty rusty and it didn't have any doors. We have a cedar mill down the road that sells 5/4" 6 foot boards for $.99 a piece. Bought some for the floor and doors.

 

[Unruh]

Here is where my plans changed. You can see in the above photo's I have a tarp over the pick-up. I live in Washington and get a little bit of rain. I have a lean-to. I keep my riding mower and other stuff in there. I decided to turn half of it into a garage for my boy. That 2X4 on the ground is where the wall went.

 

[Unruh]

Now I really wanted an engine for him to work on. I thought about using a lawn mower motor or something like that. I decided to try to make one out of wood. My brother recently went and got firewood and came upon a big old fir tree and had a really large round for me. I looked up the dimensions for a 350 motor. Cut out the block, heads, valve covers, intake and carb. Kinda had a little trouble here, seems some good ol boys used this old tree for sighting in their rifles. Spent a lot of time sharping my chainsaw blade during and after.

The engine is put together with different bolts so he will have to use different tools for each part.

 

[HOTFR8]

Now that is clever. Cab looks like a 1948 to me.

 

[Unruh]

Got the walls up and painted the engine. I decided to paint it because some of the wood had some holes in it from bugs and bullets. I used a little putty and went with blue. I have it sitting on a 5 gallon pail to get an idea for the height I'm looking for. I want him to be able to bend over and have pretty easy access to it. I built a bench for the inside. It leans forward and even has a cool hidden space under the seat itself. I also got some gauges. He can twist and turn them and they will stay. Figured 100 MPH was plenty fast. If this was for my daughter it would have a governor on it capping it at 55...lol.

The lights are motion sensor lights from Costco. They put off a ton of light and are pretty easy to adjust. I have them turn off after 10 minutes.

 

[Unruh]

Now that is clever. Cab looks like a 1948 to me.

I think you are right. It has full front window not split, but I wasn't completely sure. You have a good eye!!

 

[Unruh]

Now every Mechanic needs a tool box!! I went back to Craigslist and found a listing for one for $40. It didn't have a badge or emblem on it, guess that makes it a Snap-on!! Actually I think it was a Harbor Freight brand and the owner took off the badge. I found a Binford Tools emblem ebay and thought it was perfect. He really likes watching Cars and Toy Story so I thought the Binford Tools was a good fit. Since he likes watching Cars I also made a Dinico Gasoline Sign for the wall.

Bonus buy with the Tool box. I heard a rattle when loading it and when I got home I took off the bottom drawer and found a Snap-on wrench!! It's a small little 5/16, but a great start for his collection!!!

 

[Unruh]

Getting all caught up. I plan on painting this week and trying to figure out some idea for the floor. But I went to some garage sales this weekend and found some pretty awesome stuff. My dad passed away 25 years ago. Saturday would have been his birthday. He had a few favorite beers, usually the one with the better sale. So I was excited to find an unopened Schmidt and a amazing Oly racing trophy (Those will go in my garage)!! I also picked up the rest of the trophies, they'll look good on shelf area!!

 

[HOTFR8]

I think you are right. It has full front window not split, but I wasn't completely sure. You have a good eye!!

I am right and the dash confirms it. I have a cab just like that in about the same shape.
I also have this AKA - HOTFR-8 >

View media item 34795This is it on a biscuit tin.

Loving what you have done with that cab.

 

[Unruh]

I am right and the dash confirms it. I have a cab just like that in about the same shape.
I also have this AKA - HOTFR-8 >

View media item 34795This is it on a biscuit tin.

Loving what you have done with that cab.

1948 it is then! Looks like your cab is a little bit better shape than Logan's!

 

[HOTFR8]

1948 it is then! Looks like your cab is a little bit better shape than Logan's!

I also have another cab much like that one with no doors and that is why I like what he is doing.

 

[Unruh]

Okay, had an idea to put in a gas pump. Buying one is out of my budget so I made one from wood.

 

[Unruh]

Got the painting all done! Used some extra paint I had sitting in the garage.

 

[Unruh]

I have been asking my friends and family for some license plates. I posted a thing on Facebook and got a ton of plates in the mail. I also have a guy close by that will trade with me to help out my collection.

 

[Unruh]

Thanks everyone who sent PM's wanting to send plates!!! Got them up on the wall, and I think it looks great!

 

[Unruh]

Also built a sign for the wall. I wanted it to look old school, but fun at the same time. Those are different sized bolts holding the letters on. I got them at Habitat for Humanity.

 

[Unruh]

So I got the floor down. It is covered and we had a pretty good rain right after I finished, but everything seemed to stay dry. I'm thinking of putting down the Rust-oleum Rock Solid floor coating. I've seen a couple threads on here where people have done that and have had good success. Any tips?

 

[Unruh]

Okay, got the floor done. I sanded with 80 grit, then used Kills primer. Added non-slip.

 

[Wooden Skye]

All I have to say is really cool project. Hope your son enjoys it.

 

[Unruh]

All I have to say is really cool project. Hope your son enjoys it.

Thanks. He already loves hanging out up there. I have the wood to start finishing the truck front clip and hood. Looking forward to getting it done.

 

[Unruh]

So here in the Pacific Northwest, the rain has been keeping me inside and not much happening on Logan’s Garage. I did build a treehouse a couple of years ago so I thought I’d share that build too.

 

[Unruh]

Our family started watching that show Treehouse Masters and of course I thought “I can do that.”. First I got this picture of these huge Cedar trees and a monster Fir tree behind them. This is the first beam and lower platform.

 

[Unruh]

I had to build stairs up to the platform. It was harder than normal, because that tree desires where you can build. Angles and pitch was tough, but I finally got it close enough for me. Also a look underneath.

 

[Unruh]

We have a cedar mill down the road that sells 6 foot boards for 99 cents. These are what I used for the deck. I had some helpers for this!

 

[Unruh]

Started getting up some walls up.

 

[Unruh]

Got to do some decorating. I wanted to put a tailgate here and have a have it come down and be like a fold up table. My brother had a tailgate and I asked him for the measurements. He told me the numbers and I built the walls to so it would fit. Got the tailgate and it wasn’t even close. So I made this sign to go in the space. My daughter is a huge Bigfoot fan. I also wanted a cool window, at my local boneyard I found this VW bus door and thought perfect.

 

[Unruh]

Added a swing and a hidden room.

 

[Unruh]

Put some homemade art above the hidden room. There is a peephole there so my daughter can look out at everyone. Also I built a loft and added some bunks for my daughters dolls.

 

[Unruh]

Pictures of the outside. I still need to paint it. Everyone loves it when they come visit!

 

[Unruh]

Alright back to work on Logan’s Garage.

 

[sean Buick 76]

Super cool tree house! I had a blast in mind as a kid!!

 

[HOTFR8]

Great to see an update.

 

[Unruh]

Super cool tree house! I had a blast in mind as a kid!!

Yeah, me too! My daughter is getting older, 13, and I’m thinking of putting in a camera and voice. If she tries taking some boy back there I can say something along the lines, “Remember, whatever you do to her, I’m going to do to you”.

 

[drivesitfar]

Unruh: sorry i missed this thread when you started it, but happy i just saw the updates now. great projects you've done for your kids and you are shooting for DAD OF THE YEAR with all he points you've got just in those 2 projects. WOW!!

pretty clever idea making your son his own garage and making him a truck out of an old classic with all the cool cedar and wood additions.

I watch Treemasters too and i think you have some cool things in your treehouse that even he hasn't built into his. WELL DONE!

how's your garage look if you might want to share a few pictures?

keep up the great work and i bet your kids are happy to have you as their dad and i bet they smile A LOT!!

 

[Unruh]

Unruh: sorry i missed this thread when you started it, but happy i just saw the updates now. great projects you've done for your kids and you are shooting for DAD OF THE YEAR with all he points you've got just in those 2 projects. WOW!!

pretty clever idea making your son his own garage and making him a truck out of an old classic with all the cool cedar and wood additions.

I watch Treemasters too and i think you have some cool things in your treehouse that even he hasn't built into his. WELL DONE!

how's your garage look if you might want to share a few pictures?

keep up the great work and i bet your kids are happy to have you as their dad and i bet they smile A LOT!!

Thanks for stopping by! I was thinking of posting some photos of my garage this weekend. I don’t have a lot of before pictures, I wish I did. Within the last year I really started cleaning and organizing, thanks Garage Journal, and have enjoyed my area so much more.

 

[Unruh]

So I thought maybe I’d post some pictures of my garage. Gotta tell you, I’m kind of intimidated by by all these other amazing workspaces, but here is some of my humble space. 5 years ago we moved into a older house. It was bank owned and in rough shape. We showed pictures to my Mother and she actually prayed we wouldn’t get it...lol.

First picture is by the garage doors. I have my garden/yard tools here against the wall. I also had a window that the previous owner previously removed and sided over. I used the void to add some quick shelves. I recently bought a bandsaw and built a retro stand. A month later the guy I bought the band saw from called and said he had a lathe he wanted to sell as well.

Second picture, you can see my compressor and some of my wife’s storage. My toolbox as well. My Dad has a Snapon, my brother got that. I’ve tried saving for one of my own, but keep dipping into the piggy bank for other tools. It gets the job done, but I will trade it out.

 

[Unruh]

Better picture of my Kobalt toolbox and the standard garage freezer. You can see my clamp rack. Learning from other people on Garge Journal, I built in room for adding more clamps.

Here is the workbench. It’s a little over 15 feet long and that may be the cleanest it has ever been. I recently oiled and sanded it. It was pretty bad shape.

 

[lakeroadster]

Really innovative idea on Logan's truck. Thanks for sharing

 

[Unruh]

Toolbox tour!!!!!

Let’s get it out of the way first. I use the Craftsman socket holders (I can already hear grumbling from everyone). I like them, but my OCD wants those holes filled.

***Update!!!**** I have filled all the holes. I can sleep at night!!!