Mini garage

[dw_riley]

Hi all, I signed up for GJ a year ago but have just been a dedicated lurker ever since. But inspiration levels are up at the moment so it's time to start my own thread.

Firstly, the current state - I have a 1 (small) car garage under my house. We're lucky to even have this as many houses in the area don't have garages at all, but it's currently filled up with all the junk that doesn't fit in our (small) house - camping gear, bikes, bike rack, assorted rubbish - plus my poor old mini.

As you can see, it's small, dark, dirty and cluttered. Most importantly, it's not a great place to work on the car - more on that in a later post. Needs work!

 

[1/2 Cup]

dw riley top stuff and congratulations on starting a thread, all I can see potential.

Now the picture of your Mini brings back some fond memories for me.

Thank you for sharing..

 

[dw_riley]

OK. Normally in Perth at this time of the year it's really hot - 35-40C is common, just like over east right now. But here, we had the second wettest day on record a couple of days ago and it's still cool today. Good weather for cleaning up the garage!

It's still small, dark and cluttered, but at least it's a bit tidier now :

 

[dw_riley]

Many thanks 1/2 , yours is one of the threads I have been following, and I remember you saying something about your mini history!
I will post something on the Mini a bit later on.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Many thanks 1/2 , yours is one of the threads I have been following, and I remember you saying something about your mini history!
I will post something on the Mini a bit later on.

dw, awesome..

 

[sean Buick 76]

Hi there, thanks for chiming in! Do you have any more pics of the Mini???? Is there room in the yard for a shed? Or two?

 

[dw_riley]

Hi there, thanks for chiming in! Do you have any more pics of the Mini???? Is there room in the yard for a shed? Or two?

Hi Sean, I do have room for a small shed out the back, but more on that later.

The mini is a 1971 Mini K 1100, which is a model unique to Australia. 1971 was the last year of roundnose minis in Australia and mine has clubman doors (from the next model with a square nose) which means it must have been one of the very last ones.

It was my first car, bought for $900 when I was 17. It saw me through my first year of uni and then after it got stuck in 4th gear driving home one day, I pulled it apart, replaced the body shell with another good unit I found in someone's farm paddock, rebuilt the engine (took a few goes to get it right), and ended up with a hot road spec car. I stuck with the 1100 engine which is a little unusual, many modified minis ended up with a bigger engine.

Anyway, I used to use it for some club motorsport events, here are a few pics of me in action:

Now as I did the rebuild/restoration as a young student with little money, many aspects were not quite right - the quality of the paint, the interior, the wiring etc. So recently I decided to pull it apart again and have another go...

 

[1/2 Cup]

dw_riley, not wanting to hijack your thread, but you pictures of your Mini have stirred up so much.

My Mk II Cooper S

View media item 39853
Regards

 

[FadedGray]

I love minis!

 

[Mpower5266]

I cant wait to see more. I just sold a 63 mini about 6 months ago, I wish I kept.

Untitled by mpower5266, on Flickr

 

[Fredriz]

Cool another miniac

 

[dw_riley]

I cant wait to see more. I just sold a 63 mini about 6 months ago, I wish I kept.

Untitled by mpower5266, on Flickr

Thanks M, shame about the mini but the plane in the background looks interesting!


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[dw_riley]

dw_riley, not wanting to hijack your thread, but you pictures of your Mini have stirred up so much.

My Mk II Cooper S

View media item 39853
Regards

Thanks 1/2, I would love a genuine Cooper S but they go for big bucks these days! When did you say goodbye to yours?


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[1/2 Cup]

Thanks 1/2, I would love a genuine Cooper S but they go for big bucks these days! When did you say goodbye to yours?


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It would have been some 25 years ago and I still regret doing so even though I double the original purchase price..

Regards

 

[dw_riley]

OK, now onto the garage part of the mini garage. The first goal is to create a space where I can productively work on the mini, with two kids (6 and 9 year old) helping whenever possible, without getting frustrated to the point where I starting hitting things with hammers. When I first did up the mini I was working out of my parent's open carport with no storage and it really didn't help, so I really want a nice workspace this time!

The second goal is to end up with a flexible space that can be used not only for working on cars, but woodwork and general DIY as well as a home office at some point in the future.

Here's some very roughly sketched plans:

In some rough order of priority:
1. Get rid of stuff stored in the garage. This possibly requires constructing another shed, attic storage, or similar.
2. Build some functional storage and workbench space. Tool storage is top priority.
2. Replace current tilting door - it's too low and I always bump my head on it. Replace with roller door or maybe carriage doors.
3. Install some decent lighting so I can actually see what I'm doing.
4. Resurface flooring or lay some tile. Lighter colour would be great.

Also considering removing the ceiling panels for a bit of extra head height. It's just timber frame above so should be all good

Budget constraints mean that this is not going to happen quick

 

[tjdux]

Hey great project here with tons of potential. I would bet the best start point may be that garden shed just to get those bikes and things out of your workspace. It makes a huge difference to get the storage out of the workspace. Its one of the things im working on in my shop post.

That sketch drawing looks pretty solid start point. One thing i would think about is a fild down workbech where some of those cabinets are in case you just needed a little more open space to work. I have one in my shop but it does stay down most of the time.

A thought about lighting is SMD strips. If your planning on stripping the ceiling down to joists anyways you can glue the SMD LED stips to each joist and have nice, even, bright lighting.

In the drawing it looks like you may have drawn fluorescent tube fixtures... i would reccomend staying away from those. Its not that their bad just LED is came down to be cheaper and better. Fluorescent has ballests, bulbs, starters to fail and reolace and if you hit one with something its a milot of glass to fall from the ceiling. Another easy LED is just dead simple porcelain light sockets and cheap regular LED bulbs. Put in about double or 1/3 more than you think you need and ad an extra switch and that space will be bright.

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[Cris B]

I'd echo tjdux's comments about the fold down bench option. If you are going to work on the car in there that idea or a workbench on wheels so it can be moved out of the way could really help you out space wise. Perhaps have a think about going for high level wall mounted and deep shelf storage too so you don't lose the floor space underneath.

 

[dw_riley]

Thanks, tjdux and Cris, for those ideas - I can already see that putting this post up was worthwhile!

In terms of storage elsewhere, a shed in the backyard will solve some of it, but the bikes and bike rack really need to be accessible at the front of the house - we use them a lot and they'll just end up back in the garage if I move them. I'll do a bit more thinking about that.

Fold down workbench, high/deep shelves & LED lighting - yes, yes, yes! Great ideas - I'll have a go at another sketch.

Thanks again!


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[dw_riley]

Hi all,
Summer has finally taken over again, and after a full morning at the surf club in 38C heat, all I can manage today is some more sketching. I've given up on pencil and paper and resorted to Sketchup:

I've sketched in some cabinets and bench space, but left the floor to the left free for a folding table, tool box, etc - anything moveable really. The cabinets are rough and I need to optimise the dimensions - not sure there is enough space between the bench and the overhead cabinets, for example. Might go for drawers, metal cabinets, or whatever under the benches too. But hey, we're at concept stage right now.

I've left the bikes in there because I can't think of anywhere else to put them. If I can move all the other clutter out then I think it'll be ok with them there anyway.

Any thoughts??? Hope everyone is having a great weekend.

 

[ajohno]

I like it. Looks like you will have plenty of storage.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Sounds like a plan.

 

[Grumblebum]

Looks like you are off to a good start dw_riley

Depending on how much bench space you need, you could make some of those cabinet sections full height pantry cupboards as they are great for storage. Especially all the kids stuff.

I'll put in a vote for plenty of drawers.

Cheers GB