My little 10'x20'

[Ripcurl]

I've decided to stop lurking and post what I have to work with. I love this site as there are a ton of nice builds and great ideas everywhere. My garage isnt much yet, but I do have plans for finishing it off nice. The size is less than optimal, especially for having such a large car, but will work for now. Our next house will have a much larger space.
Heres the plan in CAD:

My girl and I have just moved in 2 months ago and the first month and half looked like this...

Me not impressed:

The garage was pretty much loading dock for packing materials, debris, and misc items that need to go in the basement. We did some renovation within the first 2 weeks we had the place, hence the mess.

Finally got it cleared out, organized a little and stuffed my 2nd ride in there until time permits working on it.

The floor has already been sealed and walls have been painted white. I plan to patch and re-paint the entire thing. Install a 4' acrovyn wall panels around the entire garage. Also plan on getting an insulated door before i get some sort of heating in there. Not too sure about the lighting layout, might delete the 5th 2x4 due to the shelf above the garage door. I also plan on having a 40-60 gal compressor in the basement fed through the walls. I am very close to getting a free SS counter top... I cannot wait!
Thanks for looking

 

[q20v]

haha holy snap I saw this thread heading and thought "I know someone with a 10x20, lets see what this guy has done..."

I'd say 'Welcome to the forum' but this is my first post as well.

Can't wait to get home to help you out with your build, and for you to help with mine!

PS: get a hair cut

 

[matttys]

If my garage were that small I don't think I'd park inside, just make it a really nice little shop. The need to park a car in there really kills many of your options for storage/tools/usable space.

 

[TRC51]

If my garage were that small I don't think I'd park inside, just make it a really nice little shop. The need to park a car in there really kills many of your options for storage/tools/usable space.

But... if it's all you got.... it's all you got. I say kudos for keeping the Buick covered in such a tight fit. I remember when I was living in my rental with a 1 car. Never could get a car in there.... good thing I was into motorcycles. Maybe that's why.

Anyway, have fun with the customizing and keep us up to date with any space saver ideas. God knows there are plenty on this board to help too.

 

[blackice]

I recommend buying a mini, or smart car....

 

[q20v]

With a bit more tidying up, some shelves, and a trip to the junk yard to get rid of some parts he will be fine. Besides, for anything major he has unlimited access to a double garage 10 minutes away.

 

[Ripcurl]

If my garage were that small I don't think I'd park inside, just make it a really nice little shop. The need to park a car in there really kills many of your options for storage/tools/usable space.

I know its less than optimal, but its my first garage and when we are looking for our next place when cash flow permits, its going to have at least a 20x20. By the sounds of it from searching around, people have performed engine swaps, vette frame off restoration in the same size of garage. Its all a matter of organizing everything and keeping things in their place. Sure the ratio of cuss words per phrase will be augmented while working in there, but I'll work with what I have, like TRC said. I dont plan on a complete rebuild, but something that I perform basic to advanced mechanical work with. Like q20v said, I can head to his place to spill engine interals all over when doing a swap

Turning it into a shop is sort of out of the question. As there are four cars living at our house, one has to stay in there. The basement utility room will be a mini shop once I get that place cleared out. Currently its housing a bunch of 2x4 lights to be installed, random chairs to give away and tables that do not dissessemble. Its a large utility room and it'll have to have its own thread when I get around to working it. All major tools and part storage will take place in the basement.

I recommend buying a mini, or smart car...

never

PS: get a hair cut

also never

 

[61scout80]

a lesabre t type! awesome!
Good work on the organization.

Sure the ratio of cuss words per phrase will be augmented while working in there

I pulled off an engine swap in a jeep Cherokee in a garage that size at my last apartment. I used a floor jack to roll the jeep side to side so i could access the area's i needed to. It was far from ideal but it taught me organization and improvisation when wrenching. Now that i'm in a 2 car i feel like a king!...well, except for the load of a broken down jeep that has my work space reduces to one car again

and the ratio of cuss words actually becomes the ratio of non cuss words when working in small spaces. I had successfully spouted an entire paragraph of communication with nothing but cusses.

 

[bazzateer]

I recommend buying a mini, or smart car....

HELL NO!!! If you want a small cool car it HAS to be an Imp!

 

[Ripcurl]

HELL NO!!! If you want a small cool car it HAS to be an Imp!

That imp looks like a version of the lada that my buddy has 12 of... yet he too drives a smart car...

Well heres some more pictures of my T-Type because scout80 seemed the slightest bit interested.
Work being performed at my parents garage, I'll miss that luxury for the next little while...

After some work and temporarily installed TSWs, this is my '87 by the way:

No photoshop, lights just came out that color at this angle:

The Buicks at the old place, '89 on the left which is in the garage at my new place.

The Buicks littering the neighborhood at the new place:

And just because...

Thats it for now.
Its nice to hear accomplishments like that scout80. Good work.
I might get around to painting sooner than I thought! I'll keep everyone posted.

 

[q20v]

I was scrolling through those pictures waiting for the one with the 'other black car'

 

[61scout80]

It's awesome to see that you are keeping a little known piece of history alive. while they may not be as popular as their big brothers they sure do deserve some loyal enthusiasts.





i have only seen 2 of the LeSabre ttypes in real life, and unfortunately one was in a junk yard I did rob the emblems for my 83 regal ttype though...

 

[q20v]

i have only seen 2 of the LeSabre ttypes in real life, and unfortunately one was in a junk yard

Funny you should mention this....
I've seen my share in/on their way to junk yards as well!!!










sorry Blake I tried to resist but it was too good of an opportunity to pass up!

 

[adam728]

Nice job fitting a car in there. I have a 10x18 here, we just went out of state and SQUEEZED our Passat in before leaving. With a workbench across the front of the garage I had about 2" in front of the car and <1" behind it to close the door. With a motorcycle on one wall there was just enough room to get out of the car. Monday we threw the washer and dryer in there, now nothing but a Steve Erkle car would fit.

A small garage *****, but is still worlds better than all the places I rented without a garage!

 

[sean Buick 76]

Very cool Buicks!!! Not too many people into Buicks but I get it!!!

 

[q20v]

Holy old thread bump! I think Ripcurl is overdue for an update...

 

[Ripcurl]

Ha the update is it has been upgraded to this:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=258137
Here is what my single ended up as:

It was functional but tight, managed to transplant an engine into another T-Type.

 

[slammed240wagon]

Nice T-types! I've always wanted to do a more modern SII SC swap into one of those. I look forward to seeing updates.