Lights and sockets.
Sure does look pretty all painted and lit up.
Mechanics Pit (my effort at)
- Thread starter Demon69
- Start date
Sure does look pretty all painted and lit up.
larry4406
Well-known member
Every time I got tired I said to myself "exercise exercise exercise"
Cheers mate, no but ive previous experience with floor work, first time with rebar and walls though. So much good info on youtube
Lol, I remember as a know it all kid walking past a guy in a petrol station with his head in the footwell of a TVR (Griffith iirc)
"You ok mate? You need a hand?"
He looked up from the sea of wires shaking his head 'Im a TVR tech and ive got no fkn idea whats wrong with this pos!'
"Ah, ok, good luck then"
Lol, guilty as charged, for £1k be worth getting some over.
Yep, thats pretty much the plan on the ventilation side, tbh im more concerned about about falling in it and fires, in that order. Theres risks with everything tho eh, as a counter, a garage my buddy works at had a 2 poster fail some months ago. The tech was under it seconds before the emergency nut let go (main nut was long gone, lack of maintenance and inspection) and the whole right arm and carrier free fell to the floor, tipping the car on its side. The shop owner learnt a lesson that day.
Cheers mate, not sure how long itll stay pretty but nothing a coat of paint wont fix
Cheers for that Larry, youre welcome. Will update as I get other things worked out, eager to get a start on the jack mods that have been rattling around my brain
Buckgnarly
Well-known member
Holf **** do I appreciate my lift even more now!!! That's one hell of a pit though!!!
PopcornSutton
Well-known member
One more vote for job well done, and done right!
Natty Bumppo
Well-known member
Outstanding! That's a lot of work right there. Very nicely done.
When I was in the military in the early 90's all of my buddies from the hills of "hollers" of West Virginia had pits in their barns and garages. As a 19 year old I had never heard of a pit before and from that point on I always wanted one. When I built my shop 5 years ago for my 1980 K10 stepside I was going to go with a pit. But a friend talked me out of it and convinced me to go with a lift.
When I was in the military in the early 90's all of my buddies from the hills of "hollers" of West Virginia had pits in their barns and garages. As a 19 year old I had never heard of a pit before and from that point on I always wanted one. When I built my shop 5 years ago for my 1980 K10 stepside I was going to go with a pit. But a friend talked me out of it and convinced me to go with a lift.
Old Man Roger
Well-known member
Looks awesome.
brit vet
Well-known member
Cracking job you've done mate, how long did it take?
I'm lucky enough to have a 4 post lift and maybe the type of bridge jacks I have could be easily modified to span the width of your pit?
I'm lucky enough to have a 4 post lift and maybe the type of bridge jacks I have could be easily modified to span the width of your pit?
lol, its not the easy route for sure
Thankyou sir
Cheers man, lifts are great, an easy choice if you've the space and overhead height
Thanks man
Cheers mate
According to the dates on the pics I started 15th May and finished up 16th October, obviously that wasn't full time but here and there when I had the time. On a good day I could dig and fill about 3/4 of an 8 yard skip, so guessing going easy about 10-11 days to fill 5.5 skips, dig 21.5 cubic metres / 28 yards out the ground. Cos so much of it was first time for me, did as much staring and thinking as doing.I recently got a Bradbury (majorlift) 2.8 ton beam ******** Ebay, very popular choice for MOT work so wouldn't be surprised if its similar to what you have.
Thanks man
Old Man Roger
Well-known member
Did I mention ventilation? lol
And remember, it doesn’t take a lot of gasoline to make a real big flame
Spilling a little gas on a floor while changing a fuel filter isn’t that big of a deal, but in a pit, the fumes don’t dissipate unless there‘s a fan actively moving air.
I know you probably already know all this, but I thought it might be worth mentioning.
And remember, it doesn’t take a lot of gasoline to make a real big flame
Spilling a little gas on a floor while changing a fuel filter isn’t that big of a deal, but in a pit, the fumes don’t dissipate unless there‘s a fan actively moving air.
I know you probably already know all this, but I thought it might be worth mentioning.
Jswain
Well-known member
Absolutely amazing. Very jealous!!
rancherbill
Well-known member
All three of these things are Number ONE !!! Pits have fallen out of use in North America with the exception of the drive through Oil Change places. They are dangerous as hell. The fellow I mentioned was a Journeyman Mechanic. He knew better, but he was working in a closed building........ He are a hundred scenarios around 'I'LL just be a minute".
I know I would say "I know what I'm doing". I have 55 years for FUs on stuff I knew that I knew what I was doing.
bluedog225
Well-known member
Dang. Just dang. Well done!
And a full time box fan. They use almost zero juice. Full time. Lots of burny gassy stuff settles.
How often does the sump turn on?
And a full time box fan. They use almost zero juice. Full time. Lots of burny gassy stuff settles.
How often does the sump turn on?
brit vet
Well-known member
Yes that jack is very similar to what I have. Fits in there like a glove.
I guess you'll need an explosion proof fan (bifurcated) to drag petrol vapours out?
I guess you'll need an explosion proof fan (bifurcated) to drag petrol vapours out?
PopcornSutton
Well-known member
Seeing now what you're using on the angles, I would have liked to have seen twice the amount of anchors welded on the back.
Old Man Roger
Well-known member
About 2 or 3 seconds after doing an exhaust estimate, one of the 4 post lifts dropped a Chevy Caprice Taxi Cab. One of the 4 locks failed when a cable broke, I heard clunk, then the cab hit the floor. I barely flinched, but after a few seconds of adrenaline my hands were shaking..lol
One of my techs (we called ourselves mechanics back then lol) saw it happen. He said the one corner dropped when the cable snapped then the whole thing kind of did a little bounce, and then the whole thing fell.
No way I would‘ve had the time to get out once the cable broke.
I think you might have mentioned itDid I mention ventilation? lol
And remember, it doesn’t take a lot of gasoline to make a real big flame
Spilling a little gas on a floor while changing a fuel filter isn’t that big of a deal, but in a pit, the fumes don’t dissipate unless there‘s a fan actively moving air.
I know you probably already know all this, but I thought it might be worth mentioning.
I agree
. Ive the vent in place to extract at floor level which should work well, when thats complete Ill trial out to see what I actually need in terms of flow rate.Cheers bud
Well, as I said before, there's risk in everything. Imo the most we can do is aim to understand/accept and mitigate them as best we can, If we can't accept the risk, it might be better to find something else to do.
Despite the biased standpoint, I think these guys have a fair view on the subject.
Cheers man
The sump pumps out about twice a day that ive noticed, the water is very slow going through the clay. Total guess on the quantity of water, say 50 litres ish.
That would be the best fit id imagine, decent kitchen extractor perhaps
, anything that has the motor sat out of the stale air stream and doesnt howl like a banshee should work well.
I think it should be fine, ive got more work to do if not
Sobering stuff when **** goes down eh.
Ive a buddy with a decent sized 4 poster, it has mini scissor lifts on each ramp instead of the usual beam jacks, proper nice and new to him about 4-5 years ago. When I was there last he had decent size van up in the air, walking in I noticed a section of cable on the NSF that had started to fray a few strands.
"Hey N***, you seen this?"
he walks over
'Ah thats alright!..'
"So hows the locks work on this thing again? Just that I didn't hear them clicking on the way up."
'Theyre fine mate theyre fine, farkin blah blah **** talking blah blah....'
I bet theres a few more strands popped next time im down there
Metal-Marc
Well-known member
Nice work. Of course I show up after all the hard work is done. I'll just have a seat and grab a warm beer.
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46MGTC
Well-known member
Great work. Looks nice but my claustrophobia would be at 110% if I was down there with a car on top.
Cheers man
Low ceiling height and general lack of space are the main reasons I went with the pit, came close on a mid rise scissor lift but I want to be able to walk under a car. If things go as planned ill have a great deal of flexibility on how I can place and access a car.
Haha, my neighbour said the same, hes a mechanic with pit time back in the day and isnt a fan, narrow dirty and damp as he remembers them (he has a mid rise scissor lift that works well for what he does now). He gave a thumbs up to mine tho, was his idea to have moveable stairs
Cheers mate, enjoy
rancherbill
Well-known member
Do you have power in the pit? Get one of these. Put it's expiry date in your phone and keep it up to date. We have one in our basement near our natural gas furnace / chimney.
Cheers for that, after thinking on it some I might bag me one o these, and stop driving my coffin on wheels
Metal-Marc
Well-known member
I was going to comment about the shortcommings of that suit, but I see that there's a "fart extraction unit", so I have nothing else to add.
Hugely important for safety as I understand, only takes a stray static spark from the Calvin Klein's and its all over.
Then ground out to cap the floor. Yeah should have the racking and compressor etc out the but I was picking battles. The other side and front step were just more of the same.
Heres how the sump outlet goes atm
By this time id already demoed the front wall and doors etc, and started framing for the new facia.
Heres how the sump outlet goes atm
By this time id already demoed the front wall and doors etc, and started framing for the new facia.
I cut out enough to get the roller door in, will sort the rest of the roof this year when the weathers better.
Made a door, just put all thread through the centres and glued it up. Yes, i dunno wot im doing lol
turned out pretty good.
from the outside all counter battened ready for vertical cladding.
I used a thermo wood T&G channel cladding, took my time here as id worked myself into a bit of a corner with the man door, had to thin the sections out some to get the revels symmetrical. Very happy with how it turned out. Roof is just temporary.
Made a door, just put all thread through the centres and glued it up. Yes, i dunno wot im doing lol
turned out pretty good.
from the outside all counter battened ready for vertical cladding.
I used a thermo wood T&G channel cladding, took my time here as id worked myself into a bit of a corner with the man door, had to thin the sections out some to get the revels symmetrical. Very happy with how it turned out. Roof is just temporary.
The much talked about pit extraction fan, I used a kitchen hood extractor with a brushless motor that sits outside the air stream, air change in the pit is around once every 3-4 minutes, 23w running 24/7. Silent, works great
First customer, daughters mini cooper s N14... Be really careful about letting one of these things in your garage before you've finished works, that innocent looking little ******* can **** up your whole life in no time flat if it feels so inclined!
Gummed up inlet valves due to the direct injection and crank case breathing setups too many cars have these days.
jumped a tooth due to top timing chain guide falling apart and jamming the cassette open, no valve damage, phew!
Sump off to pull this lot out of the oil pump pick up, easy to miss if youre not a cynic.
cams out for valve stem seals, not so bad doing it with the head on but dont drop that collet!
Back together with new chain and guides, need a special tool to time it up.
Then deal with this oily freak show sat under the turbo
flexi joint decides to fall off going back together
rotating tyres turns into rear pads, turns into seized calipers, turns into seized brake line unions. Pretended no to notice the rusty rear subframe
Then when its all back together and you think youre done the vacuum pump decides to get noisy and makes you wonder if you did that timing chain right, before you figure it out! Never a dull day on a mini
There was a bunch of other stuff that im trying to forget, all normal stuff on these cars apparently.
Cheers all
Gummed up inlet valves due to the direct injection and crank case breathing setups too many cars have these days.
jumped a tooth due to top timing chain guide falling apart and jamming the cassette open, no valve damage, phew!
Sump off to pull this lot out of the oil pump pick up, easy to miss if youre not a cynic.
cams out for valve stem seals, not so bad doing it with the head on but dont drop that collet!
Back together with new chain and guides, need a special tool to time it up.
Then deal with this oily freak show sat under the turbo
flexi joint decides to fall off going back together
rotating tyres turns into rear pads, turns into seized calipers, turns into seized brake line unions. Pretended no to notice the rusty rear subframe
Then when its all back together and you think youre done the vacuum pump decides to get noisy and makes you wonder if you did that timing chain right, before you figure it out! Never a dull day on a mini
There was a bunch of other stuff that im trying to forget, all normal stuff on these cars apparently.
Cheers all
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nadogail
Well-known member
May you enjoy your pit for many years while in Good Health.So I phoned a friend. He suggested I do some more diggin.... So I did some more diggin, and I will admit that the fun was starting to wear a bit thin at this point
A bin that always got in the way will never get in the way again.
Then some weaved membrane and gravel for drainage.
A bit of ventilation in the form of 4" soil pipe, it will connect to a fan that vents outside and a liner for the sump outlet pipe to run in.
Time for the DPM, which was a fkn pita to wrestle in, but in it went.
Viper98912
Well-known member
How did I miss this thread last year??? What an incredible job!