Mark's Monster Garage....3800 sq ft

[cragdragon]

Not even sure how I stumbled across this thread, I think it had something to do with garage floors, but DAMN! It's taken me days to wade through all the comments, pictures, and links! Fascinating stuff! Thanks for sharing? I think...

 

[IGO2XS]

Man I hate it when I missed the party

I wanted to try to respond to everyone but after I got halfway through I decided it would be too long of a post. Thank you everyone for posting and being a part of this thread. Thank you Steves_001 for skillfully answering the paint questions.

It was another full weekend in the garage. I worked both days and about 9 pm Sunday night the owner of the Corvette showed up and stayed until about 10:30.

You all of seen this garage develop and take on a life of its own. I can honestly say without the garage I would not be in this position as it gave me an opportunity to live a dream filled with cars and projects.......be careful what you wish for!! I can honestly tell you there has never been a plan. Right now I am smack dab in the location fate has put me.

These are just a few random thoughts I am sharing with my buddies here on GJ. We have a business I have grown up in and it has been quite satisfying for me over the years. Actually it has been a full time job as I have chosen to be a owner/ operator as a hands on guy. Now what......two jobs All I can say is its a good thing I like what I do!!

November 2013 we are planning a car show. It will be primarily Corvettes but I am sure it will develop into more. You local Florida guys keep your calendars open. Hopefully we will have some of you out of state guys in town also!!!

 

[zrides]

I thought I had a pretty cool Garage, yours is truly amazing!! Great Job, and great job on the resto's. I have a 72 Chevelle fully restored myself, so I can truly appreciate the works of art you are churning out of your shop. Keep it up!

 

[e-tek]

Holy cow - what a catch-up!!

The Chevelle is STUNNING. Perfect stance, colors and I love the chrome W/O trim! Did the customer want shoulder belts or is it a law? Those are gonna be damn uncomfortable coming across under the shoulder like that - no?

The Vette paint is WICKED. Someone block sanded their *** off! Your painter is a real pro for sure - but I bet his forearm hairs will be sticky for days! He really should wear a suit - to keep his hair and skin flakes out of the paint and to keep the paint and solvents out of his body.

Looking forward to the Vette buildup Mark - you're making showcars - quickly!

 

[Speedfreak5150]

Hi just wondering if you could post floorplans of the house so we could get a idea about the size and layout of the house

 

[ZRX61]

Newbie questions:
1) you can paint, tape, and clear all in same day?

If the painter has a decent crew doing everything but shooting paint he can do 4 cars in a 12hour day (provided more than one booth). I've easily done 2 without rushing things.. & if you're getting paid $350 each just to shoot the paint it's even better

 

[ZRX61]

30 inch front tire, air ride bagger!! I guess this is the "in" bike right now.

On what planet??

 

[Fastphil]

Holy cow - what a catch-up!!

The Chevelle is STUNNING. Perfect stance, colors and I love the chrome W/O trim! Did the customer want shoulder belts or is it a law? Those are gonna be damn uncomfortable coming across under the shoulder like that - no?

I drive a convertible, but my belt does come out just below the window sill, maybe a couple inches higher than this Chevelle. I am quite tall though (6' 8"), so it looks like a normal person would have the same setup in that Chevelle as I do in my Mustang. It's not uncomfortable at all. The only thing is that sometimes the belt between the shooulder and the car will flap in the wind, the way the straps on a flatbed truck flap in the wind, only with less tension. Mildly annoying, but it'll never ruin the experience of driving with the top down!

 

[VMX42]

Tony was back today to work on the dash. He asked me for the front window seal so he could build the front piece of the new dash. He spent a few hours getting this front piece cut and contoured around the base of the windshield. He then used duraglass to attach all of the wood together and to help mold shapes.




Here is a better picture of the front of the dash after today's work. There will be a center console that will come off the dash and down the center of the car. And yep, the race car is going to have some killer subwoofers in the back.


[/QUOTE]

Hey Mark,
Any updates on the dash construction?

You know we're waiting.... ;-)

Thanks
Jeff

 

[IGO2XS]

I thought I had a pretty cool Garage, yours is truly amazing!! Great Job, and great job on the resto's. I have a 72 Chevelle fully restored myself, so I can truly appreciate the works of art you are churning out of your shop. Keep it up!

Thanks. I checked out your garage too. Its really nice and you have some cool cars too!

Holy cow - what a catch-up!!

The Chevelle is STUNNING. Perfect stance, colors and I love the chrome W/O trim! Did the customer want shoulder belts or is it a law? Those are gonna be damn uncomfortable coming across under the shoulder like that - no?

The Vette paint is WICKED. Someone block sanded their *** off! Your painter is a real pro for sure - but I bet his forearm hairs will be sticky for days! He really should wear a suit - to keep his hair and skin flakes out of the paint and to keep the paint and solvents out of his body.

Thanks e-tek. Appreciate the compliment on the stance. I was really nervous on that part. With a little luck and alot of measuring we got it right. My buddy wanted the shoulder belts on the car. They are slightly awkward but they feel OK while driving. You know exactly the time spent on blocking and sanding........200 hours about to guess at it. He does not like to wear suits and there is not much I can do about it. You know some of these guys with 35 years of experience just wont change their ways.

Hi just wondering if you could post floorplans of the house so we could get a idea about the size and layout of the house

Maybe some day I will slip in a few pictures of the inside

On what planet??

Not the 30" tire but baggers are in.

Mildly annoying, but it'll never ruin the experience of driving with the top down!

Agree..... thanks for the comment.

Hey Mark,
Any updates on the dash construction?

You know we're waiting.... ;-)

Thanks
Jeff

Jeff, thanks for asking. This project is still going backwards We had some time to break away from the interior and start working on the body. Because we found so much inferior workmanship in the rest of the car we decided we would strip the back half of the car. Wow what a mess. They had welded sheet metal over sheet metal. Tomorrow I am going to be ordering new Goodmark Quarter panels. We also found they had used a trailer wiring harness to wire the rear lights.



I am also in the middle of the never ending organize the garage. Right now I have plastic Home Depot organizing boxes for all of the nuts and bolts. They are stacked on each other and it seems like the box I wanted was always on the bottom. I have hooked up with a fastener company and made a pretty healthy initial purchase. They have hooked me up with some Durham Boxes and will be getting a delivery tomorrow. It will probably take us a few days to get it set up.

I did pick up some tool boxes today to organize all parts.

 

[IGO2XS]

Hmmmmmm.....how do we take a 1971 Corvette, add a 1980 nose, add 68 side vents, widen the already wide rear flairs to cover the massive rear tires, add 4" wide flairs made for the rear on the front, raise an already tall L88 hood 4 more inches? Well, we are not really sure but hang around and you'll see! Oh, did a mention a 598 cu in 920 hp Scott Shafiroff big block!

We have officially started this project as of today. While we are waiting for the rear quarters for the Nova we thought we would blow the dust off this project and see what we can stir up.

 

[hpw]

Dam....so much suckage going on in this thread

 

[Buzz Lightyear]

Can you please slow down a bit. You're tiring me out!!

 

[kered]

......... They have hooked me up with some Durham Boxes and will be getting a delivery tomorrow. It will probably take us a few days to get it set up.

Please post up some pictures of the finished project.

I did pick up some tool boxes today to organize all parts.

Some pics of the stocked drawers when you have them filled would be great too.

You see, much and all as I thoroughly enjoy all the updates on the various car projects, I'm also a big fan of garage & workshop organisation, so I really do like to see as many pictures & details on the various work areas, benches, parts storage & toolboxes etc in the garage. I'm always studying the backgrounds of all the pictures you post on the cars, so see what way you have the garage set up.

So any & all pictures of toolboxes, benches, storage areas etc, that you feel like posting up are most welcome

 

[IGO2XS]

Can you please slow down a bit. You're tiring me out!!

Ya I know......I am tired too

Please post up some pictures of the finished project.

Some pics of the stocked drawers when you have them filled would be great too.

So any & all pictures of toolboxes, benches, storage areas etc, that you feel like posting up are most welcome

Ok, I will take some pictures of the project. Maybe you guys will have some ideas.


Well guys it is official I have sold the 66 Suburban. It is going to a guy in Houston, TX. He is flying in and picking it up Saturday and driving it back to be his daily driver.

The Suburban was a really fun project. When I first got it my plan was to drive it daily and before long the truck was apart for well over a year while we updated it. My wife loved the truck because it was drivable. Unlike some of the trailer queens I have she found joy is riding in the truck. I have a few more cars to sell.....partly because I need more room in the shop and mostly because I want to build another project. My red 66 vette will be the next one on the auction block. I am going to get the c10 pickup finished before i get anything else started. However, I can not be accountable for a spur of the moment decision.

 

[ChevyShop]

Hmmmmmm.....how do we take a 1971 Corvette, add a 1980 nose, add 68 side vents, widen the already wide rear flairs to cover the massive rear tires, add 4" wide flairs made for the rear on the front, raise an already tall L88 hood 4 more inches? Well, we are not really sure but hang around and you'll see! Oh, did a mention a 598 cu in 920 hp Scott Shafiroff big block!

We have officially started this project as of today. While we are waiting for the rear quarters for the Nova we thought we would blow the dust off this project and see what we can stir up.

Mark,

1st off, killer set up! It took me 2 days to get through your build thread and it is magnificent!

Sad to see the Sub go, it turned out fantastic, well done.

How is the wife reacting to the expansion into her garage?

Dean

 

[LockerPaul]

Wow, beautiful garage and a long-*** thread that I loved reading from end to end. Now that the Suburban left the garage, what will your wife ride?

 

[iPhone1]

Awesome thread ! Can't wait for the vette to be finished.
I have a 72 vert stingray that i am starting to get the itch to modify.

 

[TimTaylor75]

Holy hell! That Vette is super nice!

 

[IGO2XS]

Mark,

1st off, killer set up! It took me 2 days to get through your build thread and it is magnificent!

Sad to see the Sub go, it turned out fantastic, well done.

How is the wife reacting to the expansion into her garage?

Dean

Dean, my wife puts up with alot. Her car had to sit out one night last week because I had to put a car in her space Damn I am lucky!! We dont work in her garage. Its just a nice clean place to keep cars.

Wow, beautiful garage and a long-*** thread that I loved reading from end to end. Now that the Suburban left the garage, what will your wife ride?

She will have to settle for the 64 Malibu Unfortunately a few months ago I ran out of gas in it one night and the next week the battery died when we were out so I might have to hire a tow truck to follow us around the next time so she feels more comfortable taking a ride in it

Awesome thread ! Can't wait for the vette to be finished.
I have a 72 vert stingray that i am starting to get the itch to modify.

I love 72 Corvettes. This guy wants the car finished by December because some big Corvette magazine wants to do a feature on it. I dont see anyway it can get done by then but we are going to put our best effort in. We still have plenty of other work to do so we'll see.

Holy hell! That Vette is super nice!

It is isnt it......the engineering of this car is unbelievable. I will get you guys more pictures of the work already completed on it.


We needed some tables in one of the work rooms. We wanted something that was sturdy but something we could fold down out of the way if we needed the room. Its a pretty simple idea I am sure done by others but I wanted to share how we build ours.

As you can see there are support wings with hinges and a locking pin to lock the wing into the table top. The hinges allow the support wings to fold in.





If you notice there is one 2 x 4 bolted on the wall. Note the 5/8" plywood top over hangs the top frame 1 1/2 " so when the top folds up it covers the support 2 x 4 on the wall.




I here is the work table in action.




Here is the mess in the back corner of the garage where we are trying to get our fasteners organized. In the foreground in just a few of the plastic organizer cases I have been using for nuts and bolts. This is going to be one big job but I hope it pans out. Now the secret will be continuing to keep this area organized after it is set up.

 

[IGO2XS]

Wow it has been a busy weekend. As I mentioned the suburban was sold and the proud new owners flew in from Houston Texas on Saturday to drive the Burb back home. I thought oh my goodness this truck has never been out of Sarasota County in 8 years. To make matters even more difficult I promised a new brake booster/ master cylinder and to also install 3.08 gears in the truck. I had to next day air all of the above parts to get the job done.

Mike and his wife showed up and left and all of us at the shop were praying for a safe journey. They made it as far as the state line and had a wiring issue in the ignition which fried the starter. Mike was able to get the truck going with support from the Monster Garage by 1:30 sunday afternoon and made it back to Houston a little after midnight on Sunday without any further troubles.

It is great to sell a great car to a great couple who already have a few cool hot rods at home.





I thought this was a pretty cool picture as we got the brakes finished up on the 66 vette. I am getting the tires installed tomorrow so look for the vette to be hitting the ground sometime this week. I am sure we will be doing some lowering on the suspension to get it to sit right.

 

[IGO2XS]

Hey guys, I am looking for a 1963 to 1967 Corvette coupe for a resto mod project. If you have one or know of someone selling a c2 vette please PM me.


Also, in car news it looks like there is a deposit on my 41 Willys. A pretty sad day but a happy one too. I probably lost more money on this car than all of the cars I have owned in my life put together!! I am ready to move on and this Corvette I am looking for will be for my personal project.

 

[tskills10]

I'm sitting here getting caught up on things and I'm wondering if I had missed any news about the Willys. I get to the last post and you answered my question before I could post it. Things are looking great at the shop. The 68 vette looks like it is going to be a total beast. And started following things on facebook also.

 

[Kevin54]

I spent the last two hours catching up. I thought I was caught up until someone mentioned the Willy's Jeep, so I had to go back and find what I missed.

You were talking about making the Willy's a poster. What about taking that blue tarp off of the door to your paint room, add some lightweight plastic panels to it instead, then get a huge poster made up of the coupe and put it one the door to the paint room?

 

[silverstone]

I just wanted to point out something I noticed in your picture of the new owner of the suburban , it seems like there are missing a few wheel nuts on the front wheel , all tough I'm sure you would not have missed something like that ... keep up the good work, I do admire the quality of the work you are doing !

 

[IGO2XS]

I'm sitting here getting caught up on things and I'm wondering if I had missed any news about the Willys. I get to the last post and you answered my question before I could post it. Things are looking great at the shop. The 68 vette looks like it is going to be a total beast. And started following things on facebook also.

Great thanks. I have had the Willys for sale for 7 months. It has been a tough sell but finally have a deposit from a guy in California. You may see some of the same pictures on Facebook......sorry but it is dang hard to be creative with all of the work going on around here.

You were talking about making the Willy's a poster. What about taking that blue tarp off of the door to your paint room, add some lightweight plastic panels to it instead, then get a huge poster made up of the coupe and put it one the door to the paint room?

That is a good idea Kevin. I have my eye on the tarp and want to have another solution there. I thought about a roll up door but keep the ideas coming.

I just wanted to point out something I noticed in your picture of the new owner of the suburban , it seems like there are missing a few wheel nuts on the front wheel , all tough I'm sure you would not have missed something like that ... keep up the good work, I do admire the quality of the work you are doing !

Thanks for the compliment. It must be the lighting or something because we did have all the lug nuts on the truck. We really went over the truck many times because of the distance involved in their trip.




I recieved a set of tires a few days ago and we got them squeezed on the rims today. The back tires are 235/35-20 and I am pleased to say they are perfect. Them are some tight quarters in the stock rear fenderwells and I have managed to squeeze all the tire possible in there. I would like to see the rear about 1 inch lower. I ordered 215/35-18 for the front and they are too small. I anticipated a tire 24" tall and these weigh in about 23+. I am going to try some 215/40-18's........just shy of 25" tall. I am looking to bring the front down 2". I am going to speak with the guys at Van Steel about swapping out some springs for me to get our ride height right.

The side pipes are looking good. We do have the Hedman sidepipe headers so the car should sound awesome!!

 

[Fastphil]

Hmm, needs more sidewall, no? Maybe the drop will help some...

 

[IGO2XS]

Hmm, needs more sidewall, no? Maybe the drop will help some...

A little of both will be needed. The new front tires will be in tomorrow and will be 1 3/4" taller. There are 215/35's on there and I wanted to try 215/40's which are not available.......getting some 225/40's tomorrow. The suspension has not been adjusted yet. We are waiting to get some weight back in the car with the top, seats, doors, act to see how the car really sets. Then we can start tweaking.

 

[IPACA9]

A little of both will be needed. The new front tires will be in tomorrow and will be 1 3/4" taller. There are 215/35's on there and I wanted to try 215/40's which are not available.......getting some 225/40's tomorrow. The suspension has not been adjusted yet. We are waiting to get some weight back in the car with the top, seats, doors, act to see how the car really sets. Then we can start tweaking.

Good thinking ahead. I learned that lesson a hard way. On my Camaro I thought some drop springs would be nice so I first installed them then I built the wall behind the seats for six 12s and the big amp rack in the hatch area. I didn't even factor in what that would do to the car dropping. I was just excited to get it done and rolling. After I was done the car sat way too low so out came the springs I already bought and had to do it over again. Now when I work on vehicles I always think about the weight.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 4

 

[IGO2XS]

What a difference a day makes. I got the 225/40's in for the front today and got them mounted...........perfect! I have some new springs coming in to start working on the ride height and hope to get the car lowered soon.



Operation "Get my nuts in order" is underway If I was like Shopnut ..... Wingnut....or one of the other clever planners on this forum I would have a diagram to show you guys what my plan was. Unfortunately I am just winging it. My goal is to organize all of my hardware, fasteners, and shop supplies so they have a dedicated place. This way hopefully I can go right to the location and pull out what I need instead of searching around to find the right part.

You can see I have two stacks of 8 drawers under the future stainless steel topped work bench. I have room for 8 more drawers once I get closer to organizing more fasteners. I hope 24 organizing drawers will be enough. The red toolbox on the right will be for air tools, fittings, air ride fittings.......plumbing parts and misc. I have cut a solid door and will need another piece to finish the top. I will then wrap it in stainless steel. I purchased some aresal can organizers. Man do I have alot of spray cans. I plan to label each of the 36 can slots for those products I use frequently. At least I wont have to dig through a drawer full of a bunch of spray cans any more to find what I need.





The work bench will wrap around to the left over the other 2 tool boxes. The box on the right will be for automotive electrical supplies. Relays, fuse blocks, testing equipment....anything related to wiring. I have yet to determine a use for the tool box on the left. The large unmounted grey box will organize threaded rod and other round stock.





I took a picture of just a few of the drawers as I am starting to get them set up.

 

[Sunbimmer]

Wow man you really build some cool stuff

 

[Leyenda30]

The best garage just got better! You guys are already fast and now will be even faster. Everything looks great. BTW the vette is turning into a very class act. JP

 

[Firebrand]

Sick garage/shop/pond/compound overall! Love the shot of the drill buried in the boat hull. Glad you took the time to stop and shoot the moment! I'm hip deep in a boat project myself out in the big barn...

Keep the updates coming!!

 

[IGO2XS]

Wow man you really build some cool stuff

Thank you and hello to the Netherlands. I have a very good friend since high school who lives in Norg. It is a small village in the NE of Netherlands.

The best garage just got better! You guys are already fast and now will be even faster. Everything looks great. BTW the vette is turning into a very class act. JP

Thanks JP. Always good to hear from you and hope to see you and your wife back at the next Monster Garage party.

Sick garage/shop/pond/compound overall! Love the shot of the drill buried in the boat hull. Glad you took the time to stop and shoot the moment! I'm hip deep in a boat project myself out in the big barn...

Keep the updates coming!!

Wow that is a really cool boat your have there.....fantastic picture!!! I see you like old stuff. I have a 1969 John Deere 140 my grandfather bought new. As young man I mowed his yard with this tractor. I would imagine we used it for over 20 years. It was restored about 15 years ago and I have it here in my garage.

I have a couple of pictures of the 71 Corvette project.

Using styrofoam and tape we are mocking up the width of the rear fender flairs. The flairs will have more body to them in the middle......right now just trying to figure out the width.




Cut out the license plate frame in the middle of the nose to add a center vent.




front spoiler molded in and a custom grill....

 

[IPACA9]

Don't go all "Corvette Summer" on it...lol

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 4

 

[clarke212]

How about pictures of the John Deere 140?

 

[fxr rider]

[QUOTE

I have a couple of pictures of the 71 Corvette project.

Using styrofoam and tape we are mocking up the width of the rear fender flairs. The flairs will have more body to them in the middle......right now just trying to figure out the width.





Just throwing this out there would you not want to start your flare out from the body crease at the top of the fender?I would think it would look a little more factory then adding the lip that your showing.I think similar to a porsche fender flare

 

[JCQuick]

Mark as always unreal however something about the 2x4 base for the winzor cabinets doesn't seem to fit the monster garage imho. may I suggest building something out of unatainium or steel .

 

[Fastphil]

[QUOTE

I have a couple of pictures of the 71 Corvette project.

Using styrofoam and tape we are mocking up the width of the rear fender flairs. The flairs will have more body to them in the middle......right now just trying to figure out the width.





Just throwing this out there would you not want to start your flare out from the body crease at the top of the fender?I would think it would look a little more factory then adding the lip that your showing.I think similar to a porsche fender flare

I think that's what he meant by having more body in the middle.

 

[IGO2XS]

[QUOTE

Just throwing this out there would you not want to start your flare out from the body crease at the top of the fender?I would think it would look a little more factory then adding the lip that your showing.I think similar to a porsche fender flare

Yes you are correct and so is Fastphil I think my description was a little lacking. We are going to fatten up that flair. We are thinking of using foam so we can sculp it and then glass over it. I think boat builders have a foam they use to model boats.

Mark as always unreal however something about the 2x4 base for the winzor cabinets doesn't seem to fit the monster garage imho. may I suggest building something out of unatainium or steel .

I know I know...........quite honestly since I didnt have the plan in place I mocked up the 2x4 stand to see how it would work. I guess we either need to make it out of steel or cover it with a piece of stainless

I think that's what he meant by having more body in the middle.

thank you......I am not always so good with words so here is a picture of what we are trying to accomplish